« L' intensif »
6 hours of structured courses and 7 hours of informal practice every day.
3 3/4 hours of courses in the morning and 2 1/4 hours of linguistic
workshops in the afternoon, plus free time to relax or study.
« A la carte »
3 3/4 hours of structured courses and 9 hours of informal practice every day.
3 3/4 hours of courses in the morning and a wide range of activities to
enable you to discover Provence : cultural visits, excursions, outdoor
activities and social visits, accompanied by the teaching staff.
One or two weeks ?
How to choose : 1, 2 weeks or more in April, June, July, August and September.
Option « Le français professionnel »
4 hours of courses each week.
Option « Provence-Plus » pendant le weekend
Add
an extra dimension to the your stay : 'Aix-Cézanne', 'Aventure-Verdon',
'The Avignon Festival' , 'Sur les traces de Pagnol', 'Randonnée',
'Gastronomie' or 'Chez l'artiste'. (Please refer to dates to see which
ones can be combined with your course)
download brochure for more détails
« L’INTENSIF » de la conversation à la discussion
3
3/4 hours of courses in the morning and 2 1/4 hours of theme-based
workshops in the afternoon in small groups (3 maximum 6 people). 7
hours of informal practice every day.
|
|
|
Who is this for ?
This is
the option for those people who want to continue with structured study
of French during the afternoons as well as the mornings. All levels but
beginners.
Mornings
Three and three-quarter hours of structured teaching
in small groups of people at your own level (3 maximum 6 people),
including :
- Various activities and scenarios to enable you to learn how to
express yourself with fluency in everyday situations or in the
workplace environment.
- Practice in French grammatical concepts, through oral and written exercises and through activities and games
- A focus on current affairs and French culture, through the use of
press articles and recordings, in order to enrich your vocabulary,
improve your comprehension and stimulate discussion.
- 'Mini workshops' at the end of the morning session, which you can
choose to reflect your personal interests or needs : these
include revision of verb forms, listening to radio transmissions
or watching TV programmes, exercises to improve your written French,
debates, and pronunciation practice.
Afternoons
Afternoons classes will help you get to know
different aspects of French culture, to help you express yourself more
skillfully and to give you the ability to take part in discussions in
French with more confidence.
Some examples of afternoon theme-based workshops
- « La presse ». A selection of articles on issues of the day, summarising, presenting the arguments, discussion and debate.
- « Le français au quotidien » . Vocabulary ; learning ways to use the
language in concrete everyday situations, for example in restaurants,
when shopping, at the doctor's, on the telephone, and when using the
internet.
« Paroles de Provence » . Discovering French authors by studying
short extracts from their works ; reading, creative writing, and a
short 'literary stroll'.
- « Compréhension orale » . Listening to interviews,
conversations, speeches and songs; discussion on themes raised.
Other examples include 'la grammaire par le jeu','société française
actuelle”, ”expression théâtrale” - and much more. Each year we
introduce new workshops. Each course participant will be able to
find workshops which relate to their own interests and their own level
of proficiency in French.
Free time
Before
and after the tutored sessions you will have time both to study and to
relax. You'll be able to go for walks or borrow our bikes. You
could take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool. We also arrange
regularly to drive you to the neighbouring village. The teaching
staff will willingly give you information and, if necessary, ideas to
help you make the most of your free time. Detailed maps are
available.
Evening
After
the evening meal, if you are so inclined, you'll be able to join in a
wide range of activities. You can try out your ability at
petanque in the nearby village square, take part in an impromtu concert
in the courtyard of the monastery, join local people for the dancing at
festivals or fetes, or settle down to watch a French film. Our
team will be there with you, too, enjoying these moments of informality
and encouraging you to carry on speaking French.
Option « Le français professionnel »
Weekend options « Provence-Plus »
|
Who is this for ?
This
option is designed particularly for people who want to learn to
communicate in French in more informal ways, whilst at the same time
maximising the chance to enjoy all that Provence can offer. All levels
but beginners.
