It is strange to learn so much about French history in the Czech Republic ****************************************************************************************** * It is strange to learn so much about French history in the Czech Republic ****************************************************************************************** Interview with French participants of the Europe Meets School Erasmus programme Annabelle Romain Mailho. Annabelle Chiffre and Romain Mailho are two Erasmus students from the south of France, the Toulouse II - Le Mirail, who are studying at the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts at Charles year. They are part of a group of 25 Erasmus students at the university who have joined a Erasmus programme called Europe Meets School (better known as Europa Macht Schule since th originally German) in the 2009/10 academic year. You arrived at the Charles University in Prague in autumn 2009. I will start with an obvio have you decided to spend your study year abroad in Prague in the Czech Republic? Annabelle: To be honest, I came to Prague by chance. Last year, one of our teachers advise study for a year abroad, saying that we should use the possibilities that the Erasmus prog us. He spoke about Charles University and the Czech-French History seminar at the Faculty Arts in Prague – and now here I am! It’s a great experience. My home university, the Unive II - Le Mirail has cooperation with many universities abroad – in the History Department t places available for study in Charles University. Romain: For me Prague was the first choice between all of the Erasmus destinations on offe city and its atmosphere. Not only does the city of Prague have unique historical heritage whole country is very beautiful, and very different from the south of France. I’m very hap opportunity to live in Prague for my Erasmus year – it was my wish and now I am trying to of it. Your host institute in Prague is the Institute of Czech History at the Faculty of Philosop know that a Czech-French History seminar is offered there and you attend it. Can you tell about this interesting programme? Annabelle: The Czech-French History seminar is held once a week. In each class the associa Martin Nejedlý (the teacher of the seminar) introduces a historian to us, who then holds a on a subject of their choice. During the first semester we were visited by French historia universities of Lille, Amiens, Paris, Louvain, Lyon, Montpellier and from the EHESS (Schoo Studies in the Social Sciences). This class is really interesting because we discover much area which we hadn’t known about before. Each history student has a topic and a historical dedicate their research to, but these lectures enabled us to learn about many unfamiliar h Romain:  The Czech-French History seminar is one of the most interesting courses that I at even though it is very strange to learn so much about French history in the Czech Republic course professors from various French universities introduce their historical research to enriches my knowledge of history when I am introduced to so many different approaches to a experts. I learnt a great deal about different historical methods and the geographical and context of the subject. I don’t think I would have ever discovered this in France. Do you yourself work on a Czech-French history project? If yes, please tell us a few words not, what is your topic of interest in history? Annabelle: I am researching a mémoire about Guillaume de Machaut, a 14th century French po the king of Bohemia, John of Luxembourg, the father of the famous Charles IV, the Roman Em about the chivalrous society in central Europe in the Middle Ages thanks to the poems of G Machaut. The relationship between Czech and French nobles is of great interest to me. Romain:  Unlike Annabelle, I prefer the contemporary history to the Middle Ages and I don’ French history project. I am working on a project for my upcoming Masters exams. It's a th integration into the European Union and its new links with other countries, particularly w Russia. The Czech Republic is a very interesting topic to study, both  the past, the prese that may arise in the future. In the winter semester 2009/10 you were two of our first students to join this year's prog Meets School/Europa Macht Schule. What motivated you to take part in this programme? Annabelle: I think it’s a really good way to learn more about Czech people and culture, wh the young generation. Moreover, I’d like to become a teacher and therefore it’s an excelle for me to discover more about the profession. I started to learn Czech this year too, and participating in the programme would help me to improve my knowledge of it. Romain: I wanted to learn more about the way of thinking of the next generation of Czechs differing points of view and thoughts in the first instance. Additionally, this programme to improve my knowledge of the Czech language. You prepared two historical projects to introduce your home country, France, to pupils fro French language classes at the Commercial High School in Vlašim. Can you explain your choi tell us a few words about each of the projects? Annabelle: I chose to introduce Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) to the pupils, because I think character and her life is an interesting topic for young pupils. Jeanne's life is linked t important historical events in late medieval French history; it has been told and recounte historians and researchers, and it has also been a big source of inspiration for painters general. Therefore, I prepared a PowerPoint presentation on Jeanne d’Arc for my class, sho pictures documenting Jeanne's life and accompanied it with texts in French and Czech (yes, tried!). I think the pupils will remember the name and the story of this French personalit Romain: My project focused on Napoleon Bonaparte. I wanted to offer not only a biography o but also an introduction to the historical setting in Europe at the time. I devoted my wor Napoleon's life, but also the consequences of the Napoleonic era for France and for each E To make the problems visual, I searched for pictures of paintings from this period and put in a PowerPoint presentation with short Czech explanations. The topic also bridged contemp because we spoke with the class about the present image of Napoleon in each European count Czech Republic,of course. It was more than a simple presentation, I wanted to offer a comprehensive vision of one of important periods in European history to the pupils, and then reflect on problematics in t The school you joined for the programme is located in a regional Czech town Vlašim. How di and how was the cooperation with the school? Annabelle: First of all, I have to say that the teachers and the coordinator of the progra Lucie Svobodová, made us feel very welcome. We were both able to visit the whole school wi teacher from the project. We could speak with the pupils and others teachers about Vlašim The coordinator asked me if