Vicky Marambio, Intern at EGAM, Fall 2013
The School in France has always encouraged students in Bordeaux, Paris and Poitiers to immerse themselves entirely in the French language and culture and has strived to provide as many integration opportunities and strategies as possible to its students. As of fall semester 2014-15, we are taking this immersion philosophy one step further and requiring all students to engage in at least one service learning activity, such as an academic internship or volunteer work, during their stay in France. Student clubs and French language conversation partnerships will continue to offer students additional opportunities for community involvement, but a regular and meaningful engagement in a French workplace, either as an intern or as a volunteer, will only increase our students’ interaction with the French and contribute to a greater cross-cultural understanding and improved linguistic proficiency.
For more information regarding this requirement, please contact Susan Parsons (sparsons@middlebury.edu) at the Office of International Programs and Off Campus Study in Vermont, Pamela Ellayah (pellayah@middlebury.edu) in Paris, and/or Sandra Gaborit (sgaborit@middlebury.edu) in Bordeaux (for all students either in Bordeaux or Poitiers).