Learn French in VILLEFRANCHEVillefranche is a picturesque port town located just outside Nice. Set in one of the most beautiful bays of the Riviera, it is popular with sailing enthusiasts, artists and tourists. Around a quaint "old quarter", can be found a 15th century citadel, a chapel decorated by Jean Cocteau, an Oceanographic Institute, the Sailing and Motornautic Club and many delightful little restaurants. Villefranche offers vacationers beauty, charm and historical sights that make it truly one of the outstanding spots on the French Riviera.
Nice is also linked to other Riviera cities and Paris by a direct express train. INSTITUT DE FRANÇAIS The Institut de Francais is located on the sunny, Mediterranean-blue French Riviera unequalled for its beauty, picturesque landmarks and excitement. It is housed in a luxurious Provençal villa, set on the hillside of the lovely port of Villefranche-sur-Mer, overlooking the Mediterranean's most beautiful bay, 2 miles from Nice and only a short drive to Cannes and Monte-Carlo.
By diversifying the students activities throughout the day, all possible approaches to learning to speak French are explored. Thus, the students are constantly stimulated, and able to apply themselves - both analytically and instinctively, both systematically and naturally - to learning the language. Nothing can equal or compare with this "Total Approach" to learning French, especially when applied in an all-day French immersion setting and under the stimulus of small group interaction. Indeed, in this world-renowned setting, providing innumerable cultural and sport activities, all ingredients exist, at the Institut de Français, to make learning French in France a rich and memorable experience.
In the classroom, the Institut de Français uses the officially
recognized Saint-Cloud-Zagreb audio-visual methods and is the only school in France to
also use a video method developed by the Cultural Services of the French Foreign Ministry
and the French National Television. In the first week, an introduction to grammatical terms and sentence structure is given. Then, during the course, grammar is introduced appropriately whenever it helps the process of understanding and learning to speak correctly. Grammar is also inherent in the structures contained in each lesson and the student absorbs it naturally and gradually, day by day, as it grows in complexity. A modern language laboratory is used to support the classroom work and, together with audio-visual aids, is at the student's disposal for accelerating his or her progress or improving speech difficulties.
Outside the classroom, the student reinforces his French during
more informal and varied practice sessions such as: the discussion-lunch with the teachers
and the French staff, linguistic games, role playing (students improvise a sketch on an
everyday situation), radio news analysis, making television commercials, debates with a
teacher on current issues, film showings with discussion, attending outside lectures,
evening group outings with a teacher to the theatre, a restaurant, etc. All
these activities take place in a congenial atmosphere, which is created by all concerned
and which contributes so much to the students' progress and enjoyment. Because the number of students in each class is limited, each student's progress
is closely monitored, with special exercises given to correct individual, characteristic
errors. Thus each student can achieve the best possible results compatible with his or her
potential and individual effort. At the end of a 4-week session, regularly attended, a
final examination is given leading to the Institut de Français Certificate (usually
corresponding to about 5 US university credits for a 4-week session). French Language Courses 2008:Application fee for all programs: USD 100. Please see general application procedures. Important Notes: Minimum age: 21.
Complete beginners: please pay special attention to starting dates and
special conditions listed below! (see notes under starting dates!) A 2 week
enrollment is possible but only for non-absolute beginners and provided the session is not
full and the student starts at the beginning of the session.
Starting Dates 2008: Starting dates for all levels:
IMPORTANT: Beginners are only accepted on the dates listed above and MUST enroll for 4 week sessions! Holidays 2008 - (to be confirmed!) No classes are held on: 1 Jan, 9 April, 1 May, 8 May, 25 May, 14 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, 25 and 26 December. Accommodations 2008 The Institut provides private accommodation outside the school, if desired. These are pleasant, comfortable 1-, 2- or 3-room apartments located in the small perimeter of Villefranche, within walking distance of the school, shops, banks, telephone, television, etc.All apartments are completely furnished with linen, cooking utensils, dishes, refrigerator, telephone, television, etc. Linen is changed and cleaning is done weekly. IMPORTANT NOTES regarding accommodations: A) Apartments must be paid for locally directly to the landlord in Euros! Pricing in USD as listed below are provided for budgeting purposes only. B) Participants staying in individual studio apartments (both Standard and High Standard) may arrive on the Sunday immediately preceding the start of the course. HOWEVER: participants staying in shared apartments can only move into the apartment on the first day of the course!! We will provide you with a listing of local hotels if you arrive on Sunday. Private room in Shared Apartment: These are in 2- or 3-room apartments, solely occupied by the students, private bedroom and shared kitchen and the bathroom. The students are assigned these apartments according to age groups and with the aim of mixing nationalities whenever possible. Prices 2008: January 1- April 27 2008: 4 weeks: approx. USD 878. April 28 - December 20 2008: 4 weeks: approx. USD 1,038.
Individual Studio Apartment: This is a 1-room studio apartment, with kitchen, bathroom, washer, telephone and television. Prices: January 1- April 27 2008: 4 weeks: approx. USD1,437. April 28 - December 20 2008: 4 weeks: approx. USD 1,676.
High Standard Individual Apartment: These are very pleasant, larger apartments, well furnished and equipped with washer, dishwasher, telephone, television, etc. Most have a balcony or terrace and a view of the bay. Prices: January 1- April 27 2008: 4 weeks: approx. USD 2,075. April 28 - December 20 2008: 4 weeks: approx. USD 2,395.
*Note: there is a 100 Euro refundable deposit required for each apartment. Deposit is due upon arrival and is returned at the end of the stay once keys are returned. Activities An introductory social evening (with dancing) is organized for each session.Discussion-excursions are held, depending on the season, to: such renowned villages as Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Grasse (the perfume and flower center of France), the Maeght Foundation, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, the Chagall Museum in Nice, the Villefranche Chapel decorated by Jean Cocteau, etc. All these activities, enjoyed in a group, are enriched by exchanges between students of varied nationalities, ages and professions. Many cultural activities are available in Nice, Cannes, Monte-Carlo including the famous Nice Carnival in February, lectures with debate in Nice by famous literary, art and political figures, classical and avant-garde plays by the Théâtre de Nice company. Villefranche is so close to Nice (2 miles) that many students go there every night for the evening meal and entertainment. Windsurfing, sailing, hiking, tennis, sun-bathing, roller blading, and skiing (Alps ski resorts are 30 miles from Nice) are some of pleasures available on the French Riviera which can be enjoyed at leisure during weekends. The school helps plan these weekend activities. What former students have to say about this program: "...I found the Institut a marvelous experience. The quality of your teaching staff is nothing short of astonishing in its consistent excellence..." Alan ALTSHULER, Chairman, Dept. of Political Science,Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. “...My thanks for making my month at the Institut most enjoyable. Your lessons combined with your wit and good humor made it so much more fun to learn and helped to ease the stress I felt at first...” Sylvia S. PACHECO, World Bank, Washington D.C., USA. “...Let me once more thank you for one of the nicest experiences in my life, participating in your course...” Astrid HEIBERG, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, SWITZERLAND IMPORTANT NOTE: Prices are subject to change due to fluctuating foreign currency rates. |
