Program Details
| Program Length | Start | End | Price | Age on Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | July | $73,800 | 15-17.11 |
The artistic, intellectual, political and financial capital of France is Paris. It is known as the City of Light.
But Paris does not hold the monopoly on grandeur for France, as all of the regions have their own special appeal. Some places are full of historic churches and castles and they combine to create the richness that is France.
The temperate climate in France varies within regions; from the West and the semi-continental areas with mild temperatures during winter and warmer summers, the Mediterranean which is very warm and dry during the summer and very mild in the winter to the Alps with cool summer and cold winters.
AFS in France
In France, AFS has been operating since 1947, when the first exchanges took place between France and the United States.
Host Schools
School is compulsory until 16 years of age. It comprises Kindergarten (ages 3 years to 6 years), Lower School (6 to 11), Middle School (11 to 15) and High School (15 to 18) finishing with the final exam known as Baccalaureat.
The French school system is extremely demanding, starting at 8:00 am and finishing at 5:00 pm with classes of 55 minutes. The pupil/teacher relationship is quite formal. Most schools are public and co-educational. The school year commences in September and finishes at the end of June. Generally, vacations are in October, December, February/March and April/May.
Host Families
When French people meet, they shake hands or kiss on the cheeks. Members of French families show their affection by kissing each other in the morning to say hello or in the evening to say goodnight.
French cooking is renown all over the world. Each region of France has its own specialties. Dinner is the most important meal in the French family, where the family can discuss what they have done during the day. Days of celebrations or holidays are opportunities for big and leisurely meals for the whole family.
Many families have pets. Usually a cat or dog, the pet is considered to be part of the family.
For the official website of AFS France, please refer to the front page.
