Study Abroad in France with World Link Education - Learn French Language in France: Courses and programs at language schools in Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Chambery and Annecy.

Experience France and French Culture with World Link Education

French Study Abroad Programs
Le Palais de I'Isle

Study in France
Le canal du Thiou

French Language Studies in France

Ne plus être étranger au français: nos méthodes pédagogiques en font une réalit?/i>

Le Lac d'Annecy

Le march?d'Annecy

La bibliothèque dans le Centre Bonlieu ?Annecy

Annecy, le Thiou

Afterclass activities:
Exploring nature

Sailing in the summer

Annecy by night

Dedicated and professional teachers

Small Classes: average 6 - 8 students

Study abroad in France and learn French language

Small Classes for accelerated learning

Free email and internet access

Study in France and meet Students from all over the world

French Language Immersion

Learn and master your French in the French Alps, in Annecy, the town of art and history. Situated in the south east of France, Annecy is characterized by castles, lakes, vineyards, mountains, ski resorts, and National Parks. This picturesque town is an ideal place to immerse in the language, culture and life of Alpine France.

AIM

The French language programs in Annecy are designed to immerse participants in French through class instruction and activities with native French speakers. Classes are held at the leading French Language Academy, one of France's leading institutions specialized in teaching the French Language. It is situated centrally and close to Annecy's town center.

The programs integrate all aspects of the language: reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, phonetics, and vocabulary. Accelerated teaching methods allow participants at lower proficiency levels to acquire the language skills needed for effective communication in a short period of time, and allows students at higher proficiency levels to gain expression proficiency at an abstract level. Topics studied include everyday situations, French culture, society, and history.

A wide range of free weekly excursions and activities expand participants' learning opportunities outside of the classroom, and ensure they experience French culture, the Alps and surrounding French regions while immersing in the language and society.

FEATURES

Total immersion into the French language
Total Beginner to Advanced classes are available
Short duration: 1, 2 or 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months (Summer and Winter programs available)
Long duration: Trimester, Semester and Academic Year programs
Start on the 1st or 2nd Monday of every month (short term programs) or on specified dates throughout the year (long term programs)
Semi-Intensive or Intensive language classes
Free weekly guided tours, excursions and activities
Free activities with native French speakers
US college credit transfer available

CURRICULUM

The curriculum is based on the needs of each proficiency level and is designed to allow participants to progress rapidly and gain language fluency in the language. Modern teaching methods focus on instilling the linguistic, practical, and cultural aspects of the language, as well as the French way of life.

Classwork using everyday topics and interactive teaching methods ensure that participants gain valuable information about modern day French culture and society and improve linguistic and communicative skills. The focus is on developing oral expression, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and grammar. Up-to-date materials are used to introduce modern day France, social and economic life, culture, history, and literature.

Program Intensity Classes per week

1, 2, 3 weeks Intensive 20 classes per week

One month

Two months

Trimester Semi-Intensive 12 classes per week

Intensive 20 classes per week

Semester Semi-Intensive 12 classes per week

Intensive 20 classes per week

Academic Year Semi-Intensive 12 classes per week

Intensive 20 classes per week

Summer Programs 1,2,3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, semester (see above)

Winter Programs 1, 2, 3 weeks, 1 month, 2 months (see above)

Classes are held Monday to Friday, in the mornings from 8:30am to 12:30pm or in the afternoons from 1:30pm to 5:30pm. Each class is 55 minutes long and includes a 5 minute break. The first day of school is devoted to orientation and placement tests. Oral and written placement tests are held to ensure that students are correctly placed in their proficiency level. No classes are held on that day.

TEACHERS & TEACHING MATERIALS

Teachers are native French and have degrees in teaching French as a Foreign Language. Up-to-date, carefully selected materials are used in class, giving participants valuable information on modern-day French culture and society while at the same time developing their language and communication skills.

PLACEMENT TEST & PROFICIENCY LEVELS

There are 4 main proficiency levels that are further divided. First, participants are placed according to the proficiency level they indicate on the application form. At the start of the program, non-beginners take a written and oral placement test. Second placements are made according to the results of the placement tests.

