Francophone students of the French Heritage Language Program (FHLP) recently received a special ambassador from France to their classroom.

Aline Pognonec, a visiting scholar from Sciences-Po in Paris, visited the class at Brooklyn International High School as part of the One To World Global Classroom program. The non-profit connects international scholars and visiting Fulbright grantees to New York City public school classrooms in an effort to introduce new cultural perspectives to students.

Pognonec talked to the students about cultural stereotypes.  Growing up in France with a French father and American mother, she told the class she has experienced stereotyping from both cultures. 

The students then broke down stereotypes others might label them with, like “I am smart, but I’m not a nerd” and “I’m a great athlete, but I’m not stupid in school.” They recorded their ideas in a class video, available above.

Most FHLP students hail from West Africa and the Caribbean, and grew up speaking French. Global Classroom Coordinator Laura Tajima and FHLP Coordinator Benoît Le Dévédec both said this lesson on stereotypes works particularly well for immigrants, because it helps them build self-confidence to share their backgrounds.  Hearing from foreign students like Pognonec about their personal challenges and successes excites students to express themselves.

“It’s about opening up this safe place to talk about these ideas about cultures and their perspectives,” Tajima said. “It’s really great to see those connections and the students opening up. Students see people sharing their cultures really confidently, and then they feel more confident about their own backgrounds.”

One-to-World receives support from the American Society of the French Legion of Honor to provide programs by French nationals about their culture and global issues.  This connection makes the partnership between the FHLP and One to World a natural fit.

“It’s a great idea to have these workshops and really promote this interest in France and French culture, and really support these students,” Tajima said.

Tajima said she looks forward to working with the FHLP again in the future, since both organizations aim to help students develop and express their own cultural identities.

“I think it would be great to help them connect with some more French-speaking students who are here to share their stories,” Tajima said. “I think it would strengthen both organizations. I think they [the FHLP] are working with a great population, and their teachers are really strong. It would be great to strengthen that partnership in the future.”

Brooklyn International High School is one of ten New York high schools to benefit from the French Heritage Language Program, which serves approximately 400 students in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn. The FHLP is an arm of the non-profit foundation French-American Cultural Exchange, and works in partnership with the French Embassy in the United States. To support the program or find more information, visit www.facecouncil.org/fhlp. The program coordinator, Benoît Le Dévédec, is also available by email at heritageprogram@facecouncil.org or by phone at 212-439-1438.