Antibes, France - French Language and Cultural Immersion and Community Service

  France

Antibes

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: July 3 - July 17, 2009 2WK; July 3 - July 31, 2009 3WK

Description: Our Antibes program focuses on French language study and cultural immersion. This program is designed for students who have at least one year of French.

Students will be hosted by French families who live in the vicinity of our classrooms in Antibes. The homestay element of the program will facilitate the immersion experience by intensifying the cultural and linguistic adaptation of the students.

About Antibes

The French Riviera, also known as the land of celebrities and artists, is a popular destination for young travelers. Its outdoor life is vibrant, set along beautiful beaches, and underneath a warm sun. Scattered along the azure coast of the Mediterranean, its towns are filled with fine museums, architectural sites, exquisite cuisine and trendy shopping, making for a true paradise for our students.

Jutting into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and centrally located between the cities of Nice and Cannes, Antibes is an ideal site to experience the best of the Riviera. Antibes has a distinct charm of a comfortable, relaxed and elegant town, rich with art and architecture. Small but bustling with a fantastic beach scene and dozens of outdoor cafés, Antibes is especially popular with young people.

Academics

The French language classes are taught by Abbey Road faculty; the curriculum combines classroom instruction, experiential learning and daily practice. This language study program facilitates the use of French through daily interaction, course work, activities and excursions. Experienced faculty encourage our students to speak French as often as possible, but it is important to recognize that the key to success in an immersion program is the student's own motivation and effort.

In the afternoons, three times a week, students will also be required to participate in French culture seminars covering a range of topics.

Homestay

The language courses are complemented by daily interaction with the French host families. Students have most of their meals with their host families, attend family events, and join their host families during day trips and other activities.

Typically, students share a double room with another Abbey Road student or with a host sister or brother. Most families live within walking distance from the school. For our students whose families may live farther away, the program arranges appropriate transportation.

Our families are carefully screened and regularly visited. Most of them have 5 to 7 years of experience hosting young foreign students. We believe that a good homestay experience is the foundation for a successful French study program. Therefore, we make every effort to match the students with the right family, considering their preferences and needs. Importantly, the success of a homestay experience depends upon the student's desire to keep an open mind and adapt to a different way of life.

Highlights: Daily Schedule

During the week, students begin a typical day with the morning French classes. After lunch, all students and staff assemble for the daily group meeting. In the afternoons and evenings, Abbey Road students enjoy many cultural, athletic and recreational activities and events based on their interests. The students spend three to four evenings a week with their homestay families, benefiting from this unique opportunity to improve their knowledge of the French language, culture and way of living.

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, maturity, and respect.

Weekend Excursions

On Saturdays and Sundays, students go on day-trips to some of the most beautiful sites of the French Riviera: Monaco, Nice and its Old Town, Cannes, and Eze.

Cannes:
In Cannes, students will see the Palais des Festivals, host site for the world famous Cannes Film Festival; shop in the chic district of Rue d'Antibes; and enjoy the café culture of Le Suquet.

Eze:
Eze is a dramatic, very well preserved Medieval village perched 1,400 feet above the sea. Students will experience the winding narrow streets, incredible vistas and a famous perfumerie.

Monaco:
The principality of Monaco covers just one square mile but is rich in history, tradition, culture and sport. Students will get to explore this sophisticated monarchy, including the Palace of the Prince, Grand Casino, and Oceanographic Museum.

Nice:
Students will visit one of France's largest cities and capital of the Côte d'Azur, known for its Italian-style Old Town, Promenade des Anglais, numerous beach clubs, parasailing and Musée Matisse.

Travel Extension: Paris

The travel extension takes place during the final week of the program. Students spend three days in Paris where they stay in a three-star hotel in the center of the city, walking distance from most key sites and monuments. Students explore the museums of Louvre, d'Orsay, Picasso, Rodin, and the Centre Pompidou. They also visit the neighborhoods of Marais, Quartier Latin, Bastille, and Saint Germain-de-Prés, take a boat tour on the River Seine and have plenty of time to experience the beauty of the City of Lights.

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and European Participants.

Participants Travel to France Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Transcript
• Written Application

Abbey Road Overseas Programs's Mission Statement: Our mission is to develop summer immersion programs for high school students that facilitate cross-cultural understanding and enrichment by providing a unique opportunity for: cultural immersion, intensive language study, exposure to new academic subjects, travel excursions, recreational activities, personal growth, and building life-long friendships. Safety, Organization and Personal Attention We put a particular emphasis on personal attention, high quality of academic, cultural and recreational programs, strong organization, and above all - safety.