Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Service Learning in Paris

Cultural Immersion through Community Service
Paris, France

		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
John Nissen, Director
P.O. Box 1212
Manchester, Vermont 05254-1212
802-362-5855 (telephone and fax)
http://www.study-serve.org
E-mail: iss@study-serve.org

Type of Program: Community service, academic study, and language intensive
Participants: Coeducational, international, from age 16
Enrollment: 40 or more
Program Dates: July 2–31, 2008
Head of Program: John Nissen, Director

Location

The 2008 Service Learning in Paris program is its tenth summer. The program is based in the 15th arrondissement.

Background and Philosophy

The International Seminar Series’ (ISS) vision is to give thoughtful and accomplished young people an opportunity for immersion in another culture through active participation in community service work and focused study. Daily, ongoing service projects distinguish this program from the more usual study-and-travel approach to summer programs. From this engagement, each participant can derive richness of experience, depth of understanding, and reflective interaction with a greater world.

Program Offerings

Community Service Participation in Community Service is at the core of the program. For the entire month, students explore the everyday aspects of contemporary French culture through direct participation in it, offering assistance to a specific community outside their own and carefully considering what the offering and receipt of such assistance can mean. Students work 3 to 4 hours a day, five days a week, during their month in Paris. Assignments with established organizations are made according to the student’s interest and experience, the skills required by the organization, and the student’s ability in French. Specific activities vary according to the needs of the organization.
The Intellectual Engagement The seminar is the academic complement to community service work. It gives grounding to the students’ daily experience as they work and go about Paris. The goal is to understand the city and its people through study, observation, and interaction. For their academic class, students choose one course—Art and Architecture (in English or French), French Politics and History, or Writing and Literature.
French Language Use and Instruction Students speak and study French from the first day. They are tested and grouped into four sections, from beginners (no previous experience in French) to advanced (mostly students who have taken or will be taking Advanced Placement French). Class size does not exceed 10. The emphasis of the work is oral expression. Speaking French outside academic classes is the norm—at meals, in the office, and in daily conversation.
Study Travel and Cultural Explorations During the month, a significant amount of time is devoted to visiting traditional places such as Chartres, Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, and sites that are more closely related to the work done in Community Service and the seminar. Modern Paris is defined as much by its new towns and ethnic suburbs as by the Champs Elysées.

Facilities

Students and staff members are housed in the Foyer, a residence hall complex in the 15th arrondissement, with dining facilities and classrooms. Breakfast and dinner are provided each day. Students are responsible for their own lunches. Many share a meal with people at the Community Service site. Others may buy the quintessential baguette and cheese sandwich at a patisserie or meet friends for an inexpensive plat du jour at local restaurants. Students are also able and encouraged to use the kitchen at the Foyer.

Staff

Faculty and staff members are thoughtful, experienced teachers drawn from Paris and elsewhere. They teach individual courses, oversee community service work, and conduct study travel, but they also act as mentors to the students and links to the community beyond. Faculty and staff members work hard in helping students become thoughtful observers and active participants in the larger host culture. During the winter, they work collaboratively to develop the content of the program.

Costs

The program fee for 2008 is $7000, which includes a $50 application fee and a $1500 enrollment deposit. Additional expenses to be anticipated are transportation to and from Paris, lunch costs, and personal expenses for laundry, individual purchases, and other incidentals.

Financial Aid

A modest amount of need-based financial aid is available. A separate application is sent on request.

Transportation

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Paris. They are met at their point-of-arrival airport, train station, or bus terminal and accompanied to the seminar housing site. The procedure is reversed on departure.

Application Timetable

Students must complete a formal application (either on paper or through the ISS Web site) and submit transcripts and teacher or counselor recommendations. Admission is selective and places are limited. The recommended deadline is April 15, and students are encouraged to apply early.