Since Monday, three rooms of the former Saint-Roch hospital, in the center of Nice, have been converted into classrooms.
Every day, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., about twenty students, divided between children, teenagers and adults, attend free French lessons, from Monday to Friday. in partnership with the Francophonia association.
The goal is to teach them the basics of the language so that they can "integrate more easily" and "feel at home", says the city.
In a few days, the former Saint-Roch hospital, in the center of Nice, has become a real "living space" for Ukrainian refugees.
On one side, an aisle with donations of clothes and toys.
On the other, "the store" with preserves and hygiene products.
In the central courtyard, the possibility of having a coffee, croissants or a snack.
And since Monday, the old hospital is also a French school with three classrooms, for children, teenagers and adults.
This Wednesday, about twenty teenagers, from 11 to 18 years old, attend Nataliia's course for free, who arrived in Nice a few days ago.
Before the start of the war, in Ukraine, she was a French teacher at the university.
It was the Francophonia association, which had trained her, which invited her to come to the Côte d'Azur to escape the conflict.
The director, Yann Librati, develops: “We called our 120 French teachers in Ukraine to tell them that we could find solutions for them in terms of accommodation, catering, in exchange for giving a little of their time.
But some are too afraid to cross the country, they are with children and are afraid of the risks.
»
An “airlock” before going to school
“Today, we learn about tastes, preferences,” the teacher tells her class before asking a student “what she really likes and what she adores.”
"I like to read and I love to draw," replies the young girl, almost without an accent.
“They are very motivated to learn the language and they are making rapid progress,” says the teacher.
The atmosphere is warm.
The children are opening up more and more, it helps them to be together”.
She specifies that during her lessons, “we don't talk about what is happening in Ukraine”.
This system, set up by the city and in partnership with the Francophonia association, serves as an “airlock”, especially for children before they go to school.
"The teenager will feel more at ease and his integration will be less stressful", adds Nataliia.
According to the director of the association, it will take them “about three weeks to have the basics of French”.
For adults too, these moments are important.
Valentina, one of the teachers, explains: “There is a real interest in learning French to feel at home, to communicate and to understand.
It's not even a desire anymore, it's a real need and it's also the basis of their motivation to progress.
In addition, they create a bond, share their feelings and help each other.
»
That day, the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, appeared in front of the class, indicating that he "would do everything possible to make everyone feel at home in Nice, without missing anything".
“Thank you very much”, chorus the Ukrainian refugees present.
Emue, a woman in the front row with a jacket on which is written "Ukraine", has the teacher translate that she was a top athlete in her country and that she would like to be able to organize sports activities here on the Prom' .
She slips in a "I love Nice" timidly.
It was also the lesson of the day for these adults.
A regional reception hub for Ukrainian refugees by Friday?
In all, 780 people signed up for two hours of lessons a day, Monday to Friday.
“And it is increasing day by day,” says Yann Librati.
“For the moment, we have three rooms but, by next week, six new spaces spread over the city will open”, assures the metropolis, which has welcomed 1,600 Ukrainians so far.
By Friday, a regional “hub” should open at the Gallaratto bowling alley, west of the city, to direct new arrivals and serve as a temporary accommodation center.
In the meantime, a temporary reception site is open every day, the Malatesta room, in Nice Nord.
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