Language and Culture 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 lights” and study the language and culture of France.

The program begins with an 11-day group travel period through Normandy, Brittany, and Touraine. Participants will become acquainted with three important regions of France and with different styles of French art, culture, and architecture. To enhance understanding of the sites, all participants will be provided with a reading list of pertinent cultural material. Students will be asked to read selected materials during the Spring semester and/or the period between the end of classes and departure for France.

The program will spend the month of July in Paris. Students will study 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.

Travel Program

For over a decade, the travel portion of the program has included the regions in Northern and Western France. This summer, the program will include visits to such places as the Normandy invasion beaches, le Mont St. Michel, the prehistoric standing stones at Carnac, the Châteaux near Tours and Angers, and the ruins of Jumièges.

Paris

From the Opéra boulevards to the Clignancourt flea market, from the Louvre to the art galleries of the rue St. Honoré, planned activities provide a comprehensive introduction to Parisian life, art, and architecture. In recent years, participants have enjoyed tours of the Louvre, the musée d’Orsay, and Versailles concerts, plays and films; walking tours of Montmartre, the île St. Louis, and the Left Bank; as well as tours of lesser known museums and areas such as St. Denis.

Academic Program

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 two three-credit hour courses. Most program participants are at the FREN 230-240 level. Students at other levels should consult with the directors and major advisors to determine what is expected of them in order to obtain credit for other courses. Students will be assigned to various niveaux according to a placement exam and interview.

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 300 Intensive Review of French Grammar (3 credits) Designed to provide essential skills for advanced courses. Prerequisite: FREN 234, FREN 240, FREN 241, or departmental permission.

FREN 375 Intermediate French Conversation (3 credits) Guided discussions designed to increase fluency, improve pronunciation, and acquire vocabulary. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or concurrent enrollment in FREN 300.

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. Prerequisite: FREN 375.

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 350 will be offered with director’s approval only.

Accommodations

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.

Dates

Depart US: June 14, 2010
Arrive Paris: June 15, 2010
Depart Paris: July 24, 2010

Eligibility

Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed two semesters (or the equivalent) of college-level French. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).

Credit

Six hours of credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program. Credit will be given for intermediate-level or certain advanced-level courses, as arranged prior to departure by the directors.

Cost

Program fee: Approximately $6,070. The program fee includes l’Étoile school fees, full room, most meals and entry to all cultural events during the travel period, lodging in Paris (half-board), monthly travel pass (carte orange) in Paris, several cultural events in Paris, orientation, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, and administrative costs.

Tuition: With the implementation of the Tuition Compact Plan, students will pay KU tuition directly to the Bursar’s Office. Estimated tuition and fees for 6 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate) is $1,313. (Actual tuition expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.)


Thus, the combined program fee and KU tuition will be approximately $7,383.

Estimated additional costs: Airfare, passport fees, lunch and Sunday meals in Paris, incidental personal expenses and additional cultural events students may choose to attend on their own. A group flight will be organized for this program. Students may also make their own travel arrangements to Paris with the understanding that they must be at the point of departure for the travel period on time.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Application Deadline: March 1, 2010. Early application is strongly encouraged.

Candidates will be interviewed. Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad and in the Department of French and Italian. You can also download the application.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

For more information contact:

Professor Nicole Boudreau (Paris period)
The University of Kansas
Department of French and Italian
2044 Wescoe Hall
phone: 785-864-9074
e-mail: nboudreau@ku.edu

Professor Bruce Hayes, Co-Director (Tour period)
The University of Kansas
Department of French and Italian
2067 Wescoe Hall
phone: 785-864-9028
e-mail: bhayes@ku.edu

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu