I've taken three semesters of college French and I would now like to do a French language immersion program in France. My goal is to become fluent in French (I know it takes a long time!). I am a college professor and my summers are free for travel and study.
Please list any advice and/or experience you may have with these programs (there are so many!).
Here is a link to one of the best French immersion programs I have come across, http://www.institutdefrancais.com/french-immersion-courses/# If I pay my money to learn French, I do not want to sight-see along with learning the language, I want to learn French! There may be other full immersion schools in France to learn French but this one sounded pretty good to me. I have not personally been a student of this institution but have read good things about it. Best of luck whatever school you choose!
Or at home, weekly classes at the Alliance Francaise if there's one near you (my daughter did this in San Francisco)
Darlene,
Have you thought about French immersion classes in the Canadian Province of Quebec where French is the official language? (http://www.languagevacation.com/quebec_city_french_language_cultural_immersion_vacations_canada.html)
I considered the above option when my (then) teenager had taken 4 yrs of HS French & wanted to go into an immersion program in France after graduation.
My 2-Cents Worth
Hi Darlene. I spent a month a few years ago at the Institut d'Francais. I really enjoyed it. The pattern of learning was interesting; much repetition, a varity of topics. Sometimes the memorization of a filmstrip and repeating the same thng over & over made me crazy! I was in a beginner class, debutantes. A great variety of people, my class of 10 or 11 had 1 German, 1 Dutchman, 1 Argentinian, 1 Brit, 1 Irishman, 2 Americans, 1 Aussie, and another Canadian & I. The days were long, 0900-1630 or 1645. Breakfast & lunch included where French must be spoken, and after school tea.
My favorite thing was the location; Villefranche-sur-Mer is marvelous. I have returned twice since then for visits. The school has ocean views. The school is up a Steep hill from the water; after a month of almost daily going up that hill, I was still out of breath.
I also took a program in Aix-en -Provence at IS which was part of an Alumni trip with AHI travel. 4 half days of school and group tourist stuff. This school has a variety of programs. Our program, I think, was built for the type of group. Discussions of day to day topics, markets, politics, clothes shopping. It was a bit lite in content but lots of fun. I was in an intermediate group here; only our 30 people group were split into smaller classes.
If I could find something that was a combination of both, that would be perfect. Feel free to PM me.
I studied in Vichy, many years ago at a school called CAVILAM. We were in Vichy briefly this past summer and I was told that the program was still going strong. I chose the school for it's flexibility (I could sign up by the week, so I could take a week off if I wanted). As I said, this was a long time ago so policies may have changed.
My advice to you is if you really want to learn the language, you will need to speak and think in French all the time. If you can stand the loss in privacy, live with a French family and eat meals with them. Read in French. Watch French tv. The more you use French, the faster you will learn. It's a wonderful experience!
There is a school mentioned in the new book "Flirting with French" that is in the Provence area. The author spent 2 weeks in their program and describes his experience in the book.
The city of Montpelier in France is well known for its French language classes and let's face it, wouldn't you rather study in France than in Quebec?
