Tours: Discover the Loire Valley of France
The city of Tours, situated along the banks of the Loire River, has been described as having the lively, cosmopolitan air of a miniature Paris. Only an hour by train from Paris, Tours attracts visitors with its wide 18th-century avenues, its many parks and formal gardens, café-lined boulevards, and thriving university.
All students who successfully complete the program will receive 9 hours of credit. More advanced students who have already completed the language requirement can earn credit toward the major or minor in French by completing intensive advanced intermediate conversation and grammar training along with a FRH 216 course in francophone literature and culture.
Summer Session I: May 25-July 6, 2025 (May 24 is the scheduled departure date from the U.S; on-site program will begin May 26, 2024) |
| Overview |
The city of Tours, situated along the banks of the Loire River, has been described as having the lively, cosmopolitan air of a miniature Paris. Only an hour by train from Paris, Tours attracts visitors with its wide avenues, many parks and formal gardens, café-lined boulevards, and thriving university.
All students who successfully complete the program will receive 9 hours of credit. Coursework for beginning and intermediate students fulfills the Wake Forest Basic Language Requirement and allows students to hone their French language skills in an immersion setting. More advanced students who have already completed the language requirement can earn credit toward the major or minor in French by completing intensive advanced intermediate conversation and grammar training along with a FRH 216 course in francophone literature and culture.
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| Location |
The city of Tours, situated along the banks of the Loire River, has been described as having the lively, cosmopolitan air of a miniature Paris. Only an hour by train from Paris, Tours attracts visitors with its wide 18th-century avenues, its many parks and formal gardens, café-lined boulevards, and thriving university. Tours and the surrounding Loire Valley have played a major role in French history. Originally a Gallo-Roman settlement and later home to monks as well as to Medieval and Renaissance kings, the area has a rich spiritual and architectural legacy. While known for its physical beauty and temperate climate (74 F in June), Tours is also a center for sports with its own soccer club and cycling competitions, as well as opportunities for hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking. Visitors can visit the region by land, by boat or by balloon! A vibrant cultural center, Tours and nearby towns host jazz, rock, and classical music festivals in June. |
| Program |
All students who successfully complete the program will receive 9 hours of credit. Students can complete Wake Forest's basic language requirement in an immersion setting by taking intensive intermediate French concurrently with FRH 212. More advanced students who have already completed the language requirement can earn credit toward the major or minor in French by completing intensive advanced intermediate conversation and grammar training along with a FRH 216 course in francophone literature and culture; this program also includes weekly lectures by faculty specializing in history, gastronomy, business, political science, or literature. The intensive language courses will be taught by professors at the Institut de Touraine. FRH 212 and 216 will be taught by a Wake Forest professor. Depending on your level of French, your schedule will be one of the following:
Beginning to intermediate:
FRH 212: Exploring the French & Francophone World (3 hours)
FRH 520: Intensive Intermediate Language and Phonetics (6 hours)
Intermediate to advanced intermediate:
FRH 216: Studies in French & Francophone Literature & Culture (3 hours)
FRH 500: Intensive Advanced Intermediate Language and Phonetics (6 hours)
Itinerary:
Week 1: May 25-May 31:
Sunday, May 25 - Arrival in France, travel to Tours, and meet host families
Monday, May 26 - Classes begin at the Institut de Touraine
Tuesday, May 27 - WFU Courses FRH 212/216 begin
Saturday, June 30 - Tentative full day excursion
Week 2: June 1 - June 7:
Monday - Friday - Institut de Touraine & WFU classes
Wednesday, June 4 - Tentative half day excursion
Week 3: June 8 - June 14:
Tuesday - Friday - Institut de Touraine & WFU classes
Wednesday, June 11 - Tentative half day excursion
Saturday, June 14 - Tentative full day excursion
Week 4: June 15 - June 21:
Monday - Friday - Institut de Touraine & WFU classes
Wednesday, June 17 - Tentative half day excursion
Week 5: June 22 - June 28:
Monday - Friday - WFU classes
Trip to Paris: 3 days/2 nights - exact dates TBD
Week 6: June 29 - July 5:
Monday - Friday: WFU classes
Final Exam (FRH 212/216) - July 4
Program Departure: Sunday, July 6
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| Faculty |
2025 Faculty Director
Dr. Amanda Vincent
Associate Professor French Studies
E-mail: vincenas@wfu.edu
Phone: (336) 758-5000 |
| Accommodation |
Students will live with families in homestays. Placements will be arranged for students before arrival in Tours. Breakfast, dinner and laundry services will be provided by families and included in the program cost.
NOTE: All students participating in the WFU Tours program are required to live in program-provided housing. Housing accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available. |
| Excursions |
Previous excursions have included trips to Mont Saint Michel, Saint Malo, Paris, the Vouvray caverns and winery and the châteaux of the Loire Valley. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in boating, hiking, sports, and cultural activities organized by the Institut de Touraine. |
| Selection |
The faculty director is responsible for the selection of each group based on the following criteria:
- Academic suitability (2 semesters of French or FRH 113 is required)
- Social and emotional maturity
- Classification
- Seriousness of the student in pursuing the academic and cultural aims of the program
- Applicability of the program to the student's interests and studies.
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| Costs |
The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:
- Program Fee - Covers homestay accommodations, group travel/excursions, some meals, tuition for Institut de Touraine courses (6 credits), and other costs associated with the program.
- Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The current rate is $950 per hour (3 hours: FRH 212 or FRH 216).
- Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.
- Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students' spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.
Program Fee - $5,600 - Billed by WFU (dependent on number of participants)
Tuition (3 hrs) - $2,850 - Billed by WFU
Total Billed by WFU (estimated): $8,450 (estimated)
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Airfare (estimated) - $1,900 - Will vary lower or higher depending on type of ticket and from location
Personal Expenses (estimated) - $1,326 - Will vary lower or higher depending on spending habits of student
Total cost (estimated) - $11,676 (estimated) |
| Scholarships |
Scholarships are available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies
Scholarship deadline through Global Programs and Studies is February 1st, 2025. |
| Visa & Passport |
Passport Information
Students need to check their passport's expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program's end date.
Students going on a summer program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-February of the following year.
US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State's passport website for information on this process.
Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country's passport office.
Visa Information
If you are a US citizen, you will need to apply for the ETIAS visa. More information on how to apply for this visa will be made available closer to the program start date. |
| Contact |
2024 Faculty Director
Dr. Amanda Vincent
Associate Professor French Studies
E-mail: vincenas@wfu.edu
Phone: (336) 758-5000
Amanda Batten
Study Abroad Advisor
Center for Global Programs and Studies
336-758-3194
battena@wfu.edu |
| Testimonials |
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