Language Study Abroad France

for 8th-12th graders

Language Study Abroad in France is the perfect summer opportunity for students who want to learn French and experience all that France has to offer.

Each day is filled with language classes in the morning and fun activities in the afternoon so that our groups experience France's culture, history and natural beauty. Traveling allows students to explore the different regions of France and to truly come together as a group. Outstanding language learning, endless cultural opportunities, three unique parts of France, dynamic leaders and a transformative group experience in a small, spirited group (no more than 12 students or fewer than 2 leaders) —all in all, a great, well rounded, fun language learning experience!

As a recent Overland leader commented, “Prepare yourself for an awesome summer. You will see a lot of France and have the joy of sharing it with others!”

“Our daughter learned a lot and had a wonderful time with the other students on her program – a great group of kids.” Mary Shetterly, Cambridge, Massachusetts

LSA France: Three Weeks for 8th & 9th Graders (a minimum of one year of French is required)

For three weeks, we will live in exciting La Rochelle on the Atlantic Coast. For four hours a day and five days a week, we’ll attend language school where our students will be grouped by ability in two small classes and native-speaking teachers will provide instruction. After school, Overland’s leaders will organize activities and outings to help each student better understand the French culture and to reinforce and enhance each student’s classroom work. These full afternoons include everything from museum visits to days at the beach. Evenings are a time to change gears a bit, recharge after a busy day, and enjoy the company of the group. 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 châteaux country of the Loire Valley to explore small towns, parks and magnificent châteaux. Over the course of three weeks, our daily lessons and activities will give us the chance to practice and strengthen language skills, and our outings and weekend travel will show us the beauty and variety of La France.

LSA France: Four Weeks for 9th-12th Graders (a minimum of one year of high school French is required)

This program combines a fun, supportive Overland group with four weeks of native-speaker, classroom-based instruction in Amboise (a small town in the heart of the châteaux country), La Rochelle (a port city on the Atlantic Coast) and Paris. Our LSA France: Four Weeks groups will visit each location for a week or more at a time and will receive daily French instruction in small classes (generally no more than six students; students will be grouped by ability). When our studies are finished each day, we’ll spend our afternoons, evenings and weekends as a group, exploring and enjoying our surroundings. Overland’s leaders will organize full days… from picnic lunches, to bike rides through the châteaux country, to museum visits, to activities and games—all designed for fun, cultural immersion and to help our students practice and improve their speaking and reading skills. Overland’s winning combination of a supportive group, daily native-speaker instruction, activities and extensive travel gives each student plenty of opportunities to practice and strengthen language skills, while discovering French culture and enjoying the best of France for a month of language study abroad. 

“My leaders were awesome, the places we stayed were great, my group rocked and my French improved!” Erica Scarpa, Mystic, Connecticut

To learn French—and to enjoy it, to be comfortable in the language—there is no substitute for studying in France, a gorgeous country with a rich culture and a beautiful language. And yet, just to travel in France is not enough… language learning requires sustained effort (because learning a language, really learning it, is not easy!). You must have good instruction—and lots of it. Outside of class you must have dynamic leaders who inspire you to speak and read French. And you must be ready to dive into the culture by exploring French monuments and museums and by experiencing everyday life in small towns and big cities. Overland’s LSA France does all of this and more, and we do it in a supportive, fun-loving Overland group with two caring leaders whose goal is to give each of our students the skills and confidence to approach language learning with relaxed enthusiasm. We believe it’s the best French language study abroad program you’ll find.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Develop the skills and confidence to approach language learning with relaxed enthusiasm
• Explore Paris, the Atlantic Coast at La Rochelle and the Loire Valley châteaux country
• Discover France’s art, architecture and cuisine
• Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of French culture

GRADE

LSA France: Three Weeks for 8th & 9th Graders : For students who will finish grades 8 & 9 in June 2008, a minimum of one year of French is required.  This summer we will have 2 groups.  Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

LSA France: Four Weeks for 9th-12th Graders: For students who will finish grades 9-12 in June 2008, a minimum of one year of high school French is required.  This summer we will have 2 groups.  Call us (800.458.0588) to check on current availability.

START & END LOCATION

All LSA France programs start and end in Paris.

LSA INSTRUCTION & IMMERSION

LSA France Three Weeks

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

LSA France Four Weeks

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

2008 DATES & FEES

LSA France Three Weeks

Sunday, June 22 to Friday, July 11
Sunday, July 13 to Friday, August 1

$5395 (airfare not included)

LSA France Four Weeks

Sunday, June 29 to Saturday, July 26

$6395 (airfare not included)

APPLY TODAY

Most groups fill in January & February. To download an application, click here.

“The multi-disciplinary aspect of this program--language education, cultural experiences and travel--was an ideal learning experience. We were amazed by the wealth of activities provided.” Jill Cottine, Haymarket, Virginia

Students: Is This the Right Trip For You?

Overland offers two LSA France programs, each with different language requirements:

LSA France Three Weeks: Introductory / intermediate; requires a minimum of one year of French language instruction

LSA France Four Weeks: Intermediate / advanced; requires a minimum of one year of high school French language instruction

All LSA programs 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.

Your enjoyment of this trip will hinge on several factors:

1. Your motivation. Learning a language requires dedication in and out of the classroom. The amount of effort that you put into this program will determine how much you get out of it.
2. Your open mindedness. Living in abroad requires a willingness to try new things.
3. Your commitment to teamwork. Overland trips require compromise and patience. Support your leaders and your fellow students and you’ll find that you will have a great experience.

