Failing to go to England, these college students go to an English village in France

On this beautiful sunny Tuesday, the streets of Eymet echo with the clear and quiet voice of Philippa Tyler telling the story of Bastide in Shakespeare’s language to a group of visiting college students.

On this beautiful sunny Tuesday, Philippa Tyler’s clear and quiet voice rings out in the streets of Eymet, immersed in English linguistics.

Brexit is good for school tourism in France! “Actually, explains Christel Mahet, one of the accompanying English teachers, we usually do a language trip on the other side of the Channel. But especially with Covid and Brexit, the system has become so complicated that we thought of a plan. Here we are in Eymet. Why Eymet?

“So British” day

“We had the idea of ​​doing an internet search for an English village in France, and the name Eymet came up. Also on the ACFAA website. [NDLR : Association culturelle franco-anglaise d’Aquitaine] “, adds the author. After contacting Claire Riley, President, and Michael Morrow, Vice President, everything happened quickly.

After stopping at Aubeterre-sur-Dronne (Charente) to visit its irresistible troglodyte church and tasting its all-English fish and chips, college students arrive in the Dordogne for a busy stay. As they improve their English, they discover the turbulent and oh-so-fascinating Bastide history and the 100 Years War. Philippa Tyler knew how to present herself in a way that was easy for young people to understand.

During their stay, the young people went on an excursion with the leader at Colonel de Bouthet. A local cricket club, who came to introduce this game, so popular among the Anglo-Saxons. Finally, “we ended this British day with a delicious cream tea and some shopping at the Roses tea room”, concludes second assistant editor Gaëlle Joubert.

Have the youth progressed? “Of course yes! »