It is a brand new day and the students from AP French class prepare to talk with other students all the way from France. Students type away on their phones and they start to build close friendships.

The French Pen Pal program started last year and is only available for only AP French 4 class. This program is about Tompkins students communicating with other students in France. They share many things such as personal experiences and how life is different in America and France.

Madame Pauletti, a French teacher at Tompkins High School, is in charge of the program.

“The students correspond with French students who are studying English. The students live in Provins, a small town outside Paris,” said Pauletti.

While the students at Tompkins help the French students learn more English, it also benefits Tompkins students who can better grasp the French language.

Junior Alyssa Gordon is a student in AP French and is part of the French Pen Pal program.

“Our teacher knows the French students and we are assigned to a student. We just talk about how our lives are different,” said Gordon. “I also benefit from this because I get cool pictures from Paris such as the Eiffel Tower.”

Not only is this an in school program but students talk outside of class and talk in French on a daily basis. Students just received videos that the French students put together showing what they did over Christmas break.

“We not only send letters, but we also communicate through social medias like Snapchat or even Instagram,” said Gordon.

The overall benefit of the program is that not only does this help the AP French students in class, but it helps get them prepared for the AP exam.

“A massive part of the French AP test is about cultural comparisons and by participating in the French Pen Pal program,” said Pauletti. “And this has really helped to improve their communication skills and overall the students are enjoying the program and learning about life in France in a more personal way.”