Dublin People - Malahide girl enjoys French connection

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Malahide girl enjoys French connection

Thursday, 13 March 2008

AS Ireland becomes more integrated into Europe with each passing year, Northside families are being urged to give their children the perfect opportunity to immerse themselves in our continental neighbours’ culture and language.
It is often said that the best way to learn any new language is to start when you are young.
One Malahide couple has already seen the huge benefits that a six-month stay in France has had on their 10-year-old daughter.
Through En Famille International, a not-for-profit organisation based in France, Conor and Lourdes Costello decided to send their daughter Enya to stay with a family.
Enya has just returned from her trip and can now master the French language as fluently as you would expect any 10-year-old to be able to speak a language.
Enya spent her six months in France staying with new friend Philomene Certain-Breffon (11) and her family, learning everything about their culture and picking up the language as she went along.
Philomene has now travelled to Dublin to spend six months with the Costellos with the aim of being able to speak English as well as Enya now speaks French.
Speaking to Northside People, Lourdes Costello said she and husband, Conor, were delighted to get Enya, a pupil at St Oliver Plunkett School, Malahide, involved in the cultural exchange.
“My sister-in-law, who is a teacher, had sent her two children on a similar exchange and we had seen the huge benefits it brought them,’’ Ms Costello stated.
“So we were happy to send Enya to France and I know she really enjoyed the experience of visiting all these new places and she can communicate very well in French now.”
Ms Costello said that before the exchange starts, the two families meet through En Famille International.
“But once it has started, you must let your child go for the whole six months, which is certainly hard, but you have to think of what is best for the child in the long run,” she stated.
“Such an experience, while initially tough for the child, also opens their horizons in every way and I would recommend any family to send their children on the exchange.
‘Enya was at a very good age to do this also, as a 10-year-old is not as self conscious as a teenager and she got to have plenty of fun taking part in skiing, learning to juggle at a French circus, and seeing all the sites around Paris.”
Enya is now adjusting back to her life in Dublin and is delighted to have brought her French ‘sister’ Philomene here for the next six months.
“I hope Philomene will have a good time with us, but I did this sort of exchange myself when I was younger, so I am sure both girls will enjoy themselves and learn a lot from it,” Ms Costello added.
If you have a child aged between nine and 13-years-old and are interested in the cultural exchange, you can contact En Famille International on 085-8496045, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the website www.enfamille .com

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