School/University in Paris for one year
 

Any ideas for a school/university in Paris for two teenage high school graduates, that want to take a year off before college to learn french/absorb the culture, and maybe earn some college credits?
I have heard of many girls staying a year with a "madame" (pensione!) and studying somewhere?? Any advice apprecaited.

Hi I,

Just about any courses that they take at a French college or university will count for credit, if only electives, at a US school.

How much research have they done on getting into a school in Paris?

How well do they speak French?

Have they looked into US schools that they could enter and go to school in Paris under a Study Abroad program?

((I))

They are just beginning research- thats basically what I am looking for. The college study abroad program wont fly, as you first have to get accepted, then most college study abroad begin in the sophmore year. They are leaving next July?aug for Paris.

how about the American University of Paris?

A few suggestions:

In addition to researching US-originated options, have a look at some of the resources made available for UK students considering "gap years". There is a very well-developed culture of UK gap years, and they might find some interesting ideas and programs.

Don't send them to Alliance Francaise in Paris to learn French. Classes generally are too large and not very motivating.

Ideally, they would plan a program that involved learning the language, learning something about the French system - and then going and doing something useful, where they can use their language schools, for part of the year they're abroad. For example, why not study for 4-6 months, find a 2-3 month volunteer placement in a Francophone developing country that needs help, and then go back to France for more French and perhaps some well-deserved R&R. Of course, there might be some volunteer work in which they could participate in France - e.g. maybe there are opportunities to work with kids and teach English, or computers, or sports, in the banlieues of Paris or another large city. They might find the experience more rewarding - and it would help their cvs.

I forgot to add that www.souffle.fr is a good source for locating French language schools. And the Sorbonne offers a language and civilisation course that might be one of your better bets for a serious language/culture educational experience.

Hi I,

They ought to spend some time with the French consulate or Embassy regarding the need for visas.

Have they looked at airfare? Cheap RT tickets are usually good for only a couple of months.

((I))

The last place I would recommend would be the American University of Paris.

I don't think the Alliance Francaise would be regular college credits, anyway. Never heard of the "madame" thing, that sounds dicey to me (you know what it sounds like -- seen Gigi?).

I've been to two universities in Paris, although only for summer French language programs. The l'Institut Catholique and Sorbonne. Anybody can apply, I just did on my own. However, I think both do have ways for a foreign student to apply for an entire year, although I'm not sure. I was a higher-level French so did attend some professional translation and history/sociology classes in French, but that wouldn't be possible for a beginner who can't take anything but French, of course. Both those universities would have credits that would transfer, but they will only be in French language if they are beginners. Both these universities have residence halls (cheap), so housing wouldn't be difficult for them.

I think the AUP isn't a bad idea if they want some credits to transfer other than French. It is expensive from what I've seen, but if that's not an issue, it could work.

The website of French language schools that I know of is www.fle.fr which is used by professionals and teachers, I think, but if you want Paris and university, I think the two I named plus AUP are about the only choices. I'm not positive about that (the College de France has courses, but it's for people who know French, not for teaching French to beginners). HEres are the URLs for the Sorbonne program for foreigns and the Institut Catholique (which I highly recommend and preferred to the Sorbonne in some ways--they had nicer foyers or accommodations, also).

http://www.ccfs-sorbonne.fr/index.php

http://www.icp.fr/icp/etudiants_etrangers_uk.php

Never forget to check out www.eduparis.net

Thank you for the replys, I will start with this. The term I was looking for was in fact "foyer", the Spanish call them "madame", after the ladies who usually run the foyer.If anyone has had experience sending a child to one, please let me know.

A foyer is just a rooming house or residence hall. It isn't necessarily run by a woman. There are lots of them in Paris, some affiliated with schools and some not. They called the one I stayed at in Paris a foyer, but it was only for students at the school and the school placed you there (and it was run by nuns). I know the foyer association which has a listing and many are Catholic and run by nuns, but some are not religious, although they generally have rules that you must be a student or at least an official govt intern. But they don't do anything about getting you into school or arranging that.

Some others just advertise in the paper and are really just rooming houses. I knew someone who stayed in that because it was cheap, but she didn't like the guy who was running it. There is no rule that only women can run these. At the Institut Catholique, when I was there around 1992, they were segregated by sex (and I think still are mostly), and the males went to ones run by priests or brothers, and the females to ones run by nuns. It was really like a school dormitory and much larger than some of the private ones which are just rooming houses.

But that's just accommodations, you need to get admitted to a school (or a French internship) and a program set up first before you need to worry about where to stay. The foyers don't do that for you. At least, if there is such a system, I have never heard of it, maybe someone else does.