“Sam enjoyed every part of the program. He was happy to work four hours a day on French with a teacher he thought was great and he enjoyed the daily excursions.” Maggie Cooley, New York, New York

Trip Itinerary

Program Start

LSA France programs start at the Paris-Charles deGaulle Airport where Overland leaders will be on-hand to meet arriving students. Once everyone has arrived, we’ll train directly to our accommodations in our host city. We'll settle into our group housing, explore our new surroundings and get to know one another before we begin our classes at Eurocentres.

Language Classes

On both LSA France programs, we’ll spend four hours in class every weekday at Eurocentres (www.eurocentres.com), Europe’s leading network of language schools. 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 Eurocentres certificate marking the progress they have made over the course of the program.

Afternoon Activities

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 La Rochelle we might go to the beach, visit the aquarium or explore the Old Port. In Amboise and the châteaux country, we'll visit nearby châteaux, kayak the Loire River 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.

Group Accommodations & Travel

On LSA France Three Weeks, we'll live in La Rochelle on the Atlantic Coast for our three weeks together in France. We'll stay in apartments (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 châteaux country to explore small medieval towns and visit magnificent châteaux like Chenonceau and Chambord. By program end, we'll feel at home in La Rochelle and have visited some of the best sights in France.

On LSA France Four Weeks, we'll live and study in Amboise, La Rochelle and Paris, giving us the chance to explore diverse aspects of French culture: village life in the châteaux country, coastal life on the Atlantic and city life in the cosmopolitan capital. In each location, we'll live together in apartments or hotels, sharing our activities and meals together as group.

Program End

At program end, we'll return to Paris. Under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, we'll celebrate our improved language skills and reflect on the wonderful French sites and culture we've experienced on LSA France!

Supervision & Safety

  Overland ’s two leaders, a man and a woman, provide 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week supervision of the highest standard. Our leaders are dedicated, first and foremost, to making each student's experience with us a safe and enjoyable one. By creating a supportive and wholesome environment, our leaders help each student to feel comfortable and at home. In this kind of setting, friendships flourish and teamwork grows; challenges are welcomed and accomplishments are celebrated. For nearly 25 years, Overland 's students have felt safe and secure in our talented and conscientious leaders’ hands.

On an Overland Language Study Abroad program the group attends school together, explores their home city together and travels on the weekends together. Our focus on the group and our leaders’ commitment to providing superlative leadership and supervision separates us from the vast majority of programs abroad.

Our LSA students can count on us to create a family-like environment that is active, positive, inclusive and healthy (there is never any drinking, smoking or drug use). Our days are full of learning and exploration, and our evenings are spent together as a group. We set high expectations for each student’s behavior: we expect respect and consideration for others, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to help make the trip a success in every way possible.

In every decision we make, safety comes first. We plan our LSA programs carefully, choosing the best available language schools, accommodations, activities, outings and travel. Since our first trips in 1985 our safety record has been superlative; it's no wonder, then, that Overland is one of the few organizations of its kind to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association.

For nearly 25 years our caring and competent leaders, our superlative supervision, our high expectations, and our commonsense approach to safety have made Overland the number one choice for summer programs.

Overland Leaders

In a world where strong leadership skills make the difference between the average and the exceptional, Overland recruits and trains only the best to be our leaders. Not only do these remarkable people capably lead our groups, they also offer our students the kind of role modeling for which Overland has long been recognized.  Bright, charismatic and accomplished, our leaders ensure the safety and well-being of every Overland student, and then they provide much, much more, inspiring our students to reach for their potential in every way. 

You won’t find a more dynamic and talented group of people than Overland’s leaders. Most Overland leaders have played varsity sports and many have captained their teams; they have served as student government officers, volunteered as peer counselors and directed campus organizations. They are high achievers who come to Overland with a lifetime of leadership experience—but just as importantly, they are warm, wonderful people who are eager to work with Overland’s students.

Overland’s leaders prepare carefully for the summer. We know of no other program that requires certification in First Aid, CPR and lifesaving—every Overland leader has all of these plus our own 10-day training program that focuses on safety, supervision and leadership. All of our efforts prepare Overland’s caring and committed leaders to create safe, supportive and valuable programs where each of our students can flourish.

Meet some of our spectacular returning leaders.

How We Put Our Groups Together

We have a number of important criteria for every group:

Size: Every Overland group is limited to 12 students.
Gender: Most LSA groups are coed; the male/female ratio is always carefully balanced (6:6, 7:5, 8:4 or 9:3). We will occasionally offer a single-sex group.
Friends: We allow two pairs of friends in a group (we never allow three or more friends to travel together). With a maximum of two pairs of friends there will always be space available for at least eight students to come on their own without a friend. Furthermore, if we enroll two pairs of friends in a group and both pairs are of one gender, we generally try to: (1) enroll three or four more students of that gender in that group, or (2) close the group to additional students of that gender.

 

“I loved class. I thought it was awesome even though it was school. Daily activities and weekend trips were really fun.” Emily Martin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Getting To & From The Program

Families are responsible for making travel arrangements to and from Charles DeGaulle Airport in Paris. Overland’s leaders will be on hand at the airport to provide supervision and assistance at program start and end.

Additional Costs

Transportation to and from Paris and spending money are not included in the program fee.

“LSA in France last summer was one of the best experiences in Katrina’s life, and I highly recommend it! Great combination of structured lessons and weekend cultural trips!” Norean Sharpe, Wellesley, Massachusetts

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