The France Intensive Learning trip, led by MS/US French Teachers Celine Bonnemaiso and Jobi Dan’sy, will make stops in both the capital city of Paris and the medieval town of Carcassonne on this culture and history-based excursion.

Born in France herself, Bonnemaiso shared, “I’m excited to go back home and excited for the students to be immersed in French culture and language.” Bonnemaiso is looking forward to visiting Carcassonne the most, where students will be doing a homestay. She explained the purpose of the homestay, where students will be living with a French family: “It’s about making a connection with other people in the world and growing as students.”  

Bonnemaiso offered some insight into the planning behind the trip: “We worked hard to make sure that the trip aligns with MFS’s values.” She emphasized the importance of seeing values like community and stewardship in action, which helps “make [students] feel connected to cities on the other side of the world.” 

While many students on the trip are enrolled in French language classes at MFS, the leaders are looking to create a valuable experience for both French and non-French-speaking students. The France Intensive Learning trip was able to offer spots to students not taking the language, as the MFS French program is the smallest out of the three languages offered. No matter what language they take in school, this Intensive Learning is centered around “giving students the love of French culture, history, and language,” affirmed Bonnemaiso. 

French student Ava Ellis ’25 attributed her selection to the exposure she’s gotten in class to the French culture, and an interest in further exploring that. Fellow students Mikelle Smith ’25 and Dinah Megibow-Taylor ’24 shared similar sentiments about their experience with the MFS French program leading them to choose the trip. 

 Megibow-Taylor commented, “I really feel connected to the French department because I’ve had such a personalized experience and still, after about a decade, I love the language. I plan on continuing French in college and in the future.” Her passion for the French language started at the age of six and now in her final year at MFS, “There was nothing that [she] wanted more for [her] senior year Intensive Learning than to go to France.” Megibow-Taylor is most excited to visit Carcassonne and see medieval Roman city and fortress structures. 

Smith mentioned that she is most looking forward to “playing with the little kids in the south of France,” and “going to the cooking class” to learn how to make French food. Ellis, like Smith, agreed that she was most excited to try authentic French cuisine. 

All three students remarked that they hope to take away a new perspective on the world through learning about French culture and history. “I want to learn [how] other people think and live in France,” noted Ellis. Similarly, Megibow-Taylor hopes to learn about day-to-day life in France and compare metropolitan life in France to metropolitan life in America. 

The students and leaders of the France Intensive Learning trip are ready for a trip full of educational experiences that will expose them to the highlights of authentic French culture. According to Bonnemaiso, “They are not just being tourists and seeing monuments. They are going to be active participants in the culture.”