Marrakech Global Conference Recap

Over more than 20 trips abroad with ACIS, French language educator Beth Marshall has showed students the magic of travel. In January 2026, she joined an ACIS Global Conference to Morocco and got to experience that magic along with fellow teachers.

Travel is my love language, and I have a feeling many people feel the same way. As educators, there is deep joy in opening the world to students, and I especially treasure the opportunity to travel with them—21 trips and counting. Yet traveling on my own as an educator, particularly during the quiet stretch of winter, offers a different kind of magic. January has become my favorite time to use my Global Conference Points, when travel becomes both a personal reset and a professional renewal. This winter, as snowstorms swept across the eastern United States, I found myself transported instead to my unforgettable weekend in Morocco—memories that continue to fill me with joy and inspiration as I bring them back to my classroom.

When I saw that Marrakech was an option for a Global Conference this year, there was no hesitation. As a French teacher, I am always seeking opportunities to use my language skills authentically, and in recent years I have made a conscious effort to expand my curriculum beyond France to include the broader Francophone world. Two years ago, I spent ten days in Morocco through another global conference, and when I left, I promised myself I would return. This weekend felt like fulfilling that promise—and then some.

Arriving in Marrakech alongside one of my favorite people as my travel companion felt like stepping into a city where ancient history and vibrant modern energy exist in perfect harmony.  A walking tour with our wonderful local guide helped me find my bearings, but it was the atmosphere that truly captivated me: the warmth of the people and the sensory richness of colors, sounds, and scents. Over a welcome dinner, I began forming meaningful connections with fellow ACIS group leaders, setting the tone for a weekend rooted in shared curiosity and community. As we explored the city—standing beneath the towering minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, wandering through the Kasbah, and admiring the artistry of the Saadian Tombs, El Badi Palace, and Bahia Palace—I gained a deeper appreciation for Morocco’s layered history and remarkable craftsmanship. A visit to a local herboristerie brought that history to life through traditional herbs and spices, grounding our learning in everyday culture.

One of the most powerful moments of the trip came through storytelling. Chama, our local guide, shared her journey of leaving her home in the Atlas Mountains to pursue a career as a female guide—still uncommon in her region. When her uncle (who is also a tour guide) dismissed her dream, she boldly told him she would see him on the road one day. Years later, she did meet up with him while leading her own group. Stories like Chama’s—of perseverance, courage, and dreams realized—are what I cherish most about travel and what I carry back to my students.

Some of the weekend’s most magical experiences unfolded beyond the city walls. Watching the landscape shift as we traveled into the Agafay Desert was unforgettable, as was riding a camel across the rocky terrain at sunset for our group. An authentic Berber dinner beneath the desert sky, shared in a beautifully lit tent, was joyful. Back in Marrakech, food continued to be a powerful cultural connector—from a hands-on cooking lesson I hope to adapt for my advanced French classes, to wandering the souks and feeling the electric energy of Jemaa El Fna as musicians and storytellers filled the square. The journey concluded perfectly with a farewell dinner at Dar Moha, where innovative Moroccan nouvelle cuisine transformed our final evening into a true celebration. Conversations flowed about travel that changes lives, challenges in teaching, and the classroom moments that remind us why we do this work. Many of the group went to a local cafe to cheer on the Moroccan soccer team as they played against Senegal for the winner of the African Cup. What a fantastic opportunity to experience the excitement and pride in the midst of the host country! 

Now home again, I am already weaving the magic of this weekend into my classroom, hoping my students might one day experience the beauty of Morocco for themselves, or at least fall in love with learning about it. This global conference offered far more than a destination—it provided meaningful connections, cultural immersion, opportunities to practice language authentically, and a renewed sense of purpose inspired by the stories of others. It was a weekend rich in culture, flavor, and human connection—one that will stay with me long after leaving Marrakech behind.

Chokran, ACIS.