Intensive French Language
Summer 2023 June/July Combo Aix-en-Provence

About the Program

This program is designed for high-beginning and above French speakers and helps you improve your French language proficiency in a short period of time. Enroll in a French language course designed for your language level with a focus on oral expression, vocabulary development, and listening comprehension. Practice your new skills in academic outings and cultural activities, such as theater performance or festivals, then discuss your experiences in class as part of your coursework. If you enroll in consecutive sessions, you’ll be tested at the end of the session and, if appropriate, advance to a higher language level for the next session.

Program Notes

Please note that Aix Marseille University is making changes to this program for Summer 2023, and program information currently presented on CEA’s website might change. We encourage you to check back later for updates.

Program Structure

Choose a session in June, July, or combine both. Each session, you'll enroll in 1 language course. Courses meet for 60 contact hours/4 credits over the session. You may earn 4 credits per session (up to 60 contact hours); if you choose to combine June and July sessions, you may earn up to 8 credits (up to 120 contact hours).

Classes meet daily in the morning, Monday-Friday, and on Wednesday afternoons you'll participate in academic outings. Active learning components required by your courses may be scheduled for Fridays.

You'll take a written language placement exam before you arrive in Aix and a brief oral placement exam when you arrive in Aix. Based on the results, you'll be placed in a language class at your language level. To ensure that you receive credit for the language level you place into, have your home school pre-approve courses at several levels before you leave for France. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs*. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

Avignon and the Pont du Gard

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Visit the Papal Palace in Avignon, one of Europe's largest, most important medieval Gothic buildings. Once a fortress and palace, the papal residence was the seat of Western Christianity during the 14th century. Next, explore the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the 1st century. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and among the best-preserved.

Les Baux de Provence

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First stop: Baux de Provence, a medieval fortified town with breath-taking views, to tour a hilltop chateau and learn about medieval Provence. Next, experience a mind-blowing audiovisual art show projected on limestone quarry walls at Les Carriéres. Enjoy a group lunch at Mas de la Pyramide, a quarry dating from Roman times that's now an agricultural museum featuring three centuries of farm life and trades.

Arles

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A key headquarters for Roman military campaigns and center of the Christianization of Gaul, Arles offers windows to a colorful past. The Roman Empire's influence can still be seen in Arles; architecture, baths, aqueduct, mills, amphitheater, and more. Walking between the remnants of pillars and arches, it's easy to forget you're visiting an ancient part of Provence, especially when the ferias and other bull festivals charge the air with excitement.

The Luberon

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The Luberon is a lush, green national park where mountain ranges surround a sweeping valley dotted with castles and unbelievable fairy-tale villages thought to be among the most beautiful in France. Stroll along the Sorgue River, which flows from an unknown source deep under Fountaine-de-Vaucluse; hike the red/orange/yellow ochre hills of Roussillon; and explore Gordes, a local commune. Can you discover the café where Russell Crowe filmed his scenes with Marion Cotillard for the movie A Good Year?