The Festival Philosophy
The philosophy of our Festival programme is simple. Bring together British and French school children, of similar ages and outlook, to learn more about each other’s languages, cultures, interests and views, in a safe, fun, supportive environment.
As the term suggests, the Interaction Festivals will be a celebration of French and British cultures, the differences and the similarities. Students will communicate in both French and English in an effort to make themselves understood. The festivals are also designed to be a great deal of fun, where both students and party leaders enjoy themselves and everyone doesn’t realise just how much they are learning.
The Festival Programme
Each Festival Programme can be split into 3 elements:
- Interaction activities, on the centre, with your partner schools
- Off-site excursions to local cultural and historical attractions
- Evening entertainments as a whole group
The Interaction Activities
Underpinning the festival programme are tried and tested activities, designed to break the ice and get school children from different countries talking and sharing. (Each party leader has a teacher handbook for their Key Stage and each student will receive a Workbook to support the activities).
Sample activities
Bi-lingual treasure hunt. A very simple, but fun and powerful game which gets children communicating and working together in small groups to find a list of items in the centre. Unusual items need to be explained to pupils from partner schools and the session ends with a consolidation of vocabulary.
- Speed-meeting. Based on the same principle as speed-dating, this activity will enable students to meet and get to know each other very quickly. All students prepare a set of 3 questions with the aid of the workbook.
- Who am I? Another child’s game we have adapted. Each pupil completes a mini-questionnaire (available on the website) which is passed on to a pupil from the partner schools. During the festival session, the pupil from the partner school will ask your group questions in an effort to find the person on their card.
- Bi-lingual bingo. Instead of numbers, we use words in both languages (Bingo cards available on the website). Teachers announce a word or a definition and students must find the equivalent of the word in the other language and check if it’s on their card.
Sample Festival Itinerary
AM |
PM |
Evening |
|
| Monday | Arrive, centre orientation |
|
|
| Tuesday | 'Bi-lingual Treasure Hunt’ & ‘Speed Meeting’ activities in mixed groups | Excursion to Boulogne and a Chocolaterie |
|
| Wednesday | ‘Sparrowhawk’ and ‘Bi-lingual Bingo’ activities in mixed groups | Excursion to Bagatelle Theme Park with partner school |
|
| Thursday |
|
|
|
| Friday | ‘Bilingual Chinese Whisper’ & ‘Who am I’ activities in mixed groups | Lunch and depart | |
Festival and Preview Weekend Dates
Festival dates for 2012
- 19th to 23rd March
- 26th to 30th March
- 28th May to 1st June
- 11th to 15th June
- 15th to 19th October
- 12th to 16th November
Preview Weekends
We are running a programme of Weekend Previews, with one each term. The Previews not only give you the opportunity to inspect the Ambleteuse centre and meet the Voyager Interaction team, they will also give you the opportunity to meet party leaders from your partner schools, discuss the programme and start the ball rolling with pre-trip ‘interactions’. Ferry crossings, along with Full Board accommodation will be provided by Voyager Interaction.
The dates for the Previews are:
Dates 2012 Festival next preview is 31/03/2012 to 01/04/2012.
