11 January 2013
FRENCH: Poly student Hunter Hesslink (11) traveled to Quebec City, Canada last summer through a French immersion program.
By Kira Roybal, Staff Writer
Summer vacation, which may seem like a world away now, is the perfect time to relax, catch up on favorite activities and create new memories. Some people hurry to the beach to surf and soak up the sun rays while others curl up on the couch with that book they have been waiting all year to read. Then there are those who challenge themselves to change over the summer.
Hunter Hesslink traveled to Quebec, the capital of the Canadian province of the same name, for three weeks during the summer of 2012. This trip, however, was not only meant for sight-seeing and tourism; the main focus of her journey was to immerse herself in the city’s French language and culture. “The whole experience of going there was new and kinda scary,” Hesslink said.
Hesslink traveled to Canada through Edu-inter, which offers year-round and summer culture immersion programs in Quebec; the city boasts a 100-percent French-speaking environment and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This program allows students to study French at the Collège Mérici, a school in Quebec.
Hesslink explained that she was in the classroom learning French from 8:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily. French was taught in a manner similar to that of American schools; students completed worksheets, performed skits and participated in conversation circles. There was one major difference though: students were expected to speak French all day, everyday. Away from the classroom, the afternoons were spent touring around the city.
American students were not the only ones enrolled in the immersion program; Edu-inter offers its services to international students as well. Teenagers from 25 different countries participate in the program every year. Hesslink said she met a Colombian student through the program. She also created friendships with teenagers from all over the country; two of her newest friends came from New York City and Boston. Hesslink, however, was the only student from the West Coast. “I think that was the main benefit [of the program] – meeting new people from different places,” she said.
The immersion program would not be complete without meeting authentic French-Canadians. During her three weeks in Canada, Hesslink stayed with a host family. The family included two young boys, who Hesslink considered to be like brothers, and housed another student from the immersion camp. Her host family provided not only room and board, but also a tour of Quebec’s finest sites. Hesslink and the family biked along the St. Lawrence River and, of course, went shopping.
One of Hesslink’s favorite sites was Old Quebec, the original citadel and fortified colonial town established by early French settlers. Like other colonies, it resembled the architectural and cultural style of its mother country. “If you didn’t know you were in Canada, you would think [Old Quebec] was a French city,” Hesslink said. She also visited Montmorency Falls and the Basilica of Notre Dame and attended the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France, a celebration of Canada during the French regime.
Besides being an admirer of the French-Canadian culture, Hesslink is also a fan of the French way of life. “[The French-Canadians] are more relaxed. Here it’s just go, go, go. Make money, go to work, go to school. You don’t really get to enjoy life,” Hesslink explained.
Learning the French language and experiencing French culture is a rewarding achievement, but taking the first step is the hardest part. Courage and persistence is key. Poly French teacher Kristin Kund, known as Madame Kund to her students, explained that “students get really nervous about trying something new. Once they practice and feel and confident and take the risk then they want to try it even more. The initial fear factor is probably one of the biggest challenges.”
Learning a foreign language not only gives a student academic credit, but also gives them the confidence to be more independent; knowing the language allows a student to immerse him or herself in the culture rather than simply be a casual bystander. “I think you need to know another language besides English,” Hesslink said.
Photo contribution by Hunter Hesslink/ The Poly Spotlight