 2011 TRAVEL STUDY GUIDE
Learning French, Living the Adventure Your guide to studying the French language, arts, and cuisine |
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HOW TO CHOOSE A PROGRAM Choosing a Language ProgramJust brushing up on the fine points of French grammar or dipping into the language of Molière for the first time, improving your job skills or learning for the sheer fun of it, studying French in France is the best and fastest way to fluency, and a wonderful way to travel at the same time. Whether your ambition is to order a meal in France without using a dictionary or to throw a dinner party for your new French friends, an immersion program is the best way to learn. Not only will you be studying formally in the classroom, but by taking the metro, going to the outdoor market and asking for directions, you'll pick up everyday French as a matter of course. You can stay in a château for a few weeks in the countryside and speak French from your first bite of a croissant in the morning until long after you've devoured your crème brûlée in the evening, or rent a studio in the heart of Paris and take classes at the Sorbonne. No matter how long you stay, the most important part is being there. Taking the plunge and immersing yourself in French language and culture doesn't have to be intimidating. You can make your trip as leisurely or as intense as you want, and programs can be tailored to the needs and desires of everyone in your group. To give you a better idea of what awaits you and the different ways immersion can work, we spoke to students and administrators from seven programs in different parts of France. From Paris to Perpignan, there's a program in France for everyone. Determine your goals, the kind of setting you want and get inspired to create your own language adventure!
Alliance Française Paris Ile-de-France (see listing) 
© Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France, Chloé Vollmer-Lo The Alliance Française building in Paris Founded in 1883, the Alliance Française Paris Ile-de-France is the oldest school in the country teaching French as a foreign language. The prestigious school is centrally located in a charming old building in the 6th arrondissement, close to Saint Germain des Prés and the Luxembourg Gardens. All teachers hold master’s degrees in French education, and the Alliance is where the official methods of French language instruction are tested and perfected. Twelve thousand students from 160 different countries come to Paris every year to take courses, according to Stéphanie Charbit, a spokeswoman from the Alliance, who adds that the students range in age from 18 to 75. Americans make up approximately ten percent of the student population. “The diversity contributes to the quality of the courses,” says Charbit. “You make friends with people in your classes, and French becomes the language of reference.” Using the language outside of the classroom, with friends and acquaintances, is one of the major incentives for studying French in Paris or elsewhere in France. 
© Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France, Chloé Vollmer-Lo Students at the Alliance Française Since the Alliance Française is such a large institution, students have maximum flexibility for creating their own program. With a varied schedule of classes in the morning, afternoon and evening, free time can be used to explore the city, or to participate in one of the workshops offered by the Alliance. Spend a few hours watching a chef from the Cordon Bleu as he sculpts foie gras, or join friends for an evening of French cinema. Students can also take advantage of the extensive resources available at the Alliance, including the four-floor media center complete with books, films, music and a phonetics lab. If you are looking for a total immersion experience to reinforce your conversational French, the Alliance can help you arrange a home stay, so that you can participate in the daily life of a French family. All of the Alliance-recommended host families live within Paris, so you are never removed from the hustle, bustle and enchantment of the City of Light. Enjoy eating home-cooked meals with your hosts and absorbing French almost automatically as you listen, respond and gradually become part of ordinary Parisian life. 
© Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France, Chloé Vollmer-Lo View of Paris Your Alliance adventure doesn’t have to stop once you return home, either. The Alliance Française network is extensive and global, and many American cities have a branch. You can take classes, participate in French activities or simply relish the company of people who love French culture, and speaking the language, as much as you do. 101 blvd Raspail, Paris 6th, 01.42.84.90.00.www.alliancefr.org - Christine Leonard 
© Crea-Langues Moustiers-Ste-Marie CREA-LANGUES (see listing) 
© Crea-Langues French class at Crea-Langues If the idea of lavender fields, sunflowers and southern accents tickles your fancy, then pack your bags for Provence. Crea-Langues is located in the lovely village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in the Alpes de Haute-Provence, near the spectacular gorges of the Verdon River and the Lake of Sainte Croix. Founded in 1984, Crea-Langues has blossomed into a first-class language school. Students from all over the world come for a few weeks to mix the business of learning or perfecting their French with the pleasure of staying in a one of the most beautiful regions of France. The school is residential, installed in a beautiful 19th-century former Cistercian monastery and its 20-acre domain, with a cloister and courtyard, an organic vegetable garden, swimming pool, shaded terraces and a library. The single, double and twin-bed rooms are furnished in simple Provençal style; there’s a grand piano in the living room; and the dining room serves traditional Provençal cuisine and regional wines. Living on the premises, with teachers on hand at meals and in the evenings too, offers students the opportunity for total immersion in the French language and lifestyle. 
