St. Louis, Mo. (March 24, 2026) St. Louis Language Immersion School (SLLIS) is preparing for its massive celebration of the French language during National Francophonie Month throughout March. SLLIS is hosting its “Francofun” event March 27, where students will parade through the halls, showcasing French culture from countries across the globe while also participating in unique classroom events during the day.
National Francophonie Month celebrates the diverse cultures, traditions and histories of the various regions of the world that speak French. As part of the day’s festivities, every class in the French program at SLLIS will select a French-speaking country and learn about its food, clothing, songs, movies, music and more. Students will also get to try food from French-speaking regions around the globe.
“When people think about the French language, they usually only think of France and maybe Canada,” SLLIS French Teacher Mathilde Hodin said. “In reality, there are a plethora of countries around the world that speak French. Many countries in Africa, like Benin, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to name just a few, speak French. Other countries like Belgium, Switzerland and Haiti also speak French in parts of their country.”
SLLIS is a dual language immersion school, with students learning subjects in English and a target language of either Chinese, French or Spanish. The Francophonie event will give students in the French program a chance to showcase their knowledge to those in Chinese and Spanish classes. The French students will host a parade throughout the hallways of SLLIS, singing, dancing and showing off traditional clothing to other students.
“Our goal at SLLIS is not just to teach the written and spoken language, but we also want to give a cultural exposition,” Hodin said. “Our French students will be equipped to travel the world with a greater cultural understanding, helping them conduct business, make friends and have a fulfilling life of travel.”
Hodin added that this celebration is also a time to teach students about the colonial history of French-speaking nations, with lessons focusing on the impact of colonization on the natives of those regions.
Overall, the Francofun celebration is a day to eat delicious croissants and madeleines, and to celebrate diverse, French-speaking cultures.