When it comes to taking a world language class at Gibbons, Spanish and Latin are often the first that come to mind for students. Most students came from a middle school that taught one, if not both, of those languages. However, if students want to branch out and try something new, they have that option in French.
The French department at Gibbons is small but mighty, and led by Madame Lydia Binanay. Binanay teaches six French class periods, ranging from French I to AP French. While learning each level is different for students, Binanay shared her view of teaching each.
“I like French 1 because they learn so much. They go from knowing nothing to knowing a whole lot. I also find that the AP class can be really gratifying because we can really work in the target language, go a lot deeper …and apply it to more complex issues,” said Binanay.
Binanay has been a French teacher at Gibbons for four years now, and has been teaching the language for 16 years in total.
“It’s my fourth year here,” Binanay said, “I’m a senior!”
Though the department is rather small, it is rapidly growing. With new student interest and freshmen wanting to explore the language, there is a growing number of French I class periods this year.
“This year we have three French I classes, so that’s more … than what we’ve done in all the other years,” Binanay said.
With the influx of new students taking French this year, it is interesting to see how many go on to continue French for all four years of high school. Binanay explained how this year she has 22 seniors in her AP French class, yet 44 students of the current senior class took French I their freshman year.
By continuing the language for a long time, students can deepen their knowledge of it and learn to practice it in the real world.
“I love to expose students to other beliefs and ways of life, like to show them someone else’s culture, while it might be different, it can also be right and cool,” Binanay said.
The most special part of the French department is the international trips to Canada and France. All current or past French students are eligible to participate.
The trip’s destination switches yearly between Quebec and Montréal, and France. The 2026 trip to Quebec and Montréal is during mid-winter break, with activities ranging from snowtubing, to learning the history of the city, and going outdoor ice skating. Students can look forward to an array of interesting activities that help them practice their knowledge of French and explore Montréal’s culture. The trip to France, which will take place in 2027, will give students the chance to explore Paris and the south of France.
Another interesting part of the Montréal trip is the freedom that students get. According to Binanay, students get time every day to explore the city on their own, get lunch, or go shopping.
“That’s really when they get to talk to the locals on their own and see if they can really get by in the language,” Binanay said.
From the trips to Canada and France, engaging conversations in French, and a vibrant classroom experience, French is more than just a class, it provides life-long skills and memories.
