the programthe program
Our partner organizations in France are responsible for the supervision and support of CIEE participants throughout the duration of their stay. A local coordinator is assigned to each student and will remain in regular contact throughout the semester/year in order to check in on the student's language progress and to make sure that home and school life continues to go well. CIEE partner organizations select, screen, and interview all host families and will place students in a school and family that best matches the student profile.
orientation
Orientation will take place in Boston one day before departure. They consist of a comprehensive program that covers important topics such as an introduction to your host country, health and safety, tips on how to adjust to a new culture and language, the academic program, and getting to know other high school students going to the same country. The rest of the time is spent on sightseeing in the area, restaurants, and evening activities. Students will be met at the airport and housed in hotels with other participants. CIEE staff will stay in the hotel with the students and will accompany them to their overseas check-in. They will be met at the other end by our program staff abroad and then onto their final destination for a local orientation.
placements
Students can be placed in any region of France and is dependent on where the best match for a host family can be made based on the student profile. In the past, students have been placed in the following areas: Nimes, Amiens, Bordeaux, DesCartes, Sanary Sur Mer, Valence, Boissieres, Saint Ave, Ploeren.
Students on the High School Abroad Program will be placed in a French public high school called a Lycée. Students may attend a Collège, (K-12 private school) by assuming the tuition costs in addition to the program fees. The Local Coordinators will be in regular contact with students and will report back to CIEE and the natural parents.
France High School Abroad French Language Course
This course is required for students who have little to no prior French language study and is open to those who wish to improve their language skills before participating in the Academic Program.
The purpose of this course is to prepare students for integration into the French school system. The different classes help the students gain knowledge of the language and culture. Through interactive classes and real life experiences, students will slowly adapt to the French lifestyle.
The language course consists of four weeks of 21 hours per week, which includes an introduction to the French way of life, vocabulary acquisition, literature, civilization and one cultural activity per week. A native French teacher specializing in teaching French as a foreign language will facilitate the class. This program takes place at a language school in Paris.
Placement with a selected volunteer and unpaid host family in the Paris area during the four weeks of the program as well as the assistance of a local coordinator who is available for additional support. Students are transferred to their definitive host community after that period.
