THOUSAND OAKS : 25 French Students Visit Westlake High

School days are shorter, teen-agers can drive, and nearly everything--from cars to milk cartons--is larger.

Those are just some of the observations about the United States made by French exchange students visiting Westlake High School this month.

“In your house you’ve got a lot of appliances that make your life easier,” said Isabelle Ribeiro, 17, who was particularly fascinated by the ice and water dispenser in her host home’s refrigerator.

Isabelle is one of 25 high school students from Roen, France, learning about American culture as part of Westlake’s student exchange program.

Westlake French teacher Dennis Judd started the program in 1992 after traveling to France on a fellowship. While there, he met teacher Chantal Feron, who also wanted to start an exchange program.

Since then, Roen students have been traveling to Westlake High every fall, staying with host families, sitting in on classes and touring Southern California. In the spring, Westlake High students--and occasionally students from Thousand Oaks High School--travel to France for two weeks.

“It’s a great motivator for students to meet real people who speak the language,” Judd said. “Then, when we go there, by the end of two weeks, their French is dramatically better.”

Westlake junior Brett Hazuka, 16, who plans to go France this spring, said hosting a student is like having an extra friend. He has taken his French student to roller-hockey practice and the store, but he said the most fun is taking him driving.

“They aren’t used to seeing kids our age driving,” he said. “Especially in the school parking lot where they’re always cutting each other off and speeding.”