The Trekking Pawns' Diary

We got cute notebook books for class in our welcome bag! --- Que Sera Sera Before coming to Nice for our French course at EF, we both had a pretty solid streak going on Duolingo—over 700 days! But here’s the catch: he was far more diligent. He was watching videos, learning French basics, and practicing pronunciation, while I just did the bare minimum—one lesson a day. I still remember the hilarious satire article we read when we first started Duolingo. It joked about feeling like you’ve mastered the language through an app, only to freeze up completely when talking to a real native speaker. It was funny at the time, but as we prepared for this course, I couldn’t help but relate to that feeling of panic! He took it as a challenge and doubled down on his learning, even getting into " Learn French with Alexa " on YouTube (check it out if you’re learning, she’s great!). Meanwhile, I sat back, watching the videos and avoiding practicing. I’ve always been more on the quiet side, bu

 We are so excited!! Choosing EF for our French language journey was an easy decision for us, and here’s why. French isn’t just a beautiful language; it’s one of the most important languages in the world. From the United Nations to the International Olympic Committee and the Red Cross, French is a key language in international relations, business, and humanitarian work. It’s spoken across continents, from Canada to Haiti and North Africa, making it truly global. We wanted to learn a language that would not only enrich our travels but also open doors to new cultures and connections around the world. When it came to choosing where to study, EF offered us the perfect options: Paris or Nice. Both cities are incredible, but we decided to immerse ourselves in Nice. Picture this—learning French in a place where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Alpine foothills. Our days are filled with intensive French courses that build a solid foundation, but we also get to practice our French in real-world