On Nov 5, the World Languages Department and a group of parents from the school’s Francophone community brought a taste of French culture to campus. The event, “A Francophone Village,” showcased the cultural diversity of French-speaking countries and regions.

Displays celebrated the culture and cuisine of five countries, Lebanon, Haiti, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, as well as  five regions of France, Bretagne, Côte d’Azur, Bourgogne, Paris, and Bordeaux.

“Many people don’t know about the French roots that many nations have,” junior Sebastien Calixte said. “As a Haitian, it feels good to have people learn about the importance of my culture and its roots.”

The event is part of National French Week from Nov 4 to Nov 10, which takes place in schools across the nation. According to the American Association of Teachers of French, the goal of the week is to increase the visibility of the French language and culture in response to the growing prominence of other languages.

“In a place so diverse as Gulliver, I think it’s important to highlight all cultures,” junior Landon Eskra said. “Being able to learn about my friends’ cultures was amazing.”

For the French families of the school, the event offered a way to enlighten students about their cultures and heritages. The families shared food and traditions from their respective countries.

“My mom made a bunch of French pastries like pain au chocolat and croissants to bring to the event,” sophomore Eduardo Valle said. “The event overall really did a good job of representing my culture.”

All in all, the event achieved its goal of spreading French culture to the students in a fun and interactive way.