Baylee Wheelock (left) and a friend in Vichy, France. Photo courtesy of Baylee Wheelock

Study Abroad

Finding Connection Across Languages in a French Classroom

A BU Wheelock student reflects on a global language and culture where teaching, curiosity, and connection went beyond words.

As my time during BU Wheelock’s Global Language and Culture program in Vichy, France, came to an end, I started to look back and reflect on all I got to experience. One opportunity that I carry very close to my heart was the chance to visit a French school. As an aspiring teacher, there is nothing more that I love than meeting new students and getting to work with them. The students at Groupe Scolaire Georges Méchin had welcomed me with open arms, and I felt right at home. The experience also combined my love and curiosity of language learning and allowed me to explore that further. 

It was snowing when our group of BU Wheelock students, many of whom were also aspiring educators, jumped off the bus at Groupe Scolaire Georges Méchin. The snow was hurriedly swept away—yes swept, not shoveled—to create a pathway to the doors. We were guided to the cafeteria to celebrate L’Épiphanie (Epiphany) for la galette des rois (King Cake). As soon as we entered the cafeteria, students ran to greet us. Tugging on my arm, a group of three students began their questioning, starting with asking how to say certain things in French: “Comment dit-on earthquake en français?” “Comment dit-on brilliant en français?” 

But it didn’t stop there. The students’ faces were bright with enthusiasm as they dug within their mental lists of words they had collected from shows and songs, knowing this was the perfect chance to ask the American what these English words meant. As we sat together trying to understand what each other meant and laughing in between, I could truly feel the connection growing. It didn’t matter that we had grown up miles away from each other or that we didn’t speak the same native language. We could find the common ground that made us have these meaningful conversations and create these special moments. 

As we continued our time there, we were able to participate in another activity with the students. We were each broken into four teams and one person was given a word to act out (like charades, but called “mime”). When the instructor started explaining the rules, I could sense my BU classmates’ nerves – as each category would be in French. But as it turned out, we didn’t need to speak. The game showed us that language is more than the spoken word, and no matter our language abilities, we could all enjoy it. 

As for me, I really enjoyed the cartoon/show category of the game as I learned that the names they used were different from what we call them in the United States. It was funny to see how the students would act it out—for example, the show was Les Schtroumpfs. One student shrunk down and started walking around and pointing to their blue shirt. Immediately, we all shouted, “the Smurfs!” Everyone burst out laughing.  

The exchange of culture during this program was so special. We got to experience life as a non-native speaker and also learn from doing a specialty that we love. As we finished playing mime, we headed back outside to enter the school. The snow was so peacefully falling, until giant snowballs started hurling towards us—the students had started a snowball fight. Back inside, the students I had first met when I first arrived then decided to show me a choreographed dance. They were so excited to meet someone who could understand them and want to learn alongside them. 

Attending this program in Vichy was life changing and has made me even more grateful for the career path I want to go into. I’m forever grateful for BU Wheelock, for being able to attend this program, to the students in France for staying so curious and being brave enough to ask their questions, and for my own love of learning and language learning.