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GAP YEAR PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME "ANNEE SABBATIQUE"

"a programme that enables students to enhance their French language proficiency in a professional context"
BLS BORDEAUX BLS BIARRITZ
  • Lessons: 20 French lessons per week for 12 weeks followed by 2 months internship with a French company
  • Levels: elementary to advanced, equivalent at least to level A1 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference (see levels)
  • Course begins: every Monday (see dates)
  • Timetable: 9.30 to 12.45 with a 15 minute break, Monday to Friday
  • Internship: the trainee’s schedule is defined by the host company
  • Duration: 3 months lessons + 2 months company internship (see dates)
This programme offers students aged 18+ the opportunity to experience full immersion into the French way of life through school, company and family life and to achieve fluency in French and develop an awareness of French culture.

The programme is available for beginner through to advanced level. Students experience studying French for 3 months at BLS followed by a minimum of 2 months internship training with a French company. We assist and monitor the student’s academic progress and personal welfare throughout their stay.
Price
2009
2200€ (including internship placement fee)
+ enrolment fee = 75€
+ accommodation
ENROLMENT FEE

75€ per person
This fee includes: booking paperwork, test corrections, welcome pack, teaching material (articles, literature, novels, cassettes), borrowed textbooks, individual tuition counseling, accommodation assistance, organisation of cultural, leisure and social activities, certificates, etc.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1) Participants must be aged between 18 to 28 and have completed secondary school.
2) Participant must exercise responsible conduct throughout the programme.
3) Participants must respect the company’s rules and regulations.
4) Attendance is mandatory unless prior agreement is given by B.L.S or by the company supervisor.
5) Participants are under jurisdiction of French laws throughout the programme.
6) Participants must notify B.L.S of any serious medical problem during and prior to the programme.
7) In the case where B.L.S cannot offer the initial chosen field, the participants must stipulate an alternative field of placement.

A participant who does not comply with the above rules of behaviour will receive a warning. If the person continues to violate the rules then he/she will be dismissed from the programme and sent home at his/her own expense and will not be entitled to a refund.
CANCELLATION FEES & REFUNDS

More than 4 weeks prior to arrival: 75€
Between 2-4 weeks prior to arrival:225€
Less than 2 weeks prior to arrival: 450€
(cancellation fees can be credited to a future session)

BLS reserves the right to cancel a course which does not attain a sufficient number of participants. If a compromise can not be reached, BLS agrees to reimburse the full amount of fees paid to BLS by the student.

Without prior approval from BLS, participants who attend a course but do not finish it will not be entitled to a refund. BLS will also retain the cost of one week's host family, hotel or BLS Residence accommodation.

 

Internship objectives

  • develop students’ proficiency in French in a professional context
  • gain cross-cultural experience and explore the different aspects of French professional life
  • gain experience in a professional field

General French course objectives and methodology

  • the practice of spoken French in communicative situations and a cultural approach to the language
  • development of linguistic proficiency (written and oral expression / written and oral comprehension / interpersonal communication)
  • communicative methods combining individual development and group dynamics (group work, role plays, etc.)

Groups

  • single-level groups, 8 to 12* (Bordeaux) or 14* (Biarritz) students maximum, ensure easy participation and a true group dynamic as well as individual attention from the teacher
    *Occasionally, this number may be exceeded by 1 or 2 due to an unforeseen student placement

Teaching aids

Dates 2009

BORDEAUX

  • Course start dates
    (elementary to advanced levels)
  • every Monday
  • School closure 2009
  • 13/04; 01/05; 08/05;
    21/05; 01/06; 14/07; 11/11/2009;
    20/12/2009 - 04/01/2010

BIARRITZ

  • Course start dates
    (elementary to advanced levels)
  • every Monday
  • School closure 2009
  • 31/10/2008 - 30/03/2009
  • 13/04; 01/05; 08/05; 21/05; 01/06; 14/07;
    30/10/2009 - 29/03/2010

Accommodation

  • We recommend that all students following the Gap Year Programme select our Host Family Accommodation. This is a very important factor, which is why we rigorously select the host family to ensure total immersion. The student is immediately treated as a family member. Each student fills out an extensive dossier which enables us to match a suitable host family, taking into account their age, background, personality and general interests, etc. In this way the student successfully integrates into the host family where a friendly rapport is established. It is often an opportunity for the students to make new friendships which will continue long after they leave.
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