Yale Summer Session in Paris: France Between Past and Present: Advanced Language Practice and Culture

Description

[NOTE: Program details (overall status, dates, costs, etc.) are subject to change each summer, and the information on this page will be updated as such details are finalized.]

This program explores historical and contemporary issues in French culture. Students will immerse themselves in the vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere of one of the most storied capitals in the world. They will not only engage with Paris's rich history and multi-cultural fabric but will also discover other regions of France that make up the country's complex identity.

The course will emphasize active oral communication, the study and application of advanced-level vocabulary to increase grammatical precision. Students will extend their study of grammar and vocabulary to the reading of short texts and cultural documents and to the viewing of films that contextualize their language studies. Guided walking tours, museums visits, theater outings, a wine-tasting class, an overnight trip to Normandy and a weekend trip to Provence will complement the readings and lectures. These activities will foster comprehension, discussion, oral presentations, and writing on a range of topics such as urban history, art, immigration, current politics, and regionalism.

The class will meet each week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and students should expect, at minimum,15 hours of work outside the classroom per week, as well excursions and other program activities.

Budget

Yale Summer Session Programs Abroad updates program budgets in late January. Please note the year listed on the button below.

Summer 2024 Budget

Trips and Activities

Activities in Paris include walking tours of medieval Paris and of its nineteenth-century covered passageways, a guided tour of the National Museum of Modern Art at the Pompidou Center (Beaubourg), the Museé d’Orsay,  a boat cruise, two plays, including a Comédie française performance, dinners, ice cream tastings, and café outings.

Trips outside of Paris will include a three-day visit to Southern France (Provence) and Van Gogh country.  We will base ourselves in Arles and visit its Roman ruins and the sites where Van Gogh painted, including the café that inspired his Night Café housed at the Yale University Art Gallery.  While in Provence, participants will spend a day exploring the wild marshes of the Camargue and linger at the beach of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Another day will be spent visiting Provençal hill towns and the city of Avignon, with its charming narrow streets and the Papal Palace. Additionally, participants will spend two days in Normandy on the trail of Monet, visiting his gardens at Giverny and the dramatic cliffs at Étretat that he painted. The Normandy trip will include an overnight stay in the medieval city of Rouen with its half-timbered houses and important cathedral, as well as a stop at a cider factory on the return to Paris.

During their stay, students will be given a free pass to the Louvre Museum.

Housing

[NOTE: Students are required to stay in program-provided housing.  There is no option for individually-arranged housing.]

Students will be placed with local families around Paris, with families providing breakfast on a daily basis and dinner Monday through Friday. Please keep in mind that the living conditions will vary considerably from host family to host family.

Notes

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and are expected to arrive in Paris on the first day of the program, and depart no earlier than the last day of the program (see 'Dates' above); additional information will be provided upon admission.

Questions

For course content questions contact instructor, Ramla Bedoui. For general program questions contact the Study Abroad staff.

Important Information Before Applying

• All YSS Programs Abroad are intensive, highly structured academic programs for Yale credit and grades.
• Students may only apply to one YSS Program Abroad per summer.
• Admission is not guaranteed. Applicants should anticipate that more students will apply than there are spots available, and Yale College students should apply to a backup Non-Yale Summer Abroad opportunity.
• Ensure that your transcript reflects how you have met the pre-requisite, if applicable, prior to applying.
• Participants must commit to the full program dates. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.
• Participants are required to be enrolled in all program courses.
• Participants should expect evening and weekend requirements. Students who have questions about religious observance during a YSS Program Abroad are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.
• Program-arranged housing is required for all YSS Programs Abroad. Students are not permitted to secure independent housing. Students who have housing-related questions about placements, allergies, religious observance, or disability-related access are encouraged to Meet with an Adviser.

Apply to a YSS Program Abroad