By Olivia Fasan – Contributor

March 20 marked International Francophonie Day, commemorating the more than 255 million daily speakers of French and their linguistic and cultural diversities from around the world. From Monday, March 18 to Saturday, March 23, the French and Quebec studies department held activities available to all BU students to explore just a few of the many aspects of francophone culture, art and tradition.

The week opened with a movie night, where students joined department professor Olivier Leroy’s course Culture and Society: Conversational French 2, for a screening of La cordonnière. This romantic melodrama released in 2023 takes place in Quebec during the early 20th century. It paints the historical biography of a successful shoemaker. Reflecting on the first activity of the week, Natalie Iwanicki, a student from the class, explained that the movie took an unexpected turn, focusing on a complex love triangle. Natalie said she appreciated getting to watch a movie with the class to facilitate a different form of learning French.

The following day, Gia Clarke, a student enrolled in the Micro-certificate in French for professional integration, held a social lunch with an episode of a Quebecois TV show at the French Hub.

On Wednesday, department chair Prof. Sarah Théberge’s writing and communication class held a creative writing workshop which also took place at the French Hub. Students of all different levels were invited to review how to craft strong descriptions. They were given pictures to inspire short pieces of creative writing.

Improv, a classic form of drama popular in Quebec, shaped the fourth workshop of the week. Led by Prof. Adèle Gousset, seven students stepped out of their comfort zones to participate in this acting experience. For most, this was their first time trying improv, where they focused on voice intonation, stress management and nonverbal communication. 

As the week came to a close, almost 30 students hopped on a bus to Valcourt to grab a bite at the highly anticipated Cabane à sucre, or sugar shack. March and April are the months when Quebecers often share a meal in a picturesque log cabin featuring ham, beans, music and most notably, maple taffy.

“People were really excited to get to experience this part of French culture. There was a pretty big turnout. The atmosphere was great, very cozy and traditional. But, of course, the best part is the unlimited [maple taffy]!”, said Iwanicki. When asked if she would go again, Iwanicki responded, “For sure! I would also love to try out a new cabin.”

Ending the week strong, the last scheduled activity was the Les Trois Accords concert at the Granada Theatre in Sherbrooke. Students sang along and cheered to one of Quebec’s most popular and well-known rock bands. Recognized for their silly lyrics and catchy beats, the band has been around since 1997, with their most recent album being released in 2022.

It was a pleasure for the French and Quebec studies department to share aspects of francophone culture with the Bishop’s community. To participate in other French related activities during the academic semester, be sure to follow @thefrenchhubbu on Instagram for updates and drop by the French Hub in McGreer 003.