Is this program for you?

The Paris Intensive Teen Residence Program is suited to the student who is looking for a highly intensive language immersion program in France. The program is ideal for students who have some, but limited, travel experience.  You must be comfortable under the guidance of outgoing and knowledgeable monitors and like to interact with international students. Please visit the supervision page for more information.

Location When one thinks of France, few images come to mind more readily than those of Paris, the city of lights and home to famous monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and the magnificent Louvre museum.  With so much to see and do it's hard to think of a better place to immerse yourself in French language and culture! Our Paris Intensive Teen Residence Program takes place on one of Paris' most prestigious boarding school campuses, college Passy Buzenval.  The Passy Buzenval campus is located in the peaceful community of Rueil-Malmaison, a western suburb of Paris, only 10km from the Champs Elysees and 12 km from central Paris. The campus is easily accessed on the Paris RER Line A (station Rueil-Malmaison).  Reueil Malmaison is famous as the location of the Château de Malmaison, favorite home of Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Joséphine de Beauharnais. It is now open to the public as a Napoleonic musée national.

French Lessons

The concept of the Paris Intensive Teen Residence Program is full immersion. This means that students are encouraged by staff to speak French at all times: during classes, during meals, on excursions and during activities. At 32 lessons per week, the program is highly intensive, but fun!

Students are divided into two age groupings: junior 10-14 and senior 15-18. Both junior and senior students have a 4 day per week academic schedule that consists of 8 x 45 minute lessons on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9:00 AM and 4:45 PM. The lesson breakdown is as follows:

• Lessons 1, 2, 3 & 4 focus on the four major components of language: speaking listening, reading and writing
• Lessons 5 & 6 are workshops that students sign up for based on their interests: film & media studies, drama, newspaper production, exam preparation, etc.
• Lessons 7 & 8 consist of one computer-based lesson and one tutorial (one on one time with your teacher), or time to finish up homework and assignments or prepare for the Thursday night Entertainment evening

On the first day of class, students are given a comprehensive assessment to determine their level placement. All levels are offered from beginner to advanced and each class has a maximum of 10 students, with an average of 6 to 7 students at the same level. View our sample schedule for more information.

Cultural & Activity Program

Each week students enjoy a full program of cultural activities and excursions as well as sports and leisure activities, both on campus and off. Full-day excursions to places of interest in and around Paris take place every Wednesday and Sunday and every Saturday is a day reserved for sports or leisure activities including on-campus swimming or soccer and shopping or sightseeing in Paris.  Evenings include a variety of on and off campus activities including cinema, a disco, talent night, etc.

Optional excursions can be booked including a trip to Disneyland Paris, Parc Asterix Paris or to a Musical in Paris.  See our sample weekly schedule for more information.

Optional Golf & Tennis Lessons

If you are interested in learning how to play either tennis or golf or you already know how but want to keep up your game you may want to sign up for optional lessons.  You can select to focus on either tennis or golf (only one option is allowed per two week session) for 8 x 45 minute lessons per week. Lessons take place 3 evenings each week and on every second Satuday.

The Golf lessons take place at the St. Cloud Golf Club and tennis lessons take place at la Châtaigneraie, both within walking distance of the campus. Chaperones will accompany students to and from the lessons. The ratio of students to instructor will be no more than 6:1 (a minimum of 4 students is required for each lesson). Please see the sample weekly schedule page for lessons days and times.

Teachers

The teaching staff are fully-qualified young and dynamic native speakers.  They set out to create a relaxed, amusing and motivating atmosphere with lesson themes that you can relate to.  During extra-curricular activities, you will be strongly encouraged to use French so you can get used to thinking in the language!

Accommodation

Students are accommodated on campus in single rooms with wash basins.  Washrooms are conveniently placed between rooms.  Males and females are strictly separated. Meals are taken in the school cafeteria and vegetarian options are available at each sitting.

The campus facilities include:

• lounge
• computer room (with free internet access)
• cafeteria with dining hall
• classrooms
• indoor gymnasium
• heated pool
• basketball courts
• football pitches
• playing fields

For general information on residence accommodation please visit our Residence Q & A page.

The following program features are included in the price:

• 32 lessons per week
• Afternoon workshops
• Study materials
• Language level test on first day of classes
• Certificate of attendance and detailed record of achievement
• 2 full-day excursions every week
• Fully supervised evening and weekend activities and excursions
• Internet access
• Single room accommodation in residence
• 3 meals per day
• Return transfer for Charles de Gaulle or Orly Airport (please see the Getting There page for more info)
• 24 hour emergency support
• Comprehensive Medical and Travel Insurance (Only available for US citizens/residents)