L'Expérience d'Échange
It is very common for French teachers to participate in multi-week and year-long exchanges because many families value international travel. Explore the experience of a French teenager and the different stereotypes that French teenagers and American host families might have about each other's' cultures as compared to what they actually experience.
Use this document to follow this assignment.
Use this document to follow this assignment.
Stéréotypes
We encounter stereotypes in our daily lives, but often we learn that they aren't true. What are some stereotypes that you have heard about French life? What kind of stereotypes do you think French people have about Americans?
Now, watch this video in which a French (Minthy) student and an American (Marisa) student discuss the stereotypes they each had before Minthy came to the United States.
Video courtesy of Youtuber Marisa Logan.
Now, watch this video in which an American exchange student discusses the stereotypes she had of France and how they compared to real life.
Video courtesy of Youtuber ChristinaGrace05.
What surprised you about the two experiences? Which stereotypes held true?
À votre avis
Now, imagine you are going to spend time in France for a multi-week or year-long exchange.
Thinking from the host family perspective,
- What kinds of emotions do you feel when you think about that?
- How could your French host family help you to adjust to France best?
- What would you like to experience about French culture while in France?
Thinking from the host family perspective,
- How do you think you could help a French exchange student to adjust to the United States?
- What would you want your French exchange student to experience about American culture during their stay?