Le Bilingue Et Bilingue&Artistes
February 2019 ecole jeannine manuel paris
Cover photo by Chiara J.
student newspaper
Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, With every issue that we publish, the editing team of Le Bilingue hopes to reach more and more of EJM’s student body. As primary, middle and high school students, it can sometimes feel as if we are powerless in this world that is so heavily influenced by adults, which is why we must find ways to let our voices be heard and our opinions listened to. In this issue, you will find very different articles ranging from an interview about an administrator’s college experience, to a pro/con debate between students on dress codes, and a feature on EJM’s new Eco-Club, plus stories, tips and more. Our contributors have wished to express themselves, their fears, their dreams and ideas. We hope you will feel encouraged to read and give us feedback, so that we can make this magazine a true communication medium in our school and if you think you have something to say, we’re happy to hear your ideas and read your contributions to the next issues. Whatever and wherever you are in life at the moment, learn to take risks and have faith in your abilities, as you never know how far they might take you. Sincerely, Chiara J. Editor in Chief
Table of Contents ❖ Take it From a Pro : College Q&A ❖ Short Story : Summer School, a Strange Evening Including a Murderous Arm ❖ How to be a Math Genius ❖ Pro/Con : Uniforms ❖ EJM Goes Green : Eco-Club Feature ❖ Les Différents Aspects des Sports d’Hiver ❖ Recipe : Chocolate Orange Mousse
Take it from a Pro
Teacher and administrator Sabine Hurley reflects on her college experience and the path that led her there By Chiara J.
With the looming reality of university applications hanging over every high schooler’s head, Le Bilingue decided to talk to teacher and IB director Sabine Hurley about her thoughts on the ever-changing application process and the reality of life as a college student.
Le Bilingue : Did you always know you wanted to go to university? Sabine Hurley: Yes, I think I always knew that I wanted to go to university, I always loved school, always loved my teachers, and as you can see, I’ve never left school!”
LB: Did you find the application process hard? If so, what did you find to be most challenging?
SH: I didn’t, and that’s because it was a different era. I was applying to college in the 90’s, and it was a completely different scene. I knew that my family couldn’t afford a private college, so I was looking into state schools, mostly. Because I’m from California, I applied to the UC system, UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc., and I got into all the UC’s, but they were too close to home. I decided I wanted to go further away and ended up choosing University of Washington in Seattle. I think the fact that I couldn’t really go the East Coast and that private schools were out of reach limited things in an okay way.
LB: How have you seen the application process evolve over the last couple of years? SH: I’ve been at this school for sixteen years now, and families seem
to be more anxious about the process than they were when I was growing up. The prices have gone up considerably, and over the last twenty years or so, people’s level of education has risen. This is a sign that the world is doing better, and that is great, but it also means that more and more people have access to universities, and that is making the competition more stressful for students. Another thing that I’ve seen in the last few years is that in a school like ours, people tend to all want the same schools and nothing else, and I don’t remember that being the case when I was your age.”
LB: Did you already know what you wanted to study in university and what career you wanted to pursue? SH: Well, there are a lot of teachers in my family and I was really lucky to have [and be motivated by] great teachers. When I was seven I used to line up my marbles and play teacher with them when my sister wouldn’t play with me (because I would punish her!), and in high school I became passionate about math and literature, more specifically Spanish [literature]. I was doing Spanish at a high level and I was doing math at the highest possible level, so I decided to study math and Latin American literature, and I think I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t know that I would eventually become head, but it does seem logical now that I reflect on my path.
LB: Do you think most of the students who graduate from this school have an idea of what they want to do and study, or is it pretty much a jump in the dark?
SH: I think a lot people think they have an idea of what they want to do. People are going to have more and more different types of jobs in the future than ever before, [they’re] going to be changing careers more, and I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. Having transferable skills and being flexible are going to be required in the future. When students talk to me or to each other, some students will say ‘I want to go and do Business studies’ or ‘I want to study this’. One of the dangers of that is that it does project an idea that everyone knows what they want to do, and maybe there are some [students] that genuinely do know what they want to do, but it’s tough for anybody to know what the future is made of. I also believe there is a generational thing going on. Your parents grew up in a world where you did one job, especially in France and so there is an expectation that you should decide on that path. There is the pressure of universities, and the way certain universities select [students] makes it feel like you need to decide right away. So yes, there is a first decision that is happening when you apply to college, but it’s certainly not the last decision you’re going to be making. There is a lot of positivity in risk-taking and being open to new things and not thinking that every choice you make affects everything in your future, because it absolutely doesn’t.
