This semester in the Chanson francophone topics course, Advanced French students are discovering and decoding a variety of French music in order to delve into a variety of topics, including language and identity, history, the environment and Black Lives Matter.

The past two weeks, we've discussed Le Moyen Âge (The Middle Ages), La Renaissance, La révolution française, La "Grande Guerre" (WW1), and La Deuxième Guerre Mondiale (WW2) through the context of historical songs. To end this unit, Madame Lore Prag [Grandmother of French 2 student Michael Baron '22] graciously offered to join our class for a surprise French interview.

She outlined the main conflicts during World War Two and shared her first-hand memories as a young girl in Manchester, England, all in the target language. Students listened attentively and took notes on their comprehension as she spoke, and then had the opportunity to ask her questions based on their own curiosities about the war and about her personal experiences.

She remembers that feeling of uncertainty when war was declared and "les bombardements" coming from above at her all-girls school in England. She explained Germany's many invasions around Europe and the rationing of goods. And years later, at the age of eighteen, she told us of the celebration that erupted in Times Square in New York City when the war had ended.

This interview was fascinating and a wonderful opportunity for our students to apply their language skills in a meaningful way. Merci beaucoup, Madame Prag!