Grades 7-12 Experience Francophone Day

The World Languages Department hosted Francophone Day, formerly known as French Fun Day, on campus today for French students in grades 7-12. Students participated in three workshops that related to in-class studies. The workshops include French food tastings, childhood games from both France and West Africa, and dancing and singing to music from French-speaking countries around the world. Banneton Bakery and the online French grocery store Maboxfrancaise provided wonderful treats and materials in support of the event. 

One activity featured a chocolate workshop with Estelle Tracy of 37 Chocolates on Zoom. The students studied the chocolate-making process earlier this year, following cocoa beans harvested in West Africa through the steps necessary to turn them into prize-winning artisan Belgian chocolate. The classes listened to podcasts, discussed sustainability and fair trade issues, and read a novel about overcoming differences through the love of chocolate. Estelle, originally from France, addressed many of these issues in her workshop and sent the materials needed to experience a taste of what we’ve been learning.

In addition to chocolate, the students tasted a number of pate’s, cheeses, croissants, and a French grenadine to experience foods and flavors that are common in French culture. The day for students concluded with a debrief of the experience, a Meeting for Worship, and viewing a short French film.