Summer Abroad in Compiegne
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College of General Studies Summer Study Abroad
Penn Summer Abroad Application
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Nestled in a national forest of incomparable beauty, Compiegne is located roughly 50 miles north of Paris and 48 minutes away by express train.The hunting grounds of the kings of France since the 8th century until the 19th, from Charlemagne until the demise of the French monarchy, Compiegne is an interesting spot from which to observe all of French history. Compiegne was extremely important to Joan of Arc, to Napoleon and to Napoleon III and in the history of the two World Wars. The town and the region are ideally situated for exploring the Gothic cathedrals in nearby Paris, Senlis, Amiens, Beauvais, Reims and Noyon as well as the whole region of Picardy and the city of Paris. Compiegne is also home to one of the largest classical chateaux in France, to one of the most prestigious engineering institutions in France, the Universite de Technologie de Compiegne and to a population of roughly 50,000 people.
2008 Program Dates
Study Program : May 26 - July 3, 2008
Internship: July 7 - July 19, 2008
Language Immersion
Penn-in-Compiegne is a total language immersion program open to students who have completed French 140 or the equivalent of two years of College French. This is a small program which cannot exceed 15 students and usually averages about 10. Classes are held twice for 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day, four days per week, in the Universite de Technologie de Compiegne where the American students can interact with the French students to exercise their French. Class attendance is mandatory. Our French director, Mme Behin, makes every effort to encourage social interaction between the American and French students..
Courses ( 6 weeks)
The Penn-in -Compiegne program offers two courses for credit taught in French:
In addition to the courses there is a short, two-week, unpaid internship in French banks such as the Credit Agricole or Societe Generale, or in governmental offices such as the Mayor's Office, the Sous-Prefecture, and depending on availability, other cultural as well as commercial institutions. The directors of the Penn in Compiegne assign the internships to the students.
Students live with families from Compiegne and are integrated into family life. The students usually have breakfast and dinner with their families and are free to travel on weekends. Most of the families participating in the program know one another and some have links in some way to the University. This creates a nice esprit de corps among students and families and the town of Compiegne.
Several group outings are planned both with families and without. Excursions are of two types: cultural/historical and course-related.
Cultural/Historical
Typically, students will visit the town of Compiegne, its exquisite chateau, its theater, a medieval cloister, and the wagon de l'Armistice where the peace treaty that ended World War I was signed. In past years, trips have been organized around the various Gothic cathedral towns such as Beauvais, Reims, Saint-Denis and Amiens.
Course-Related
In the context of the Corporate Organization and French Society course, students will visit three to five different headquarters of French companies located near Compiegne where they will observe the French workplace first-hand. These trips may include visits to Pommery Champagne cellars in Reims; Poclain Hydraulics near Compiegne; Findus frozen foods in Beauvais; and Courrier Picard, the regional newspaper based in Amiens.
For those who like the great outdoors there are numerous opportunities for hiking, cycling and horseback riding in the national forest of Compiegne. In addition, there are many tennis courts in the city of Compiegne and a public swimming pool. Golf enthusiasts may make arrangements to enjoy the golf club of Compiegne.
Compiegne's weather is temperate all year around but also rather maritime. In summer, the weather can range from about 55F to 80F in the same day. If the sun shines, it is warm. Otherwise, the air is cool. Rain gear is a must as are layers of clothing. Homes are not heated as they are in the U.S. and students must be prepared for colder indoor temperatures both in their homes and in the University classrooms.
These vary according to students' individual circumstances. ATM cards and credit cards work well everywhere in France. During the week, the biggest expense is lunch which may be consumed in a student cafeteria or in a more expensive dining room which is cafeteria-style and where many university professors and employees eat. Tickets to the cafeteria may be purchased in the university. Students can also go to a boulangerie or patisserie and buy the delicious French equivalent of fast food, an individual pizza or baguette with ham, salami or cheese. Personal budgets vary according to the amount of travel one does. Train travel is reasonable for students.
Students must make their own arrangements for travel to and from Paris. However, a meeting time and place is arranged at DeGaulle-Roissy airport for pickup to take the group to Compiegne. Mme Behin, our French director from the UTC meets the group and takes students directly to their host families. There is no individual transportation for students who do not arrange to meet the group. Trains leave from DeGaulle into Paris' Gare du Nord from which trains to Compiegne leave very frequently, and students who do not travel to Compiegne with the group may arrive in Compiegne by train.
The cost for plane travel to Paris varies according to the type of ticket, the duration of stay and other factors.
Download the Penn Summer Abroad application.
For additional information, please contact:
Flora Cornfield
The College of Arts and Sciences
University of Pennsylvania
120 Logan Hall, 249 South 36 St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6304
fcornfie@sas.upenn.edu, (215) 898-6341
or
Penn Summer Abroad
College of General Studies
University of Pennsylvania
3440 Market Street, Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335
summerabroad@sas.upenn.edu,
(215) 898-7326