I would like to talk to you today about something that is unique to the French system of education, something that is so intrinsic to our way of teaching that we forget to mention it, the freedom of our teachers when it comes to their teaching and learning methods – their pedagogical freedom (la liberté Read more about Pedagogical Freedom[…]

It has been an unusual week for us – and we’ve been getting the days mixed up since – with the closure of the school on Monday on account of typhoon Mitag and the exceptional opening of the school tomorrow for all staff (it’s usually only open on Saturdays for Terminale and 1ère students, practising Read more about CPD[…]

Citizenship week at the French Section kicked off on Monday with an Eco-School assembly led by Phil Dawon for junior classes from all Sections of TES. The aim of the assembly was to relaunch the eco-school initiative on the primary campus for the new school year. Last week, six members of the TES Student Eco-Committee Read more about Strike for Action on Climate Change[…]

This week Franck Lefèvre and I had the pleasure of meeting with parents from the 3ème class to discuss the national exams their children will be sitting in June – the Diplôme national du Brevet (aka the Brevet). The Brevet is a rite of passage for all French students and for all students enrolled in Read more about Added Value[…]

This week is a short one, we all get a three-day weekend to celebrate mid-autumn festival. It will be an opportunity for me to review this year’s back-to-school , which hasn’t exactly been a restful one! It is not my intention to turn this letter into a weekly whine, but that said, I am all-too Read more about Teachers[…]

The French School of Taipei was born 30 years ago, almost to the day, on the 4th of September 1989. 17 students, two French class teachers and one English teacher walked through the doors on that first morning. Now that we have become a Lycée français within Taipei European School, I wanted to pay homage Read more about Anniversary[…]

A few years ago, I started studying philosophy again. It was a personal choice based on the fact that, in my professional life and in my role as a citizen, I had gradually become aware that several decisions were being made on my behalf without my having much of a say in them. I couldn’t Read more about Staying alert[…]

It is an immense pleasure for me to be back writing my weekly letter to you. I hope each and every one of you had an excellent summer and that those of you are new to us (and to Taipei) this year are settling in happily. Two years ago, I shared an anecdote with you, Read more about Bus problems[…]

At EPC, the school is practically empty. It is 4pm. Min Hui scribbles one last reminder on a post-it, Olivia places a last-minute order, Annie closes her ring-binder, Andria publishes a final Facebook post, Nicolas puts his calculator in a drawer and Carine closes the door of her office behind her. We exchange glances, all Read more about End of Year[…]

I am making an exception and writing to you on a Thursday this week as we are about to embark on a long weekend. This message will no doubt reach many of you while you are waiting in line, or watching the primary end of year show. While there are plenty of celebrations going on Read more about Rumour Mill[…]