If she is VERY motivated she may try the last highschool year (terminale) in a Lycee international like Saint Germai en Laye or Sevres.
The end diploma - bacalaureat - has a value.

I wrote 'very motivated' since a large part of the classes will be in french (some in english)and she will have to keep with the general level.

One point to consider is that the french system is 'tailored' in a different way than the US one.
The terminale, while done in a highschool, is roughly the equivalent of the freshman year; after the bacalaureat, you enter university with your major already chosen.

And i confirm what Christina wrote above: a foyer is just a rooming place, with or without eating facilities.

Really, the American University of Paris would be an excellent choice for someone who wants to study one year and earn credits. They also have a French studies program and a Summer program.

A Paris public university would be challenging, not only because of the language but also because French high school students are in average much better prepared.

I did the Sorbonne program and really enjoyed it. I believe that it offers transferable college credits (at least it did when I was there), but as I had already graduated, I didn't need them and didn't follow up on the process.

I had friends who went to the Alliance Francaise program (they couldn't cut the demands of the Sorbonne program) and they didn't seem to learn much. My own experience with the AF in Philadelphia is that they go at the pace of the slowest student, so if somebody in your class is lazy or just can't handle the work, the whole class drags along.

When I was a student at the Sorbonne, I stayed at a wonderful foyer directly across the street from the Luxembourg Gardens. But decent quality, cheap housing in such a prime location doesn't last and sure enough, while in Paris last month, I noticed the building in the process of being gutted and turned into something much more upscale and expensive (apartments, I think).

The Institut Catholique program also looks good.

..I really would suggest checking UK web sites for "gap experience". You still have not commented on your child's language background. IMO if someone has a foundation (at least 2 years of well taught HS French), the "immersion' will be much more valuable. The Inst. Catholique is a good course (a friend of the family took it). Two friends of the family spent almost a year working as an au pair but both were excellent babysitters and one taught riding. The jobs were arranged again through my family. I am not sure whether there were any formal work visas either (but again this was quite informal). They both had a great time, improved there french and became part of a family. There are some jobs advertized for au pairs. I saw one recently looking for someone who could ski well as they had a chalet and spent a lot of time in the Alps. I think I saw it on a UK web site advertizing ski related jobs. Au pair jobs can be great (or not so great) depending on the family. They cost nothing but the salary isn't much more than spending money after the trip is paid for. By the way, you can often find long flights through YH or student charters. Otherwise you buy the cheapest RT and just throw away half ...

I also attended the Sorbonne via the aforementioned program in 1990/91. I would highly recommend it. I still refer to the text books every now and then. I'll never forget one of the lecture series on French history which took place at the Sorbonne proper in the historic Salle Decartes. I was thrilled to sit there and listen as I imagined all the students who had done the same over hundreds of years before me. The acutal French language courses however were given in satellite locations around Paris but perhaps that has changed since I attended.

That's interesting because almost all of my classes were given in the main Sorbonne buildings and the only thing I attended "off campus" was the AV language lab (this was in the 1980s).

My suggestion would be, since they are NOT at university yet, that they go to a French language school for foreigners in Paris FIRST, which courses are geared to introduce the beginnner to both the French language AND the culture by planning a plethora of cultural activities for the students, holding language classes in the morning, culture classes in the afternoon, on arts, cinema, etc. Plus, on weekends, the schools always have group trips to various other cities in France or parties, go visiting museums and sites with a French teacher-the best of these schools give the beginner language student a real grounding in the language and culture.

I don't know about entrance requirements to the Sorbonne program, but I do know that it will be a straight language class, which is not the experience I think you're looking for for your children. The university programs would be better, IMO, if the kids were already college students, needing the language credits to count towards their college education. But they aren't there yet, so I'm not sure that would be their best option.

I can highly recommend the Eurocentre Institute in Paris-on the Rue Dauphine, where it is possible to spend a month in their Paris school, and then transfer to one of their other institutes in La Rochelle, or Amboise, I believe. The school arranges all their accomodation as well, a total package, which you price on their website.

