The View From Here: Trois Rivières, Quebec, Canada

Looking ahead to summer? So are we! Enjoy this recap of last summer’s AATF National Convention by Madeline Hennessy, AATF Indiana President.

The Start

Last summer, I had the privilege of attending the AATF National Convention for the first time, and I cannot recommend the experience enough. From the keynote speaker, to the beautiful setting of Trois-Rivières, to the community of French educators, to the informative and inspiring sessions, this convention made me feel more fortunate than ever to be part of this organization.

The Voice

Marie-Célie Agnant was the keynote speaker, and her keynote address was a captivating demonstration of the power of language and storytelling. She told us all a story using relatively simple and repetitive language, and I felt as though I had been transported back to childhood, gathered around the school librarian as we soaked in the tales she read. There is a certain magic to storytelling when it’s done right, and that room was filled with magic as Agnant spoke. While the story felt simple, it carried vivid imagery and a powerful message. Agnant reminded us of the beauty of the French language and the power of what we do as language educators; storytelling opens hearts and doors.

The View

When I opened the door to exit the conference venue, I stepped into a city that often felt like it was taken out of a storybook. As I walked around Trois-Rivières, I found myself surrounded by poetry. The city is home to the Festival International de la Poésie in September, and you can find plaques throughout the city year-round showcasing a multitude of poems. I was able to follow these poems to a beautiful vista of the St. Lawrence River, numerous restaurants featuring incredible seafood and more variations of poutine than I’ve ever seen in my life, and a wide variety of shops that offer local art and goods. Since Shark Week is among the most important holidays celebrated in the Hennessy family, a print of Les Requins du St.-Laurent was the perfect souvenir to bring home to my husband.

The Community

This convention was a very rare instance of me traveling alone, and I have to admit that I was nervous before my arrival. As a certified introvert, I anticipated feeling isolated, awkward, and vulnerable on this trip. Thanks to the culture of our AATF members, my fears melted away almost immediately upon arrival. I was greeted in the airport by a representative of AATF, who let me know when and where to meet up with my fellow convention attendees for the shuttle to the hotel. With the knowledge that we already had a point of commonality through our love of the French language, everyone quickly felt at ease chatting with one another. I became such fast friends with the woman who sat next to me at the shuttle that a day later, people were asking us how many years we have known each other. When it seemed that there was an issue with my AirBnB, multiple people offered to make space for me in their hotel rooms. When I was looking for a place to go for dinner, I was able to strike up a conversation with the nearest person with an AATF name badge or tote bag, and we were able to enjoy a meal and French discourse together. The members of this organization made me feel more at home than I had thought possible in a new city.

The Goal

Finally, the whole reason for me to venture into this new city was the conference itself. My passion project over the last few years has been to create a more inclusive classroom setting. I started with a focus on the representation in my classroom library, and I have since come to discover the impact of my own understanding of francophone culture. My French education was decidedly France-centric, and I have spent many years passing on that tradition. I attended this conference with the goal of decolonizing my French, and these presentations delivered. I was able to attend sessions dedicated to Quebec, Senegal, Haiti, Acadia,the Midwest and more. I finally learned how to properly pronounce “Diallo.” I learned what the Haitian-Dominican border looks like and what France’s role was in making it look that way. I learned that the documentary Against the Tide is a great starting point for The Teacher Who Cannot Remember a Single Thing Her Teachers Ever Told Her About History to learn enough about Acadia to not be embarrassed when her students ask her questions about Au Revoir, L’Acadie. I learned that taking handwritten notes on my iPad is a terrible idea when I haven’t tested out the charger for my Apple pencil. Thank goodness for the free notebooks from the exhibition hall!

The End

I had an incredible experience at the AATF National Convention in 2023, and I can’t wait for this summer’s convention in San Diego! This time around, I am slated to present my own session on fostering the inclusive classroom, and I hope to see you there!