Language Institute in Paris, France
The Summer Language Institute in Paris provides an excellent opportunity for intermediate or advanced students of French to live and study in Paris, the vibrant capital of France. Students will visit important historical and cultural monuments of the “city of light” and study the language and culture of France.
The program will spend 4 weeks in Paris, studying culture, composition, conversation, phonetics, grammar, reading, and literature at l’Étoile: Centre de Langue et Vie Françaises. Course offerings range from second-year college level French through some major-level courses. Two trips outside of the city are scheduled for Normandy and in the Loire Valley. In Normandy, students will visit Mont Saint Michel, the D- day sites and enjoy a picnic on the beautiful Normal coast. In the Loire Valley, students will visit the historic châteaux of Chennonceau and Chambord and spend the night in Tours.
The Department of French and Italian awards multiple scholarships for this program. Click here to read more and to apply for the scholarship.
Paris
From the Opéra boulevards to the historic area of the Marais with its early modern architecture and designer stores, from the Cluny medieval museum to the futuristic Centre Beaubourg, planned activities provide a comprehensive introduction to Parisian life, art, and architecture. In recent years, participants have enjoyed museum tours, concerts, plays and films; walking tours of Montmartre, the île St. Louis, and the Left Bank; coffee-tasting at a specialist roastery; as well as other cultural outings and activities.
Situated in the heart of Paris, l’Étoile: Centre de Langue et Vie Françaises opens its doors to students of all nationalities. Highly qualified instructors from the French educational system who specialize in the teaching of French as a foreign language offer a wide variety of courses to suit the needs and interests of program participants. Students are placed into intensive language and culture classes which meet four hours per day, Monday through Friday.
All students enroll in one, five-credit course or two three-credit hour courses, dependent upon past study. Many program participants are at the FREN 230–240 level. Students at other levels should consult with the directors to determine what is expected of them in order to obtain credit for other courses. Students will be assigned to various levels according to a placement exam and interview.
FREN 120: Elementary French II (5 credits). Second semester course with a balanced approach stressing understanding, speaking, reading, and writing. Prerequisite: FREN 110 or departmental permission.
FREN 230: Intermediate French I (3 credits). Third semester course stressing oral and written work in French; review of grammar and introduction to the reading of various texts, literary and cultural. Prerequisite: FREN 120 or departmental permission.
FREN 240: Intermediate French II (3 credits). Continuation of FREN 230. Prerequisite: FREN 230 or departmental permission.
FREN 375: Intermediate French Conversation (3 credits). Guided discussions designed to increase fluency, improve pronunciation, and acquire vocabulary.
FREN 376: Advanced French Conversation (3 credits). Guided discussions designed to increase fluency, improve pronunciation, and knowledge of French culture and language. Classes have centered around topics such as the French Revolution, the Arts, Renaissance, Festivals, and French Cinema.
FREN 440: Studies in French Culture (3 credits). Topics may include the History of France, French Cinema, Architecture and Human Geography. Pre-requisite: FREN 300
FREN 440 will be offered with faculty director's approval only. FREN 300 or FREN 350 may be offered in special circumstances.
Credit
Five or six hours of credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program. Credit will be given for beginning, intermediate-level or certain advanced-level courses, as arranged prior to departure by the faculty directors.
Participants stay with host families in and around Paris. The director and assistants provide individual support and organized activities which are designed to ensure that each student makes the most of his/her exposure to French culture.
Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed one semester (or the equivalent) of college-level French. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).
For more information contact:
Professor Christine Bourgeois
The University of Kansas Department of French Francophone and Italian Studies
2059 Wescoe Hall
785-864-9074
burgeois@ku.edu
