With some of the group flying together from Nice, and others arriving independently, it was exciting to finally come together as a group in Nice! Students had time to refresh and settle into their rooms before having a chance to explore some of le Vieux Nice. Several students opted for a well-deserved ice-cream break after their travels in the heat! Students took some time to discover the neighborhood, and a few even had time to test if the mer Méditerranée was froid or chaud compared to the beaches they typically visit. We ended our first day in Nice with a group dinner at a small restaurant near the residence. Students left full and ready to tackle the next day en français!
0 Comments
Bonjour à tous/toutes!
I can't believe that we are just a few days away from Nice! Once the program begins, be sure to check this blog to find regular updates daily or every other day to see what we have been up to in Nice and the surrounding area! Since we will be spending a lot of time together over the next few weeks, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a little more about myself and my passion for travel and languages. I began my study of French in middle school and continued throughout college, where I studied to become a French teacher. During my undergraduate studies I spent a semester with a host family in Toulouse, and following graduation I spent a year as an English Assistant at a high school in Avignon. This past spring I completed my M.A. in Intercultural Communication with a concentration in francophone studies. In the fall I will be entering my 5th year teaching French at Garrison Forest School, just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Along with my husband, Allan, we are dorm parents on campus at my school. We love the opportunity to get to know our American and international students outside of the classroom! Outside of my classroom, I can be found playing and coaching field hockey, baking, or traveling. My husband is from Avignon, and my paternal grandparents live in Ireland (my picture below is from a recent visit to the Cliffs of Moher), so we travel to see family as often as possible, with stops to new countries in between! In my time at Garrison I have traveled with my students to France and Canada. I love being able to witness the "light bulb" moments where a student realizes his or her ability to communicate in French. I believe that immersive experiences are critical to language acquisition, and I am beyond excited to guide and support students in gaining a deeper knowledge of French language and culture while having fun throughout our time together in Nice! A bientôt! Maria |