French Immersion Summer Programs for High School

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
HOUSING
DAILY SCHEDULE
DAY TRIPS
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
DATES + FEES

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

All students are enrolled in the daily French Language course as their program major. The experiential nature of the course takes students out of the classroom and into the community thus allowing them to practice their French in real settings. Students are placed in the appropriate level upon arrival. In addition to their French Language major, students select one of the following options to serve as their tri-weekly elective. Advanced students may sign up for university courses when offered. University schedules and course options are made available during the spring by special request.
• Riviera Sports and Games (elective)
• Survey of French Literature (elective)
• Digital Photography (elective)
• Studio Art: Drawing (elective)
• French Conversation (elective)
• French Culture and Cinema (elective)
• Université de Provence Course (major/elective)

Riviera Sports and Games (Elective)
Experience local French culture from a thrilling new perspective as you participate in the sports and leisure activities enjoyed by French teenagers throughout the sunny Côte d’azur! Each week, classes alternate between cultural sports and/or games native to Southern France such as pétanque, tarot and belote, and 2-3 internationally enjoyed sports including beach volley ball, soccer, kayaking, sailing, tennis, catamaran, squash, the martial arts, and wind surfing. In addition to being a great way to stay physically active this summer, this elective provides exciting opportunities for cultural and language exchange with local French teenagers who will often join us in our play. Qualified instruction and equipment (with the exception of running shoes and cleats) are provided to all participants. No previous athletic experience is required.

French Conversation (Elective)
The goal of this course is to strengthen communicative competencies and vocabulary in the target language in a fun and relaxed environment. Exciting discussions on pop-culture, current events and history are geared toward the practical improvement of pronunciation, syntax and oral comprehension, while fostering a deeper understanding of contemporary French culture and civilization. All levels welcomed.

French Culture and Cinema (Elective)
An integral part of France’s artistic legacy, the cinema is an excellent way to learn about French culture. Study the key values underlying France’s cultural identity from WWII to the present day as you view films in French and discuss thematic elements and their relationship to modern French society. All levels welcomed.

Survey of French Literature (Elective)
Considered an introduction to French literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, students will read selected\ works from key authors of the time followed by in-class discussion. Intermediate and advanced levels.

The St-Laurent-du-Var program will also offer activities and workshops based on student interest. In the past, our students have played the traditional French game of pétanque, participated in cooking workshops and worked with local theater groups to put on their own performance!

HOUSING

Want to become French for a summer? Abbey Road homestay experience is the best way to enjoy the excitement and challenge of a comprehensive language immersion program. In sunny St-Laurent-du-Var on the French Riviera, Abbey Road’s warm and enthusiastic homestay hosts welcome you into their vibrant community to experience the French lifestyle and help you feel like a true local.

St. Laurent is a modern, bustling suburb just outside of Nice, making it the perfect location for an authentic immersion experience off the beaten path of tourism, while still being close to all the excitement that makes the French Riviera an incredible place to spend the summer. St. Laurent is also known for having one of the youngest populations in all of France so there are many great services specifically designed for High School age students, not the least of which is the Centre Nautique where young people, including Abbey Road students, come together to enjoy a variety of water sports and fun on the beach.

At Abbey Road, we believe a rewarding homestay experience is vital to a successful and authentic immersion program. Thus, before becoming part off the Abbey Road network, your homestay is carefully selected and screened and must meet rigorous standards in order to ensure you the best possible familial experience. Abbey Road has a long-standing and close relationship with the St-Laurent community, and many of our hosts open their homes to Abbey Road students every summer. In fact, Abbey Road has been so successful in matching students and families in St. Laurent that many of our students keep in touch with their “French family” long after their summer abroad has ended.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Students start their weekdays with an exploration of French language and culture through their interactive language class. After lunch, students dive into the day’s exciting selection of electives and activities. You’ll love navigating a catamaran in the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea or kayaking off the coast of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat! Or maybe you prefer the thrill of competition, facing off against a local youth team in a beach volleyball tournament. No doubt you will enjoy tasting seafood specialties in traditional local restaurants, a common evening activity, or conversing in French in a real French café! If white sand beaches are your thing then just imagine sun bathing on the glamorous beaches of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Cannes, Antibes or Beaulieu-sur-Mer as you will visit each of them at least once during your stay! In addition to the excitement and glamour of our weekly beach activities, Abbey Road students in St. Laurent enjoy many of the amazing cultural sites and events for which the Riviera has become famous. Imagine gazing upon some of the great works of Western art at the Musée Matisse, the Musée Picasso, the Musée Chagal, or the MAMAC during one of your weekly visits to Nice. You may also have the chance to attend the world-famous Nice Jazz Festival, not to mention one of many summer outdoor music festivals and dance performances.

Sample Daily Schedule
9:00-9:30 Morning Group Meeting
9:30-12:30 French Language Class
12:30-2:00 Afternoon Break and Lunch
2:00-5:00 Tri Weekly Electives OR Afternoon Activities
5:00-7:00 Free Time
7:00-8:30 Dinner: Restaurant, Stipend or Meal with Homestay
8:30-11:30 Evening Activities
11:30-12:00 Face-to-Face Nightly Check-in, Return to Homestay

DAY TRIPS

St Laurent is situated amidst some of the most beautiful and exciting places in France and Abbey Road students will get to know many of them as no tourist would. Many of our afternoons and weekends will be spent enjoying the beauty and energy of the most interesting sites of La Côte d’Azur. Feel glamorous in Cannes and St. Tropez as you shop their chic boutiques and keep watch for the stars around the Palais des festivals or Vieux Port. Get acquainted with French pop music as you mingle with locals in vibrant Juan les Pins. Wonder at Picasso’s "rose period" works and then refresh yourself with a gelato rose in incredible Antibes. Be tempted in Monaco by the opulence of Monte Carlo, its princely palace and its storied casino. Bask in the tranquil beauty of the Iles de Lerins. Tantalize your senses at Fragonard Parfumerie located in the picturesque village of Èze. Snorkel beneath the towering cliffs of Villefranche- sur-Mer and paddle the azure waters of Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. Step back in time at the medieval perched village of Saint Paul de Vence where the restaurants are good and the boutiques even better! You may even get a chance to hop over the border into Italy for a visit to Ventimiglia’s famous outdoor market!

OPTIONAL TRAVEL EXTENSION: Paris

No trip to France is complete without seeing Paris! At their program's end, French program participants have the option of spending 4 nights in this celebrated European capital, famous for art, music, fashion and cuisine. Students who choose to participate in the optional travel extension will explore every corner of the city. The itinerary balances guided museum and historical site visits with time for exploring Paris's famous neighborhoods and shopping centers. Site visits include the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame Cathedral and Eiffel Tower. Students will also have time to tour the River Seine and enjoy the famous café scene.

DATES + FEES

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