Steamboat Springs High School and Lycée Frédéric Chopin: A Cultural Exchange that Builds Lifelong Connections
Earlier this spring, 11 Steamboat Springs High School students traveled to Nancy, France, to immerse themselves in French language and culture by participating in an exchange program with a French high school, Lycée Frédéric Chopin.
In September, SSHS returned the favor by hosting 30 students from Lycée Frédéric Chopin in Steamboat Springs. The students were here from September 17 - October 1 and had the opportunity to experience all that Steamboat Springs has to offer, thanks in part to the generosity of our community and the families who opened their homes to the students.
“It feels like a bit of a miracle,” said Rebecca Cohen, the French teacher at SSHS. “It went from me planting a seed with a school two years ago to happening.”
And it isn’t over yet.
After a successful exchange between SSHS and Lycée Frédéric Chopin in Nancy, France, SSHS students will have the opportunity to go to France again this April. This time, the program is open to all students, not just the ones taking French. The program has space for up to 30 students.
“Learning English is so common in France,” said Cohen. “The school is equipped to welcome students even if they aren’t taking French.”
Cohen’s drive to arrange this opportunity for students was sparked by her own experience as an exchange student in high school. It was through the generosity of the family that took her in that she was fully immersed in the language and became fluent.
“You have to go out and use the language,” said Cohen. “The students [who hosted French exchange students] have learned so much French just by hosting someone from France.
French exchange students and those who hosted the students in their families' homes participated in quintessential Steamboat activities. Several activities were donated to the program, such as going to Strawberry Park Hot Springs, Old Town Hot Springs, riding the Steamboat Gondola, visiting the Fish and Cross Ranch, and riding Bumper Cars on ice at Howleson Ice Arena. The program culminated in a farewell party for students and families at Vaqueros.
All the students who went to France in April had to host French students who came to Steamboat in September. Leslie Jimenez, a junior at SSHS, hosted the same French student who hosted her, and she was excited to welcome someone to her home the same way she was in France.
According to Leslie, the exchange opportunities allowed students to live in different settings. Steamboat is rural and surrounded by trees and nature, while Nancy, France, was a more urban setting. She hopes the program continues and more students from SSHS will participate next time.
“I’ve learned many things from this experience,” said Leslie. “It made me more open-minded to how different everyone’s lives are. I have a more open mind to everyone else in the world.”
Kristie Churchley, a parent of freshman Layla, opened up her home to host an exchange student when the program needed more hosts. They jumped on the opportunity since Layla has been taking French classes for a few years. Layla and the French exchange student, Inès, communicated all summer to get to know each other.
During the French exchange program, Layla and Inès enjoyed time on the Churchley ranch, which provided an authentic Steamboat experience.
“I’m hoping this becomes a lifelong friendship for the girls,” said Churchley. “It would be amazing if they stay in touch after this.”
During Inès’ stay at the Churchley ranch, Inès and Layla rode the bus together each morning to school and, on most days, would meet up with the larger French exchange group for an activity. The French exchange students attended all the host students' classes to see what classes were like.
After school, it was up to the host families to provide an authentic Steamboat experience for the students. The Churchley family took Inès to a middle school football game, participated in a 5K fun run with lots of dogs, went to the farmers market, and got to ride horses around the family’s ranch.
“It’s been so great for the whole family getting to know the culture,” said Churchley. “She (Inès) asks many questions on how they do things, and it sparks a lot of conversations.”
Emily Conjura, parent to sophomore Sophie, also opened her home to a French exchange student, Elisa, because she felt her family was well-equipped to host. The family had previously lived in France and is fluent in the language.
To help prepare to host, Conjura reached out ot Elisa’s mom before arriving to ask what she liked to eat.
“Food is love,” said Conjura.
Conjura believes that Elisa got an authentic Steamboat Springs experience between what the school planned for the students and the activities they did as a family.
“It felt like the community and administration stepped up to make this experience as seamless as possible,” said Conjura. “It’s cool that Prof Cohen is taking this on. She doesn’t have to offer this program but goes above and beyond to give these kids an experience. The program is finding its way into its first full year, and I am excited for the future.”
SSHS Principal Jay Hamric speaks to the French exchange group about the importance of being open to other cultures.
Cohen is also grateful for the support of the high school administration team. Jay Hamric, principal of SSHS, spoke with the group while they were in Steamboat. He emphasized the importance of continuing to be open to other cultures, continuing to see other cultures, and taking what you learned and sharing it with your community.
Molly Wilson, a senior at SSHS, went to France in the spring, so her family hosted Nina, a French exchange student, in their home this fall.
While hanging out together in Steamboat, Molly and Nina were often mistaken for sisters.
Nina, the French exchange student (left), and Molly Wilson, an SSHS senior (right), pose in matching outfits.
“Their laughs are very similar,” said Amy Wilson, Molly’s mother. “It was so fun to see how much they were laughing together about silly stuff.”
Molly took French all through middle school and completed AP French last year. She said signing up for the exchange program was easy, and committing to hosting another student was no problem. The nerve-wracking part was being part of the first cohort to travel to France.
“It is shocking how similar people can be,” said Molly. “People are people. It’s crazy that we could find so much common ground and relate to each other despite our very different cultural backgrounds. It doesn’t matter where you come from.”