Mornings
Three and three-quarter hours of
structured teaching in small groups of people at your own level (3
maximum 6 people), including :
- Various activities and scenarios to enable you to learn how to
express yourself with fluency in everyday situations or in the
workplace environment.
- Practice in French grammatical concepts, through oral and written exercises and through activities and games
- A focus on current affairs and French culture, through the use of
press articles and recordings, in order to enrich your vocabulary,
improve your comprehension and stimulate discussion.
- 'Mini workshops' at the end of the morning session, which you can
chose to reflect your personal interests or needs : these include
revision of verb forms, listening to radio transmissions or
watching TV programmes, exercises to improve your written French,
debates, and pronunciation practice.
Afternoons "à la carte"
Afternoons
will allow you to practise your French in real-life situations and to
enable you to discover this region of France which is so special to us,
so that your language course will also be an unforgettable holiday.
Some examples of "à la carte" afternoon activities
-
« Truffes » . Meet a truffle producer to find out the secrets of 'black
gold' ; visit his oak plantation ; followed by a tasting
session
- « Canoë » . Paddle the peaceful waters of the Verdon river in
canoes, and admire the magnificent scenery of the Verdon gorges.
- « Visite de l'Occitane » . A guided visit to the factory of the well-known natural cosmetics company, located at Manosque.
- « Randonnée » . Walk through the fields from the monastery to arrive at the town of Moustiers-Ste-Marie.
And also : bike and horse riding, learn engraving techniques from a
local artist, discover our regional wines with a wine expert.
There are plenty of choices !
Evening
After
the evening meal, if you are so inclined, you'll be able to join in a
wide range of activities. You can try out your ability at
petanque in the nearby village square, take part in an impromtu concert
in the courtyard of the monastery, join local people for the dancing at
festivals or fetes, or settle down to watch a French film. Our
team will be there with you, too, enjoying these moments of informality
and encouraging you to carry on speaking French.
Option « Le français professionnel »
Option « Provence-Plus » pendant le weekend
|
|
ONE WEEK OR TWO ?
Two-week courses
Two weeks is the ideal period of time to get the most from your total immersion in French.
Two weeks at CREA-LANGUES allows you the time to adapt to a new environment and to deepen or refresh your knowledge of French.
You'll be able at your own pace to put into practice what you learn,
both during the structured courses and during the other activities we
arrange. You'll have the time to find your feet, to understand
French better and better, to gain in confidence and to improve
permanently your skill-level in the language.
Weekend
The middle Saturday is given over to a day
excursion (accompanied by a member of the teaching staff). Typically
this may be a trip to Aix-en-Provence, a day's walking in the
countryside, or an opportunity to visit the attractive villages of the
Luberon. Sunday is free time, when you can relax, enjoy short
walks or bike rides, or of course spend time studying in preparation
for the second week.
You can also choose the optional "Provence Plus"
weekend programme, to add another element to your time at CREA-LANGUES.
These full weekends, under the guidance of a member of our team, allow
you to participate in cultural, artistic or outdoor activities.
One week courses
This
may be the option for you if time is tight and you need to work on your
French intensively or polish up an already good level of the
language. You'll be able to practise actively what you already
understand passively to enjoy again the pleasure of learning
French. Perhaps too this will stimulate you to decide to come
back again for a longer stay.
You can opt to stay on for the weekend Provence Plus programme, a day
and a half spent with a member of the CREA-LANGUES team enjoying the
many delights of Provence. This will give you further opportunity
to immerse yourself in the language.
Possibility to combine two consecutive courses.
OPTION: « Le français professionnel»
4 hours of courses each week, for one or two participants
This programme is designed to deepen your knowledge of vocabulary
used in a business context (including general, social and economic
terms) and to teach you how to deal with particular situations, for
example when introducing your business or organisation, when giving
your opinion and when taking part in a discussion. There are practical
opportunities to put what you learn directly into practice, through
simulations tailored to your professional circumstances.
