Summer Cultural Discoveries Club for Teens

Location: In Person at FIAF Manhattan
Level: All Levels
Summer: Jun 17–Aug 9

Grades 6–12 / Ages 11–17
1 week, Mon-Fri, 1:30pm-4:30pm, $499/week

Welcome to the Summer Games at FIAF! This summer, through interactive workshops and visits around the city, your teens will step out of the classroom and use their language skills in real-world situations.

Each week will focus on a city that has hosted the Games, with workshops themed around the geography and the culture of the hosting country, a type of game, famous athletes, and other related aspects of the Games. Everyone will find a unique way to discover or improve their proficiency in French, and more importantly, have fun in French with FIAF.
From the creation of the Olympics in Athens to the future Games in Los Angeles, teenagers will make stops in Greece, Mexico, Australia, China, Brazil, Japan, France and the United States. They will learn about the symbols, values and a vast range of vocabulary related not only to sports, but also to food, arts, music, clothing, and more. Best of all, they will learn how to work together and collaborate just like the champion teams will do in Paris this summer! See you at the Games!

Open to all levels of French including complete beginners.

Sign up for two weeks or more for maximum learning. Weekly activities are subject to change. 

  • Week 1: June 17-21* —​​ Dive In The Origins Of The Olympics In Athens

    During this week, we will take your teens back in time to the creation of the Olympics in Athens in 1896. They will learn about modern and ancient Greece, the gods of the Olympus and the art of mosaics. Teens will enjoy making sculptures and rambling the Greek aisle of the Met Museum, creating their own mosaics, making tzatziki, and cooking mosaiko. There will be a particular focus on water sports such as swimming and synchronized swimming, and teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes, like Laure Manaudou or Michael Phelps. They will learn how to play a water sport like a champ!

    *No class/camp on Wednesday, June 19 (Juneteenth)

  • Week 2: June 24-28 — Win A Gold Medal In Mexico City

    During this week, your teens will travel to Mexico City and go on a field trip to the El Museo del Barrio. They will learn about the heritage of the Aztec people and culture, famous landmarks and the art of jewelry. As part of their voyage, they will make a traditional Aztec mask and create their own bijou, as well as cook tacos and make a Mayan chocolate dessert. The games this week will focus on ball games, such as soccer and basketball, and teens will become familiar with famous athletes from these sports, like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi in soccer, Tony Parker and Michael Jordan in basketball. They will learn how to play a ball game like a champ!

  • Week 3: July 1-5* — ​​Jump In The Games In Sydney

    During this week, your teens will travel to Sydney. They will learn about the wilderness and the art of the Aboriginal people in class and at the Met Museum’s Oceania section. While in Sydney, they will make a boomerang, learn how to paint like the Aboriginal people, and bake Aussie Pavlova and Anzac biscuits. This week’s games will focus on track & field and jumping, and teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes from these sports, like Usain Bolt, Marie-José Pérec or Renaud Lavillenie. They will learn how to do track & field like a champ!

    *No class/camp on Thursday, July 4 (Independence Day)

  • Week 4: July 8-12 — Ready, Set, Go Pekin

    During this week, your teens will travel to Pekin. While on this voyage, they will learn about the lunar calendar and the art of calligraphy, as well as make a dragon craft and create a paper lantern. They will explore the Museum of Chinese in America. In the kitchen, they will make Cantonese rice and egg tarts. The games this week will focus on skill games, such as fencing and archery, as well as racket sports, such as badminton and table tennis. Teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes from these sports, like Serena Williams, or Roger Federer. They will learn how to play these sports like a champ!

  • Week 5: July 15-19 — Celebrate The Games In Rio

    During this week, your teens will travel to Rio, where they will learn about the diverse and festive atmosphere of Brazil. They will visit the Hall of South American Peoples at the American Museum of Natural History. They will make friendship bracelets and create a traditional carnaval hat, and will cook feijoada and quindim. This week will have a big focus on teams, learning about team sports such as volleyball, baseball or handball, and teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes from these sports, like Giba and Sheilla Castro in volleyball, and Nikola Karabatić in handball. They will learn how to play these sports like a champ!

  • Week 6: July 22-26 — Fight Like A Champ In Tokyo

    During this week, your teens will travel to Tokyo, where they will learn about the art of manga and the Japanese tea culture. They will take a trip to the beautiful Noguchi Museum. They will create origami and draw their own manga comic strip as well as make sushi and mochi. There will be a particular focus on combat sports such as judo or karate, and teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes from these sports, like Teddy Riner and Ryoko Tani. They will learn how to play these sports like a champ!

  • Week 7: July 29-August 2 — Light The Flame In Paris

    During this week, your teens will travel to Paris – the location of this year’s Summer Games! They will learn everything about the ville lumière and the French art-de-vivre. They will create stained glass crafts and participate in an Eiffel Tower building contest, and make croque-monsieur and crêpes. They will enjoy a cheese tasting at the Cheese Board in Soho.There will be a particular focus on wheeled sports, such as track cycling or BMX, and teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes from these sports, like Conor Fields, Lance Armstrong, and Jeannie Longo. They will learn how to play these sports like a champ!

  • Week 8: August 5-9 — See You In L.A.

    During this week, your teens will travel to Los Angeles. They will learn about the magic of Hollywood and the beautiful California landscapes. Their activities will include creating their own mascot, designing a photo album of a fictional Californian road trip, and making sandwiches and ice cream. They will explore American paintings at the Guggenheim. This week’s activities will be all about movement, from gymnastics to rhythmic gymnastics, and teens will become familiar with gold-medal athletes from these sports, like Simone Biles and Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos. They will learn how to play these sports like a champ!