Placement is determined by an examination given on arrival in Paris regardless of previous French study. Due to the number of courses available, students should realize some timetable conflicts may be unavoidable. All students must take a cours pratique (French 101, 151, 201, 301 or 401). Attendance is mandatory.
Morning French language classes
| French Language | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 101 (3) (5) |
| Course Title: | Beginner French: Cours Pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| A cours pratique concentrates on acquisition of vocabulary, grammar, oral comprehension and written and spoken expression. Instruction is in groups according to ability. Suitable for absolute beginners or for students with some high school French. Class is held 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Additional hours of phonetics: 4-week session, 10 hours; 6-week session, 15 hours are required. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 101 (6) (10) |
| Course Title: | Intensive Beginner French: Cours Pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| Intensive introductory course. Meets 5 hours a day, Monday through Friday, with daily homework assignments. Instruction is under the supervision of specialist professors, consisting of a combination of language lab work, drills, grammar, vocabulary, conversation and dictation. A supplementary fee for this course of approximately $550 (4-week program) or $750 (6-week program) is payable to the Resident Director in Paris once enrollment is confirmed. The workload is such that students electing it should try not to take other courses for credit. Although designed for beginners, it is intensive and demanding. Students with some prior knowledge of French may enroll. Due to class times, students electing to take this intensive course forfeit the majority of afternoon cultural activities. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 151 (3) (5) |
| Course Title: | Elementary French: Cours Pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| Suitable for absolute beginners or for students with some high school French. Class is held 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Additional hours of phonetics: 4-week session, 10 hours; 6-week session, 15 hours are required. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 151 (6) (10) |
| Course Title: | Intensive Elementary French: Cours Pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| Intensive introductory course. Meets 5 hours a day, Monday through Friday, with daily homework assignments. Instruction is under the supervision of specialist professors, consisting of a combination of language lab work, drills, grammar, vocabulary, conversation and dictation. A supplementary fee for this course of approximately $550 (4-week program) or $750 (6-week program) is payable to the Resident Director in Paris once enrollment is confirmed. The workload is such that students electing it should try not to take other courses for credit. Although designed for beginners, it is intensive and demanding. Students with some prior knowledge of French may enroll. Due to class times, students electing to take this intensive course forfeit the majority of afternoon cultural activities. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 201 (3) (5) |
| Course Title: | Intermediate French: Cours pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| Suitable for students who have mastered the elementary level. Stress on formal grammar. Examples of varying French styles used to improve awareness of idiom. Held 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Additional hours of phonetics: 4-week session, 10 hours; 6-week session, 15 hours are required. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 201 (6) (10) |
| Course Title: | Intensive Intermediate French: Cours pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| This intensive course meets 5 hours a day, Monday through Friday, morning and afternoon, with daily homework assignments. Instruction is under the supervision of specialist professors, consisting of a combination of language lab work, drills, grammar, vocabulary, conversation and dictation. The workload is such that students electing it should not take other courses for credit. The course is intensive and demanding. Due to class times, students taking this course generally miss the majority of afternoon cultural excursions, and non-credit optional courses (cuisine, wine). A supplementary fee for this course-4 weeks, approximately $550; 6 weeks, approximately $750-is payable to the AIFS Resident Director in Paris once enrollment is confirmed. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 301 (3) (5) |
| Course Title: | Advanced French I: Cours pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| Aspects of language and style, text analysis and dissertation. Language laboratory study is required. Classes are given at both 301 and 401 levels. Held 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Additional hours of phonetics: 4-week session, 10 hours; 6-week session, 15 hours are required. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 401 (3) (5) |
| Course Title: | Advanced French II: Cours pratique |
| Course Description: | |
| Aspects of language and style, text analysis and dissertation. Language laboratory study is required. Classes are given at both 301 and 401 levels. Held 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. Additional hours of phonetics: 4-week session, 10 hours; 6-week session, 15 hours are required. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 152/202/302/402 (1) (1) |
| Course Title: | Conversation |
| Course Description: | |
| Designed to improve fluency in speaking. Classes begin after placement in a cours pratique. Meets 10 hours total. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 507 (2) |
| Course Title: | Teaching French as a Second Language: Orientations actuelles de la didactique du Français, langue étrangère (in July) |
| Course Description: | |
| The linguistic aspect of teaching French as a foreign language. Taught in French for professors of French at the University level. | |
Afternoon classes (taught in French)
Students enrolled in a cours pratique on the AIFS program may enroll in two special seminars conducted by the Sorbonne for AIFS students. Since they are taught in French, students need to place at the high intermediate level or above to enroll. Once enrolled, attendance is required. Minimum enrollment of 15 students required. These seminars meet for a total of 20 hours during the month of July only.
