Off-campus course explores southern France
A group of Cornell College students ventured to France to study history, tradition, and identity in a course called Francophone Cultural Immersion.

(Back row, left to right:) Sara Renaud ’18, Max Ishmael ’20, Robert Petrie ’21, Madeline Blackburn ’18
Seven students and Professor of French Rebecca Wines stayed in the southern France region of Provence for the 18 days of Block 5.
The course was an opportunity to immerse themselves in the French and Provençal cultures of Aix-en-Provence, a vibrant university city founded by ancient Romans. During the three and a half weeks, they worked to achieve greater language fluency by living with local families and interacting daily with native speakers.

“Through this immersive experience, they also deepen their understanding of their own cultural viewpoints by reflecting on how they have been influenced by the cultures, histories, and traditions in which they were raised,” Wines said. “I hope that students walk away from this course with the desire to learn more about French and Francophone cultures around the globe.”
The class included a cheese tasting, market visit, cooking class, art workshop, and a visit to a World War II transit camp. The group also went on excursions to the cities of Marseille and Avignon, among others. Such experiential learning opportunities gave students a hands-on chance to explore how southern France deals with the struggles between the urge to preserve the past and the reality that comes along with change over time.
“My favorite part of the trip overall was the site excursions because they allowed me to experience the different stages of France’s history,” said Sara Renaud ’18. “I really enjoyed the Roman and Greek ruins, the Pope’s Palace and walled city from the medieval period, the scattered monuments and markers of the French Revolution, and Camp des Milles and the lasting impact World War II has on the current culture of the people of France. This trip really opened my eyes to how much history can still be ingrained as part of everyday life.”
The French Department takes students abroad every other year. Professor of French Devan Baty traveled with students to the Caribbean island of Martinique during the 2015-16 school year.