How to Make Your Trip to Québec City More Educational

As we watch our programs unfold each spring, we are continuously looking for new ways to make the next year's programs even better.

Among other things, better means more educational, because we really do take pleasure and pride in planting ideas in the minds of the young people that participate in our trips.

One thing we've learned about enhancing the educational value of our trips is that the better students are prepared for what they will see and do in Québec before they leave home, the more they will benefit. Students pay closer attention, ask more questions and learn more, and, as a result, the trips are more satisfying for their teachers and even the guides. Everybody wins!

For example, a visit to Place Royale, the heart of Québec's Basse Ville, will be much more meaningful for any student who has done a bare minimum of research about it or has heard another student's research report. The same is true for other sites in the city, or for historical figures who played a part in the shaping of "la Nouvelle France".

Students may be asked to share their research with the class, with another class, with the French club, or simply with other participants on their trip. They might be asked to give their report once in the classroom, and once again "on location" in Canada. For example, a student who researched Montmorency Falls could be the "tour guide", and give information on the way to the Falls over the public address system on the bus. Students love talking on the system, other students are attentive, and it fills down-time productively.

With this in mind, we have developed a preview of some of the things that your group is likely to see and do while in Québec. We have included recommendations about research topics, historical information about the colony of New France and enrichment activities which practice French language structures using "Québec" as content material. References for further study are listed. The websites were accurate at press time, but are subject to change. (Hint for acces-sing websites: be careful to type the URL exactly as printed, being sure to distinguish between the number "1" and the letter "l".

We hope that you will find this Teachers' Resource Manual helpful as you prepare your students for their Québec travel experience!

Québec City Study Guide prepared by Ellen S. Brookes