© Crea-Langues Canoeing near Moustiers-Ste-Marie One-, two- and three-week courses are available, with separate locations for adults and teenagers. The Intensive program includes both morning and afternoon classes; the A La Carte option offers informal afternoon activities and excursions with teachers or guest speakers. Rebecca Nybo had studied in France many years ago and found that her French had gotten rusty. She wanted to refresh it, and decided that the best way for her to do so was with an immersion program. “I wanted a mix of class and conversation so I chose the A La Carte program with classes in the morning and excursions in the afternoon,” says the 47-year-old Nybo. Excursions available around Moustiers range from visits to a truffle cultivator to canoeing. Nybo particularly liked a presentation and tasting of olive oils made by a local producer. Crea-Langues founder Annemarie Desmet stresses that such enjoyable activities allow students to put their French to use in context as well as “integrate the local residents and the region into the courses”. 
© Crea-Langues Open air market in Aix-en-Provence Crea-Langues also offers several theme weekends, when students can go hiking, tour the landscapes that inspired Cézanne, or visit the Avignon theater festival, all while practicing their French. Nybo found that she was able to break through her inhibitions during her stay—the other students and professors, she says, “inspired me to be bold”. Another student, 63-year-old Victoria Tschinkel, was thrilled when she realized that she was dreaming in French after her third night. “The quality of the professors was exceptional,” says Tschinkel. “They are dedicated to their mission.” Le Monastère de Ségriès, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, 04.92.77.74.58. www.crealangues.com. The school is open from April to September. - C.L. 
© Crea-Langues The Monastère de Ségriès in Provence 
© Photo Office de Hyères Collégiale Saint Paul Institut d’Enseignement de la Langue Française sur la Côte d’Azur While the full name of this charming language school is almost a French grammar lesson in itself, most people use its nickname, ELFCA. Located on the Mediterranean coast in Hyères, the school attracts students of some 55 different nationalities, who enroll for an average of three weeks to study French and experience “la vraie France”, says director Colette Samwells. And there is plenty to experience in Hyères, the southernmost and oldest of the resort towns on the Côte d’Azur, which lays claim to 26 centuries of history. First settled by Greek traders and then the Romans, Hyères served as a port for the Crusades during the Middle Ages. Since the 19th century it’s been famous for its palm trees, exotic gardens, beaches and inland vineyards. 
© Photo Office de Tourisme de Hyères Maison Renaissance in Hyères ELFCA courses are generally given in the morning in small groups, but individual instruction is also available. Paula Tissot, a student who has returned regularly since 2001, particularly likes the way the teachers incorporate history, politics, culture, food, grammar and slang into the lessons. “One professor gave a lesson on the history of the city and took the class on a walking tour,” says Tissot. “The teachers know how to draw out people in class, even if they’re timid.” Tissot is pleased with the progress she has made. She likes being able to read newspapers like Le Monde and conversing with French merchants. “I get compliments now on my French. I don’t have a fear of speaking anymore,” she reports. “I was in France recently and could ask the tour guide questions. You catch more details when you can communicate in the native language. The French are so appreciative of one’s attempt to speak their language.” Though Tissot has returned several times because she enjoys the classes, students do not need to wait years before seeing results. “You can advance a lot in two weeks,” says Samwells. “Many people already have knowledge that reemerges.” 
© Photo Office de Tourisme de Hyères Port du Niel 
© ELFCA Class at ELFCA One of the main distinguishing features of ELFCA is that all students, no matter what their ages, are lodged with a host family. Instead of being alone in an apartment, students are learning everyday life, with the added attraction of wonderful local food. “Adult students work really well in a host family situation,” says Samwells. “They tend to look for something different, and they are very curious!” Tissot stresses that everyone should go into the home stay experience with an open mind. Bringing a small hostess gift can help break the ice, she suggests, and understand “that the people who are opening their home to you are not doing it for the money. They are interested in learning from you, too!” 66 ave de Toulon, Hyères, 04.94.65.03.31. www.elfca.com - C.L. 