I would like to see another class who had just begun learning was really nice too! And although Vlašim is a quite small place, it’s a nice town. I didn’ to do sightseeing, but I saw my first snow in the Czech Republic there! And I know I will some day as a tourist. Romain: Vlašim is a very nice town, but it’s very different from the popular tourist citie Republic. For me, it’s important to discover the generally unknown parts of the Czech Repu in my opinion mass tourism destroys the traditional culture and the ways of  Czech society pleasantly surprised by the Commercial High School of Vlašim! Firstly, by the enthusiasm o for the Europe Meets School programme, but also by the school itself, its good equipment a staff. It is very good to find such a school regionally – the pupils in Vlašim are very lu For the majority of your pupils you were the first French people they ever had to interact difficult for you to work with them? Annabelle: Definitely not. Most of them were just shy in the beginning – so was I. But the interesting questions and were curious and interested in the French culture. I’m happy if French person they ever met, and I hope I gave them a good impression and motivated them t their French language studies! It’s a very difficult language to learn, especially during you have so many subjects and so much work to concentrate on. Meeting those pupils was rew Romain: It was very interesting for me to be in contact with these pupils. In the beginnin communication was difficult because the pupils were shy, but after the first discussion th ask me questions individually. By the way, my class consisted mainly of girls – there was The pupils showed different levels of interest in the subject, but the majority of the cla interesting and they were also curious about it! For me the contact with these Czech pupil experience. I know that your projects were very successful and the school asked you to return to teach during the summer semester. Do you already know what your next projects are going to be th Annabelle: My next project will be about France, concerning French culture and French habi were really interested in the French way of life (especially of young French people I gues probably show them a lot of pictures, some videos if I can find anything of interest, and everything they want to know about France and life there. I know from my own experience ho is to see how similar, but how different life can be in another  country at the same time. Romain: I am thinking about preparing a presentation of the Multiples France (= Multiple V for my next project, because the pupils showed a big interest in France (and furthermore t girls in the class than boys) and I would like to introduce them to contemporary France in aspects. My wish is not to offer them a touristy and generally surreal image of the country, but to them a true image of the real France. It’s a big task but important for the cultural devel students. I must praise you for being so enthusiastic about this programme. If I am not mistaken, yo join another partner school for the programme to Kralupy nad Vltavou in the summer semeste for a history class and a project in English. Do you enjoy teaching in itself or is it an for you to meet Czech people outside of university? Annabelle: I think a bit of both. Personally I’d like to become a teacher, so it’s obvious opportunity for me to „get a taste of the job“ once more. But it’s also a great opportunit people, because we are living in their country and we try to share their language, their h culture. When Czech and Erasmus students meet each other, it’s always interesting but it r formal because it takes place in an Erasmus or faculty environment. When you meet other Cz they ask different questions and express views other than those of university acquaintance depends on the person – Czech students can become more than just classmates. Romain: It the same for me. I enjoy teaching and also meeting new people. This programme i opportunity for students who want to get practice in teaching, with its oral presentation students from a country different from your own. I also agree with Annabelle that interact the Erasmus students and Czech people is normally very poor. The majority of the Erasmus s really come in contact with people from the host country, and that’s really bad! The Europ programme is on the one hand a unique chance to get a new study experience and on the othe experience, which is for me the most important part of my stay as an Erasmus student. Most Erasmus students I know complain about not knowing many Czech people when they leave Republic. This won't happen in your case, I think? Annabelle: The big problem is that Erasmus students stick together. Our university hall of doesn‘t house foreign and Czech students together. So it’s not that easy to meet Czech peo myself could meet Czech people. Firstly, this was thanks to the Czech-French History semin good friends in this class. I think we will also stay in touch with our Czech contact from who was really nice and helpful. Moreover, I found two Czech people for a French-Czech tan friends as well. And you can also be lucky and become friends with Czech people by chance around the Czech Republic helps you to meet Czechs too. Romain: Personally, I am trying to meet Czech people in all kinds of places simply because Republic. But Annabelle sums it up well – the Erasmus students are not very close to the l I don’t think it is the problem of the university or because they are Erasmus students – i the motivation of the students to discover their host country. I have met a number of Czech people since arriving in Prague in September, mainly Czech st the Czech-French History seminar but also people from the language exchange (tandem) progr Republic is a very nice country and I’m here to discover its culture, its history, its lan course, its inhabitants! Thank you for the interview. Interview with French participants of the Europe Creates School Erasmus programme Annabell Romain Mailho by Ivana Herglová. Edited by Inga Richardson. Europe Creates School/Europa Macht Schule is a voluntary programme for Erasmus students in teaching or simply meeting young people from their host country outside university. It was group of German students and young graduates in 2006, and was expanded to the Czech Republ semester of 2008/9. The aim of the programme is to enable primary and secondary school pup Europeans studying in their countries. The participating Erasmus students are asked to pre introducing their home country in some shape or form. The programme is run by the Erasmus Club at the Faculty of Philosophy and Arts at Charles Its members act as interpreters in classes where a foreign language is not being taught. I programme has 4 cooperating schools – Olešská Basic Art School (Praha 10 - Strašnice), K M School (Praha 4 – Háje), Třebízského Primary School (Kralupy nad Vltavou), and finally the Annabelle and Romain taught – Vlašim Commercial High School.