What language class choices do I have?
You may select from either :- The Institut Catholique language program, including 15 hours of instruction PER WEEK for four weeks at all levels—beginning to advanced
- OR
- The Survival French program with 30 hours of instruction (approximately 3 weeks) at the elementary or intermediate level
How large are the classes?
At the Institut, classes are 12 to 22 students; The Survival French is usually 6 to 12 students for the language class and about 20-30 students for the culture class.
When do classes take place?
At the Institut Catholique, classes are Monday through Friday 9-12. Classes last for the entire month of July.
In Survival French, classes are held in the mornings. Your first class may begin at 8:30 or 9:30 and your last class will end at 11:30 or 12:30. Survival French classes last for the first three weeks of July.
When do we have the civilization lectures, museum visits and walking tours?
Most of the lectures, visits and walking tours will take place on weekday afternoons. Times will be posted daily at each dorm.
What are my housing options?
Single rooms (for one person) and twin rooms (for two people) are available. Bathrooms may be private or shared. See here for more information. Not all dorms have elevators, so be prepared to climb several flights of stairs (this is good incentive to pack lightly!)
How much is airfare?
You must book and pay for your airfare separately. Airfare prices change constantly. ESA has a group rate available from LAX and from San Francisco. Students on the group flight will be met at the Paris airport and escorted to the dorms. If you arrange your own flight, we advise pre-arranging a shuttle from the airport to the dorms. If you arrive in Paris before July 1 or plan on staying after July 30, you will need to make your own lodging arrangements. No dorm facilities will be available.
In Paris, how do we get around?
You’ll be given a bus/metro pass for July so you can get anywhere within the city limits of Paris for free!
What are the advantages of this program over others?
Inclusiveness: all the activities on the calendar are included in the fee. Quality: small classes, faculty attention, attention to detail, knowledge and experience of the faculty Location: in the heart of the heart of Paris, just a few blocks from the Luxembourg Gardens. Great price: programs offered by other U.S. universities can cost more than twice as much but without all of the activities included in ESA.
How many people are in the program?
There are generally between 70-90 participants plus faculty in the summer program.
How old are the participants?
Past ESA participants have been between 17 and 85 years old. There's something for everybody!
How much free time will I have?
In general, most evenings are free, as well as at least one afternoon per week and one day on most weekends. At the end of July, during the "free" weekend, you can choose to explore Paris on your own, join an optional ESA excursion, or stay in Paris to explore more and watch the last stage of the Tour de France as the cyclists arrive on the Champs-Elysées.