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FRANCE, Perpignan
Perpignan, the sunniest city of France, multi-cultural and friendly. Salvador Dali said: Welcome to the "Center of the World"
Choosing Perpignan to learn French is a unique chance to live in a city in Southern France taking advantage, at the same time, of the proximity of Spain and Barcelona.
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French course of 15 group lessons per week, option business, option sport, conversation classes.
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Tuition Programs
- 1 lesson: 60 minutes
- Minimum age: 18
- Schedule: 9AM to 12PM
- Maximum 12 students per class
- All levels available
- Test and certificate of attendance
- You will be able to practice many sports as horseback riding, golf, sailing, tennis, swimming, ...
- Option business: SEE BELOW
- Option sport: SEE BELOW
- Self teaching sessions at the lab everyday with free access to: 10 IBM PC's with French software/Internet/Email services
- Extra activities organized by the school some free of charge, others with small extra cost.
- Airport transfer at arrival.
- Welcome party.
- 1 afternoon outgoing per week in Perpignan (entrance included)
- During summer time, afternoon at the beach
(free ride once a week) and 1 week-end in a French family (non compulsory)
- French Conversation classes
scheduled on MONDAYS and THURSDAYS : 4 - 6 PM, 4 lessons per week. To be added to a regular course program.
Party at school
UPON REQUEST
Academic semester: 4 months tuition.
Academic year: 8 months tuition.
Academic year starting September 13th, 2010 to May 25, 2011
Academic semester starting January 25 till June 5th, 2010.
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Starting Dates
2 weeks sessions starting dates:
January: 4, 18.
February: 1, 15
March : 1, 15, 29.
April: 12, 26.
May: 10, 24.
JUNE : 7, 21.
JULY : 5, 19.
AUGUST : 2, 16, 30.
SEPTEMBER : 13, 27.
October: 11, 25.
November: 8, 22.
December: 6, 13.
4 weeks sessions starting dates:
All year round. Every Monday. During summer time, on the following dates.
Closing Dates.
| April |
May |
July |
Août |
November |
| 2,5 |
1,8 |
14 |
15 |
11 |
The school will also be closed from December 17th to
January 3rd, 2011.
Options available
- The school proposes to its students an optional auto-formatted preparation assisted by a French teacher of the French exams DELF and DALF, delivered by the French Ministry of Education. A very good level of French is required, as well as enrollment for two semesters, eight months from October to May.
DELF “Diplomes d’Etudes en Langue Francaise” or DALF “Diplome Approfondi en Langue Francaise” preparation program: 8 months required.
- The school also proposes to its students an auto-formatted preparation assisted by a teacher who gives the TEF exam at the Alliance Francaise. An intermediate level of French is required, as well as enrollment in the program for one semester, either 4 months in the spring or fall.
The French Evaluation Test or test d’Evaluation de Francais or TEF.
- Our prices are available from January 1st to December 31, 2010. These prices never include the plane ticket.
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Located in the center of the city of Perpignan, a short distance away from the railway station - the « center of the World » according to the famous painter Salvador Dali -, the premises of the school occupy a mansion of the beginning of the last century that was renovated in order to offer students all facilities of a modern school, quite near the lodgings they occupy.
Bright and comfortable course rooms, a friendly library full of books and newspapers at students’ full disposal, a computer science and languages laboratory composed of 15 IBM PCs connected to the Internet over a high-speed connection, laser and inkjet color printers, everything totally free service, a multimedia center with camcorder, big screen TV, DVD, a cafeteria open at any time, and a charming garden planted with trees.
Costs
Prices are in Euros (€). Please convert into Canadian dollars when final payment is made. Thank you.
Currency Converter
| Program / week * |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Add. month |
| 15 lessons |
330€ |
650€ |
975€ |
835€ |
| 15 lessons + option business |
- |
- |
1199€ |
1099€ |
| 15 lessons + option sports |
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- |
1529€ |
1299€ |
| FRENCH CONVERSATION CLASSES |
8 lessons: 150€
16 lessons: 250€
32 lessons: 350€
40 lessons: 450€ |
* During June, July, August and September, 50 Euros additional per week except French conversation classes.
   
 
Option business:
Based on the original teaching methods used by the Academy, the objective of this training module is to teach to an audience composed of foreigners the essential principles of written and oral expression that will permit them to evolve in a French-speaking environment.
This combined program allows the student to complete his stay by an internship at a French company.
