The Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association welcomes its first-ever student visit from Lycee’ Pierre Et Marie Curie High School in Menton, France, this Friday, Oct. 21.
The 30 French students visit their sister city and meet their counterparts at Laguna Beach High School, who they already know by conversing the last 18 months online using Skype.
LBHS instructor Odile Dewar and Marie Curie’s English instructor Florence Legache use technology to apply foreign language skills. As a result, students from both classrooms have had the opportunity to develop a friendly relationship while honing their academic study.
Both instructors, Odile and Florence, have scheduled a joint lesson at LBHS on Monday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to noon, as well as a lunch afterward.
Mayor Toni Iseman will commence the official welcome at C’est la Vie restaurant on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m., where students will dine and sing the French and U.S. national anthems.
The four-year-old association aims to foster a relationship between the City of Laguna Beach and its sister city, Menton, France, through cultural, educational, and business exchanges., “The LBSCA has had the vision for just this type of educational and cultural exchange from the very beginning,” said the association’s president, Karyn Philippsen. “We look forward to our Laguna Beach students having a similar opportunity to visit Menton, France. This has all come about with the support and devotion of a hard working committee and membership that is filled with passion and energy to build better understanding for the next generation.”
Other stops on the students’ itinerary include Mission San Juan Capistrano, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Len Wood Indian Territory gallery, Laguna College of Art and Design, Main Beach and downtown Laguna.
