The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
To many people, traveling to a far-off land where the people are as unfamiliar as the customs might not sound like an enjoyable way to spend eight months. But to Flin Flon's Jennifer Markham, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. The 21-year-old has accepted a job teaching English to children in the city of Nancy in northeastern France. "I think it will be a big adjustment for the first little while," said Markham, who will leave for France later this month and return in May. "For the first month or so, there will be a lot to get used to. I think it's better that I have a job so I can get a routine going. That will help me adjust." Fluently bilingual, Markham applied for the position late last year through Brandon University, where she was studying. Only one student from the university could be accepted, and Markham was both surprised and excited when she found out it was her. The Hapnot Collegiate graduate could have applied to go to a number of different countries but chose France because of her career aspirations. "I plan on being a French Immersion teacher, so I saw it as a way to help improve my French," said Markham, who will work at Academie de Nancy-Metz. Although she traveled to parts of France as part of a school field trip in 2000, she is a little concerned about what she will find to eat in the West Europe republic. "I think my first meal when I went to France was raw salmon and sour cream," laughed Markham. "That is one thing I'm concerned about, the food, but they have really good baguettes and croissants." Her interest in the French language dates back to kindergarten, when she began the French Immersion program at McIsaac School (which has since been renamed McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac in recognition of its dual-track status). Markham took French Immersion all through grade school and high school. While she feels that it's tough to learn some aspects of French Ñ namely the grammar and the verbs Ñ she said she never lost her strong desire to learn the language. Next September, Markham hopes to study at the University of Chicoutimi in Quebec, where she plans to obtain her teaching certificate. "I just have in interest for the language," she said. "I felt that I spent so much time learning and improving my French skills that I wanted to use it some time in life, and I thought the best way to do that would be by teaching French."
