TFS - Canada's International School

Last year, our Level I students celebrated 20 years of exchanges with Saint Érembert school in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The exchange has given hundreds of students the chance not only to live with, but live like their host family. For TFS students, it may be their first time living in a small apartment, eating dinners late at night, and having to share a room. It may also be the first time they use their French for days at a time, fully immersed. If there is one word to describe the exchanges, it's connection. Teacher Chantal Malcolm '97 has chaperoned the exchange five times. Each visit, she has noticed the depth of connections the correspondants have with each other – after spending almost two weeks together in France as virtual strangers, the students are incredibly excited to reunite just weeks later in Canada. She says the connections she sees are genuine, and many are long-lasting. For Amrita, the experience was pivotal – she says that she got her first real taste of life in France, and is eager for more. She especially appreciated the overnight trip to Normandy, as the French and TFS students visited Juno Beach, where Canadian and allied troops faced heavy German resistance during World War II. Retracing the soldiers' steps on the beaches and seeing the names on crosses of those who made the ultimate sacrifice was eye-opening for both sets of students, and more meaningful as they learned about it together. These types of experiences help students understand their rights French students from St. Érembert with TFS Level I students. as individuals, as well as their responsibilities as citizens in the world. "Lessons about war, peace, history and culture become much more profound when lived in situ," explains Dr. González, Head of School. "It is for this reason that our trips are evolving to nurture a sense of citizenship as students explore la Francophonie in a purposeful way." The goal of Judith Gorry, director of student life, is to create rich, age-appropriate experiences that are culturally relevant, include significant acts of citizenship and allow for bonding time. Before each trip, curious students learn about French current events, the arts, history and about their host school. As well, the students shadow their host students – participating in the same classes and sports, and also experiencing family life, trying new foods and shopping at the local market. "The raison d'être of this exchange is to respect differences, to celebrate commonalities, to practise language skills extensively, to experience something new and memorable together and to encourage deep social connections," she explains. "ALLEZ! ALLEZ!" For Shaw Z., LII, the differences in daily life were surprising. He notes, "my French family lived in an apartment with a lot less space, so it meant we tried to use things less, and keep things tidier." Both Shaw and Amrita K., who also went on the exchange in 2016, were welcomed into families where greetings are kisses and dinners are heavy. When she participated in a city race with her correspondant, she found the similarities with Toronto races remarkable, until she heard the cheers of "Allez! Allez!" 22 TFS ENTRE NOUS 2016

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