Calderdale Council workers have been brushing up on their French, so they can give a warm welcome (or bienvenue) to foreign visitors in Calderdale for the Tour de France.
To welcome visitors from French speaking countries, the Calderdale tourism team are taking lessons at North Halifax Grammar school to improve their very rusty language skills in time for the Tour.
Language students from the school have been tutoring the team on the questions visitors are likely to ask and key words associated with Le Tour. Including the invaluable phrase “Voulez-vous répéter s’il vous plaît?” (Can you repeat please?).
The students, who speak a number of languages between them, including French, German and Spanish, will be on hand at the Visitor Centres in Hebden Bridge and Halifax to offer additional support to staff and visitors during the build up to the Grand Départ weekend of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July.
The young people will be in each Visitor Centre from 10.30am until 4pm from Monday 30 June through until Sunday 13 July (please note Halifax Visitor Centre is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.)
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Steve Sweeney, said:
“I’d like to say ‘félicitations’ to all of the tourism team learning French, and also, ‘merci’ to all of the students who are sharing their language skills with staff and any visitors to the Halifax and Hebden Bridge Visitor Centres.
“We want everyone involved in the Tour de France to have a great time, and take away a fantastic impression of Calderdale. By going the extra mile to welcome foreign visitors, we can show the world that Calderdale is a wonderful and welcoming place.”
For further information about the Tour de France weekend, please go to www.visitcalderdale.com(external link), which will be regularly updated with further news to help you plan your weekend.