This year, the Arcadia High School (AHS) French program hosted a cohort of students from France for two weeks, from Feb. 8 to 21. Staying in Arcadia, the French exchange students forged lasting connections with their hosts, who introduced them to various facets of life at AHS, enabling them to engage fully in American culture.
Hosts were given the opportunity to select their preferred guests, and the French students provided photos and videos as an introduction, allowing hosts to assess compatibility and choose the individuals they believed they would get along with best. Hosting priority was given to students in French 3 and 4, if more hosts are needed, French 1 and 2 students are also able to host. This spring break, AHS students in the French program will also be able to travel to France to immerse themselves in the culture.
The French students who came to AHS had the chance to visit numerous popular tourist destinations such as Santa Monica, Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and The Last Bookstore. They also encountered significant cultural differences upon their arrival at AHS, which contrasted with their own school environment.
“This was my second time hosting, and the experience is always really rewarding,” said Sabrina Lo, one of the junior hosts. “I think my favorite moments are when all the French exchange students and American hosts get together at parties because we get to bond with everyone. I’ve learned a couple of French slang words, but I’ve also just gained this amazing friendship that I’ve built with my French student.”
“When I got to personally interact and talk to the French students in Madame [Vaughan]’s class, I found it really cool that they were all so fluent in English,” said junior Talia DeVera. “Hearing them speaking French was seriously inspiring as I could make out some of the words they said.”
“I learned that they’re all very nice and open people who love to talk to the Arcadia students and learn more about them, all the while teaching people about themselves,” added DeVera. “They were very open and understanding when it came to me trying to speak French to them; they fixed my mistakes and tried their best to understand what I was saying to them. Overall, I found that the French students’ trip here to Arcadia was really fun and enjoyable!”
Hosting has not only allowed AHS students like Lo to introduce American culture to others but has also facilitated deeper personal connections with the French students. Ultimately, both hosts and exchange students forged lifelong friendships and created indelible memories together.
“People should definitely join the French program to get this very special experience and the possibility of making a lifelong friend!” exclaimed Lo.
This exchange program has been a success in increasing cultural awareness, fostering a deeper understanding of the differences between cultural groups, and promoting greater acceptance and global understanding.
