In my ideal field trip, we start in a deliciously overpriced cafe near Etoile with the obligatory croissant and cafe creme. After the class order their food and practise the inexorable jeu de role, I take them for a stroll down the Champs Elysees, discussing existentialism and the Euro while dodging taxis and les conducteurs de dimanche.
At the Eiffel Tower, I have them bungee jumping off the second floor while reciting irregular French verbs. Then it’s time for lunch at a little bistro near Trocadero, with steak tartar and escargots as the plats du jour. For pudding, we head off to the banks of the Seine for a constitutional bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape and a petit doux. Then dash to Notre Dame for a group rendition of Je Ne Regrette Rien.
Then it’s time for pupil choice: dance the Can Can from Place du Tertre all the way down to the Moulin Rouge, or get on the Metro with an accordion and see how much money you can make singing La Mer by Charles Trenet on the way to Opera.
It’s been a busy day, so what better way to wind down the lesson than sitting on the steps of the Sacre Coeur, watching the city below fade as the sun goes down.
Where to find it
Explore the magic of Paris through Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 film Amelie, and try the TES Amelie collection of resources. Practise future tense by talking about holiday plans. For ideas, try klembo’s colourful PowerPoint.