© ELFCA Tour des Templiers Hyères 
© Coeur de France Coeur de France student harvesting grapes Cœur de France Ecole de Langues (see listing) 
© Coeur de France Wine lovers will recognize the name of Sancerre as a renowned wine-producing town in the Loire Valley, and it’s also home to a charming language school that will help you learn the vocabulary of the vine. Run by a husband and wife team, Marianne and Gérard Chartrand, Coeur de France Ecole de Langues is an ideal spot for individuals, couples and families interested in improving their French while enjoying the relaxing pace of an idyllic French village with a population of less than 2,000. The school is housed in a 16th-century château in the center of town. With a maximum of seven students per class, the Group Program at Coeur de France meets 20 hours per week. Grammar and verb conjugations are on the menu, of course, but so are history, culture, cuisine and wine. “We often talk about wine and how it influences the town and region,” says Marianne Chartrand, the school’s co-founder and director of instruction. Students also learn the necessary and often fascinating vocabulary needed for discussing wine and tasting it. 
© Coeur de France Market in Sancerre Mark Williams, from Texas, spent four weeks at the school along with his wife. “I’ve been to France so many times. I just loved the country,” he says, explaining why he decided to study the language. He thinks that he was able to get a good foundation in four weeks, especially since he had had no previous formal knowledge of French. “Making an effort in the language makes a big difference in how the French react to you,” he says. Participants in Coeur de France programs stay in apartments and houses either on site or within walking distance of the school. Chartrand believes that this allows students to “vivre à la française”. “Students can cook at home and have contact with French-speaking shopkeepers. They go to the boulangerie each morning to buy a baguette, just like their French neighbors,” insists Chartrand, adding that she finds home stays can sometimes be tricky. “Most of the time we are dealing with adults who may not wish to share a bathroom with a stranger. It is sometimes difficult to match the needs of specific individuals with families who are going on with their daily lives.” 
© Coeur de France Sancerre poppies When not in the classroom, Coeur de France students can explore the surrounding wine country, visit the region’s famed producers of Chavignol and other goat cheeses, or organize an excursion to nearby Bourges and its spectacular Gothic cathedral. The Coeur de France staff is very open to organizing activities around students’ particular interests. Studying in a small village like Sancerre also allows participants to engage with local residents in a way that might not be possible in larger cities. As Chartrand says, “after one week in Sancerre, you know everyone!” 1 place de la Panneterie, Sancerre, 02.48.79.34.08. www.coeurdefrance.com - C.L. 
© Coeur de France Village of Sancerre Le Poyenval (see listing) Dave Keith, a British expatriate living in western Canada, and his wife Joyce traveled every year to the Champagne region to buy bubbly from a favorite producer. They became friendly with the family, but as none of them spoke English, communication was difficult. "We chose [a program in] France because really it was the French people we knew who we were learning it for," says Keith. Searching for a residential experience, the Keiths chose Le Poyenval, or Le Petit Château as it is known to locals. An impressive old mansion surrounded by rich greenery, Le Poyenval is located in the village of Bazoges-en-Pareds in the Vendée, the département on the Atlantic coast that surrounds Nantes and the westernmost stretch of the Loire river. Poyenval's owners, Linda and François Collet, have created a loyal following. François, whom the Keiths praise as an excellent teacher, taught French as a foreign language for 30 years in England, where the couple met. Linda, who handles the language level placement (they cater to all levels) and the cooking, is also a painter. By living on site and sharing all meals together, students learn the French language as they absorb the French way of life, say the Keiths. Collet will weave the history of the Vendée into a grammar lesson, or explain the French political structure to expand student vocabulary. Using radio and television for listening comprehension, followed by a class discussion, he trains students to understand and talk about current events. Collet's long years of teaching in England make him particularly attuned to the Anglophone ear's trouble spots. With a maximum of five students per class, each one can actively participate and receive individual attention as needed. Thanks to the Collets, the Keiths can now converse easily with their friends in Champagne, and they even feel comfortable discussing politics in French, a rare feat indeed. Life at Le Poyenval isn't limited to language lessons. If you want to try your hand at watercolor, the program also offers combination classes such as "Parler & Paint" and "Conversation & Cuisine." After class, take a dip in the swimming pool or a stroll through the beautiful Vendée countryside. Golfing, sailing and outdoor markets are all nearby. And dinners at Le Poyenval are an added treat: "François and Linda have an interesting and lively set of friends and the dinner table will often include one or two of them," says Dave. "The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and every meal is enjoyable, from the fresh baguettes at breakfast to the open wine bottles at dinner, and everything is included in the fee-there are no hidden charges. Linda is an excellent cook and, in France, one need say no more." The Keiths have returned every year since 2005. 