French is the fifth most commonly spoken language in the world and is the official language in 30 countries. The International Organization of the Francophonie includes 75 countries.
Photo courtesy of Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles
On March 20, the International Day of Francophonie, people around the world celebrated French language and Francophone culture. Students at our school, Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, the French school that has been part of the Los Angeles community since 1964, celebrated this day with numerous activities on all of its campuses including the Pacific Palisades campus.
According to Mrs. Catherine Leloup, the Head of the Pacific Palisades campus, the campus was decorated by the flags of all of the French-speaking countries. The activities focused on French language and culture around the world.
The Palisades students represented a mini United Nations. Although the majority of them come from our local neighborhoods, such as the Alphabet Streets or the Highlands, there were also students from cities as far away as London or Seoul.
Photo courtesy of Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles
Volunteer parents from Guinea, Vietnam, Canada (Quebec), Lebanon, Belgium and France came to represent their countries and brought specialties from their respective countries for students to taste.
The parents made passports for the students and then students had to answer questions about the countries to win little flag stickers to glue in their passports.
The students also had a chance to enjoy a visit from a special guest – an African storyteller.
On the middle school campus in West Los Angeles, there were multiple activities, including face painting, a homemade crêpes contest, a quiz on the French speaking countries as well as a fun quiz on different kinds of cheese.
In the French photo booth, students took photos wearing French berets, wearing mustaches and holding baguettes.
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