> Its duration is fixed at 4 weeks, of which :
- 3 weeks of courses and practical learning at the rate of a minimum of 16 hours per week
- 1 week at the end of the stay reserved for a full-time internship at a company. Students will be offered internships without pay at a company in Perpignan or its environs for a period of 1 week. Before the internship period, the Academy will offer students a selection of companies, operating substantially on an international level, among which they will make their choice and to which they will submit their applications according to French rules of drawing up of Curriculum Vitae and job interviewing. Should the company offer so, students can even prolong this internship period by a period of remunerated employment beyond the scheduled dates of the stay. All insurance formalities are covered by the Academy. Before they depart for their internship location, supplementary Business French courses will be given to students who will choose this option.
Option sport:
Based on the original teaching methods used by the Academy, the objective of this training module is to teach to an audience composed of foreigners the essential principles of written and oral expression that will permit them to evolve in a French-speaking environment.
This combined program allows the student to complete his stay by a intensive sport practice. They can choose between golf, sailing or equitation (horse riding).
> Its duration is fixed at 4 weeks, of which :
- 3 weeks of courses and practical learning at the rate of a minimum of 16 hours per week
- 1 week at the end of the stay reserved for an intensive practice course of the chosen sport.
Students who will choose this option will do an intensive practice course of their favorite sport (golf, sailing or equitation) within the Academy’s sports facilities located in Saint-Cyprien, along the seaside.
During the first weeks of the stay, before the intensive practice, students will be able to practice their sport once a week.
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Special Events : Festivals, Concerts and Theatre..
All year long the various touristic sites offer music festivals, exhibitions and all kinds of cultural events.
A lot of concerts are organized in Perpignan and on the beaches: pop, rock, salsa, techno, jazz, blues, latino…
According to the season, the city and the villages bordering the sea or the mountain are livened up by traditional events : Grape Harvesting, Christmas scene and chorals, Sanch Procession, Corridas, a multitude of festivals about bears, witches, cherries, markets of foie gras, truffles, local wines, new Beaujolais, farm products…
In the south, everything is an excuse for celebration !
Some big events :
Perpignan’s wide selection of festivities, cultural and musical entertainments have a distinctly southern feel.
“La Sanch” at Easter
The Good Friday procession is an emblematic sacred fete, a poignant and spectacular parade of black-robed Penitent Brotherhoods chanting solemnly. This procession celebrates the Passion of Christ and crosses the city over several hours before returning in Sant Jaume. Since 1416, the brotherhood had the role of assisting the condemned to death.
“La Saint-Jean” in June
A midsummer celebration symbolising the reappearance of life, La Saint-Jean features bonfires at the foot of the city’s main monuments, which illuminate the town.
“La Sant Jordi” in June
Lovers’ day in Catalonia celebrates the Patron Saint and protector of the Catalans Saint Georges.
"Les Estivales" in July
Based on various Mediterranean cultures and featuring theatre, dance, music and song, Les Estivales is a must. The event was created in 1987 and is marked by its anchoring in the South and the Mediterranean. The content of the event is characterised by co-productions from these cultures either in regard to themes or the participant artists. Les Estivales
“Les Jeudis de Perpignan” in July
Every Thursday since 1995 during summer evenings, musicians and theatrical companies have entertained locals and visitors with performances in the streets of Perpignan. Local artists as well as national or international companies come together in a vibrant and eclectic mix of entertainment.
In August : Pablo Casals festival in Prades, Les Méditerranéennes festival of Argelès-sur-Mer, for listen all type of musics
“Visa pour l’Image” in beginning of September
With this event, Perpignan becomes the world capital of photojournalism every year, from late August to early September. Reporters and journalists come from everywhere in the world to meet and develop their business. Another opportunity to discover the world. Visa pour l'image
In October : JazZebre, jazz, blues and salsa festival, and Yda y vuelta for lovers of latin music.
All over the year :
- El Mediator and La Casa Musicale : concert Halls for pop, rock, salsa, techno,...
- Boîte à Clous : concerts, varieties, humour and comedy by the famoust French artists
- Mega Castillet et Mega CGR : leisure and movie big theaters
Historic Sites
Founded by the Romans, then capital of the Kingdom of Majorca that included the islands of Majorca, Montpellier and Sicily, Perpignan is a city rich of history and of traditions. Although it became French based on the signing of the Pyrenees Treaty in 1659, the region has managed to preserve its natural and historic environment.
