“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart.” Any student who has been to France as an exchange student may well agree with Nelson Mandela. Not only have many of them earned top academic prizes in French upon their return from their program, many still feel connected to the French culture.
Robert Lindsay, national director of not-for-profit Southern Cross Cultural Exchange, says families in the Geelong area can help bridge French and Aussie cultures just by simply doing what Aussies do best – being generous and welcoming of others and in so doing gain different perspectives and a foreign language skill.
High school-age students from France are dreaming about a short-term exchange to Australia to experience Aussie life and culture they have heard so much about.
“They want so much to be a part of a warm caring family and community, and get to experience the real Australia. Like many of us they look forward to making life-long friends from a different culture,” he said.
“Why not appreciate your own world through different eyes? You may even help change a life!”
It’s time to make the French connection, he said. He would like to encourage students and their families to seize the opportunity and have a young French native speaker from France, aged 15 to 17, live with their family for a short duration from mid-May while attending a local high school as part of their international exchange program.
“It would be a fantastic opportunity for fun and learning.”
Volunteer host families get to select the student they would like to host, according to the family’s availability. For more information please call 1800 500 501 or email scceaust@scce.com.au
The website is scce.com.au
