Aix-en-Provence
FRANCE French Residential Immersion: Provence to Paris
Program Overview
Town:
Aix-en-Provence
Dates:
June 30 - July 29, 2008
Travel Extension:
Paris (included)
Key Excursions:
Marseille, Cassis, Avignon
Focus:
French Language and Cultural Immersion
Housing:
Residence
Level:
Grades 9 - 12 +3 years of French
Our summer program in Aix-en-Provence is a language study program for students who are completing grades 9-12 with at least 3 years of French and who are interested in French language and cultural immersion as well as French cuisine.
Our residential immersion program in Aix-en-Provence combines two advantages: a pre-college experience where they study, live and cook with a group of peers and a language immersion experience facilitated by the Abbey Road students and faculty.
About Aix-en-Provence
A city of artists and students, Aix-en-Provence is one of France's most elegant, sophisticated and vibrant communities. This former capital of Provence is famous for its summer arts festival, thriving café scene and its many restaurants, boutiques, museums and galleries. Aix is also a delight for enthusiasts of architecture with great examples of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and 18 th-century stylings found in various monuments, churches, fountains and park squares of this beautiful city.
The French language classes are taught by Abbey Road faculty; the curriculum combines classroom instruction, experiential learning and daily practice. Students study with experienced teachers and have opportunities for individual tutoring by Abbey Road staff.
In the afternoons, three times a week, students will also be required to participate in French culture seminars covering a range of subjects.
Residence Housing
Abbey Road students and staff live together in a centrally located apartment complex in the historical center of Aix. Female and male students will live in separate apartments, while the staff will live in the same complex, in an apartment of its own.
Students learn to share house responsibilities, shop for groceries in local markets, and prepare group meals using traditional French recipes.
The residential immersion program in Aix encourages and facilitates the use of French through daily interaction, formal and informal courses, activities and excursions. All Abbey Road faculty and staff who live with the students are fluent in French and many are native speakers. They encourage our students to speak French at all times. However, the key to success in an immersion program is the student's own motivation and effort.
Daily Schedule
During the week, students will start a typical day with the French class. After lunch, all students and staff assemble for the daily group meeting. In the afternoons and evenings, students choose from a variety of social, cultural, recreational, and artistic activities based on the interests of the students.
In addition to planned activities with the Abbey Road group, students will have plenty of free time to pursue personal interests, make friends and explore the town. We strive to maintain a perfect balance between structured activities and free time. While we give our students this privilege, we expect them to adhere to the program rules and safety guidelines, especially the policies on alcohol and curfew, and to uphold our standards of responsibility and maturity.
Weekend Excursions
On Saturdays and Sundays, students go on day-trips to some of the most beautiful sites of Provence: Avignon, Cassis, Nīmes, Pont du Gard, and Marseille.
Provence: Avignon: Cassis: Nīmes and the Pont du Gard:
Travel Extension: Paris
During the first week of the program, the group will travel to Paris for four days. The students will stay in a centrally located 3-star hotel close to key sites and monuments. The itinerary will include visits to the museums of Louvre, Picasso, Rodin, and Centre Pompidou and to the cathedrals of Notre Dame and Sacré Coeur. Students will also have time to tour the River Seine by boat and explore many Parisian neighborhoods.
Program Fee & What's Included
Our program fee is all-inclusive: it includes airfare from New York to the program site, all travel extensions, trips and excursions, tuition, lodging and insurance, and much more. There are no hidden fees, extra costs or surprises. We encourage you to compare our program fee to other programs and see what they include.
Now is the time to apply! There is currently availability on this program. Due to strong interest, however, we encourage serious students to apply soon.
If you would like to receive a brochure by mail, please complete the short online Preliminary Inquiry, and we will send one immediately.
If you are ready to apply now, click on the Online Application to get started.
For general questions about the application process, please visit our Application & Fees page.
If you have any special questions about the program or need assistance with the application process, please call us toll-free at (888) 462-2239 (from abroad (310) 276-1745) or email us at info@goabbeyroad.com.
