Designed to develop all four language skills, this course emphasizes the texture and content of the student's lived experience in France. Vocabulary, idioms, style and diction focus on personal expression - the sensations, subjective observations, emotions, impressions inspired by the local setting and the student's personal reaction to it.
Focusing on all language skills, with specific emphasis on the precision of language use and the nuance of meaning, this course combines exercises in grammar and translation with the development of journalistic skills including interviews, note taking, and unbiased reporting.
The development of intercultural communication skills is built into the AUCP's comprehensive approach to language instruction. Course modules explore French societal structures from the vantage point of the French "Art of Living" - from the table as the center of society to the attitudes and values that give importance to history, regional lands, family ties, wine, & food. Grounded in intercultural theory, the course also serves as an on-going orientation to French life and guides the students' adaptation process.
Program Requirements
Students must have at minimum an intermediate level in the French language. This is generally understood as the equivalent of two semesters of college French. A placement exam is administered on-line prior to departure to determine incoming language level.
Cooking in Season
Hands-on cooking classes with renowned local chef. Participants learn to make traditional provençal dishes using fresh local produce and herbs.
Wine Tasting
Discover the great wines of France with local expert and professor of Oenology. Special focus is given to wines from the Rhone valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne regions.