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About Excel
Paris/Provence:
Discover the heart and
soul of France through detailed, field-based seminars
exploring its rich history, art, and cultural traditions.
Based in the vibrant university town of Aix-en-Provence and
in central Paris, students immerse
 themselves in past and
current French culture, surrounded by impressive
architecture, renowned artwork, and glorious landscapes.
There are field visits to Versailles, Chartres, St. Rémy-de-Provence,
Avignon, Nîmes, and more. Whether you are a student of
French wishing to refine your language skills, someone who
is intrigued by the history or present political role of
France, or someone pursuing foreign study as a way to
prepare for college, ready yourself to go beyond the
superficial and really understand France. Excel
Paris/Provence combines an exploration of French history and
culture through hands-on learning with an opportunity for
those who wish to further their fluency in French. Some
seminars prepare students for college with materials taught
in English, while others explore the treasures of French
culture in French. Either way, students find themselves in
the field, exploring Provence, one of France’s most
evocative regions, and Paris, one of the world’s great
cultural centers. Together, the natural beauty of Provence
and the monuments of Paris make an inspiring and exciting
classroom for this program.
Aix-en-Provence and Paris:
The program begins with two weeks in Aix-en-Provence, a
dynamic university town nestled between the small hill
villages of the Lubéron to the north, and the dramatic
cliffs of the Mediterranean coast to the south. While its
elegant squares and tree-lined avenues speak of its history,
Aix is known as a cultural hub; it has several impressive
museums, and is home to a world famous opera and summer
music festival. It is the birthplace of Paul Cézanne, and is
a short hop from Van Gogh and Gauguin’s home in Arles.
Students stay in the centre ville, within walking distance
of town squares, outdoor markets, museums and the cafés of
the Cours Mirabeau. The relaxed, southern atmosphere of Aix
is a great introduction to French culture and people;
students have the chance to get to know each other and form
a close-knit community before moving on to Paris for two
weeks. In Paris, the group stays in the center of the city,
near Île Saint-Louis. Seminars meet at the facilities of
Middlebury College’s School in France, located off the wide,
shaded boulevards surrounding L’Eglise Madeleine. The center
is well-equipped with computers, a small library, and
sophisticated video equipment. It is the perfect jumping off
point for visits to the Musée d’Orsay, Montmartre, and the
Champs- Elysées, to name only a few. Middlebury is not in
session in the summer, and the Excel Paris/Provence program
has exclusive use of its facilities.
A Typical Day
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to top)
After rising and eating breakfast with classmates and
instructors, students break into their class groups for the
morning. The Art History as Autobiography course may meet
briefly in a seminar room to look at slides of the works
they are about to see before setting out for the Musée
d’Orsay, the French History class may head to the top of the
Arc de Triomphe for a discussion of the victorious battles
depicted on its flanks, and the Creative Writing class may
visit a sunny café on the Cours Mirabeau to work on their
latest piece. Classes focus on in-depth exploration of Aix,
Paris, and the cities and villages within easy reach.
Classes break for lunch, when students have the opportunity
to explore some of the local restaurants and cafés in small
groups, then resume in the afternoon for continued
exploration or discussion. After class, students and staff
work together to plan afternoon activities such as biking
near Mont Sainte-Victoire, a trip to the Musée Marmottan in
Paris, a traditional tea at a famous teahouse, or a game of
pétanque in the Luxembourg Gardens. The entire group gathers
for a daily community meeting before dinner. Evening
activities include trips to the theatre, opera or ballet,
film nights, and coffeehouses. (back to top)
Excursions
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Excursions provide
Excel students with the opportunity to visit some of
France’s more remote but vital historical and cultural
landmarks. While these trips change from year to year,
students may spend a day hiking and canyoning through the
Gorges du Verdon, swimming at the foot of the Pont du Gard,
or visiting the beautiful coves tucked in among the cliffs
of the Calanques. From Paris, it’s only a short trip to
Normandy for the weekend. Students visit the small museum
that houses the Bayeux tapestry, and make a trip to Omaha
Beach and the American Cemetery before retiring to a
beautiful, idyllic château south of Deauville. (back to top)
Courses
of Study
Taught by energetic,
highly qualified instructors, courses at Excel
Paris/Provence are designed to take optimal advantage of the
rich milieu of historic and modern France, while at the same
time adhering to Excel’s standards of academic excellence,
innovation, and fun. All students choose one major course
and one minor course, both of which they follow throughout
the program–from Aix-en-Provence to Paris. Major courses
meet three days per week; minor courses meet two days per
week. Courses are dynamic and intensive, limited in size
following the college seminar format, and have a significant
field component.
Excel
Paris/Provence Courses of Study
Major
Courses
Art History as
Autobiography
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Can we learn about an artist’s work by studying his life?
Students in this Art History course take advantage of their
surroundings to investigate the life and work of Picasso,
Monet, Gauguin, Cézanne, and Van Gogh. Aix-en-Provence is
the birthplace of Cézanne, and students can visit his
virtually untouched studio. The cobble-stoned streets of
Arles, where Gauguin and Van Gogh lived in an apartment
atelier, as well as the sleepy town of St. Rémy de Provence,
where Van Gogh spent his final years in an asylum, are only
a short hop away. In Paris, students can see some of the
principal works of these artistic luminaries at the Picasso
Museum, Musée d’Orsay, and the Louvre. Through readings,
careful contemplation of paintings and sketches, and ongoing
immersion in the environs so influential in these artists’
life and work, students not only learn about the great
masters but also gain key insights into a critical era in
European art history.
