A private cinema screening in Perth has put the spotlight on the teachers helping Australian students discover France through international exchange.
AFX Student Exchange has brought together French teachers, education partners and members of Perth’s French-speaking community for a private screening of French comedy Antoinette dans les Cévennes, recognising the role teachers play in encouraging students to experience another culture firsthand.
Held at Palace Cinema Raine Square on Sunday 1 November, the event attracted Frédéric Flipo, Honorary Consul of France in Perth, alongside representatives from Alliance Française de Perth and the Teachers of French Association of Western Australia (TOFA WA).
While much of Australia’s international education conversation centres on students travelling here, AFX operates in both directions, providing opportunities for Australian secondary students to spend several weeks in France, living with host families and attending local schools. The organisation also facilitates exchanges for French students coming to Australia.
It is a reminder that international education is not simply about attracting students to Australian institutions. Outbound mobility, cultural exchange and language learning are also important parts of the picture, helping young people develop international perspectives through experiences that extend well beyond the classroom.
AFX Director Vinciane Thomas said language teachers were often the starting point for that journey, sparking students’ curiosity about other cultures and encouraging them to take the next step.
The screening was intended as a thank you to those teachers, while highlighting what can happen when classroom language learning becomes a lived experience.
AFX School Liaison Officer Camille Tomasini said there was strong enthusiasm among Perth’s French teachers for giving students the opportunity to experience life in France. She said AFX’s role was to ensure exchanges were safe, well prepared and supported before, during and after the experience.
The Perth visit also included meetings with several metropolitan schools, providing an opportunity to strengthen relationships with educators and promote future exchange opportunities.
For an organisation that has specialised exclusively in France-Australia exchanges for more than 25 years, the focus on teachers is an important one. Student mobility does not begin with a plane ticket. It often starts with a teacher, a language lesson and the curiosity to explore somewhere beyond familiar surroundings.
AFX Student Exchange is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity with teams in both France and Australia. It has supported more than 6,000 students through its exchange programs.
Photo: Indigo Wildstars. Camille Tomasini, School Liaison Officer, and Laura Bret, Program Manager, from AFX Student Exchange, at the private screening at Palace Cinema Raine Square in Perth.
