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Dr Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford (2nd left) pictured with studen... |
UOW French students test New Caledonian waters
At the end of last academic year, the University of New Caledonia (UNC) launched its very first Summer School.
Five UOW students of French went on this course which aims to improve and enhance students’ language skills through a combination of language classes and cultural activities.
For example, students had the opportunity to discover French/New Caledonia gastronomy, meet local people and discover the mining activities of this beautiful French island.
In addition, these students were given another mission -- to check out and report back on whether it would be worthwhile having the University of New Caledonia as an exchange partner in the Pacific region.
“Thanks to our ‘pioneers’ who have tested the waters for us, we are now in the process of establishing a bilateral exchange agreement with UNC,” according to the Convener of French in the Faculty of Arts’ Language Centre, Dr Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford.
“We are thus hoping to add UNC as another exchange destination for our students in addition to the four universities which are in France. We are planning to send out the first cohort of students on exchange in 2010.
“As for the students, all of them are continuing with their French studies this year with three out of the five students having decided to go on exchange in France, while another one has opted to go and work in France as an English assistant for a year,” Dr Bissoonauth-Bedford said.
The new Language Centre Director, Professor Kerry Dunne, is a very enthusiastic supporter of this project and she is keen to build links with the international community.
New Caledonia in particular, has the advantage of being at the footstep of Australia (three hours by plane to Nouméa) and its location in the Pacific is more affordable for Australian students
“The summer school provides an opportunity for our students to be completely immersed in the language and culture of this small part of France with its very own mix of Melanesian history and culture. They can therefore consolidate what they have learnt at Wollongong and practise and extend their language skills in context”, Dr Bissoonauth-Bedford said.