TOTAL BEGINNER
This level is for those who have never learned French or who have learned a few words but cannot express themselves in complete sentences. The curriculum is designed to provide knowledge of basic French. Classes focus on everyday vocabulary, simple texts and basic grammar. Conversation classes use simple topics related to daily life. Phonetics exercises and drills ensure that participants quickly attain correct pronunciation.

FALSE BEGINNER
This level is for those who have learned French, have a grasp of simple sentence structures, and have learned basic grammar systematically. Classes focus on improving vocabulary, sentence structures, listening, reading, and speaking skills. Writing exercises include composing simple letters, short essays, and reports. Phonetics exercises and drills ensure that participants quickly learn correct pronunciation and intonation. At the end of the program participants should be able to converse on daily topics and express themselves using elementary sentence structures.

INTERMEDIATE
This level is for those who are able to converse on general topics and express themselves using elementary French. Classes build on elementary French, increasing the level of grammar and vocabulary, enabling participants to express themselves functionally in different contexts. Classwork uses current French events, civilization and literature to build vocabulary and provide a greater awareness of French culture and society. Focus is placed on participants' writing skills, oral expression, and listening comprehension skills. Intermediate grammar and syntax is taught. Oral expression skills include discussion of current events. Exercises to improve writing, spoken, and grammatical skills include writing reports, letters, narratives, and essays. Phonetics exercises and drills ensure that participants quickly master correct pronunciation.

ADVANCED
This level is for those who can discuss general topics, raise complex questions, and express their viewpoints clearly using correct pronunciation. They can express themselves systematically using appropriate expressions and language norms. The curriculum is focused on enabling participants to express themselves proficiently at an abstract level. French literary, journalistic, and economic texts are studied. Classwork include advanced writing and oral expression styles and techniques. These include commentaries and essays to improve written expression, and exercises in speech making or debates to build fluency in oral expression. A wide range of carefully selected advanced French study materials is used and include current events, civilization, and literature to provide a greater awareness of the culture and society. Advanced writing styles and techniques are taught.

PROGRAMS OFFERED

Short Term Programs:
1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, One Month, Two Months

These intensive French immersion programs are designed to focus on developing spoken and written French in a short period of time. The intensive program consists of a total of 20 hours a week.

Long Term Programs:
One Trimester, One Semester, Academic Year

These long-term programs are ideal for those who wish to devote a significant amount of time to learning and mastering French. Participants improve rapidly and become acquainted with the French lifestyle and customs. Choose to study the Semi-Intensive (12 hours a week) or the Intensive programs (20 hours a week). At the end of the program examinations are held to assess the overall performance, and successful participants are awarded a Certificate of completion.

Program Intensity Start Dates 2008

1 week
2 weeks
3 weeks Intensive
Jan 7, Feb 2, Mar 3, Apr 2, May 5,
Jun 2, Jul 2, Aug 4, Sep 3, Oct 6,
Nov 3, Dec 1*(max 3 weeks)

1 month Intensive
Jan 7 - 31, Feb 2 - 29, Mar 3 - 28,
May 5- 30, Sep 3 - 28, Oct 4 - 31,
Nov 3 - 28

2 months Intensive Jan 7 - Feb 29, Mar 3 - Apr 29,
Sep 3 - Oct 31

Summer
1 Months Intensive Jun 2 - 27, Jul 2 - 29, Aug 4 - 29

Summer
2 Months Intensive Jun 2 - Jul 29, Jul 2 - Aug 29,
Aug 2 - Sep 30

Summer Semester Semi-Intensive
or Intensive Jun 2 - Aug 29, Jul 2 - Sep 30

Trimester Semi-Intensive
or Intensive Jan 7 - Mar 28, Apr 7 - Jun 27

Trimester (Oct) Semi-Intensive
or Intensive Oct 6 - Dec 19

Semester Semi-Intensive
or Intensive Feb 4 - May 30, Sep 3 - Dec 16,
Oct 6 - Jan 30 (09)

Academic Year Semi-Intensive
or Intensive Feb 4 - Aug 29, Jun 2 - Dec 16,
Jul 2 - Jan 30 (09)

HOLIDAYS

The school will be closed on the following holidays.

2007:
Public Holidays: Apr 9, May 1, May 8, May 17, May 28, Aug 15, Nov 1.
Spring Break: March 19 to March 30.
Christmas Holidays: December 20, 2007 to January 3, 2008.

