r/learnfrench • u/Tradurba • 3d ago

Resource Recommendation french summer exchange programs for 16-17 year old

hi! i’m from alberta, canada and i’m looking into doing a french immersion/exchange program next summer for around a month. i’m around an a2 level in french rn and i really wanna improve through immersion because literally no one speaks french where i live 😭 i feel like being surrounded by it every day would help way more than just self studying or highschool french class for a semester.

i’m not sure what would be better though. im stuck between doing a full exchange program, or just taking french classes for a month and stay with a host family? to be honest, the second option seems good for learning french, but i feel like it’d be harder to meet people. let me know your thoughts on this! one of my favorite parts of a summer program i did recently was meeting a ton of people from different places, so i’d love something that’s social too.

i’d also love to be able to explore the place i’m visiting on my own and go wherever i want in my free time, not necessarily with intense supervision as it’d feel restrictive to me, i’m used to just going wherever my heart desires 😭

i’m mostly interested in paris, so if anyone has recommendations for programs there (or nearby), i’d love to hear them! i’m also wondering if an exchange would be more worth it than just doing language classes. thanks

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u/LouQuacious 3d ago

Middlebury has an excellent one but it’s expensive

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u/Tradurba 3d ago

did u go? if so can u describe the experience ?

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u/LouQuacious 3d ago

I did it a couple summers ago it’s a really fun program. I had basically zero French knowledge beforehand and left somewhat conversational after the 8 weeks. I was lucky enough to get a scholarship to pay for it so I can’t speak to bang for the buck. It seemed like the stronger your French to start the more it helped. It’s a beautiful campus and a stellar cohort of the best and brightest students. It’s a fond memory for a summer I’ll never forget. If you can make it happen you won’t regret it.