There they do get all that I described above and more-they meet a very international student base, most of whom are going to be in their age group, either just graduated from high school or in college, but also, older students who want to learn the language for personal or business reasons-a really good mix of people, which can lead to lifetime friendships and great cultural experiences. This is a really nice school, quite rigorous language instruction, in the heart of the Latin Quarter.

http://www.eurocentres.com/en/langua...,24,x48,2.html

I don't know which course you attended at the Sorbonne, but the one I went to was most definitely NOT about language and language alone. It was also about culture, history, civilisation, current events, etc.

girlspytravel:

I'm not sure how you "know" that the Sorbonne programme is only a language course, since this statement is a) inconsistent with what people posting on this discussion thread have said about the Sorbonne course they attended; and b) inconsistent with the description on the Sorbonne's website: http://www.ccfs-sorbonne.fr/sommaire.php3?lang=en

One of the reasons for attending the Sorbonne's language and civilisation course is because it has a general lecture/culture component, in addition to French language classes. The school does offer courses at all levels. It also seems to have some arrangements with some US universities regarding college credit.

The downside, from what I've heard from some people investigating the school, is that the fees are relatively high for non-residents.

Christina mentioned fle.fr. This organisation is like the Souffle website I mentioned. These are quality associations of French language schools. Schools are required to meet certain standards to belong. I think (but I'm not sure) that Souffle's standards are stricter than FLE's - perhaps because Souffle actually inspects schools.

Kate, (sigh!) since you seem to want to engage in polemic about nothing-the Sorbonne's summer programs may well have a cultural component, but it is primarily a university, state-funded, in the business of educating students for college credit and graduation.

It is NOT primarily a language school for foreigners, the latter of which are private schools (other than AF, which is state funded) specifically set up as an introduction for foreigners to both the language AND the culture-with a FULL program on both parts, that can comprise anywhere from two weeks to one year or more. Although Sorbonne programs may well have culture/literature courses- I doubt whether they are for the beginner-however at a language school, they have such classes in which beginners can take part in a wide variety of interesting and enjoyable classes, including cooking courses. This is why I say that good language schools go well beyond the scope of most university language programs-because they serve a very different purpose, and employ a different niche in the foreign language learning environment.

Another voice re the Sorbonne -- I attended the Sorbonne civilisation etc course for foreigners, and they are not just language. However, I was not a beginner, I was near the top level with college and high school French teachers, so I did have some other type classes (French literature and architecture, etc.).

I am pretty sure that it would be only language for someone who didn't know French, though. After all, if you don't know French, you wouldn't be able to understand a class in French. I'm not positive about that, but I don't think they have any classes in English for rank beginners who don't know enough French to understand lectures in French. After all, this course is not just for English speakers, they have people from all over the world (although maybe half of my class was Americans or Canadians or British). I seem to recall that the extra courses I took were "electives" and these were only available to people who places above a certain level.

I don't think intex ever posted the language ability of her sons. If they have taken French 4-6 years or ewere very good in French, then they could be taking classes other than French language in those Sorbonne classes. However, since she says they want to take the year off to learn French, I have a suspicion they may not know much at all. There were some college French majors in my classes who were in their senior year, for example.

The fees at the Sorbonne when I went were really really cheap and I was a foreigner. They are really cheap for their language classes for foreigners because the French govt wants to spread the gospel of French, so to speak, and subsidizes the teaching of French to foreigners. They may not be cheap for regular class outside that program, but these kids couldn't qualify for anything like that, anyway, I'm sure. Courses at the College de France are basically free, and if they really did know French very well, they could go there (little known trivia fact, the American actor Bill Murray took a year off to take classes at the College de France and one of his children was born in Paris).

If you don't know French, I do think the AUP might be the only place to take classes in English. I know there are some business graduate schools and things where that might occur, but not at the level being sought for these kids.

I did also attend a private French language school just to brush up once and have fun, and they might have classes for beginners in some cultural things, but I don't think they would qualify for college credit, especially for a freshman. Older students sometimes can get things as "independent studies", but not freshmen or kids not even enrolled in a college. FWIW, this is the private school I attended in Paris and it was excellent
http://www.institut-parisien.com

They do have some "civilisation" classes once a week, and a few other things, but say those are not for beginners. They arrange housing and are a good school, and reasonable in fees. But for beginners, you would be spending fulltime in language classes (about 20 hours a week) in most courses. I don't know that it would be preferable in any way for a beginner, though.

