Bonjour Chers Collègues,
The French Traveler offers professional development workshops every summer in France for teachers of French. Attended by language teachers from many different regions, many of whom return year after year after year, the stage d’immersion focuses on the contemporary issues of France, making French culture more accessible to teachers and consequently, their students.
Morning seminars and afternoon excursions occupy our days; leisure time and optional activities are plentiful. The seminars cover topics and themes included in the syllabus for advanced studies of French. We speak only French; we dine together in restaurants selected for their authenticity. We also laugh a lot. When we’re not engaged in animated discussions about France today, we’re collectively pooling ideas for new lesson plans and spending our free time in the museums and bookstores we’ve been longing to visit.
In July 2025 we’ll be touring the exciting cultural region of Le Pays Basque. With a passionate history of independence and community, the Basques have survived multiple incursions into their language and their culture. Basque sailors, renowned for their courage, ferocity, and savoir-faire, were the favorites of the English kings, then the prized corsairs of Louis XIV. Basque culture features its own ancestral laws and gender equality often not found in early civilizations. The Basques have several reasons to be proud: their architecture is distinct and stunning. Their food is unique and very local. Their language is making a comeback. Their sports—pelote, chistera, jai-lai, tauromancie—are unique. Men’s choral groups are resoundingly popular. You’ll discover a singularity among the Basques that is striking, yet their hospitality is second to none.
Bayonne sur la Nive
Lodgings will be in a deluxe hotel in the center of town, and seminars are held in the same hotel. Bring a bathing suit to take advantage of the pool in your leisure time. Many of our participants, both active and retired teachers who have traveled and studied with us, return each summer. They recognize the value these seminars and intercultural experiences bring to them personally, enriching their teaching and deepening their understanding of France. They love the opportunity to speak non-stop French. When we’re not involved in our seminars, we attend cultural excursions around the city and fan out in the region during our free days, blending work with pleasure throughout the séjour.
Like every summer, we will have an outstanding class leader who will guide us in our discussions and pedagogical pursuits. Instructor Jean-Marie Izquierdo, a native of the region who teaches communication arts at the university in Bayonne, will stimulate your inquiry into several passionate subjects that are bound to have an impact on your lesson plans next fall.
Rejoignez-nous du 16 au 26 juillet 2025. Vous ne le regretterez pas. Nous serions heureux de vous mettre en contact avec des anciens stagiaires qui ont bien profité de leur séjour, qui sont désireux de partager leurs belles expériences. Ecoutez vos collègues ci-dessous qui parlent de leurs expériences inoubliables.
Come stretch your limits with us. Register early; or register on our website. Space is limited. Venez vivre à la française!
Valerie Sutter
Director, The French Traveler