After arriving in Aix-en-Provence, students take a placement exam to determine their level for that semester. Students are assigned to the Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, or Superior level. Classes are broken down by language level.

Academic Year and Semester Terms

Students generally earn 17 credits per semester session.

Beginner

The Débutants level is for students with little or no prior French study. Students will take French language course (156 contact hours) along with a phonetics class (26 contact hours). In addition, students will choose 3 electives (26 hours each). Beginner electives are offered in business French vocabulary, cinema, culture, poetry, rhythm and intonation, and a writing workshop.

Intermediate

The Moyens level is for students possessing a basic grammatical and linguistic understanding, who need to further their comprehension and expression abilities. The intermediate level is divided into low and high intermediate, depending on the results of the placement exam. Students will take French language course (156 contact hours) along with a phonetics class (26 contact hours), plus choose either a translation or a writing class (26 contact hours each). In addition, students will choose 2 electives (26 contact hours each) in literature, history, political science, culture, and more.

Advanced

At the Avancés level, students take a French language course (130 contact hours) along with a phonetics class (26 contact hours), plus choose either a translation or writing techniques class (26 contact hours each). In addition, students will choose 3 electives in theater, political science, business French, literature, art history, and communication.

Superior

At the Confirmés level, students take one French language course (130 contact hours) and 5 electives (26 contact hours each). Electives are offered in literature, cinema, political science, history, art history, translation, and more.

Summer Terms

Students generally earn 5 credits per summer session. No electives are taught during the summer. Classes meet 4 hours/day, in the morning, Monday-Friday, for a total of 80 hours/session.

Beginner

The Débutants level is for students with little or no prior French study. The course focuses on deveoping comprehension and expression using such tools as audio-visual materials and speaking and listening exercises. The goal of this course is to give students a capacity in written and spoken French.

Intermediate

The Moyens level is for students possessing a basic grammatical and linguistic understanding, who need to further their comprehension and expression abilities. The course aims to give students strong vocabulary abilities, and an understanding of grammatical structures and morphology. The course emphasizes written and oral expression, especially when discussing and analyzing texts. Laboratory sessions may also be organized.

Advanced

At the Avancés level, students improve oral and written fluency. The course studies the French language through tenses, syntax, and various language types. It emphasizes structural exercises in vocabulary, grammar, writing, and analysis. The course will also study current events so as to give students a better understanding of France. Laboratory sessions may also be organized.