Anyway, just to mention some of the foyer assns. and links I know, here are some, but most are totally in French, of course. Most have age limits and various places have limits on whether they are only for males or females, etc., and some are only for young workers, some only for students, etc. Many do have cultural outings or activities for their residents, but they do not arrange the school or work for the person staying they. They are just residences. I think the important thing is to decide on a program and then they will often have ties or recommend places to stay.

this is the Assn des Residences et Foyers de Jeunes www.arfj.asso.fr

This is a list of all foyers in the 6th (on the mayor's website)
http://www.mairie6.paris.fr/mairie6/...jsp?page_id=90

This is the Assn des Foyers des Jeunes Travailleurs www.aljt.com

This is a list by the U of Paris of all private foyers in the Ile-de-France
http://www.univ-paris12.fr/64892748/...e___pagelibre/

There are many more foyers for young ladies than men or mixed sexes. In short, I think there are plenty of housing options, and the key thing is to figure out the main activity and how to do it (whether school, working, etc.). There are websites that may be of more help in that regard, and may be listing under volunteer work. Students of that age can get some temporary work permits for a year, as I understand it. Here is one example of options

www.volunteerabroad.com

Here is a French organization in Provence where you work doing historical site preservation and restoration, but also have time for hiking, cultural activites, etc.
http://www.sabranenque.com/

It only has four month projects, it looks like, but that's just an example of the kinds of things available.

Actually, you CAN get some college credit through private language schools such as Eurocentres-but there are some limitations there, and they do not transfer as easily as credit from an accredited university.

However, the Sorbonne programe simply does not have the cultural components, and indeed, the close mentoring of the best of the language school programs, where you have a teacher taking you on guided visits to sights around town during the week, and also guided trips on the weekend, to places such as Rheims, Chartres or Mont St. Michel, in addition to having afternoon programs filled with art, film, and other cultural classes-but many many outside trips for fun and educational value. That is why I suggest this type of school for your kids, they'll get a lot more enjoyment from this environment than they would at a more structured, traditional university program, I think, which isn't going to have these types of extensive, teacher-guided activities, as they are not set up for that purpose.

Language institutes such as Eurocentres ARE geared for beginners through the most advanced language levels, and NONE of them are conducted in English, that's the whole purpose of going to a French language school-to learn French and to learn its culture, and the best do a very good job indeed. There have a number of people I have noticed on this board whose children have gone to Eurocentres in Paris and have highly recommended it, as I do, and I am a former full scholarship graduate student in foreign languages and literature-so I like to think I know a little something about these things- and I do think a private language school of this type would be the type of foreign language learning environment that your kids would find most enjoyable at their age, as well as educational.

You may want to peruse this website, Intex, which provides a brief description and link to nearly every French language program available in Paris, both university and private language school instruction:

http://www.studyabroad.com/programs/...rench_in_paris

girlspytravel:

Congratulations on your scholarship.

As for "polemic about nothing", I was simply questioning your broad and apparently unsubstantiated assertion that the Sorbonne does not offer a culture programme alongside its language courses. If you checked the web link, you would see that it does, in fact, offer a language and culture program for beginners. While you are correct in stating that it is not primarily a language school for foreigners, it does appear to have had this as part of its mandate for a very long time (dating back to 1919). Of course, I would agree that the more French you know, the more you'll be able to take advantage of programmes offered in the Sorbonne environment. The debutant course that my colleague's girlfriend is taking at a beginner level incorporates only 3 hours of "civilisation" per week.

I was encouraging lntex's kids to look at the Sorbonne programme because I found that in most of the foreign language programmes I've attended that were not associated with universities (8 schools - French and Spanish), the promised "cultural programmes" were rather lightweight. The exception was Millefeuille Provence (but that is not a school for beginners, or pre-college students).

Indirectly, you make a good point about programmes and that is regarding the level of mentoring and personal attention at the schools. I have not attended Eurocentres but I'm always on the lookout for a good school (since I live in Paris and continue to try to improve my French). lntex - something you should pay very close attention to when you investigate schools is the student-teacher ratio (what they promise, and what they deliver) for the classes. Some schools are relatively inexpensive (AF, for one) but these schools often have large classes. A school with fewer students per class and a well-organised programme of "mentored" activities will deliver more bang for the buck than a cheap school with large classes.

Finally, I would recommend that, if the kids don't speak any French at all yet, they should start studying now. Although they might be busy with final year studies and activities, it would be a worthwhile investment for them to take a night course at the local Alliance Francaise, high school or a college (or even to find a tutor). Not for credit, so there's no pressure, but just so that they can cover the basics. If they arrive in France with no French whatsoever, there is a greater risk that they'll fall in with a completely anglophone peer group and never really speak French. If they have a little French under their belts, they might be more inclined to start speaking French from day one. Taking some French now also will also them to try out the language learning experience and show that they're committed to learning French when they get here. (I have a very intelligent friend, with a graduate degree, who was surprised to discover that she's a complete blockhead when it comes to learning foreign languages. She's tried several times and just seems to lack the aptitude. She once said to me, as I was embarking on another language holiday, that she had once thought of taking a semester off to study Spanish and was grateful not to have done so because she realises now that she would have found it extremely difficult and not very rewarding because she finds language learning so difficult.)