French Language Summer Camp for Teenagers in Biarritz
Biarritz’ prestige and elegance dates back to the beginning of the century and is still famed today for its beaches, luxurious hotels, casinos and golf courses. A fun and very lively town for teenagers in summertime, there is always something going on : bands playing, jugglers, painters in the old port, street theatres, skate boarders and surfers showing off their talent.
Biarritz also provides a perfect environment for water-sport lovers, its long sandy beaches and incredible waves attract surfers from all over the world ! Biarritz is situated at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains in the heart of the Basque region, which extends into Spain. A region of strong traditions and rich culture that has preserved a certain quality of life in one of the most beautiful regions of France. Originally a quaint fishing village, until the end of 19th century when Napoleon III and the empress Eugenie fell in love with the regions natural beauty, Biarritz rapidly became a fashionable, refined sea side resort.
This era brought a prestigious clientele to the town and hence considerably developed its architecture, elegant buildings, casinos and palaces that today form the towns reputation.
In 1957, Biarritz welcomed its first surfers from the European continent and today has become a renowned “surfers paradise” thanks to its long sandy beaches and mild climate all year round.
Population: 30 000 inhabitants in winter and 120 000 in summer!
French Summer Camp at France Langue Biarritz
France Langue is an International French School with its headquarters located in Paris. In a very friendly but highly professional atmosphere, the French language school welcomes students from all over the world for intensive full immersion French courses in Biarritz. They offer a wide range of French Courses to meet most needs, adapted around each student’s requirements. The teaching methods are straight forward, but at the same time flexible and interactive. Essentially all the French courses incorporate various aspects of the French language to ensure a good balance between conversation, grammar, reading, listening and writing. France Langue is registered with the Rectorate of Bordeaux (French Ministry of Education) and is a member of SOUFFLE (the only quality control organization for French language schools and universities in France). In 2003 they opened a new center in Biarritz.
The France Langue Biarritz School** (see important note below) is located in the center of Biarritz, within 5 minutes walking distance from the lively Halles district, and a 10 minute walk from the Côte des Basques beach, a world-famous surf spot. The train station and the airport are 15 minutes away by car.
The French school is housed in a renovated typical “Pays Basque” house dating from 1850, it is located next door to our junior school. The France Langue School has 7 classrooms, a spacious terrace, a swimming-pool, a computer room. It also offers free WiFi access and Parking (limited spaces).
** IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR 2021: The French Summer Camp in 2021 will take place at the Lycee Etxepare’s campus, not at the school!.
Please click on the following tabs for more information on the French Summer Camp in Biarritz:
French Language Summer Camp – Overview:
(All programs: NO application fee. A non-refundable USD 100.00 deposit is required at the time of enrollment. Deposit will be subtracted from final program invoice. See Application Procedures.)
French Summer Camp for Teenagers: 14 to 17 years of age
Program Dates: 26 June 2021 to 14 August 2021
French Summer Camp Starting Dates 2020:
Elementary to Intermediate Levels (No beginners): Every Saturday between 26 June and 1 August 2021
Beginners: 26 June.
French Language Summer Camp – Prices 2021:
1 Week Program: Not Available in 2021.
2 Week Program: USD 2,730.00
3 Week Program: USD 4,094.00
Additional Weeks: USD 1,365.00 each
French Language Summer Camp – Course Description:
The French Language Summer Camp in Biarritz combines 20 French lessons per week (15 hours) with a sports and activity program. Students may choose between Surfing or Multi-Sports for the sports portion of the program. Additionally a social program and weekend excursions are also offered.
French Lessons:
Initial level test: Monday morning 8.30 am to 10 am
French lessons schedule: Monday 10.10 am to 12.30 pm – from Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 12.30 pm (20 min break)
Development of all 4 main language skills (speaking, reading, writing and listening) with a focus on oral communication: teachers encourage students to interact as much as possible and actively use what they learn in class.
All French Summer Camp teachers are university graduates, native French speakers.
Dedicated classes for teens take place on-site at the Lycee Etxepare’s campus in Biarritz (private boarding school): 14 students per class maximum
Accommodations:
Important: Host Family accommodation is NOT available in 2021.
Full board accommodation on-site at the Lycee Etxepare campus:
The Lycee Etxepare’s campus, ideally located North of the city, has easy access by private bus to the beach and the cultural visits.
The residence has 20 rooms, each room can host 4 people and they all have their own en-suite bathroom. A large dining area and several sport areas (“pelota” wall, equipped gymnasium, soccer and rugby fields) are also available directly on campus.
Comfortable and secured, the complex of Lycée Etxepare is the perfect venue to receive young people for their language camp.
Meals: They are taken all together in the residence. Packed lunches are provided for weekday lunches and excursions. Special diets may be taken into account if the school is informed at the time of booking.
French Summer Camp Practical information:
Supervision/Safety – A group leader runs the activity program and supervises the students. The supervision ratio is 1 to 8 for water activities and 1 to 12 for other activities and excursions.
Transport: in 2021 students will take a private bus to the activities, all lessons are on-site.
Airport transfers:
Round trip transfers from the Biarritz train station/airport are included in the price of the French Summer Camp. A member of the France Langue team will pick the students up on arrival and drop them off on departure. Students should arrive on Sunday afternoon and leave on Saturday morning.
Travel details must be confirmed 15 days before arrival (point of arrival, time, flight number).
Parental authorizations:
Important: during the summer of 2021 students will NOT be allowed to leave campus unaccompanied!
The school requires a signed health form for each student (with medical history and requirements).
French Summer Camp in Biarritz – Sports Program Options:
Students can choose among two separate activity Programs: Surf or Multi-activities sessions
Each program is offered during 4 sessions per week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons.
Surf option:
4 sessions of 1.5 hours, on Milady beach which offers a wide range of waves for all levels. Timetable will vary according to the tides and weather conditions.
Fully-qualified instructors from our partner surf school.
Lessons adapted to the needs and levels of the participants: groups of 8 students maximum.
All material provided by the surf school (wetsuits and boards).
Multi-activities option:
4 sport initiation sessions per week: rock climbing, rafting, hiking, sea-kayaking, golf, surf.
The program changes every day and every week: you will practice 4 different sports during the week
Each activity is supervised by a qualified professional or a France Langue representative
Groups of 8 to 12 students participate on the activities.
Please inform us at the time of registration which activity program you prefer.
Social program:
In addition to the sports activity options, students enrolling in the French Summer Camp also participate in a social program as well as weekend excursions.
Social activities to allow students to practice French together before or after the activity: football matches, beach volley contests, quizzes, photo contests, treasure hunts
Excursions to discover the Basque country: half-day excursion on Wednesday afternoon and full-day excursion on Saturday (Bayonne, St Jean de Luz, St Jean Pied de Port, Espelette, la Rhune…)
Evenings to encourage interaction: 3 evening activities per week (evening on the beach, bowling, cinema…). The other evenings are spent with the family to practice French.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Prices are subject to change due to fluctuating foreign currency rates.