Yokohama Seasider would like to congratulate Soleil Provence on its 20th anniversary!
This French language and culture school in Fujisawa, Kanagawa was launched by the husband-and-wife team of Michel and Alana Bonzi. Although small, it has had an outsized impact on the local community and far beyond. The Bonzis say that roughly 1800 students have passed through their school. Alana adds, “Many have ‘graduated’ to having their own pastry shops, to living, studying, or working in France, or to joining international organizations in Japan.”
The Bonzis arrived in Japan in 1996. They were originally in Kagoshima (on the JET Program) before relocating north for teaching opportunities in Tokyo. They both worked for other organizations before deciding to open their own school. Alana explains, “The idea was to be able to share our culture in as authentic a way as possible. Language and culture are the first step to international exchange and cross-cultural understanding.”
Why Fujisawa and not Tokyo, or even Yokohama? The latter, after all, celebrates French culture yearly with an array of events and its population would provide plenty of local students. They admit that they settled in Fujisawa by chance, though its coastal weather and culture reminded Michel of his hometown of Nice. The style of the school is perhaps better suited for the town’s laidback ethos anyway. Soleil Provence is actually in a house, creating a comfortable environment where exchange happens more naturally. Students literally feel at home.
The Bonzis rely on an array of teaching material, from old-school textbooks to multimedia resources. But the main means of learning, according to Alana, “is rooted in a true exchange of language in context.” The Bonzis strive to develop personal connections with students, and encourage them to share their lives and activities with each other. “We want to create a real community through Soleil Provence,” says Alana, “one that fosters a desire to learn French and French culture.”
If you’re interested in being a part of this vibrant community, please visit: soleilprovence.com