Eighth Graders Travel the World on International Trips

Every year, French International eighth graders head out to different continents on their international trips. This year, students traveled to Chile, France, Germany, Spain, and Taiwan with their classmates and teachers.

While students are encouraged to travel to the country of the beginning language they start in sixth grade, some choose to travel to the country of their advanced language. Either way, the goals of the trip are immersion in the language and culture of another country.

Teachers Gloria Widdows and David Olson took a group to Temuco, Chile. They partnered with the Greenhouse School, which has been a French International partner for a few years. They sent exchange students to Portland in the fall, and the eighth graders stayed with those students and host families during their spring trip. They attended school, noting the differences between the Greenhouse School and French International. One student mentioned that the Greenhouse school was very big but very welcoming, with students of all ages knowing his name. The group went on excursions in Temuco and also visited Valdivia. They tried Chilean food, visited markets, and practiced their Spanish.

“You become one big family on a trip like this, and you get to know your classmates in a different way.” -Angus, Chile trip

Emma Ryan and Minda McCandless visited Paris with a group of eighth graders. They explored the typical sites like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and lots of museums. The students had time to explore with their classmates, take photos, and try different foods. During the second part of their trip, the students stayed with host families in Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers near Montpellier in the south of France. While at school, they attended classes with their host student and stayed with host families. They went on field trips as a group to explore Nîmes and Lake Ceceles. Their host families took the students on various trips and excursions in the area as well.

“It made me feel more independent and that I’m ready for high school. It makes the end of my middle school years even more exciting.” -Eleanor, France trip

Four eighth graders joined Angelika Oedekoven and Alexandra McGettigan for a trip to Germany. The adventure began in Munich, where the group explored the city, visiting museums, shopping, and sampling traditional German cuisine. After three days in Munich, the group traveled to Pfullingen ,where they stayed with host families and attended school. French International hosted students from Pfullingen in the fall, so there were familiar faces for the eighth graders to reconnect with. At school, the students went on two field trips, one to Stuttgart and one to Tuebingen.

“It’s such a helpful way to become more confident in my German. Lots of Middle schools don’t do this, and I think that makes it more special.” -Annie, German trip

Madrid and Oviedo, Spain, welcomed French International eighth graders and their teachers, Ansel Argüelles and Denise LeBlond. The group stayed with host families in Oviedo, where they got to practice Spanish and connect with people from another country. The students went on trips and explored the area with their families as well. As a group, the students visited the beach, the caves, and spent two days walking around Oviedo. They also traveled to Segovia, where they stopped by the city’s castle and cathedrals. In Madrid, the group visited museums, went shopping, and walked around the city. They tasted Spanish food and enjoyed spending time together as a class.

“I’ll remember this trip for the rest of my life. It’s a nice close to middle school.” -Pippa, Spain Trip

The final group headed to Taiwan for two weeks with Kelly Chen, Doug Teter, and Emmanuelle Burk, on her final international trip. The group spent most of their time in Taipei visiting markets, exploring the area, and trying different food. They stayed with a host family and attended school for a few days at a learning center. The experience with the host family helped the students practice their Mandarin, particularly conversationally.

“I’ve been thinking about this trip for three years, and it still exceeded my expectations. I will savor this trip and this experience for the rest of my life.” -Josse, Taiwan trip

Every student interviewed for the story mentioned how delicious the food was and expressed gratitude for the experience.

The eighth-grade trips are a celebration of students’ time at French International. It’s an opportunity to explore the world, make global connections, and practice the language they have been learning during their time in Middle School. It’s also an opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zone, doing so with their teachers and classmates before they move on to high school.