French Work Experience Trip to Lille

Travelling by Eurostar, our students arrived in Lille where they were warmly welcomed by their host families, beginning six days of total immersion in French language and culture. From morning until night, they embraced every opportunity to speak French—and, spoiler alert, they all survived!

The week offered students an invaluable insight into everyday life in one of France’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Living with local families and undertaking work placements gave them the chance to experience French culture from a completely different perspective.

Work placements were as varied; students worked in cafés and traditional French restaurants, while others gained experience in a hospital, where some assisted with patient care and even had the opportunity to observe heart surgery. One student learned the art of French baking, while others worked in a bowling alley and a youth hostel. As the week progressed, every student grew in confidence, becoming increasingly comfortable communicating in French and adapting to new environments.

The timing of the trip made it especially memorable. Lille was buzzing with excitement as the city celebrated the Fête de la Musique, while World Cup fever and soaring temperatures during a summer heatwave created a lively and unforgettable atmosphere. There was a genuine buzz and our students were so pleased to be part of it!

What our students said

“The trip was amazing. It was so fun to have the freedom, and the work experience was great. Spending time with friends and getting closer was the best part of the trip, alongside trying French foods and the excitement when you speak in French and they don’t reply to you in English.” — Olivia

“I really enjoyed the Lille work experience trip because I was able to be immersed in the language. My French conversation skills have greatly improved and I was able to talk with many people solely in French. I also enjoyed exploring the city of Lille.” — Ava

“It was great to improve your confidence with speaking French to new people. It was a challenge, but it really helped me gain confidence and improve my understanding of the language.” — Polly

“I found this trip really interesting as well as challenging at times. I enjoyed staying with my host family and found it to be a very valuable experience that helped me develop my French speaking skills while completing work experience, which I found really interesting.” — Polly

“The trip was a really great experience. Being able to spend several days speaking French is a fantastic opportunity to improve and pick up new vocabulary.” — Oscar

Well done to all our students on a very successful week.