Before taking Philadelphie Francophone, most of my experience with French happened inside the classroom. I memorized vocabulary, practiced conversations and read texts, but I rarely had opportunities to use French in meaningful situations. This course changed that. Through books, films, letter exchanges, community outings and conversations with people from different backgrounds, I discovered that learning a language does not end when class is over. In fact, some of my most memorable lessons happened outside the classroom, where French became a way to connect with people and their stories. 

 

I often find it difficult to connect with people outside of Drexel. It takes a lot more effort and time to leave my college community to venture out into Philadelphia. This is why I am thankful for this class pushing me out of my comfort zone to not only talk to people outside of my community, but in another language at that. I would be lying if I said it was perfect. I did not always effectively communicate in French and sometimes I would not say anything at all out of fear. It was a valuable experience to practice French outside of the classroom because speaking a language in the outside world is completely different and it is something I rarely have the chance to do. Inside the classroom, I am expected to make mistakes and learn. I have my professor and my classmates to guide me and correct my mistakes. Real-life conversations are not as structured, but the connection is deeper. It is more personal to talk to someone than outside of an academic setting. 

 

The connecting thread for all of my experiences, inside the classroom and out, is that storytelling is an extremely effective way to communicate and connect with people.

 

I got to engage in storytelling not only through speaking, but writing as well. My class wrote letters to students from francophone countries through the program Naraction, a French association run by an instructor at the Université Paris 8 Vincennes - Saint-Denis. I was so touched by the time and effort my correspondents took to make thoughtful and personal letters. It made me want to do my best to write them meaningful letters as well. It was different from simply submitting an assignment for a grade because someone was waiting for my response.

 

Our class ventured into the community with outings that brought culture to life. We visited the West African and French fusion restaurant Château Rouge with members of AFRICOM-Philly, a nonprofit supporting African and Caribbean immigrants, and l'Alliance Française de Philadelphie, a French cultural nonprofit.

 

Food brings people together. The different groups of people at one table created a space for cultural exchange. 

 

What I enjoyed most about experiences like this was meeting people who, like me, enjoy learning through experience. I met people of different ages and backgrounds who continued practicing French and sharing stories outside traditional classrooms. 

 

History became personal because I encountered people whose experiences connected the past with the present.

 

Stories give meaning to our experiences and develop social relationships. Looking back on this course, I can see how storytelling functioned as a bridge between different communities. Whether through novels, letters or conversations over a meal, stories helped transform unfamiliar people into individuals that I could identify with. Instead of learning only abstract facts about francophone cultures, I learned how people interpret their lives, their histories and their communities. Storytelling allowed me to move beyond language as a classroom subject and experience it as a tool for human connection.

 

I also discovered communities in Philadelphia that I had never known existed. Before taking this course, I rarely ventured beyond Drexel. Through restaurants, community events, films, and conversations, and I encountered people and experiences that changed the way I see both French and Philadelphia. 

 

This course challenged me to engage with French in ways that extended far beyond memorization and classroom exercises. I discovered that language learning is ultimately about relationships. More importantly, I learned that some of the most meaningful lessons happen outside the classroom. Philadelphie Francophone showed me that communication is not simply about speaking correctly but about listening, finding common ground, and being willing to step outside of my comfort zone.