2008:
Public Holidays: 1 Jan; 9 April; 1 May; 8 May; 17 May; 14 July; 15 Aug; 1 Nov; 11 Nov; 25 Dec.
Spring Break: Monday 24 March to Saturday 5 April 2008
Christmas Holidays: December 19, 2008 to January 5, 2009.

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES

To ensure a comprehensive learning experience, excursions and activities are provided as part of the program. Admission and transportation are included at no additional cost. Participants can choose the excursions and activities they are interested in from a list presented at the start of the program. These excursions and activities are held on weekday afternoons or weekends may include the following: One-day winter ski trip (transport and ski pass included), Winetasting at the Savoie vineyards, mountain hikes, visit to local museums, Geneva and the United Nations headquarters, to Lyon and the Beaujolais wine caves, to the Beaufort cheese region, Chambéry, Grenoble, the Nivolet Cross, Chamonix, Mont Blanc, the Chartreuse region, and Nature trails. For Activities, click here

During the Winter months a free one day ski trip to one of the biggest resorts in the Alps: Chamonix, The Three Valleys, Avoriaz, Les-Portes-du-soleil, Tignes, Val D'isère, La Plagne, Les Arcs, and Courchevel, is included.

ACTIVITIES with native French speakers

Knowing the locals on a personal level is an integral aspect of these programs. Not only does it facilitate the use of French, it also encourages cultural and social exchange. Numerous activities with French students and other native speakers are held in order to achieve this goal. Other activities include seminars and tours of local banks, companies, institutions, and museums. These are held regularly to deepen participants' knowledge of France.

ASSESSMENT

Participants' progress is assessed through continuous homework assignments and tests throughout the program. Trimester, Semester, and Academic year programs have formal final term examinations in addition to tests. Attendance is mandatory. Participants are awarded Certificates (short-term) or Diplomas and Transcripts (long-term) at the successful completion of the program.

Long-term participants are able to take part in formal examinations administered by the Catholic University of Lyon at the end of the program. A diploma from the university is awarded to successful participants.

ACCOMMODATION

To cater to participants' varying needs, a range of accommodation options located close to the school are offered. These options include: Shared Apartment, Host Family (Bed and Breakfast or Half Board), Private Studio, or Private Apartment. Participants who have enrolled in the program are given accommodation details pre-departure. These include a description, the address, and the location of the accommodation in relation to school. Accommodation is placed on a first come basis, so early application is recommended.
For information on accommodation options, click here

FEES AND DATES

Total Program Fees include Tuition, Accommodation, Textbooks, Registration and Enrollment, Placement Test, Certificate and Transcript, Visa Support Documentation, Airport Pickup and Transfer to Accommodation, Orientation, Welcome Pack, Language Travel Medical Insurance, and more. Social activities and free weekend guided tours and are organized. Free access to the onsite Multimedia Library including use of e-mail and Internet. International Program Advisors provide information and assistance pre-departure and throughout the program.
For Total Program Fees, click here

For those who have already arranged their own accommodation and wish to participate only in the classes, see Tuition only Fees. click here

REQUIREMENTS

There are no special requirements. The program is open to participants all over the world, who are at least 16 years and above.

APPLICATION

Apply early before deadlines. Last day for Application is 6 weeks before the start of the program.
For Application procedures, click here
For the Application Form, click here

EMERGENCY TRAVEL & MEDICAL INSURANCE

For peace of mind, Total Program fees include Emergency Travel and Medical Insurance. StudentCare Insurance covers emergency medical and dental treatment, pro-rata return of program fee in case of curtailment, personal liability, and more. Participants are insured for the duration of the program.

For terms and conditions and further information, click here

ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER

The Annecy program has been recognized by colleges and universities across the US and around the world. Participants are required to contact the Study Abroad Advisor or French Language Department in their home college or university regarding the procedures for academic transfer. If assistance is needed, contact WLE's Offices.

AIRFARES

For cheap airfares to France (or Geneva), starting from US$500, click here

ARRIVAL TRANSFER

Free pickup from the bus or train station to your accommodation is provided. Details of your arrival such as the date, time and place are required at least 10 days before your arrival.

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