Firstly, to offer the possibility for all students who wish to have a genuine immersion experience in another language and culture, and to step out of their comfort zone to live a unique growth experience encompassing multiple linguistic, social, and personal learnings. Then, to provide a real framework of interaction and discovery within the school language learning process, directly linked to project-based pedagogy. Additionally, to foster students' commitment and willingness to surpass themselves in a project that entails a series of obligations and sometimes challenging tasks for them, such as going alone to stay with a host family. To nurture students' autonomy, their enjoyment of learning, and the courage to step outside their comfort zone, thereby fostering personal growth.
"Our school is located in the countryside, 35 kilometers away from the nearest towns and 90 kilometers away from Brussels. The rural world has many advantages but also limitations, often of a cultural nature. Very few of our students have the opportunity to go on trips abroad during vacations to improve their language skills. When we organize exchanges or language trips at school, motivated and talented students cannot participate because their families cannot afford the extra expenses. Students rarely have the opportunity to meet people from different languages and cultures, neither at home nor at school. The presence of foreign-born populations is very low, and travel opportunities are not frequent, especially cultural trips. Languages are powerful means of broadening our worldview; they carry within them a desire for travel and encounters. In our region, this desire is stifled due to the lack of opportunities in a region deeply rooted in the land. We want languages to give wings to our students and lead them to glimpse other horizons."