LB: Did you find it easy to switch between sectors and areas of study in university?
SH: I didn’t actually switch, because I started off with liberal arts and I pretty quickly decided that I wanted to double-major in Math and Latin American Literature, the two didn’t have anything in common, but I definitely know people who switched their major and it was absolutely fine. When the courses don’t overlap particularly, then you might have to spend a little more time. Even in the UK system, which is more rigid, we hear from students who have decided to do a different course, and even then, there are no regrets. They’ve tried something, they’ve learned from it, and they’re going into this new field with more conviction than they would have beforehand.
LB: What was your favorite thing about university? SH: The choice. I loved being able to take all different types of classes, and because I was in the liberal arts system I was able to continue German, which I loved, I was able to do music classes, I did film classes…I found that fantastic.
LB: What about your least favorite thing? SH: I don’t even know if there was anything bad… I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about college, [except that] I had a bad roommate freshman year.
LB: If you could give some advice to students who will soon be attending, or are even just starting to think about the idea of going to university, what would it be?
SH : I would tell them to trust themselves, and to follow what they enjoy because that will always be a successful path. If you go in doing something that you like, you can’t possibly fail because you are enjoying it. I would also tell them to keep an open mind and not to worry too much about staying in their comfort zone, to be open to risk-taking on an intellectual level. [They should] trust themselves, trust their decisions and trust where their instincts and their choices are taking them, and have no regrets. We say this to families all the time: the world is becoming more educated, and whereas people maybe used to stop at a bachelor’s degree, now more people are getting masters, or even going on to PhD’s. Maybe [students] will choose one path for their undergraduate studies, and then they’ll have the opportunity to choose something else for their graduate studies, and that’s another thing to take comfort in. You can continue learning your whole life if that’s what you want, you don’t have to say “these four years are the end of it”, that’s completely untrue.
A Special Thanks to Ms. Hurley for sharing her thoughts and time with us here at Le Bilingue.
Summer School, a strange evening including a murderous arm By Valentine S.
I recall the strangest thing that happened to me a few summers ago; it occurred on the large, American campus of the summer school where I was at the time. My dorm was rather far from all the others and the woods were almost eating it, devouring the rooms furthest from the road. Right across from it lay the campus’ cemetery. It was particularly beautiful, with light colored tombstones dispersed over the field like stars in the sky, many personalized in their shape and inscriptions by friends and family. Only, at night, an eerie aura coming from it made the students evade it as much as possible, as though the souls woke up and shrieked at those passing by. I could see it from my window. I could feel it too, but it mostly left me curious about the stories of the people in those graves. Although i didn’t go closer to it than I had to. My room was linked to two smaller ones where both my roommates slept. In order to enter or leave, they had to pass through my room( its bigger size was to make up for the inconvenience of being bothered at any time of the day). My bed was in the middle of the room, about a meter high, with nothing underneath. Every night I finished my work (it was a summer school after all) at around nine or ten and before going to bed. By the time I was nearly fully immersed into my sleep, my roommate would go to the bathroom and wake me up with her heavy footsteps. It irritated me and I told her so- yet her habits never changed. Week after week this same routine took place. One night, I decided to stay awake until she had come and gone in order for my sleep to be uninterrupted. To occupy myself while waiting I had picked up my book and was reading it, but must have fallen into a light slumber because I abruptly woke up for no obvious reason. A shrill scream escaped my lips and a panicked look settled on my face as I saw a hand slowly reach out from under my bed.
