On Thursday 6th February, the French department took 11 sixth formers on an exciting French Study Day to London. The adventure began at Oxford train station, where the group boarded a train for the capital.
At 11am, the group arrived at the French Embassy in Knightsbridge. Here, they were treated to an enlightening talk and guided visit titled “De l’Entente Cordiale au quartier français” in South Kensington. This session provided a fascinating insight into the historical and cultural ties between France and the UK, enriching the students’ understanding of Franco-British relations.
The group then stopped by the Lycée Français in South Kensington. During this visit, a guide spoke to the students about the French secondary curriculum, offering them a perspective on the educational system in France. Additionally, the students admired and had a talk about the stunning Michelin Art-Deco building, a masterpiece of architecture that added an artistic touch to the day.
By 1:30pm, the group reached the Institut Français. They enjoyed a lovely lunch at Restaurant Gazette. As part of the meal, the students were given a talk on “les traditions des français à table,” learning about the rich traditions and etiquette of French dining.
After a day filled with learning the group traveled back to Oxford. This excursion was a great opportunity for the students to better understand historical ties between France and the UK and to discover an area of London heavily influenced by French culture.
I really enjoyed the day – interacting with our French guide helped with my speaking and listening practice and it was really fun to learn more about the French history of South Kensington, and all the links between French and English culture that you can find in London that I had no idea existed before! Malavika
When studying French at A level, there is a lot of importance and focus on culture as well as language, which makes the experience so fun and enjoyable. Going on this trip to London I was able to experience a guided tour of French history around South Kensington as well as an eventful lunch where we discussed cuisine et gastronomie française. Esmé
I loved it! I found the trip super informative and learnt lots about places which I have been so many times yet knew so little about. I enjoyed visiting the monuments such as the Michelin House and also the Lycée where we saw what the French community does when in school. We had a really enjoyable lunch where we learnt more about “la Gastronomie” and the differences between French and English table rituals. Olivia
I particularly enjoyed learning about French idioms that use food. e.g. Pédaler dans la choucroute – To be getting nowhere fast. Catherine