Summer Institute FAQ's

French Summer Institute

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Washington University's Summer Language Institute in France is a dynamic, 3-week program in French language and Parisian culture. The program is designed to accelerate the language acquisition process of students who will have completed one or more of the following French language courses prior to departure to Paris: French 102, [105], 203, 204, 307 or any other 300 level course. The Paris Institute is intended to enable students from all areas of the university to experience first-hand what makes Paris one the most popular world destinations for tourists and professionals alike. With its focus on French contributions to the arts, cuisine, fashion, and "the good life," as well as the world of ideas, the Paris study abroad experience is a valuable curricular addition to students who aspire to careers in business, the humanities, government, international relations, and research fields that share a global perspective. The 3-week Institute program complements WU courses in St. Louis through a creative approach to language acquisition that integrates elements of Paris's unique cultural vibe, encompassing the arts, commerce, urban planning, and more. The Summer Language Institute in Paris is reserved exclusively for Washington University students.

Program Director: Vincent Jouane (vjouane@wustl.edu)

Dates

Departure from US: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Arrival Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG): Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Departure from Paris CDG and arrival in US: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Students may return home for a long summer or elect to extend their stay in Europe.

Course of Study

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The Paris Institute curriculum consists of one 3-credit course that may be counted as elective credit for the major or minor in French. Students who have completed French 102, 203 and/or 204 will enroll in French 202. Students who have completed French 307 or any other 300-level Course will enroll in French 353. For both groups of students the course of study consists of three modules: French Language; Parisian Culture; and The Photo Essay. Daily classes focus on language acquisition through a series of inventive stories about Paris that students read, discuss/perform, and extend in their compositions. Lessons will incorporate information about architectural gems (Notre Dame), art history (Louvre and the Orsay, which houses the impressionists), commerce (fashion and design); ecology (parks and other green spaces); engineering (the bridges over the Seine, the métro); gastronomy (the great French culinary tradition and its modern innovations), history (celebrated sites such as Notre Dame, the Bastille, the Place des Vosges, the Sorbonne), and urban planning (the different areas of Paris known as arrondissements). Students will supplement what they learn for class and during group excursions with their own explorations of Paris. They will record their impressions of the city in a photo essay that spans the full duration of the program.

Location

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Our Paris location is the FIAP- Jean Monnet, 30 rue Cabanis, in the 14th arrondissement (see www.fiap-paris.org). The FIAP is an international youth center in the heart of Paris. Our Institute students will be housed in double rooms with en suite bathrooms. Classes will take place each morning in a classroom at the FIAP. Students will take breakfast and dinner (demi-pension) in the FIAP cafeteria. For lunch, students will be on their own to have a crêpe or sandwich; to select a bread from a boulangerie and sample different cheeses from a fromagerie; or to explore the aisles of the supermarkets for the same and more. Occasionally, students may choose to splurge, but experience shows that whatever their appetites, they will enjoy the freedom of choice and the opportunity to sample foods in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Travel Component

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The program includes an optional mid-week travel "weekend" to any French-speaking destination. Students who are interested will check out of their rooms at the FIAP on Friday, May 30th for an after-class departure and they will return on Sunday, June 1st. There are no limits for this travel experience other than that the student's own curiosity and budget. Most students will take advantage of the opportunity to see more of France (the beaches of Arcachon, La Rochelle, Nice, or, for different reasons, Normandy!; the châteaux of the Loire Valley; the cities of Aix, Avignon, Bordeaux, or Strasbourg; the magical Mont St. Michel). Some will plan to see French-speaking European cities located within two or three hours by train (Brussels, Geneva, etc.). Students will be encouraged to plan their travel with friends from the Institute. During past summer institutes, the independent travel has been a consistent highlight for our students, allowing them to completely immerse in the culture and to gain confidence traveling on their own in a different country.

Costs

Tuition, room, board (demi-pension) for all days in residence at the FIAP, and 3 WU academic credits: $5,505 (includes health insuranc coverage)
Plane fare: estimate $1,600 but students will need to check with the airlines
Estimated meals and in-country transportation: $500 - $700, depending on student's choices & optional travel weekend
Not included: souvenirs and personal expenses are not part of the program
Students will need a camera and a computer.

Qualifications

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In addition to having taken at least one, and preferably two French courses 102-300 level Courses during the 2024-2025 academic year, students should have an enthusiasm for Paris, including different aspects of the city's cultural life; be intellectually curious about what makes the city special for its citizens as well as foreigners; be eager to expand their spoken and written French; be able to contribute to the group experience; be self-directed and eager to explore the city in ways that enrich them. Priority will be given to students with a strong academic record who speak (enthusiastically and convincingly!) to these points in their application and during their interviews.

How to Apply

To apply, please go to Overseas Programs

Spanish Summer Institute

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The Spanish Language Institute in Madrid will be taking place in Summer 2025! The projected dates for the 2025 Spanish Language Institute are from May 11 to June 17, 2025.

Washington University's Summer Language Institute in Spain is a dynamic, intensive program in Spanish language and culture offering full immersion for approximately 6 weeks in Madrid and other areas of Spain. It is designed to accelerate the language acquisition process of intermediate students in Spanish and to introduce them to the experience of life in this modern European country with its very unique history and traditions. This program is intended to meet the needs of students from all areas of the university, including those who aspire to study business, social sciences, or humanities eventually at advanced levels in a Spanish-speaking country (for example, WU's programs in Spain or Chile) and wish to achieve skill levels rapidly. It is also intended for students at intermediate levels of the language who wish to attain a functional proficiency level and first-hand experience with Hispanic culture but have major requirements that do not permit them to be absent from campus for a full academic semester or year (including particularly students from preprofessional and natural science disciplines). The program is exclusively for Washington University students.