Learning French in Guadeloupe
Tuesday, 26th May 2009
Guadeloupe, a group of islands in the French West Indies, is a great place to learn French if you like beautiful beaches, fine food, friendly locals, a lively night life, and a warm, sunny climate.
Guadeloupe was originally known as Karukera (island of beautiful waters) by the local Carib people. When he discovered it in 1493, Columbus renamed it Guadeloupe after Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Spain. The two main islands, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, are also known as Butterfly Island (I’ile Papillon) as they look like a butterfly from above. Most of the local population (around 400,000 in total) live on Grande-Terre, while Basse-Terre is mainly national park with a volcano called La Soufrière in the middle. There are also hiking trails and a Jacques Cousteau underwater reserve on Basse-Terre.
French language schools on Guadeloupe, which are mainly in Sainte Anne, a small seaside resort on the south coast of Grande-Terre, offer general and intensive courses, examination preparation courses, individual lessons, and courses that combine French language lessons with surfing.
The schools can arrange accommodation with local families, which is a great way to immerse yourself in the language, or in private rented accommodation shared with other students.
As well as surfing, Guadeloupe offers a variety of water sports, including diving, windsurfing, sailing and snorkelling. Or if you prefer drier pursuits, you could have a go at beach volley ball, cooking, drumming or dancing. You could also explore parts of the islands on foot visiting beautiful bays, spectacular waterfalls, volcanoes, and sea cliffs. If you’re feeling thirsty, a tour of one of the local rum distilleries might appeal to you.
There are regular flights to Guadeloupe from other Caribbean islands, from Miami, Montreal, Paris, and a number of other cities in France. There are also ferry services from nearby islands such as Martinique, Dominica and St Lucia. You can easily get around the islands by bus as there are fairly regular services along the main routes, although not so many on Saturdays, and very few on Sundays. Taxis are also available, but tend to expensive.
The best time to visit Guadeloupe is December to May when the weather is warm and dry. The rest of the year tends to be hot, wet and humid, especially between July and November. Basse-Terre tends to be cooler and wetter than Grande-Terre, especially on La Soufrière, its highest point.
Tags: french, language, language course, course, surfing
Posted by Simon Ager under Experience Cultures,
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