Fri 6 September - Sun 8 September 2024
Friday late afternoon to Sunday mid-afternoon.
Myocum, Northern New South Wales
A quiet little spot to work on your French in peace.
Approximately 2hrs 15 mins from Brisbane (10 mins from Mullumbimby)
Two three-hour lessons, two activities
Welcome drinks, two lunches, one dinner
PLEASE NOTE: The beautiful house in the photo above will act as our school and meeting place for the weekend. You’re free to choose your own accommodation.
The owner has it on hold for us but only for the next few days, so if you’re keen to come, please let us know straight away.
Northern New South Wales holds a special charm for many who live north of the border and for very good reason.
While Byron gets a lot of the amour* from locals and tourists alike, there’s a whole host of tiny towns a bit further off the beaten track that merit un peu d’attention*.
Myocum, located just eight minutes from Mullumbimby, is one such destination. With fewer than 1000 residents, it’s short on bustle but long on beauty and is the perfect place for us to tuck ourselves away and get stuck into our French.
Think paddocks, birdsong and fresh air to melt your stresses away and stimulate your brain.
*love *a bit of attention
This weekend immersion was borne out of the intersection of two strong desires: the idea of getting away somewhere crisp and fresh for a few days and the wish to offer you, our Chouchous*, a relaxing, fun and nurturing place to work on your French.
So, think of a classic Lingua Franca Summer School, but shorter, closer to home and toasty rather than tropical. A French immersion without reaching for your passport.
*Teacher’s Pets
We’ll be throwing open the doors to the house from 6pm Friday, but if you’re not able to head down until after work, ne vous inquiétez pas*, we’ll be there for a few hours, so please do drop in for a welcome drink and something small to eat before heading on to your accommodation.
Saturday morning will start gently with a pronunciation lesson over thé, café et pâtisseries*. Looking at the basics first, we’ll then move onto les précisions* and by the time the lesson’s up, you’ll have your very own accent genie at your fingertips.
After all that hard work, we’ll take a break at lunch and move outside to enjoy a French pique-nique* looking over the valley below.
In the afternoon, Xavier from Le Travel Planner will join us to talk to us (in French, bien sûr*) about his favourite topic: le voyage*, in a presentation entitled “Une France de toutes les Saisons*”. Though Parisian through and through, Xavier is passionate about helping travellers discover the parts of France that don’t always make it into the guidebooks.
You’ll then have some free time, before meeting back at la maison* for an apéro dînatoire*. Try to avoid snacking during your free time because although made up of tiny morsels, this typically French style of dining will definitely not leave you hungry.
Sunday morning we’ll be back at the books, this time looking at les petits mots*, which you know so well, no matter your level. As with the pronunciation, we’ll go easy at first, then delve into the détails* towards the end of the session.
We’ll serve a casual lunch outside on the French farmhouse table as we await Iris. A full-time yoga teacher for over ten years, Iris will gently lead you through a walking meditation, some stretching and a restorative meditation (all in French): the perfect tonic to round out your weekend.
*Teacher’s Pets | *don’t worry | *tea, coffee and pastries | *the details | *picnic | *of course | *travel | *A France for every season | *the house | *casual French dinner made up of a long series of snacks and drinks | *little words | *details
Friday 6 September - Sunday 8 September 2024
$1000
$500 deposit / $500 balance due 30 Aug 2024
INCLUDES:
Unique French immersion experience
2 x 3-hr bespoke French lessons
All materials and tuition
Coffee, tea and French pâtisseries
2 x cultural activities
1 x welcome drinks with canapés
1 x French picnic lunch
1 x apéro dînatoire (typical casual French meal with drinks)
1 x classic French lunch
NOT INCLUDED:
Accommodation
Transfers
Xavier: Travel like a real Parisian: discover the hidden gems and true essence of Paris and France.
Iris: If you can hear your body whisper, you will never have to hear it scream.
MID-RANGE: The Brunswick at Brunswick Heads
ECONOMICAL: The Imperial Hotel in Murwullimbah
DELUXE: 99 Acres in Bangalow
Please note: as accommodation is not included in this immersion weekend, here are a few ideas for you. You may already have a preferred hotel, have friends you can bunk in with, or you may oven choose to drive back to Brisbane each day. It’s totally up to you.
There’s so much to keep you occupied in Northern New South Wales if you’re keen to extend your stay.
Stay on for Sunday Roast Dinner at Three Blue Ducks at The Farm
Faire une randonnée* at Minyon Falls.
Find a bon livre* at The Book Room at Byron.
Soak your cares away at Banya Bathhouse in Mullumbimby.
*Go for a hike | *a good book
Q: Where is this weekend held?
A: At a lovely property in Myocum, Northern New South Wales, perched high on a hill overlooking green fields. We’ll give you the address closer to the time.
Q: Is it available to all students, even if I’m a beginner?
A: Yes. The topics we’ll cover are those that seem to challenge all students, regardless of their level: pronunciation and little words. We’ll lay the foundations in the first half of each lesson, and then after a break, we’ll move on to the more nuanced aspects of those topics. So if you’re a beginner, you’ll be consolidating work you’ve already done, as well as getting a glimpse of what’s to come as you advance with your French. Everyone benefits from revision, so more advanced students will appreciate a reminder of the basics and will have a chance to hone their newer (or as-yet-undiscovered) skills.
Q: Will the weekend be conducted entirely in French?
A: In short, yes it will. We want this to be as true a French immersion as possible without being in France. You'll be provided with some French/English notes for each session but it is up to you as to whether you look at them on the day or just keep them for later. We encourage you to accept you won’t understand everything. In fact, that’s one of the benefits of an experience like this. It trains you to relax your brain as you listen to French, which makes you more able to pick up on the words you do know, and let the others slide on by. You’ll find, though, that over the course of the weekend, your comprehension will improve dramatically.
Q: Is this only open to current Lingua Franca students?
A: No, you do not have to be a student to attend. Plus on est de fous, plus on rit*.
Q: Can I bring a friend or partner?
A: We love having your friends and family along to our other events, but to provide the most immersive experience possible for the participants, this weekend is limited to French-speakers only. Of course they can tag along on the weekend, and there is plenty to keep them occupied while we’re busy with our French.
Q: Can you recommend accommodation for us?
A: Yes we have put a few of our favourite picks here for you (see Le Logement).
*the more the merrier
Other questions? Please let us know. We look forward to seeing you on the trip.
