Studying in France and Canada
Studying in France and CanadaThere
is a range of possibilities for students
– internal and external - to study
in France or another French-speaking country
and, in most cases, to gain advanced standing
(credit) towards their degree. Academic year • Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Languages (BLang) degree have a compulsory academic year, normally between 200 and 300 level, in the country/countries of the language(s) they are studying (the ‘intercalary year’; UNE units OSLS 391 and OSLS 392). Those studying French are at present encouraged to attend one of two universities in France or one in French-speaking Canada with which UNE has formal exchange agreements: the Université d’Angers, in the city of Angers, at the western end of the Loire Valley 300 km south-west of Paris (www.univ-angers.fr), the Université Jean Monnet in the formerly industrial city of Saint-Etienne, near the other end of the long Loire river, some 60 km south-west of Lyon (www.univ-st-etienne.fr), or Université Laval in historic Quebec City (www.ulaval.ca). Advantages of such an arrangement include: a waiving of enrolment and tuition fees; priority access to university accommodation (hall of residence or student flat) which may be, in effect, unavailable to non-exchange students; and easier access to academic and other advice and support by virtue of the terms of the agreement. Further details are available from the French in-country coordinator. There is, of course, nothing to prevent BLang students enrolling at any other university in France, including its overseas departments and territories, or in another Francophone country (Belgium, Switzerland, French-speaking Canada and so on) and following a similar academic programme, subject to the prior agreement of the School. This is likely to be a more time-consuming and almost certainly more expensive option, but those interested are invited to consult French well in advance of intended departure. • Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Languages and International Business (BlangIntBus) degree spend a year in-country, the first semester studying at an exchange univeresity or other approved institution, the second undertaking a work placement (stage en entreprise). For the study semester, details apply as for the Bachelor of Languages, as they do for the four-year version of the Bachelor of International Studies (BintSt), which includes a compulsory intercalary year of in-country study. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and other single degrees not mentioned above, as well as those choosing combined and double degrees, are not obliged to spend a year studying overseas, but students majoring in French are able to follow a very similar programme to that of BLang students, since the exchange agreements apply university-wide. Subject to the approval of the relevant School(s), they may either enrol in the semester-long UNE units OSLS 391 Overseas Language Study 1 (French) and/or OSLS 392 Overseas Language Study 2 (French) or take a number of units in the French-speaking institution which, if passed, will count for subject-specific advanced standing (credit) towards their UNE degree. (Note that there may be implications for the award or continued payment of Austudy if less than a ‘full-time’ programme is undertaken). • Academic years in French-speaking countries in the northern hemisphere run from approximately late September to early June. Students going from Australia to France normally depart in mid-September (a little earlier for Quebec), sitting any UNE end-of-year exams externally at a local exam centre in November, although departure in January/February is also possible. There are academic, social and indeed financial advantages in following the French academic year rather than trying to impose an Australian pattern on your overseas language studies, especially since we recommend that, as far as possible, you follow the same units and courses as French-speaking students instead of enrolling in special, lower-level courses designed for foreign students (which means Americans and those of other nationalities for whom English is often the lingua franca). Semester For BA and other students, as well as for BLang students majoring in two languages and wishing to split the intercalary year between two countries, study during one of the semesters beginning in approximately late September (semester 1) and early/mid February (semester 2) is normally possible. Among the advantages of semester 1 over semester 2: you may have a wider subject choice, accommodation may be easier to secure at the beginning of the academic year than halfway through, and you will be able to join new groups of students rather than have to try to force your way in to settled friendships. Students intending to seek advanced standing after a semester’s study in France or Canada will need to undertake research prior to departure in order to identify suitable units. Months A huge range of language courses designed for foreigners of all levels of proficiency, from complete beginners at one end to teachers and academics seeking refresher courses or new specific skills at the other, is available in many university and other towns in France. Some of these last for a month or so, others for two or three weeks, while there are also longer programmes covering a term, semester or academic year. Among the best-known of the month-or-so courses are the various cours d’été, which means the northern hemisphere summer (June possibly, July, August and September). A common format is to have tuition in the morning, with excursions in the afternoon, and entertainment (cultural or otherwise) in the evenings. Costs include tuition for the period chosen and extras as described in individual brochures. Accommodation may or not be included but is always available, either on or off campus. Many of these cours de français langue étrangère (FLE) are run by recognised universities, sometimes in tourist resorts rather than their main base; others are proposed by commercial firms. UNE French regularly receives details of many of them: among the best are those run by the universities of Besançon and Caen, the Centre Audiovisuel de Royan pour l’Etude des Langues (CAREL), the Institut de Touraine in Tours, and CAVILAM in Vichy, which has a particularly good reputation. A useful repertory of the main providers and their offerings can be found at www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/education/langue_fr/fle/index.html Weeks • The organisations mentioned in the preceding section also run slightly shorter language or language/civilisation courses, of two or three weeks’ duration. A rather different format is offered by an organisation called CPEDERF (Centre Parisien d’Etudes et de Documentation pour l’Enseignement et le Rayonnement du Français; www.cpederf.com), set up in 1984 by a former UNE staff member, David Bancroft, and his French wife to provide all kinds of services to French departments in universities in English-speaking countries. They now offer two short programmes designed for Australasian students. The traditional one is a three-and-a-half week stage split between Paris (accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis in a student hostel) and the town of Nevers in northern Burgundy where the Bancrofts have their home (a week’s full board accommodation with local families). No language classes as such, but a wide range of programmed group and individual activities tailored to participants’ personal interests, with everything conducted in French. Specimen programme available. Highly recommended by previous students. Provisional enrolment required by 31 July for the following January. CPEDERF also offers an alternative January stage, incorporating elements of the traditional one (homestay and visits in Nevers, a short cultural programme in Paris) plus a two-week language course at CAVILAM in Vichy, the Auvergne spa-town an hour south of Nevers. Details available; provisional enrolment by 31 July. Students who satisfactorily complete the alternative stage can obtain the UNE 6 credit point unit ICLC 200 In-Country Langauge Course. •
A number of Australian universities organise
annual visits to New Caledonia, during
which students follow French language
courses at CREIPAC (Centre de Rencontres
et d’Echanges Internationaux du Pacifique)
in Nouméa (www.creipac.nc). These
séjours linguistiques, of two to
three weeks’ duration, in July or
November/December, may include homestays
or elements of civilisation. UNE students
are able to apply to join a group led
by another university or, subject to sufficient
interest, UNE could arrange a trip, perhaps
supported by another institution.
For
more information about study in France,
contact: • Dr Hilary Hutchinson, Telephone (02) 6773 2415. Facsimile (02) 6773 3735. E-mail: hhutchin@une.edu.au. (1 February to 30 September 2005). |