The first words that came out from my mouth were in my native language, French, which I hadn’t spoken for three weeks or more (the oddness of my reaction is even more so as I am always frightened or surprised in English). “Who are you,” my trembling voice squeaked, “is anyone there?” I dared not look under the bed in fear someone really was there and sat shaking on my bed, waiting for my roommate to leave her room. To my honest surprise she came from the other door, which indicated to me how tired I must have been to not even notice her absence nor have heard her footsteps. I anxiously asked her to search under my bed, to see if anyone was there. she looked at me like a mad woman, but did as I had asked. “Nothing,” she said a few moments later as she straightened herself. I asked her to look again for safe measures. A hand had come from under my bed, a living human hand! I had not hallucinated, and I wanted to know what was going on. She looked again, visibly questioning my mental health and delivered the same answer. Feeling slightly more secure, I gathered my strength and looked under the bed myself, huddling my blanket around me as a shield – in case the danger hadn’t passed, you see. But I too came back up, perplexed and disoriented. Where had the hand gone? My mind, full of questions, slowed as sleep took control. All thoughts of my adventure flew out of my conscious mind and flowed into my dreams. The fear I had felt was real. Confusion had pushed me to ask in French if someone was under my bed, even though I was in the States and they would most likely have not understood, and even if the person who was most likely there to kill me or steal from me spoke French, was I really expecting them to answer “oui”? As I awoke, calm and rested, I realized that my fatigue had led me to believe that the arm I had believed to belong to a murderer’s hidden beneath me had in reality been mine all along, dangling off the edge of the bed.
How to be a Math Genius By Joonyoung P.
More and more students are wondering how to be good at Math. It is interesting to note that there are fewer students who want to be good at English or History/Geography, but not because English or History are not critical subjects. This difference stems from the fact that Math is simply a more challenging subject to many students than others. For me as well, the dreaded Math test is one of the biggest challenges I face. For those reading this article and looking for the solution to becoming a math genius, I must warn you that I might not be able to provide it. However, I will try my best to suggest a few tricks of the trade from some students who are really good at Math.
Tip #1 : Practice Makes Perfect In order to be good at Math, the first tip I have for you is just we to practice with as many questions as possible. Through repetition you can learn by heart the fundamental principles, which will always be useful in solving other similar and challenging questions at the higher level.
Tip #2: Nothing but Numbers Also, the typical Math genius is generally really good with numbers. This sensitivity to numbers is partly congenital and partly developed by frequent encounters with numbers, as well as a continuous questioning on numbers in our daily lives. Of course, we can develop our sensitivity to numbers by doing many Math exercises and always actively looking for Math concepts in the environment we are surrounded by.
Tip #3: Love What You Do, Do What You Love Lastly, we have the possibility to be good at Math when we really like Math and enjoy working with numbers. Some might say that they cannot like Math because they are not good at Math. Surprisingly, Math is not only an indispensable subject for entering university but one of the most useful subjects in daily life. If we learn Math in the classroom and find useful applications around us, we can approach a bit closer to Math and maybe see it under a different and brighter light.
Uniforms : An Oppression of Freedom or a Unifying Strength? At what point do rules and regulations become repressive of an person’s freedoms and individuality? Schools all over the world differ wildly in regards to their dress code policies, which tend to be largely affected by the cultural environment in which they are located. We at EJM are lucky enough to be in one of the cultural capitals of the world, surrounded by many different people from many different places. In such a diverse environment, it can sometimes be hard to settle on one decision. The question thus remains: should EJM think about implementing a stricter dress code, namely one including a uniform for all students?
Illustration by Maxen W.
Pro by Maxen W.
Uniforms should be implemented in some way within our school. This would be an important development, as the uniform is the best way to show our connection to the establishment as well as our dedication to it. If the school chose to implement only some aspects and not a full uniform, students could still be allowed the freedom to choose what they want to wear. For example, a thin blazer or any other part of the attire bearing the school’s symbol would be one of the only pieces of clothing that students would be forced to wear if they decide to stick to wearing a uniform. The purpose and utility of the uniform would really be highlighted outside of the school rather than inside: for instance, if a student from the school was to participate in an external activity while representing the school, wearing the uniform in that situation would reinforce the idea that that student is representing the school and would legitimize the student-establishment bond.The people the student would be working with would instantly recognize them as a member of EJM, and have a rough idea of what their goals are as well as what they value. Furthermore , a modern school like EJM would stand out even more by taking the old and rather outdated concept of the traditional school uniform and adapting it to the current era by giving them a unique ,yet elegant design that would break the old norms while remaining extremely iconic.
Con by Valentine S.
