French courses in Provence and shrove Tuesday Who is Caramentran in South of France

To celebrate the end of carnival time, towns and villages of Provence symbolically burn an effigy named Caramentran at the end of a parade in which many adults and most school children accompanied by their teachers wear beautiful or funny costumes, and everyone eats special fritters called "oreillettes" or "bugnes" or "pets de nonne". Of course, most host-families of our French language school indulge in the tradition.

Actually, all the foreigners who study French at Elfca in the South of France are not newcomers. For a few of them it’s not a true start but just a continuation, for they had decided to stay in France over Christmas during French language school vacation and took advantage of the break to visit other parts of the country and put into practice what they learn during their French language immersion program.

A few days ago, participants to French language course in Provence went to visit Mimosalia; this is a major event in the world of horticulture; it takes place in the lovely Provencal village of Bormes-les-mimosas which, as stated in its name, is the capital of the fragrant golden flower. Every year in January,  Bormes celebrates mimosa through the “Mimosalia exhibition” where everyone can admire, smell, buy .....and learn a lot through free conferences and guided visits. “A walk in a dreamland” commented students who learn French in South of France.

But French language school on the Riviera has more treasures to offer; the bright sunshine and warm weather that bliss the South of France keep a great atmosphere among the participants to French language course, and the only moments of sadness are the times when a student’s language stay comes to its end. But a few of them are lucky enough to be able to extend their French course and it is always a real satisfaction for the teachers at French language school!

Living on the Mediterranean coast doesn’t mean you ignore the rest of the world, that’s what foreigners who learn French in France at Elfca have noticed: people here take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life! This is why at the end of January almost all families celebrate Chinese New Year by eating all kinds of Asian specialities at home or in the numerous Vietnamese restaurants that can be found everywhere in France; and of course the students at Elfca French language school were delighted to share it with their host families;

What do people who study French in France at Elfca in the morning do in the afternoon? Well, don’t imagine they just wait lazily that time goes by! First, they attend optional courses, normally twice per week, but a lot of them choose to attend every day and of course teachers are only too pleased to have so assiduous learners of French!