Corentin is a PhD student in French Linguistics at Indiana University. He is returning to teach for IUHPFL for the second time, having previously taught in Brest, France in 2022. Of that IUHPFL summer, Corentin said, “It was a fantastic experience! Working with high school students is so rewarding—as instructors we see them grow, mature, and develop over the course of the program, linguistically but also personally. We are a point of reference for them as we accompany them throughout their experience in the country, and I love helping them navigate the challenges of living abroad.” This year, Corentin will be one of two IUHPFL instructors at the Saint-Brieuc, France site.
Corentin Mazet
For Corentin, the best part about teaching with IUHPFL is the relationship with the students. For many of them it is either their first experience abroad or their first experience away from their families for so long, and as such, it is very intense. They go through a myriad of emotions, and one of the instructors' many roles is to guide them through the experience. Corentin said, “I have had the chance to live abroad many times, and I really enjoy going through it again with them. It reminds me of my own first study abroad program, and we get to see them experience the same things.”
Of course, being an IUHPFL instructor isn’t easy. In Corentin’s experience, one of the most challenging parts of the program is how many hats instructors have to wear: At times, instructors are planners, organizers, guides, coaches, cheerleaders, and caretakers. Being an instructor for IUHPFL requires a variety of skills, and we are grateful to have dedicated, enthusiastic, and experienced instructors like Corentin to fulfill these many roles so skillfully!
How would you summarize your IUHPFL experience in three words?
Culture, openness, growth.
What advice do you have for future IUHPFL students?
Come with an open mind and ready for some challenges. During the program, you'll probably go through the entire spectrum of emotions you can experience, positive and negative. But in exchange, you will gain so much. You will learn about yourself and grow a lot, and you will accomplish things you did not think you were capable of. You will also make a lot of friends, and possibly ones you'll keep for a lifetime! The intensity of the program makes it that you will form close relationships with your peers, your host family, and your instructors, and they will become your support system for a few weeks. Finally, you'll make memories that you'll be able to tell friends and family back home for the rest of your life!
