DURING half-term, Queen Elizabeth’s School’s French Exchange programme continued as students from Crediton taking part in the programme spent a week in Normandy with a great group of French students.

This was an amazing intercultural experience for QE’s students, who had the opportunity to get a taste of the historical, cultural and everyday life in Avranches.

The week was full of activities and experiences as they visited the Mount of St Michel, met with the Mayor of Avranches, visited the Bayeux Tapestry and War Museums, went to Omaha beach, enjoyed a coastal walk along des Cabanes Vauban and of course, the school had organised a Soirée for the students to enjoy.

Communicating was not always easy for budding linguists on both sides, but all the students showed impressive resilience and adaptation skills, and as the teacher from Challemel Lacour put it, “little by little they formed one group”.

So much so, that when it was time to leave, many tears were shed and students expressed that they wanted the exchange to last longer or to make return visits as early as possible – it is lovely to hear that invitations have already been planned across the Channel.

Jocelyne R-Whittaker, QE French teacher who ran the trip, said: “All of our students were great ambassadors for the school and it was a pleasure to be involved with them on such an enriching journey.

“May the French exchange live on and grow in the years to come. Our thanks extends to all who helped make the French Exchange possible, a programme which remains forever a QE community affair.

“It is au revoir, until the next adventure - French Exchange 2018!”