Welcoming foreign students to Gâtine
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
Since 2012, we have organized every year (two weekends per year) a project that connects international students from the FLE Center of the University of Poitiers with rural communities in the Deux-Sèvres department. Over seven years, we have welcomed more than 150 students from many different nationalities (Colombia, the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Iran, Syria, Ghana, Russia, Ukraine, and others).
The goal of this initiative is to encourage exchanges and highlight the Gâtine region by welcoming international students who wish to improve their French and gain a deeper understanding of life in France.
This intercultural exchange project also provides valuable insights that help us assess the tourism potential of the Gâtine area.
During the weekend, students and host families share meals, explore the cultural heritage of the Gâtine region, and exchange their experiences and perspectives. International students also present their home countries during a large shared meal, accompanied by traditional music.
EXCHANGES BETWEEN FRENCH-AS-A-FOREIGN-LANGUAGE STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF POITIERS AND RESIDENTS OF DEUX-SÈVRES – 10th Edition!
Host an international student from the University of Poitiers on March 21–22, 2026.
Testimonials
José, Ecuadorian student and participant in the first edition (2012):
« Taking part in the exchange between the students of the FLE Center at the University of Poitiers and the families of Gourgé was a completely new experience for me. Thanks to this wonderful initiative by the ROADS association, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend meeting a welcoming family in Gourgé and visiting magical places in the French countryside, rich in history and culture.
When you arrive in a new country to study the language, integrating into the local culture can sometimes be challenging. This project makes cultural exchanges much easier for students and offers a great opportunity to practice and improve their French by meeting new people. It is the perfect complement to the courses at the FLE Center.
I truly loved participating in this project! I made new friendships that will surely last a lifetime, and I even found a second family in Gourgé.
I strongly encourage all international students at the FLE Center to take part in this project. It is a unique and incredibly enriching experience!»
Gilles and Yvette, host family:
“We have been welcoming FLE students from the University of Poitiers to our beautiful Gâtine region for several years now, and it is always a great pleasure to repeat this enriching experience.
The meeting between students and families is easy and well organized thanks to the ROADS association. Each year, Francisco and Frédérique take care of coordinating these encounters.
This experience has allowed us to discover other cultures through young people from Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Ghana, and Russia. We shared not only the exchange weekend but also other reunion weekends with those who stayed longer in France.
The students enjoyed visiting our region and discovering our way of life and our environment.
Meeting and exchanging with other host families during these weekends has always been very pleasant and friendly.
We are therefore always happy to continue this wonderful human adventure.”
Cielo, Colombian student and participant in the first edition (2012):
“In 2012, thanks to ROADS and the FLE Center, I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful weekend with a French family in Gourgé.
This experience was very enriching because it was the first time I had such close contact with a local family.
I also had the chance to present my country, learn about other cultures, and make friendships that will last a lifetime.”
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