France

Language. Art. Architecture. Religion. Food. Fashion. Business. Technology. Industry. It only takes a day to traverse France’s beautiful landscape from north to south, but it takes so much longer to truly understand her culture and people.

Spend a year, semester, or summer in France and you will know why France is a favorite of the casual observer and the long-term acquaintance alike.

French culture is at hand everywhere - in the daily food, the literature, the variety of landscapes, and the music you hear. Be open to every opportunity that comes your way to discover some of the richness the French enjoy every day: a visit to a local farm, the discovery of traditional crafts, or a concert by a local band. In some cases, your family may offer more formal visits to local monuments, festivals, or natural marvels. Your school may also offer opportunities such as short trips or cultural events - at a reasonable cost and worth the investment. Express your interests so your family and friends can help you select the best activities for you.

Academic Programs

Your academic time in France will be spent at the lycée (high school).  At the lycée d'education generale, you will take compulsory courses, such as history, maths and languages. If you are placed in the second year of lycée, you may choose a course of study from literature and philosophy, economics and social sciences, or science and math.

Two national orientations will be offered to help you get the most from your experience. An arrival orientation will help accelerate your adaptation to your family, school, and French way of life. A departure orientation will allow you to share with other participants what you have learned during your stay and prepare you for returning to the USA.  Three regional orientations will also be offered to you and your host family throughout the program to help you evaluate what you have done and learned both academically and personally and to prepare you for the best use of your time in France.

Summer Program

Belle Bretagne
Everywhere you look, France offers a rich palette of art, history, and culture from ancient times to the present. You'll have the opportunity to perfect your French while learning about France's culture and living with a host family during this five-week summer program. In one of France's most historic regions, Brittany (Bretagne), you'll enjoy a number of day-trips to the region's sites and scenery.  At the end of your stay, you will have a four-day trip to Paris.

Your time in France will be filled with activity! A trip to Paris caps off your stay living with a host family in Brittany. In past years, students have been hosted in the towns of St. Brieuc. During your stay in Brittany, you will join other students for excursions, activities and occasional events to learn about Breton culture, language, dance, and education. Weekends, evenings, and non-excursion days you will have time to spend with your French host family and new friends.  Before your departure, there will be a farewell party for all students, their host families, and friends.

Possible activities include sports on the beach, bike riding excursions, guided tours, boat cruises, and bowling with friends and host families. Possible excursions could be to majestic Mont Saint-Michel, Fort Lalatte, the town of Binic, Saint-Malo and Dinard, Ploumanach, or Rennes, the capital of Brittany.

Programs, Departures, and Costs

Online Resources

To learn more about France, we recommend:

• E-mail YFU Alumni from the Alumni Referral List with your questions
• Visit your local library to find reference books, travel guides and essays, French language dictionaries, and many more country resources 
• Use an internet search engine to find informative web sites 
• Embassy of France in Washington, DC web site

"The ancient buildings and chateaux blew my mind! They were like a colorful quilt." - Meredith Broughton

All YFU Programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.
Last Updated: Monday, October 6, 2008