It’s a day of celebration throughout France as citizens commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the start of the French Revolution. In three days, it will be the start of a trip to France as eight students and French teacher Melody Mozley spend ten days across the Atlantic to expand their knowledge of the French language and culture.

“I’m very excited to visit France this summer,” sophomore Portia Gifford said. “I think this will be a great opportunity to get to know the French culture.”

Making their first stop in Paris, the students will be staying in a hotel in the downtown area, and will attend courses to improve their French skills.

“The students will learn how to communicate in French and learn skills like how to barter and will then take the skills they learn and apply them in the real world,” Mozley said. “They will visit an open-air market and be evaluated by the instructor on their French speaking skills.”

The students will spend the first few days attending classes and cooking school, then will travel to the Mediterranean coastal town of Nice (pronounced neese) via the TGV, a high speed train. The trek from Paris to Nice would take about thirteen hours by car, however on the TGV it will take just five.

In Nice, the students will continue French classes, but will have ample down time to sunbathe, scuba dive, parasail, and other bonding activities.

“I am really looking forward to visiting the beautiful French beaches and I think it will be a great experience that will really impact our knowledge of the language,” sophomore Nicole Alyn said.

For some students the ten days just won’t be enough and instead of returning on the July 27, they will remain in France until August 3.

Those staying in France will stay in the small town of San Rafael and will attend a separate language school. The students will live with a host family, and will need to utilize all of their knowledge of the language, because the residents of the town speak little to no English.

“The trip will be a great experience for everyone,” Mozley said. “The French program has come a really long way since it came to Lovejoy, and this trip will help it continue to grow, and hopefully encourage more students to take the class.”