This year, there were many events in Kaunas to celebrate Francophonie Month. The Kaunas Centre for Teacher Qualification was also actively involved in the organisation of the event.
Students from schools in the city travelled virtually through French-speaking countries by making a video.
French teacher Vykinta Šaulytė-Bukauskaitė, who now lives and works in Belgium, gave a lecture on “Belgium, Wallonia – life and school”. I am glad that not only Kaunas teachers and the city community, but also national educators joined the lecture. It was also attended by guests from Belgium: Anne Defourny, Wallonie-Brussels representative in the Baltic States, and Stéphanie Crêteur, Academic and Cultural Liaison Officer of Wallonie-Brussels International in Lithuania. Teacher Vykinta shared her experience of coming to Belgium in a very lively, vivid and suggestive way. She said that to know a country’s culture, you need to know its food. So he started his lecture with sweet things – Belgian chocolate. He gave a brief overview of its types, flavours and production methods. She was delighted by the spectacular Walloon landscape, the cosy towns and the Walloon traditions. Discusses in detail the similarities and differences between French and Walloon. They shared funny incidents that happened because of differences in the meaning of words. He also talked a lot about the Belgian education system, the work of a teacher and school life. At the end of the lecture, there were a number of questions about teachers’ and students’ extracurricular activities and teachers’ leisure time. The guests, Anne Defourny and Stephanie Crêteur, were delighted and thanked the lecturer for her warm presentation of their country. He was delighted to rediscover the Walloon region.
The lecture series “Getting to know Burgundy”, Parts I and II, which was given by Liudmila Dulksnienė, associate professor of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and lecturer in French, attracted a large audience. The lectures were attended by more than 50 people. The associate professor confessed to falling in love with the region. She shared this love with the participants. In the first part of the lecture series, she gave an in-depth talk on the history of Burgundy, the geographical features of the region, and the architecture of towns large and small. The lecturer reminded the audience that Dijon, the capital of the region, is famous for its rooftops, and for food connoisseurs it is associated with mustard. But the city is also famous as the City of 100 Bells.
In the second lecture, we travelled through the Burgundy region as the main wine-producing region in France. He talked about the different types of grapes grown. What are the risks and difficulties faced by grape growers. He explained the different types of wine made from which grapes. Of course, cheeses, truffles and the blackcurrant jam so beloved by the French were not left out.
The lecturers gave advice on the best routes to take when arriving in one country or another.
We thank the lecturers for giving us the opportunity to experience new impressions, broaden our cultural horizons, and impart knowledge virtually. We hope to see you next year at the Francophonie events.
Information from Kaunas Teacher Qualification Centre
