Fox Chapel Area French teacher expands knowledge base with study trip to France

The 16 days that Pamela Barentine spent in France this summer were invigorating.

Despite the stress of traveling amid a pandemic, Barentine, a world language teacher in the Fox Chapel Area School District, knew the importance of the trip for both her and her students.

“I don’t think that there’s any substitute for actually being immersed in the culture and the language 24/7, especially for a language teacher,” she said. “I think that it’s important that we do that every so often to keep up our own skills and to keep current with the new technologies.”

Barentine of Highland Park, who teaches French at Fox Chapel middle and high schools, received a $6,000 grant from the European Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh for this summer’s immersive language study in Montpellier, France. It was almost a miracle that she was able to go, with France’s travel warnings dropping low enough for her to head to Europe for two weeks.

While there, she studied at the LSF Montpellier French Language School alongside teachers from across the world, learning about culture, linguistics, current events and new literature and film. Most days were spent in the classroom, with evenings spent taking in the sights and sounds of the region and collaborating with others in the program.

“Pam’s participation in this program exemplifies her ongoing dedication to her students and our high school,” said Daniel Lentz, program principal at Fox Chapel Area High School. “These experiences will be of tremendous benefit to her students as she utilizes real-world experiences to bring the French language and culture to life.”

Kelly Barone, chair of the World Language Department, echoed those sentiments.

“Pamela is a passionate and dedicated teacher,” she said. “Her educational background and global travels allow her to create culturally rich and relevant experiences for her students. Bringing life to the language through programs such as LSF Montpellier’s French Language School is invaluable to both the teacher and the students.”

World travel is nothing new for Barentine. She spent her junior year at the University of Kansas studying in France. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in French Studies: Language and Culture with a minor in journalism, she went on to receive her master’s degree in linguistics at Old Dominion University and her teaching certificate at the University of Hawaii. Barentine married a Navy officer and moved all across the country, teaching in South Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts and Hawaii.

She spent a couple of summers teaching at a boarding school in Switzerland and did a monthlong study nearly 20 years ago at The Catholic University of the West in France.

It had been a while, though, since she had been to Europe.

“I just thought that it was time to go back, not only for my language skills, but for the skills that I would get to pass on to my students,” she said.

Barentine was on the mailing list for Pitt’s University Center for International Studies, where she learned about the grant in early 2020. She applied, only for all trips to be canceled due to the spread of covid-19. Earlier this year, she was contacted by the program’s engagement coordinator Samantha Moik who informed her the program was back up and running this year.

To her surprise, Barentine received the grant.

“I was so happy,” she said. “I was texting and calling everyone that I knew.”

But the U.S. State Department’s Travel Advisory for France was at level four, which is a “do not travel” advisory. Barentine planned to do the program remotely from her home until she learned that the travel advisory had lessened for France. She quickly booked her trip.

Traveling during the pandemic wasn’t easy. Barnentine was required to be vaccinated, which she already was, and had to submit a negative covid test result taken within 72 hours of flying each way.

France had also instituted a new law where people were required to be vaccinated to enter cafés, restaurants, museums and even hospitals.

Barentine stayed in a hotel in the heart of Montpellier and walked about 10 minutes each day to the school, which is located in the Occitane region of France and is six miles from the Mediterranean Coast.

“In class, there was a lot of focus on technology and media and how to incorporate those things into the language classroom for students,” she said.

One of the reasons she selected LSF Montpellier were the resources that it provided for her students.

While the entire trip was memorable, there was a day that she spent on foot, walking the perimeter of the city that stands out in her mind. Earlier in the day, she went to an art museum, where she was required to show her proof of vaccination to enter.

Then, she walked through a promenade where free swing classes were being taught in the park.

During her trip, there were demonstrations in the streets surrounding the new vaccination requirements.

“I was able to watch the presentations and talk to people and hear different viewpoints of those who were for it and against it and then bring that back to the students,” she said. “Those are things you’re not going to get in a textbook.”

Looking back, Barentine still can’t believe she was able to go. Shortly after her trip, France went back to a level 4 travel advisory.

“For it to open up like that, it really felt like it was almost a miracle. It was pretty amazing,” she said. “There’s no substitute for being immersed in the culture. It’s living the language for whatever time that you’re there. I didn’t want to leave after the 16 days. I wanted to stay longer.”