The very small class sizes mean that we can offer you
personalised teaching, using appropriate teaching aids : audiovisual
and internet material, press material and business documents.
Choice of study topics : communication in the workplace (written
communications, the mail), the company, using the telephone, sales,
negotiations, employment, meetings, banking.
  
|
OPTION« Provence-Plus » weekend-programme
The
Provence Plus weekend optional programme adds an extra dimension to
your stay, allowing you to spend Saturday and Sunday away from the
centre enjoying cultural or outdoor activities, in the company of a
member of the CREA-LANGUES team. The Provence Plus option takes place
in the middle weekend of two-week courses and at the end of one-week
courses (Check the dates for details).
Aix - Cézanne
Aix-en-Provence
is the birthplace of the impressionist painter Paul Cezanne.
You'll be able to discover his home city, visit the Granet museum and
steep yourself in the landscapes around Aix which inspired him.
There will be opportunity also just to spend time relaxing in this fine
city, Saturday night is spent at a hotel in Aix.
|
|
Aventure Verdon
Canyoning,
rafting, kayaking, abseiling: if you're keen on sport and like
the adrenalin buzz of new experiences, take up the challenge offered in
the Verdon. You will be accompanied by a professional guide who
will take you into the many deep canyons and gorges of the Verdon
river. (Individual activities may be dependent on weather and river
conditions). Saturday night is spent in a guest house or under
the stars.
|
|
Le Festival d'Avignon
In
Provence the summer period is also the time of many festivals.
Avignon's is one of the most prestigious, renowned for its theatre and
dance performances. Hundreds of events are in the festival
programme, with street entertainment laid on in the city's shady
squares and alleyways. During this time the city where, in
mediaeval times, the Popes had their residence, has a unique
atmosphere. This is not to be missed if you enjoy culture and the
arts festival experience. Friday and Saturday nights at a hotel
in Avignon.
|
 |
Sur les traces de Pagnol
This
is the opportunity to get to know that part of Provence which inspired
the writer Marcel Pagnol, author of Jean de Florette, Manon des Sources
and many other books which have been made into films, and a native of
the region. Our 'literary excursion' will take you to many of the
places featured in his stories and films, including the back-country of
Aubagne and Cassis and the old port of Marseille. There'll be the
chance to explore the creeks along the Mediterranean coast and to take
some appropriate 'pauses gourmandes' at meal-times. Saturday
night in a hotel in the picturesque port of Cassis.
|
|
Randonnée
We'll
take you out to walk the footpaths which snake their way across the
countryside of high Provence. This isn't a strenuous hike, just a
chance to enjoy the pleasure of discovering countryside whose beauty
will take your breath away, of savouring the scents of wild rosemary,
lavender and thyme, and afterwards of settling down with a
refreshing drink on the terrace of a cafe in a typical Provencal
village, just by the village fountain. Saturday night is in a small
country hotel.
|
|
Gastronomie
We
invite you to discover Provencal cuisine, with all its rich flavours
and scents. The monastery garden provides the delicious
home-grown produce, and our "chef" Christan will reveal to you the ways in which
these can be transformed into tempting dishes. We'll discuss what
makes for healthy food, we'll visit local producers and will drop in at
a nearby market. We will also visit the delightful house in the
middle of an olive grove which is home to Maryse, who will have a
traditional dinner for you to enjoy, washed down with regional
wines. A treat for both eyes and palate.
|
|
Chez l'artiste
Marie-Odile
Savigny, a potter and engraver, will welcome you to her farm workshops,
in the heart of the Provencal countryside. You'll try out simple
techniques and will very quickly be introduced to the skills of graphic
design, the use of colour and of light and shade. Whatever your
artistic experience, this workshop will bring out your
creativity. You'll share an informal meal with the artist.
|
|
|
