FRENCH LESSONS TEAM

CONVERSATION | READING | WRITING

Our mission

Sciences Po Refugee Help’s French Lessons Team operates in various housing centres and teaches the asylum seekers living there language skills, as well as key cultural elements, in order to facilitate their social integration within French society. The main objective is to return a sense of autonomy to asylum seekers’ daily lives, overcoming language barriers as they learn to interact with French speakers and gain a better understanding of the environment they live in.

Our activities

Approximately 15 volunteers teach one-hour-lessons to asylum seekers on a weekly or more basis. Our team works in two housing centers, running lessons on multiple days of the week. These centers are :

The René Coty Center : 8 bis Avenue René Coty, 75014 Paris
The Albin Peyron Center : 60 rue des Frères Flavien 75020

Our priority is to help asylum seekers develop solid communication skills which will facilitate their integration in society . As such, a particular emphasis is placed on oral communication; our sessions are rooted in oral exchange, and are constructed in a highly interactive manner. We put effort in ensuring the lessons’ continuity so as to provide asylum seekers a logical and coherent progression throughout the French language.

Our volunteers

Our volunteers, led by two coordinators, use teaching material provided to them by the association or the centers. Both students and teachers are in constant communication throughout the academic year to monitor class progression, and discuss the various obstacles encountered. Meanwhile the coordinators ensure fluid communication with social workers and the centre's administration by handling material purchases, organising class schedules, and assessing the needs of asylum seekers in the Paris region during classes. Activities are then reported to the Administration Team of Sciences Po Refugee Help, and communicated to other branches for discussion and feedback.

Meet the Coordinators

Scott Onyela

Hello I’m Scott, a born and bred Parasian. Since coming to Sciences Po I have become increasingly engaged in charity work to promote education for all and SPRH has allowed me to further build upon this focus. Through giving French lessons with SPRH, I have come to the understanding that for asylum seekers, knowledge of the french language is the most precious gift and tool.

Anais Munch

Hi! I’m Anaïs, from the French lessons team :) I discovered the voluntary world with the Romanian Red Cross in which I volunteered for two years before entering Sciences Po. That’s where I realize the great deal we can play in one’s life. Helping asylum seekers feel integrated in our country with the French team has been a enormous pleasure. Learning about their stories and sharing joyful lessons each week is a real privilege. Come join us !