Yale Summer Session in Paris: France On Screen and Off: Advanced French Conversation Through Film

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.]

Through the medium of cinema, the students will be exposed to contemporary French society in all of its complexity. The films at the core of this program have been chosen for their cultural and linguistic value. Each film will serve as a catalyst for a particular topic which will also be explored in articles from the French press and video clips created for French television. Students will develop their capacity for defending their ideas in French both orally and in writing.

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

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 and enhance the students’ understanding of French history and regional variations in language, customs, cuisine, climate, and geography.

Trips outside of Paris include a three-day visit to Southern France (Provence) and Van Gogh country. We 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 by boat and lingering at the beach of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Another day will be spent visiting the Provençal hill town of Les Baux de Provence. Additionally, participants will spend two days in Normandy on the trail of Monet, visiting his gardens at Giverny and the dramatic cliffs at Étretat. 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.

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, who will provide breakfast on a daily basis and dinner Monday through Friday. Living conditions and distance to where classes will be held will vary amongst housing assignments. 

Homestays are an integral part of this program. This living arrangement provides participants with the opportunity to learn more about the host culture, increase language proficiency, and form meaningful connections in the community. Students admitted into the program are expected to spend time getting to know their homestay family and be mindful of the need to balance time spent at home with time spent traveling or going out with friends. If you have any questions about living with a homestay family, we encourage you to reach out to the program instructor.

Participants must depart housing on the last day of the program.

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, Connie Sherak. 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