Departing from Perpignan and within a 2-hour trip, it is possible to get access to almost 30 historic sites in the area and get completely absorbed in French and Catalan culture. The Academy offers throughout the stay days of visits with the teachers in order to discover the culture and the history of France.
> Castles and fortresses of the medieval era: Villefranche, Mont-louis, Castelnou, Carcassonne, Collioure, Salses, Fort Lagarde, Palais des Rois de Majorque, Châteaux Cathares... veritable fortified places built to protect their wealth and still standing up !
> Abbeys and cloisters built in the 11th and 12th century in the plain and in the Pyrenees: Abbaye de Saint Martin du Canigou, Saint Michel de Cuxa (with a famous copy in New York), Arles sur Tech, Serrabonne, Fontfroide, Cloître d’Elne, Prieuré de Marcevol, Hospice d’Ille sur Têt... keepers of the faith and incredible testimony of the cultural wealth of the times !
> Cities of art and of history of the region, deserving to be explored in order to discover their architectural diversity and their Southern soul: Perpignan the Catalan, Montpellier the regional capital of Languedoc Roussillon, Toulouse the pink city, Barcelona the eccentric !
> Important cultural sites : Tautavel where the skull of the oldest European was found; Collioure and Céret that inspired Picasso, Matisse, Derain and Chagall; the Surrealism Museum of Salvador Dali , the Little Yellow Train climbing up toward the Pyrenees...
Finally, the region has numerous regional natural parks : in the Pyrenees but also in the sea. Pedestrian or underwater treks are possible all year long and give access to a fauna and a flora still almost intact.
This department is one of the sunniest of France, and, moreover, it is not affected by pollution: agriculture and tourism have managed to preserve the beauty and colors of these landscapes. More and more Europeans discover the region and decide by the way to settle there because of the quality of the living environment.
City information
"Perpignan, the Catalane"
Founded by the Romans, and ancient capital of the Kingdom of Majorca, this city renowned for its extraordinary climate, its palm tree lined squares and its sunny terraces will enchant you by its untarnished Mediterranean charm.
Located some 30 km away from Spain, Perpignan is actually the gateway to Spain, directed toward Barcelona, its Catalan cousin, washed by the Mediterranean Sea in the immediate vicinity and protected by the Pyrenees mountain chain. French for more than 3 centuries, the city has managed to keep its traditions, and enrich itself from the widening of Europe.
Studying in Perpignan
In Perpignan, 1 out of 10 inhabitants is a student, the cultural life is very rich there and thanks to its exceptional geographic position, all kinds of sports and tourism activities are within arm’s reach. The different immersion programs offered will permit you to have an exceptional experience: improve your French whatever your level, absorb French way of life, and take advantage of the proximity of Spain to discover Barcelona.
The Academie de Langues France Mediterranée organizes all through the stay touristic visits but also intensive practice courses of golf, sailing or equitation in order to take advantage of the fantastic natural environment of the region. According to the seasons and in their free time, students can easily go to the beach, go skiing in the Pyrenees, spend the day in Spain or Montpellier. This stay in Perpignan, at the crossroad of the south European route, will let you have an unforgettable experience.
 Where the new city and the old city meet you can see Le Castillet. A large part of this handsome brick chateau that was once a gateway to the city, then a state prison, was built in the late 14th century. Louis XI transformed it and added the present Notre-Dame gateway during the French occupation. Its elongated machicolations, its pink dome on the pinnacle give it a unique, almost Oriental, air amidst the French military architecture. It houses the fascinating museum of Roussillon folk arts and traditions, called the "Casa Pairal".
 Built in two parts, in the 14th and 18th centuries, St Jacques Church comprises two apses. Its only nave houses a number of magnificent Catalan-style altarpieces. 14th century entrance porch. Stunning Catalan-style gardens. Behind the church is the garden of La Miranda built on the remains of Medieval fortifications. This church is the starting point on Good Friday for the stunning procession of La Sanch (Precious Blood procession), similar to the "Holy Week" procession in Seville.
 Set in the very heart of the citadel, this is the most important monument in Perpignan and one of the most remarkable examples of Medieval civil and military architecture in the Midi. It was built from 1276 to accommodate the court of Jacques 1st of Majorca. The latter major works were carried out here by their successors, the Kings of Aragon.
Perpignan weather
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