University of Wisconsin–Madison

France: William Spitz (Our Global Classroom)

Our Global Classroom: Jardin Botanique

A black, fuzzy pig stands in a patch of grass in front of a wooden enclosure with a square door.
A Vietnamese Pig at the Jardin Botanique

As a student studying abroad in Tours, France, the city’s Jardin Botanique offered a refreshing alternative to the traditional classroom. One aspect of the Insitut de Touraine’s French course was immersion via Tours’ gardens each week. By far the most engaging part of the class my fellow students and I were able to interact directly with the city of Tours and its culture.

The Jardin Botanique, established in 1843, is a far cry from the typical park one might see in the U.S. with over 2,000 plant species and animal conservation efforts. The garden provides not only an invaluable method for immersion into the French culture but also an exhibition of the vast biodiversity of our world. Amongst the many parts of the Jardin Botanique is several conservation exhibitions which include a range of animals such as Vietnamese Pigs, goats, peacocks, and wallabies.

A peacock bends its head near a wire fence.
A peacock in the Jardin Botanique, currently out of its enclosure while it is being cleaned

Additionally, the garden included a wide selection of medicinal plants which gave the students an opportunity for my fellow students and I to learn more about the plant-based medicines used at the Tours Hospital. However, the garden did not contain purely medicinal plants but also plants used for cosmetic products and even toxic/poisonous plant varieties.

Thus, the Jardin Botanique is a perfect setting for interdisciplinary learning. Imagine a project that combines botany with French language studies, where students research plant names in French, learn about their uses in traditional French medicine, and then present their findings en plein air. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of the material, making learning both interactive and memorable.

A bunch of plants with small green leaves are labeled with black signs.
Different types of mint that are being grown at the Jardin Botanique

In Tours, where history and modernity coexist, Jardin Botanique stands out as a unique educational space. It’s a place where students can connect with nature, enrich their studies, and experience firsthand the joys of learning outside the classroom.

William takes a selfie in a dimly lit room with wooden walls.

William Spitz

Major: Pharmacology & Toxicology, Neurobiology, French

Hometown: New Berlin, Wisconsin

Program: UW Obesity & Health in Austria, Institut de Touraine French Language Program