API (Academic Programs International): Grenoble - Université des Alpes

The setting of this alpine city is what truly makes it unique. For a panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains, take a ride on the téléphérique, or cable car, to the Fort de la Bastille. From there, explore the hiking trails and the Grottes (caves) that were used as a defense many centuries ago. With a student population of 60,000, Grenoble is an ideal place to learn French. The slower pace of the city and the friendliness of the inhabitants make it easy to practice the language with locals. The city has several museums, numerous parks and plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, biking). For the avid traveler, Grenoble is an excellent starting point for exploration, situated only three hours from Paris by high speed train and very close to Switzerland and Italy.

Programs in Grenoble Includes:

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  Semester French Language and Culture Studies in the French Alps (Grenoble): This program is designed to help students who want to study abroad in Grenoble improve their written and spoken French (via grammar, vocabulary and language activities), as well as increase the students’ knowledge of various areas of French culture and civilization including: literature, history, cinema, arts, politics and economics, and business. API has included the European Framework language level designations on our website to help students estimate which level they might place into and to be aware of the levels that can appear on their transcript. Note: 4 years of high school French generally equals 1 semester of college level French. This program requires 3 semesters of college-level French or the equivalent. Depending on a student's language level, this program offers 18-20 US credits per semester. Students also have the unique opportunity to participate in a for-credit teaching internship. Students would be placed as an assistant in a middle school or pre-school, working with the local teacher and tutoring in the classroom. Students may choose this internship with or without credit but, if taken with credit, this course carries an additional fee. This opportunity is open to students at any level of French!

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  Semester Intensive French Language Studies in the French Alps: This intensive language program is available for students at all levels who wish to study abroad in Grenoble. All students complete a comprehensive French language course that focuses on writing, oral expression and pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Students spend three hours a day in class and one hour a day in the language lab. This equates to twenty hours a week, as classes are taught Monday through Friday. There are typically a maximum of sixteen people in each class. Attendance is required for all classes, impacting both the number of contact hours/credits received and the final grades. Level of French study is based on a placement exam administered upon arrival by the CUEF - Université des Alpes. Semester dependent, this program offers 14-21 US credits. Students also have the unique opportunity to participate in a for-credit teaching internship. Students would be placed as an assistant in a middle school or pre-school, working with the local teacher and tutoring in the classroom. Students may choose this internship with or without credit but, if taken with credit, this course carries an additional fee. This opportunity is open to students at any level of French!

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  Short-term Intensive French Language Studies in the French Alps  This intensive language program is designed for students at all levels who wish to study abroad in Grenoble. All students take a comprehensive French language course that focuses on writing, oral expression and pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Class sizes are no larger than sixteen students. Students receive a maximum of 5.33 credit hours per intensive month session. Students spend three hours a day in class and one hour a day in the language lab. This equates to twenty hours a week, as classes are taught Monday through Friday. There are typically a maximum of sixteen people in each class.  Attendance is required for all classes, impacting both the number of contact hours/credits received and the final grades. Level of French study is based on a placement exam administered upon arrival by the CUEF - Université des Alpes.

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  Summer Intensive French Language Studies in the French Alps: This intensive language program is designed for students at all levels who wish to study abroad in Grenoble. All students take a comprehensive course that covers writing, oral expression and pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Classes are no larger than 16 students. Students receive a maximum of 6 credit hours per intensive summer session. There are three hours of class work and one hour of lab each day for a total of twenty hours of class per week. Level of study is based on a placement exam administered upon arrival by the CUEF - Université des Alpes. Attendance is required for all classes and has a major impact on the final grades and the number of contact hours and credits received.

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  Summer French Language and Culture Studies in the French Alps: Students who wish to study abroad in Grenoble on API’s French Language and Culture Studies summer program will take approximately ten hours per week of language and ten hours per week of elective culture classes. This program requires a minimum two semesters of previous French language study. Students may earn a maximum of 90 contact hours (6 semester credits) per summer term. All students may choose two courses from the list of options. Options are subject to minimum enrollment. Level of study is based on a placement exam administered upon arrival by the CUEF - Université des Alpes. Attendance is required for all classes and has a major impact on the final grades and the number of contact hours and credits received.