CRESTVIEW — Cheiann Quenga, Chandler Ory and Jonathan Shires are even more excited about their future French houseguests now that they’ve met them face to face.
Crestview High School's first-year French students Skyped with students in Noirmoutier, Crestview’s Sister City, Feb. 17. Using the online video chat service Skype, students found many commonalities, such as their fondness for music, sports and video games.
See photos of Crestview High students Skyping with their counterparts in France>>
Through those shared interests, ongoing email and messaging exchanges, and Skype sessions, both groups of students are preparing for Noirmoutier residents' Oct. 16 visit to Crestview. During their stay, the French kids will live with Crestview High host students and their families.
Students on both sides of the Atlantic introduced themselves in their counterparts’ languages, and answered questions about their homes and interests.
Taylor Oury wanted to know how the winter weather was on Noirmoutier, an island in the Atlantic Ocean off France’s west coast.
The day’s 10 degrees Celsius — 50 Fahrenheit — was just a bit warmer than Crestview’s chilly day.
“I like sports, I play guitar and I practice karate,” Mattis Durand said, adding that he wants to be a plumber when he’s through school.
Jonathan chatted with Erwan Guillet, the student he will host, who is also a sports buff. “I love football,” he said, referring to the game Americans call soccer.
Jonathan Shriver posed a question to the French students: “Are American accents hard to understand?” he said.
“Yes! It is a little hard,” one of the French girls said. “But if you talk very slowly, perhaps we understand.”
Lanoue’s students learned that in France, like many European countries, students learn British English.
Lanoue said meeting French students through social media and video chats helps her students connect real human beings with the academics of French language they are learning.
“Suddenly, it’s relevant,” she said.
WANT TO HOST?
Crestview High School student and area adult hosts are needed for 23 French students and approximately 15 adult escorts visiting Crestview Oct. 16-30.
Student hosts:Crestview High students interested in hosting a French student may contact French teacher Chris Lanoue, 689-7177, ext. 1490 or email lanouec@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us. A parents meeting for interested families is 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in her room 149.
Adult hosts:The Crestview Area Sister City Program seeks host families and individuals to accommodate adult visitors. Contact Pam and Joe Coffield, jcoffield@cox.net, 682-8437, or Isabelle and Jim Mills, isajim1@cox.net or 682-8215.
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High, French students Skype, prepare for fall visit (PHOTOS, VIDEO)