My Tour Guide Journey – Part 5 – “1st Homework”

The first month of my course at the University of Geneva has been wonderfully intense—in the best possible way. Between classroom lectures, museum visits, and immersive walking tours across different neighborhoods, every week has brought new discoveries. Learning directly from local experts while exploring the city has only deepened my appreciation for Geneva and strengthened my goal of becoming a Geneva professional tour guide.

Alongside the field outings, we’ve also had a steady rhythm of reading assignments, online quizzes, and our first major project. I’ve found myself genuinely fascinated by every topic so far—and even more excited about the idea of soon leading my own Geneva walking tours and Geneva guided tours.

One of the highlights of the month was an in-depth visit to Saint Peter’s Cathedral, one of the most iconic landmarks featured in Geneva guided tours. Following this visit, we were given a detailed assignment: to research the remarkable Maccabee Chapel, a richly decorated example of flamboyant Gothic architecture dating back to the early 15th century.

Our task was to create a four-minute narrated video tour (in French), as if we were guiding a group of visitors. The challenge was to present the chapel’s history, architecture, stained glass, decorative elements, and unique atmosphere in a clear, engaging, and professional way—just as we would during real-life Geneva walking tours.

To prepare, I spent several hours diving into books and online resources about Saint Peter’s Cathedral and the Maccabee Chapel. After writing and refining my script, I headed to the cathedral one afternoon to film the video. The goal wasn’t to produce a cinematic masterpiece, but rather to demonstrate the ability to deliver an accurate, engaging, and well-structured tour.

Filming turned out to be quite an experience! I recorded five takes using my iPhone in selfie mode, carefully navigating around groups of visitors. Timing was everything—I had to wait for quieter moments between tour groups to capture clear audio and maintain focus. Even though I’m fluent in French, presenting a full narration in a non-native language added an extra layer of challenge. Fortunately, with each take, I improved my delivery and confidence.

By the fifth attempt, I had a version that felt natural and engaging—good enough to submit for the assignment. If you’re curious, you can watch it here on YouTube.

I was thrilled to receive a high score on the project, which gave me a real boost of confidence for the next stages of the course. More importantly, the experience allowed me to gain a much deeper understanding of the history and atmosphere of Saint Peter’s Cathedral and the Maccabee Chapel—knowledge that I look forward to sharing in future Geneva guided walking tours.

Geneva’s Saint Peter’s Cathedral and the Maccabee Chapel