As we all know, Ecole Jeannine Manuel once imposed uniforms - which are now gone. The school’s ideas evolved and were modernized with the changing times. Imposing uniforms to students is a very old fashioned idea that is no longer up to date: they are expensive, unappealing, uncomfortable and look ridiculous on a large group of adolescents, some of which are going into adulthood. They hamper one’s creativity and expression of self. It is during middle school and high school that teenagers most grow as people, when they figure out what they believe in, who they are and what they like - and that includes style. How could one develop their own personal style if they were forced to wear the same thing every day of the year? People are unique and different from one another, which is what makes this world so rich. We should exploit that diversity, not suppress it! If one chooses to express themselves through the clothes they wear, then that should be their choice. A person with no interest whatsoever in clothing and who does not want to complicate things by wearing something different every day should be able to do so, but must not impose upon others their own desires. The dress code exists to give students boundaries and to prepare them for the workplace with the knowledge of what they can and cannot wear. But it still allows for a lot of creativity, unlike uniforms. Clothes are in no way a distraction, and even help students work at school, because if they feel confident and comfortable thanks to the clothes they wear, they will be more confident and relaxed when learning.
ç
Finally, EJM shows the diversity of its students by allowing them to wear what they want, which could be clothes they created or from their homeland or simply clothes they really like, and shows its open mindedness through the individuality and originality of each and every one of its students.
EJM Goes Green By Diya B.
One year ago, after the school’s decision to become a certified eco-school, Ecole Jeannine Manuel’s student council founded the Eco Committee. In order to be granted this status, a school is required to evaluate different sectors, establish a plan for improvement, and then assess afterwards the extent to which their actions have improved the school’s environment. These sectors are food, water, waste, climate, biodiversity, energy, health and solidarity. At EJM, the goal is to follow the Eco School programme and achieve this certification. Starting off with only around a dozen members, the eco committee has flourished into a diverse group of thirty active members of all ages and backgrounds. They are separated into four sections based on what they found would most apply to EJM: biodiversity, waste, food and water. An elected group leader represents the group and ensures cohesion and progress. Ideas for change include book exchange systems, taking care of trees around the establishment, and the implementation of recycling bins for paper. A year-long study has also been led on food waste in the primary school’s canteen, revealing that over a third of food is wasted. William B., a member of the committee, says, “We have been excitedly waiting to present our solutions regarding this issue to the school’s head of finance for the past eight months.” He also asserts that the committee is confident that by giving the students a voice, change can and will be made at EJM.
ç
As former minister of the environment Nicolas Hulot once said, “Small steps do not suffice when the current situation requires us to profoundly change our archaic system, goals and mentalities.” Every single student, parent and member of staff is invited to play a role in helping our school go green , and students are invited to join EJM’s eco team at their weekly Thursday meetings at 12:15 in P13.
Les Différents Aspects des Sports d’Hiver Par Massimiliano A.
En cette période hivernale je vais vous parler des différences entre les stations de ski à travers le monde. Comme vous devez sans doute le savoir, les domaines skiables peuvent se trouver aux quatres coins du monde sur tous les continents. Leurs caractéristiques sont toutes différentes mais une chose les unit : le plaisir de la glisse. Je vais vous présenter cinq stations pour cinq types de touristes différents.
Tout d’abord, je vais vous décrire la “meilleur neige” au monde comme la qualifient les skieurs et snowboarders. Elle se situe au Japon où des milliers de “riders” s’y rendent pour y trouver la sensation de flotter sur une neige pure et légère. Les infrastructures japonaises, contrairement à ce que l’on aurait pu s’imaginer, ne sont pas les plus modernes et les domaines sont essentiellement constitués de hors-pistes où la poudreuse atteint des hauteurs incroyables. La station la plus connue est celle d’Hokkaido. Malheureusement, les pentes Japonaises ne sont pas faites pour tout le monde et le niveau de ski demandé est assez élevé. De plus, c’est une expérience unique car il n’y a pas d'hôtels modernes ou de tourisme et les villages restent authentiques.
En restant dans le contexte de la poudreuse, la technique la plus efficace pour en trouver est le “heliski”. Cette pratique consiste à employer des hélicoptères pour se rendre dans des endroits où la neige est encore immaculée et sans traces. Une expérience coûteuse mais qui vous donne la majeure partie du temps les meilleurs virages de votre vie. Nous pouvons trouver cet aspect du ski dans le monde entier mais le Canada est l’endroit le plus populaire. Perdus dans le “fin fond” de la montagne dans un petit “lodge” comme l’appellent les américains, nous ressentons vraiment l’impression de ne faire qu’un avec la montagne et la qualité de neige est incroyable.
