French & Italian

The Department of French and Italian is pleased to announce the continuation of its program that enables committed students to make rapid progress in French. The program will run from June 3rd to June 28^th, 2013. Students should arrive in Aix-en-Provence on June 2nd and depart no earlier than the afternoon of June 28th. In 2013, the resident faculty member will be Christine Sagnier.

Students who have taken, or are currently taking, FRE 1027, 107, or 108, who have scored, or are expected to score, top grades in these courses, who would like to take a big step forward in their French language skills this summer AND who envisage pursuing one of the Department’s programs (certificate or concentration) are invited to apply for admission to FRE207F, Accelerated Summer Study in France.

FRE207F is an intensive, four-week language immersion program which will be taught at IS Aix-en-Provence, an Institute specializing in the teaching of French as a foreign language. IS provides 15 hours/week of classroom instruction, oriented primarily towards oral comprehension and expression. In addition, students attend classes, taught by the resident Princeton faculty member, that focus on reading and writing skills. Students will also participate in cultural activities related to the course contents. Program participants lodge with French families in the area and are provided with dinner en famille as well as breakfast. All participants sign an honor pledge to speak only French at all times throughout the duration of the course. In all, FRE207F provides an outstanding opportunity for total immersion in French language and culture and for rapid acquisition of higher-level language skills.

IS Aix-en-Provence is housed in a former private mansion, located in the heart of the “vieille ville” (old town), with its cobbled streets, numerous fountains, thriving markets and vibrant café life. Once the capital of old Provence, Aix is one of the most beautiful towns in the South of France, which has retained much of its typical “provençal ” ambience. It is also a cosmopolitan city of art and culture, which offers an amazing array of activities, and hosts a lively student community, with over 30,000 students. Visit www.is-aix.com to see more of the Institute and its surroundings.

Circled  by the hills immortalized by Cézanne’s paintings, Aix is well connected to many places of natural, cultural and historical interest. Marseille and the beautiful “Calanques” of Cassis (rocky sea inlets) are only 30 minutes away, Avignon, Arles and the picturesque villages of Luberon can be reached in less than one hour, and the Riviera in less than two. The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) links Aix to Paris in 2 hours and 40 minutes, and Marseille’s international airport is only 30 minutes away.

IS Aix will offer a four-week program specifically tailored for Princeton students, with some cultural activities related to course contents, to enable students to interact with French native speakers out of the classroom. Success in the Aix program will count as a pass in FRE207, a prerequisite for all higher-level French courses.

Applications and interviews will take place in February 2013. Download, print and complete application documents below (1. your application and essay form; and 2. recommendation form from your French instructor) . Schedule an interview by logging in to https://wass.princeton.edu/pages/login.page.php, using  csagnier@princeton.edu to see the calendar of appointments. Please call Kathy Varra at 8-4502 or email her kvarra@princeton.edu if you have any difficulties or questions regarding your application.

Submit your completed application documents in a single envelope to Kathy Varra in the Department of French and Italian, East Pyne 303, by February 18,  2013, 1:00 pm. Do not close your application envelope, so that the staff can check that your application file is complete.

Your envelope should contain: Your envelope should contain: 1) your application form and essay, 2) your resume, 3) a recommendation form from your last French instructor, 4) a recommendation form from your current French instructor or a letter from your Director of Studies if you are not currently enrolled in a French course. Recommendation forms need to be in sealed envelopes signed by the recommender. Interviews will start in February 2013 . The selection of participants will be announced by early March and those selected will then need to attend a pre-departure meeting, where they will be provided with information to prepare them for the program.

© 2013 The Trustees of Princeton University

Department of French & Italian · 303 East Pyne · Princeton University