Language & Exploration France

Overview

Overland’s Language & Exploration France allows students to explore France in a small, supportive, wholesome and fun-loving Overland group. We’ll learn the language while experiencing French life and culture in quaint towns and bustling cities.

Language & Exploration France: Three Weeks (for grades 7-9) is based in Chamonix in the French Alps. For four hours every weekday, we’ll attend language school in small, private classes with native-speaking teachers. After school, we’ll enjoy daily hikes in the spectacular Alps. Off the trail, Overland’s leaders will organize activities to immerse each student in the French language and culture. On our two weekends we’ll travel: first to Paris to discover the parks, neighborhoods and museums of France’s greatest city; then to the Côte d’Azur to swim in the brilliant blue Mediterranean. Over the course of three weeks, our daily lessons, hikes, activities and weekend travel will strengthen our language skills while showing us the beauty and variety of France.

On Language & Exploration France: Four Weeks (for grades 9-12), we’ll start out in beautiful Chamonix for morning lessons, afternoon hikes and evening language activities organized by Overland’s leaders. For our second week, we’ll head to the Loire Valley to visit exquisite châteaux and continue afternoon French classes. Next, we move on to the country’s exciting capital city to study, explore and get a taste of Parisian life. Our final week of instruction and exploration takes place back in Chamonix. We’ll get back into the mountains for fresh air, fitness and fun as we enjoy the close friendships and camaraderie of our small Overland group.

Highlights

• Receive daily native-speaker language instruction
• Explore the vibrant city of Paris
• Hike in the French Alps
• Experience the sights, sounds & tastes of French culture

Grade

L&E France: Three Weeks

For students completing grades 7-9 in June 2012

L&E France: Four Weeks

For students completing grades 9-12 in June 2012

Multiple sections are grouped by grades

Call us (413-458-9672) to check on current availability

Start and End Location

Starts and ends in Geneva, Switzerland

Accommodations

During their time in Chamonix, groups will live with their leaders in privately rented chalets. These chalets are carefully selected for their location and proximity to the language school. Groups will cook and share meals together at their accommodations. All chalets are fully equipped with bathroom and laundry facilities. On our travel outside of Chamonix, we will stay in youth hostels and/or hotels.

In all accommodations, boys and girls stay in separate rooms. Students will have their own bed, but will likely share a room with 2-3 other students in their group. Room groups will switch throughout the trip.

Dates and Fees

L&E France: Three Weeks

Sunday, June 24 to Friday, July 13
Sunday, July 15 to Friday, August 3

$5895 (airfare not included)

L&E France: Four Weeks

Sunday, June 24 to Saturday, July 21

$6895 (airfare not included)

Itinerary

Program Start

Language & Exploration France programs start at the Geneva International Airport where Overland leaders will be on-hand to meet arriving students. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll head to Chamonix and settle into our group accommodations. Sunday afternoon will allow us to get to know one another and forge long-lasting friendships before we begin our classes in the pristine setting of Chamonix.

Language Classes

On both L&E France programs, we’ll spend four hours in class every weekday with native-speaking instructors. Students will be split into classes of no more than six and will only be in class with other Overland students from their group. We'll take some short breaks during the school day and there may be some light school work outside of class a few days a week. Our time spent in the classroom with native-speaker instructors will vastly improve our language abilities and give us the the language skills we'll need to experience France and communicate outside the classroom. On the last day of class, all students will receive a certificate marking the progress they have made over the course of the program.

L&E France: Three Weeks will attend classes at INSTED.

L&E France: Four Weeks will attend classes at both INSTED and Languages Abroad.

Daily Exploration

After classes are over for the day, groups enjoy a picnic lunch together before setting out for their afternoon activity. These daily activities will allow us to explore the places, history and culture of France and are a perfect way to put our classroom language skills to the test. In Chamonix we might explore the beautiful mountain village, enjoy scenic hikes in the Alps or find ourselves gazing across the horizon from panoramic mountain tops. In Nice and the Côte d’Azur, we'll visit the beach, explore this exciting coastal region or play games in a local park. In Paris we'll visit famous sites like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre. At the end of our busy afternoons, we'll return to our group accommodations for dinner.

Weekend Travel

On L&E France Three Weeks, we'll live in Chamonix in the French Alps for our three weeks together in France. We'll either stay in apartments or large Chalets (where rooms are separated by gender), coming together as a group for meals and activities. On our first weekend, we'll head into Paris to visit the classic sights and museums that make Paris one of the most magnificent cities in the world. Our second weekend, we'll travel to the Côte d’Azur to explore this beautiful coast and visit exciting villages like Saint-Paul de Vence. By program's end, we'll feel at home in Chamonix and have visited some of the best sights in France.

On L&E France Four Weeks, we'll live and study in Chamonix, Paris and Chateaux country, giving us the chance to explore diverse aspects of French culture: village life in the French Alps, countryside life in the Loire Valley and city life in the cosmopolitan capital.

Program End

At program's end, we'll return to Chamonix before departing from Geneva, Switzerland. We'll celebrate our improved language skills and reflect on the wonderful French sites and culture we've experienced on L&E France summer program abroad.

“Ellen had the experience of a lifetime. She made great new friends, truly advanced her French language abilities, saw important highlights around France and was extremely well-taken care of by her program leaders.” Maeve Zamsky, Darien, Connecticut

Trip Details

PARENTS & STUDENTS PLEASE NOTE

Unlike most Overland programs, L&E France spends a good deal of time in cities. As with every Overland program, our high expectations and basic rules apply at all times. There are no late night activities and drinking alcohol is strictly forbidden.

LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION HOURS 

L&E France: Three Weeks

50 hours of native-speaker classroom-based instruction
30 additional hours of structured language immersion

L&E France: Four Weeks

65 hours of native-speaker classroom-based instruction
40 additional hours of structured language immersion

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS 

Overland offers two L&E France programs - each requires one year of French.

We prefer that students enrolling in Language & Exploration France programs have at least one year of French. However, there are several instances in which we can grant exceptions to this requirement. If your son or daughter has had comparable language practice in French outside of formal class instruction, or if they have a background in another foreign language, for example Latin or Spanish, that may be sufficient for this type of program. Since Overland groups are split into smaller language classes upon arrival, we can accommodate varying levels of language skills. The most important factors for success on this program are the student’s enthusiasm for learning the language and his/her dedication to practicing throughout the program. Please give our office a call to discuss your student’s suitability for our programs.

All of Overland's Language & Exploration summer programs abroad require dedication to mastering a language and understanding a new culture. Although there is no language pledge, students will be expected to speak only French while in class and during approximately two hours a day of structured language immersion outside of class. Students will be encouraged to speak French amongst themselves outside of the classroom as much as possible.

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Before You Go

• Enrollment Forms
• Prepare & Pack
• Travel Information
• Mail Stops
• Helpful Reminders

Apply Now

HOW TO APPLY

You have two choices. You can apply online with a credit card by clicking the link below.

Apply Online

Or you can download the 2012 Overland Application as a PDF (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Then mail your completed one-page application and $795 deposit check to:

Overland
P.O. Box 31
Williamstown, MA 01267

For overnight mail via UPS or FedEx, please use our street address:

Overland
63 Spring Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

Applications are reviewed in the order in which they arrive at our office and we cannot hold spots over the phone.

Learn about our admissions process.