What Happened When I Took My Students to Martinique: A French Teacher’s Story

Why did we choose to travel with students to Martinique?

Well, in addition to the beaches, rainforests, and tropical delicacies, Martinique is full of historical sites, cultural institutions, and gracious people. After attending a conference in Martinique with the American Association of Teachers of French, I knew that I wanted to share this amazing country and culture with younger generations.

I finally got the opportunity to do so in 2024 and was thrilled that my students would get to experience the warmth, richness, and history of the Martinican people and culture. Other years, our Department has offered exchange programs in Strasbourg, France and Paris, France, but we also strive to share with our students the many French-speaking countries in the world as each plays an important role in the development of La Francophonie.

We wanted our students to experience first-hand the unique African and Francophone cultures of Martinique, including traditions, cuisine, politics and economics, not to mention the rich environmental, architectural, and historical aspects of the country.

When beginning to plan this adventure, I had certain ideas and requests ready to go based on my
previous time in the country, from sites to accommodations.

One element that was a must for me, and that helped me pick a travel provider (as not all companies offer this), was the homestay option. As seen in our exchange programs, homestays provide students with an immersive experience that allows them to fully delve into both the language and the cultures of the community. In fact, the morning afterour first day in Martinique, one of my students told me that “immersion is no joke” and that he had already noticed a difference in his French language abilities in just 24 hours.

Indeed, throughout the rest of our trip, different students would share this same sentiment. During our daily excursions, the students would tell us about the different customs they learned at their homes, the discussions they had about local and international politics, and the different types of food they tasted.

The homestayshad such a huge impact on our students that a few of them even started to cry when saying au revoir to their host mothers. These conversations, these reactions warmed my heart and further solidified mycommitment to helping students explore the Francophone world.

While in Martinique, our students enjoyed a wide variety of activities, some physical, some historical,
some scenic, each one incredibly valuable.

We climbed Mount Pelée and learned about its devastating eruption in 1902, discovered the local flora and fauna at the Jardin de Balata Gardens, learned about the history of the island at the Musée de la Banane, Musée de la Canne à Sucre, and La Savane des Esclaves. We savored local Creole cooking on Les Salines beach, witnessed some traditional dances, and completed a scavenger hunt in Fort-de-France where local residents provided clues. We learned about Aimé Césaire, chatted with students from a near-by school, and participated in a Creole language workshop.

What didn’t we do?

If I were to offer any pieces of advice for this kind of travel program, it would be three-fold:

1. Communication is key

Since this was the first time traveling with students in Martinique and working with new travel providers, there were many unknowns; It was also our first travel program after the pandemic!
Leading a student trip can be daunting, and as I previously mentioned, our district made it even
tougher by adding new requirements and restrictions. But with the help of my co-chaperones,
we were able to navigate the bureaucracy and make this trip happen. Communication is of the
utmost importance. From constant check-ins and updates with my colleagues, to confirmations
and follow-ups about paperwork with our main office staff, to regular questions and requests
with our travel providers, being consistent in communication is critical. This, of course, applies
to communication with the students and families as well.

2. Be flexible

As we know, things don’t always go as planned. Being flexible is crucial to maintaining your own
sanity while traveling with students and also helps you set an example for them. When in
Martinique, we were caught in an unexpected torrential rainstorm that prohibited us from
seeing the Jardin Balata.

We had to pivot, and thanks to our on-site guide (Jessica at JD Agency!), we found another indoor activity and rescheduled the Jardin Balata for another day.

Spirits remained high and the students enjoyed getting in a little shopping time that we hadn’t
previously had scheduled.

3. Enjoy

Traveling with students can be stressful! We are responsible for their well-being and for their
comportment in a different country. While we will never stop worrying at least a little, we must
remember to enjoy the trip as well.

That’s one reason I prefer to travel with experienced co-chaperones that I know I will travel well with. It makes the preparations and on-site duties much easier when you have people you can trust and who know what they’re doing.

Responsibilities can be divided up, easing the stress for everyone.

Reflecting back and sharing my experience here has been a lovely trip down memory lane. It reminds
me of why I continue to sponsor travel programs for my students despite the additional workload.

Our first trip to Martinique holds a special place in my heart and I hope to return with a new group of
students in the near future.