De retour dans les Alpes Françaises, il est difficile de trouver des endroits semblables à ceux-ci, mais un domaine sort du lot. Essayant de rester le plus pure et sauvage possible, cette station a choisi de ne pas baliser ou de damer des pistes. On y trouve une seule remontée mécanique qui fait 2000 mètres de dénivelé positive sans interruption et qu’un seul restaurant. Le reste, que de la montagne à l'état pur. Des hors-pistes à n’en plus finir et un glacier imposant qui ferait peur à plus d’un. De plus, la vue est à couper le souffle. En station classique on transforme la montagne pour amener le skieur; dans le hors piste on transforme le skieur pour l'amener à la montagne. Voici la philosophie de La Grave, la station française qui n’a pas cédé aux sirènes du commercial.
Photo by Valentine S.
Puis, viennent les villages luxueux et modernes des Alpes, comme Courchevel qui compte même un aéroport. Cette station est vraiment faite pour tout type de skieurs. Ayant un domaines skiable immense, des hôtels, des chalets de luxes et de nombreuses galeries d’art, tout le monde trouve son bonheur à Courchevel : les sportifs tout comme ceux venus se reposer ou même montrer leur richesse. Nous pouvons la qualifier de polyvalente, le sport ayant une grande importance mais le tourisme, les achats et surtout les nombreuses boîtes de nuits ou bars rendent le village vivant de jour comme de nuit. Dans les Alpes, la majorité des stations se ressemblent et suivent ce modèle mais Courchevel est vraiment unique avec sa clientèle très aisée et avec ses pistes palpitantes il est très difficile de rivaliser.
Finalement, loin des folies de Courchevel, nous pouvons trouver des stations comme Risoul, située en France, qui sont moins chères et donc très convoitées par les étudiants et les voyages scolaires. Elle compte de nombreux blocs et de très gros immeubles prêts à abriter des milliers de jeunes. Nous y trouvons plein de bars et de boîtes de nuit réservés aux nombreux vacanciers étudiants venus pour se détendre après les examens. Leur but, profiter tous ensemble. La particularité de Risoul est que toutes les consommations sont moins chères commençant par les logements ou même la bière, boisson favorite des touristes, ce qui rend les voyages de classe et en groupe beaucoup plus accessibles, le ski étant un sport assez coûteux généralement. Que vous soyez à la recherche de la rare poudreuse, de la nature à l'état pur, d'hôtels de luxes ou même de vacances moins chères, vous savez désormais quelle sera votre prochaine destination hivernale pour plein de sensations!
RECIPE
Chocolate Orange Mousse Inspired by Nathan Outlaw, a British chef
BY LAURE S.
Ingrédients ● 80g of caster sugar ( finely granulated sugar ) ● 460ml of double cream ( thick cream with a lot of milk fat ) ● 6 gelatine leaves ● 1 orange, zested ● 6 egg yolks ● 80g of 70% bitter chocolate ● 80g of 70% cocoa powder ● 300ml of whole milk
Equipment Taken from Great British Chefs
Preparation 50 mins + 2h cooling time For 4 people Level Easy
● Hand whisk ● Pan
For a scrumptious winter desert, with the sweet flavour of oranges!
Method 1.
Soak the gelatine in cold water. Mix the egg yolks and caster sugar together in a bowl
2.
Bring 300ml of the double cream together with the milk and orange zest to boil in the pan. Pour the egg yolk and sugar mixture onto the pan and cook over a low heat until the mix thickens a little
3.
Remove from the heat. Finely chop the chocolate and stir in, along with the soaked gelatine and cocoa powder. Once the chocolate is properly mixed in, place the pan over a bowl of ice to cool. Meanwhile, semi-whip the remaining 160ml of double cream
4.
When the chocolate custard mix is at room temperature, fold in the cream until fully incorporated. Transfer to a bowl and chill in the fridge for 2 hours before serving
Our Team Chiara J.
Editor in Chief
Laure S.
Food Editor
Isabella A.
Editor
Valentine S.
Writer
Joonyoung P.
Writer
Claire S.
Writer
Massimiliano A.
Writer
Ellie L.
Writer
Maxen W.
Graphics/Writer
Sofia M.
Writer
Diya B.
Writer
Claire F.
Writer
Special Thanks to: Ms. Elliot Ms. Stathopulos
Join Us! Follow us!
Student Journalism is always looking for new additions, so come to our weekly Monday meetings at 12:00 in P23 or submit your work to studentjournalism@ejm.org!
@ejm_journalism