66 Rue Georges Clémenceau, Bazoges-en-Pareds, 02.51.51.26.85. www.lepoyenval.com - Jessica Pasa  © Thomas Lambelin - Fotolia.com Valorme (see listing) Robert Badame of northern California had a strong foundation in Spanish and Italian, and was looking for something outside the tourist zone to improve his traveler's French. He was a beginner; his wife Mary, a devoted Francophile, was already at an advanced level. Attending a language school in France was the perfect way for them to vacation and improve their French together. They decided on Valorme in the town of Foix. Situated at the foot of the Pyrénées, about thirty miles south of Toulouse, the historic village is a charming warren of narrow streets and market squares graced by several Romanesque churches. As Lisa Buck of Minnesota puts it, students stay in "perfect apartments looking out at a medieval castle." The school, in the same building, is equipped with a lounge and a courtyard where students can relax, study and converse. After intense morning courses focusing on oral communication and students' particular problem areas, the class has lunch at a local restaurant with teacher Corine Rouleau. The language practice doesn't stop there; Rouleau makes sure that everyone continues to speak French throughout the day. "They don't speak any English at the charcuturie or the pâtisserie. Corine puts someone in charge of asking for the bill and paying it in French. We had to negotiate with the waiter, and speak with the post office staff. You are living in it," says Badame. Jumping into verbal communication with residents of the town allowed him to become comfortable getting around in French. In turn, Lisa Buck has nothing but praise for her instructor: "Corine and her husband are so gracious! I can't speak highly enough of them. They were so patient with me!" Afternoons are spent exploring the legendary caves nearby, whose walls are covered with prehistoric paintings, attending local art and film festivals, hiking in the mountains or watching the sun set behind the ruins of the châteaufortress of Montségur, perched like an eagle's nest on a towering peak. 9 rue des chapeliers, Foix, 05.61.03.89.46. www.valorme.com - J.P. L’École des Trois Ponts (see listing) L'École des Trois Ponts is both a language and a cooking school, situated in the small town of Riorges near Roanne, northwest of Lyon, and owned and run by René Doral and Valérie Perez. It was perfect for Blaire Beebe and his wife. "I wanted a good French language program that might be fun, and my wife wanted cooking classes," explained Beebe. Surrounded by canals and walking paths, students can ride bikes, canoe, swim and visit local pottery, chocolate and textile artisans. After written and verbal testing, students are placed in small groups with others at the same level. Instructors use audio and video materials to develop listening abilities, and encourage active speaking practice to improve oral communication skills. The courses include grammar revision and homework to reinforce class sessions. "They have games to get students to speak," says Beebe. "I was able to be more confident in speaking with the locals. The school serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, so students are encouraged to speak French together all day," said Beebe. While his wife, a culinary expert, enjoyed the cooking classes (the cooking school is associated with the renowned Michelin three-star restaurant Troisgros in Roanne), Beebe took advantage of the great outdoors, he adds, riding his bike along the Loire Canal and taking in the châteaux and medieval towns along the way. New Yorker Clare Posnack, the doyenne of repeat students (17 years so far), enjoys the beautiful rooms in the new villa where the students stay, and has taken both the cooking and the chocolate-making courses in addition to the French language classes. Her enthusiasm about the place is palpable. "It's a wonderful experience! When I arrived, I could only form simple sentences, and only in the present tense. Now I have friends who are non-English speakers and can spend an evening with them speaking in French." Clare has made friends here from all over the world. "René and Valérie are special people and create a very supportive atmosphere with lots of laughter." 645 rue Marechal Foch, Roanne, 04.77.71.53.00. www.3ponts.edu - J.P. |
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