| Afternoon classes | |
| Course Code and Credits: | French 303 (2) |
| Course Title: | French Civilization Seminar |
| Course Description: | |
| This interdisciplinary seminar in French examines the social and intellectual history of France as reflected in literature and art from the French Revolution to the present. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Art History 304 (2) |
| Course Title: | Paris: Its Architecture and History |
| Course Description: | |
| Paris still dominates France in nearly every aspect—political, sociological, administrative, financial, commercial, educational and artistic. This course in French examines how a small island at the intersection of two trade routes developed into one of the world’s finest capitals. Influence of military topography and 19th century planning are discussed, as are environmental problems besetting the city. About one-third of the class is devoted to visits illustrating points raised in the seminar. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Conférences |
| Course Title: | French Civilization Lectures: Conférences |
| Course Description: | |
| Students enrolled in Intermediate or Advanced French (French 201, 301 or 401) may attend a number of lectures given in French by eminent lecturers. Topics covered include literature, art, economic and social problems, geography and history. The lectures consider the nature of French civilization and the contribution of the French to the Western cultural heritage. Students may attend any or all of the 9 hours of lectures given each week. Homework is not required and there are no examinations. Students desiring credit for these courses are advised to make prior arrangements with their home institutions. | |
Afternoon classes (taught in English)
An additional, optional course is offered at the Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises (ILCF). ILCF, part of the Institut Catholique de Paris, is a private University recognized by the French Ministry of Higher Education. Students should confirm with home institutions whether transfer credit is allowed from private educational institutions.
| Afternoon classes | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Fine Arts 101 (1) |
| Course Title: | Aspects of French Fashion and Design |
| Course Description: | |
| Introduces French fashion: the history and theory of fashion and design. The class may make several course related visits to fashion museums and boutiques. Taught in English, it meets 15 hours (total). Minimum enrollment of 12. Fees of approximately €220 are payable on arrival in Paris. | |
Other courses (taught in English)
In addition to courses for formal academic credit, AIFS offers these non-credit options in the afternoon or evening.
| Non-credit enrichment courses | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Non-credit |
| Course Title: | French Cuisine |
| Course Description: | |
| This course gives students the chance to get first hand experience of French cooking, both in the kitchen and around the table, enjoying the fruits of their labours together at the end of each session.Taught by experienced chefs and passionate cooks, students will learn how to blend the sauces and select the fresh produce that have made French cuisine an art of worldwide acclaim.The course is taught in English and recipes are provided. Fee of approximately 220 euros is payable on arrival. Minimum enrolment of 6 students required. | |
| Course Code and Credits: | Non-credit |
| Course Title: | French Wine |
| Course Description: | |
| This course introduces students to the art of wine-making, covering its history and the development of France's extensive wine laws and teaching some of the key techniques used in the appreciation and analysis of fine wines. Students are provided with a bilingual manual to accompany them in their studies and will consider how regional foods and wines have become an integral part of French culture. The course is taught in English. Fee of approximately 100 euros is payable on arrival. Minimum enrolment of 12 students required. | |
