Marina, the Chair of French Society, tells us her plans for the society this upcoming year. She talks about how their community helps to overcome homesickness and all the activities they organise for society members.

What is your society all about?

The LSU French Society is a society which welcomes anyone at Loughborough University that speaks French or wishes to learn French on an immersive level. Our aim is to create a place where French speakers can meet new people whom they share a common language with. Arriving at an English university while being a stranger can be difficult. But, being part of this society will definitely help!

What sort of events are put on by the society?

This society was recently created, so there is obviously a lot of room for people to bring their ideas of events to the society and be a part of something that will last for the years to come. But the main idea is to meet up, speak French, drink wine, eat cheese, go out and generally just have fun!

This year we would like to diverse our socials by having movies nights, typical french food nights (such as raclettes or crepes). We would also like to take part in the sports competition between societies. Additionally, arrange meetings for non-native French speakers so they can talk and improve together.

Why, when and how did you join?

I have joined two years ago, in 2015, when it had just been created. There was no French Society when I first got to Loughborough in 2014. I was very excited about the fact that it would be easier for me and all French people/French-speaking people to meet each other on campus. As I am an International Student from France, I have struggled with homesickness. Therefore, I was seeking for people who had a common culture as I did.

I bought the membership online, got involved with their events and I have decided to run for Secretary of the committee in the following year (2016) and to run for Chair this year (2017).

What have been some of the society’s memorable events from the past year?

• Welcome Social 2016: We have organised a successful first social in order to welcome new members. Here are pictures from the night:

  

  

  (French Society Committee 16-17)

• Loughborough Apprentice: As the French Society committee, we have decided to take part of the Loughborough Apprentice where we pitched to organise a wine tasting event but we unfortunately lost. We have had some great memories from this experience, especially this video that we have recorded to promote our pitch.

• Raclette lunch: Raclette is a popular winter meal in France involving a lot of cheese and charcuterie (cold meat). We organised a raclette lunch in town for people who were homesick about the meal and who just wanted to try the meal. Here is a picture of how the meal looked like:

  

Describe your society in three words…

Fun, food and wine.

What would you say to someone considering joining?

If you are from France, from a French-speaking country, a French-speaking person, a lover of France or just interested in the French culture, then this society is made for you! Anyone can join the us at any point of the year by buying our membership of only £5 on the Loughborough Students’ Union website. We (the French society committee) will have a stall at the Freshers Bazaar on the 1st October so it would be the best way for students to meet us, learn about the society and ask us as many questions as they would like.

You are going to have a wonderful time with us from meeting French-speaking people to eating French food, there is a place for anyone in this society! We are going to try to organise an event every month that varies from socials, sober events, or sports events.

Anything else we should know?

You don’t have to be French to join the us! Anyone from any background is welcomed!

We are still currently planning our first event so we do not have a date yet but feel free to get some updates via our Facebook page.

Interested in finding out more? Contact the French Society via their social media channels: Facebook.

LSU has a huge range of societies – you can find the list of all 115+ societies here.

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