Rouen November 2007 - Work Experience Abroad

A teacher's point of view

A student's point of view

Rouen Work Experience Trip

Sunday 24th November- Sunday 2nd December

“Would I be interested in accompanying a group of year 13 French students on a work experience trip to Rouen in a week’s time?”  This was the question put to me on Thursday of the fourth week of term.  “Yes, I most certainly would!”  Having done work experience in France when I was in year 13 and benefited enormously from the experience, I was keen to participate in the programme.  So, at 6.45am on Sunday 24th November, 23 students from six schools in Hounslow, Gareth Jones, the programme director, Paul Moulden, an MFL teacher and I set off by coach from Hounslow Civic Centre to historical Rouen. 

Gareth Jones established the programme 14 years ago when funding became available for a  Modern Foreign Languages initiative and since 1994 annual trips to Rouen have given over 200 Sixth form students from Hounslow Borough the unique opportunity to undertake work experience abroad.  The placements vary, from nursery and primary schools to bars and shops.  Of the five Cranford students Jasmine Bhullar, Navpreet Kundal, Pavneet Syan, Harleen Sandhu and Jay Bhadricha, one was in a nursery school, three in primary schools and one in a bar. 

From the outset, the week was busy.  Sunday night: map reading practice for students who would walk to work the following morning.  Monday morning: accompany students catching the bus to work but disaster struck. The bus, train and tram drivers were on strike.  Vive la France!  Fortunately our kindly hotel owner played the role of taxi driver.  Then daily journal entries had to be marked by Paul Moulden and myself and in the evening we all gathered for an evening of excited chatter and good French food.  Experiences ranged.  Some students were ready to move to Rouen and take up their posts permanently, others were overwhelmed by the double challenge of starting a new job, in a foreign country.  By Friday, however, tears were being shed and e-mail addresses exchanged as students were saying good bye to employers in greatly improved French.  Saturday was a chance for students to explore the beautiful historical town centre, and indulge in a little Christmas shopping in Rouen’s many shops.  Before we knew it Sunday morning came around again and this time we were heading for a blustery ferry crossing heading back to Dover. 

Each of the 23 participants made the most of a fantastic opportunity to improve their French, get first-hand experience of working life and make friendships with students from neighbouring schools.  Gareth Jones and Paul Moulden do a great job in ensuring the smooth running of this trip and I sincerely hope that funding can be secured so that this programme may run for another 14 years and longer. 

Good luck to all students applying for university.  Don’t forget to mention work experience in Rouen in your personal statements.

Marta Calvo, French & Spanish Teacher, Cranford Community College.

email Marta Calvo mca@cranford.hounslow.sch.uk