This summer, the CPF Simcoe County Chapter organized a language and cultural exchange for students in Grades 6-8 studying French as a Second Language (FSL). It was 22 days jam-packed with cultural and recreational activities in Ontario and Québec. Best of all…no hotel expenses – it was a homestay exchange!
Andreas Yates, who is in Grade 8 French Immersion, participated and so did the rest of his family as hosts of a Québec boy, Marc-Anthony, in Grade 7. As an added bonus, Andreas’ mom, Rosemary Sutherland – who really didn’t want to miss out on all the French fun – volunteered to help chaperone the Québec portion of the exchange!
The teachers who organized the exchange matched the Ontario students with Québec students based on similar interests. That’s how Andreas and Marc-Anthony became exchange “twins.” But as you can see from the photo on the right, definitely not the identical type.
Being neither identical nor birth twins, they were wise to start getting to know each other before they began sharing a roof at night. Email, Skype, Facetime… Andreas and Marc-Anthony corresponded and showed each other their homes, moms, dads and sisters via an online connection. Andreas would communicate in French, Marc-Anthony in English.
The first face-to-face greeting happened on June 29, 2014 over a group BBQ that welcomed the 49 students from Québec who came on the exchange. They travelled on a luxury coach. For Free! All paid for by the Department of Canadian Heritage through SEVEC (the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada).
The days in Ontario included Treetop Trekking at Horseshoe Valley, touring Casa Loma, whirling around at Canada’s Wonderland, touring Niagara Falls and cheering for the Blue Jays. These were all activities that the 96 exchange “twins” did together as a group. But each pair got three “family days” as well. Marc-Anthony went sightseeing in Toronto with his host family and spent some outdoor time in Collingwood.
The family days allowed students to experience a real immersion into their host family’s language and culture, explains Rosemary. And students were serious about it! In fact, whenever she tried to get in a little bit of French practice in preparation for the Québec trip, Marc-Anthony would insist “just speak to me in English, I want to learn English.”
July 11 – Bonjour Québec!
“I can honestly say that the 10-hour road trip to Québec was very comfortable in the luxury coach!” said Rosemary. “Watching a few movies and making a couple of food stops along the way helped the time pass quickly.”
And a packed itinerary certainly makes time fly as well. Day one included a tour of the Québec National Assembly (above) and a stroll around Old Québec. In the next five days, the group paddled along the St-Charles River, visited the Québec Aquarium, cruised the St. Lawrence River aboard the Louis-Joliette, enjoyed rides at La Ronde amusement park in Montréal and the Village Vacances Valcartier water park, and visited the basilica Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré, Montmorency Falls and the Museum of Civilization.
“Our time in Québec was amazing; my first time there in the summer—it was truly spectacular!” said Rosemary, who shared the chaperoning tasks with three other mothers and the three teachers who organized the exchange, including Ontario teacher Aubrey Hawton (at the front of the canoe.)
The last three days were “family days” and the Ontario students enjoyed time with their host family. Andreas saw the changing of the Guard at La Citadelle in Old Québec and went whale watching; other students went camping and visited cottages.
“When I was in Québec I was surrounded by so much French that I began thinking and speaking only in French,” shares Andreas. “When I returned to Ontario, it took me a day or two to adjust to the only English atmosphere. “
In Rosemary’s view, her son Andreas benefited beyond the language improvement. “He had to come out of his shell and made so many new friends.” She says it forced him to strengthen his independence and social skills.
The cost of an exchange varies depending on the activities planned. For Rosemary, the $750 she had to pay for her son to participate in this exchange were well worth it. “It was a good deal,” she concludes, and adds that her son is already thinking about an exchange opportunity in the fall.
Are you looking for an exchange opportunity for your child?
Check out CPF Ontario’s directory of Exchanges and Excursions.