St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, 17th-century theologian and founder of schools for training educators, would have been proud of the recent student exchange between the La Sallian communities in the Philippines and France, said French Ambassador Nicolas Galley.

Fifteen European Studies majors at De La Salle University (DLSU) spent two weeks in France and neighboring countries to learn more about the French language and European cultures.

Meanwhile, 48 French students from UniLasalle are studying at DLSU Manila, College of Saint Benilde, Dasmariñas, Araneta and Salikneta. Specializing in life and earth sciences, UniLasalle trains students to become generalist engineers and managers in agriculture, food, geology and environment.

At a reception held at the French Embassy residence, Galey noted that St. De La Salle left a legacy in education. “Jean-Baptiste de La Salle was a precursor of la pédagogie. He had a vision that before teaching pupils, you have to teach teachers. The success of the La Sallian community is that we have one million students and 78 schools all over the world.”

Global enrichment

Most of the students who went to Europe majored in international relations. “We have quite a number of programs on the politics of European integration, French government and politics,” said John Philip Binondo, assistant professor and external affairs coordinator of DLSU-Manila’s International Studies Department.

Aside from visiting the Parliamentarium in Strasbourg to observe how the European Parliament creates laws for European Union citizens, the students also took a weeklong language intensive at Alliance Française Strasbourg.

Binondo explained that one of the program’s goals is to integrate a “global enrichment term” which ideally brings International Studies majors to different countries. They learn about the culture not just from books, but by experiencing it.

Dr. Francis Domingo, vice chair of the International Studies Department, said: “This is a wider part of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and France. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) inked an agreement with the French government on stronger partnerships in higher education. This program can be a platform for students if you’re thinking about studying in Europe.”

Political capital

DLSU International Studies majors Hans Sison and Sharon Sharnpreet said their group chose the political capital, Strasbourg, because the European Parliament and the Council of Europe are the crux of their course. It was also close to the border, and the students could visit Switzerland and Germany.

Sison and Sharnpreet had taken lessons at Alliance Française Manila and DLSU.

“The lessons helped because people talk to you in French. Once you’ve learned the basics, you could understand and reply properly,” Sharnpreet said.

“It was nice to use the language in the proper context,” Sison added.

Sharnpreet said the trip became more meaningful after taking a course in Development of European States. “I’m into history. Going there, I saw where it all started and where it led,” she said.

Sison rejoined, “Just seeing those establishments allowed me to visualize what I was learning in class. No classroom experience can compare with touring those sites.”

Sharnpreet observed that the French are more open about issues that affect them.

“When some of my friends in the study tour visited Paris, they witnessed a spontaneous rally on climate change,” Sison said.

Sharnpreet said she was inspired to continue to study French. “Language changes the way you think,” she said.

For Sison, the visit to the European Parliament motivated him to pursue his course. “I realized the value of diplomacy and discourse, and what happens when a group of like-minded people try to make a better world for the future.”

Traveling alone

Sixtine Hauchard and Theophile Maurice are students in Agriculture and Agro-Industry in UniLasalle, Beauvais. Hauchard is enrolled at the Environmental Science in DLSU- Dasmariñas, while Maurice is taking the same course at DLSU-Manila.

Both students said that the Philippines was a great contrast to France. “We are very happy to discover a new culture because it helps us to be more open-minded,” said Hauchard, who has explored Asia before the Philippines.

“It was a good experience to travel alone because it can improve your English,” she said.

Hauchard enjoys living in Cavite because there is less traffic, and the 30-ha DLSU campus is suitable for environmental projects.

Maurice was excited to visit the Philippines. He spent a month traveling alone in Bohol, Cebu and Bicol. “It was great because everything was new.”

Living in Manila, Maurice said he was fascinated by its complexities. “Manila is very busy, very crowded, lots of parties and very big malls. In France, it’s different.”

Hauchard said that Filipinos are helpful. “They always share their culture with us. I think they are more open-minded than the French.” When schoolmates learned that she was spending Christmas in the Philippines, she received invitations for Noche Buena and Christmas Day activities.

When they return to France, both will bring memories of beautiful sceneries and friendships made.–CONTRIBUTED