1,400 students registered for the first Franco-German career and education fair of its kind in Germany. They travelled mainly from Bremen, the surrounding area and the whole of northern Germany to get an idea of what their future could look like with a connection to the French-speaking world. At over 30 stands run by universities, colleges, cultural institutes and associations, the young people were able to find out about the many different ways in which they can integrate French into their education and professional life – whether through Romance language or bilingual degree courses, a voluntary social year in a French-speaking country, internships, exchange programmes or French companies and institutions in Germany. The students were able to discover that learning French is much more than just mastering a language.

In the panel discussions with representatives from the business community, the French Embassy, Franco-German education and youth work, ARTE and the Association of French Teachers, the conviction was expressed that knowing French opens the door to the foundations and future of Europe: a Franco-German space, in which cultural and, in particular, economic contacts are based on trust, listening and mutual understanding. Last but not least, the stories of friendship and love from the many testimonials on the podium showed how alive French can be after school, that it opens up many other paths besides a career as a French teacher, and that it is always worthwhile to learn French and engage with another culture. No wonder, then, that discussions are already underway for the next edition of the fair. A ‘Future Fair West’ is being planned as a sequel.