I am currently on an ERASMUS teaching exchange with the University of Bristol School of Modern Languages. During my week-long visit I have had the opportunity to meet withformer, current and future Bristol-Poitiers exchange students who have, are or are going to be spending one semester to one year at the partner university, Poitiers for Bristol students studying French and languages, Bristol for Poitiers students studying French Literature, English or Applied Languages. The agreement between the Bristol School of Modern Languages and Poitiers Faculty of Litterature and Languages allows for 10 student-semester exchanges per year.

I met and discussed the exchange with Helene Duranton, Language Director, Marianne Ailes, Senior Lecturer and Head of the French Department, Martin Hurcombe, Senior Lecturer in French, member of the War and Culture research group,  and Gino Raymond, Professor of Modern French Studies. Marianne Ailes is making a return trip to Poitiers for the CESCM ‘s 57th Summer session, the Semaines d’études médiévales, 26 June – 7 July 2012.

I gave two talks – one on the town and university of Poitiers, the other, on International Women’s Day, 8th March 2012, on the situation of women in contemporary France. I also took a class on Simone de Beauvoir’s novel Le sang des autres.

I was also  able to attend the Christianson Lecture given by Professor Jeremy Jennings (Queen Mary’s London), ‘Travels with Alexis de Tocqueville: Tocqueville’s Journey into America’ in the French Research Seminar on 6th March 2012.

 It is hoped that a regular exchange of academics will be initiated by this first ERASMUS teaching visit.