Creative Writing
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Follow in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott
Fitzgerald, Samuel Beckett, and a host of French masters by
allowing the magic of France to inspire some of your best
work. In this intensive writing workshop, students hone
their skills by studying the fundamentals of creative
writing, with a special emphasis on exploration in a foreign
setting. The focus of this workshop is students’ own poetry,
fiction, memoir/non-fiction, and journal writings, which are
discussed in an open and constructive manner in class. Class
time is spent exploring the urban and rural settings in and
around Provence and Paris, or taking time to ponder a
landscape, seek out interesting characters, or sit in a café
to write and discuss literature. Short reading assignments
help students address specific writing issues, and include a
selection of contemporary and classic authors. For their
final project, students write and present a fully-developed
story, essay, or series of poems based on their experiences
in France.
Drawing and Painting
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Where better to study art than in Paris, the romantic and
picturesque epicenter of Western artistic development?
Designed for both experienced artists and beginners, this
course takes students out of the studio into the field to
sketch with watercolor, pencil, or charcoal. As a complement
to the specific and interactive instruction, students find
inspiration in fields of lavender and sunflowers, rows of
olive and almond trees, and the master works of Cézanne and
Gauguin. The streets of Aix are dotted with small yet
impressive museums and gardens such as those at the Pavillon
Vendôme that provide excellent spots to practice the
techniques taught in class. Models abound in Paris’ many
museums–the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Centre Georges Pompidou,
Picasso Museum, Centre Salvador Dalí - and students attempt
to capture the renowned views from the bridges along the
Seine or from the steps of the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre.
Students show their work in an exhibition at the end of the
program. Students must provide
their own art supplies.
Intermediate French: Life and Culture*
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Designed for students
with one to three years of high school French, this
field-based course allows students to use France as their
classroom in their quest to improve their comprehension and
spoken command of the language. The limited class size
allows instructors to identify weak or underdeveloped areas
in students’ knowledge; customized field exercises help
students to improve in those areas. Participants also spend
time exploring France’s dynamic and exciting contemporary
cultural scene, conducting field-based inquiries into the
country’s societal makeup, youth culture, film and media,
music, dance, and cuisine. Students are required to speak
French while in class, and choose collectively either an
independent study research topic in French life or culture,
or a class project reflecting their interests and work
accomplished during the program. Final projects are
presented during the last week of the program.
Advanced French: Life and Culture*
(back to course list)
Designed for students with at least three years of high
school French or the equivalent, this language immersion
seminar focuses on group and individual field work,
complemented by extensive, seminar-style discussions on
French culture, literature, history, and the contemporary
scene. Through readings, films, interviews, and field
visits, students penetrate the heart of this fascinating and
diverse country. Since all discussion and most readings are
in French, students are expected to have advanced
comprehension and speaking ability.
Note that placement in Intermediate or
Advanced French will be determined based on assessments
during the first days of the program.
International Relations
The EU, France and French Foreign Policy:
(back to course list) As Europe moves from monetary to
political unification, it becomes an undeniable powerhouse
on the international scene. This course examines the larger
issues of the European Union by focusing on France’s
political and economic systems, its leaders, and its
relations with its neighbors and the United States. Field
visits to the Hôtel de Ville in Aix-en-Provence, la Bourse
or le Sénat in Paris, or a newspaper give students insight
into the major political and economic institutions of
France. Discussions with members of the diplomatic community
and day-to-day coverage of the French media complement
films, readings, and debates.
France in Focus: Travel Photography (Major)
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In this course, students learn how to use their cameras as
tools to explore new environments and document their
experiences. Through reviewing other photographers’ work,
class assignments, and critiques, students expand their
understanding of photography and develop the visual and
technical skills for capturing the essence of the people and
places that they encounter. By the end of the course,
students have created a dynamic body of work that goes
beyond the typical postcard shot and photographs of travel
companions. In order to best take advantage of the
inspirational surroundings, emphasis is placed on field work
and shooting techniques, rather than digital image
manipulation. Students must provide
their own digital camera with a pixel depth of at least 3
megapixels. There is a supplemental fee of $250 for this
course.
Minor
Courses
Intermediate French: French Cuisine and Culinary Arts*
(back to course list)
French Cuisine and
Culinary Arts France prides itself on its refined and
delectable cuisine; after taking a bite of roasted duck,
enjoying a warm goat cheese salad, or devouring a molten
chocolate cake, one cannot help but agree. However, as any
Frenchman will tell you, the dishes are only a part of the
French culinary experience. Each region of France is famous
for its own specialty, usually a product of the region’s own
climate, history, and customs. In this course, designed for
students with two or more years of French, the focus goes
beyond the study of French language to the origin of these
specialties, parallels between food and art, and the
importance of quality and flavor. In addition to short
readings and class discussions in French, students attend
two full-day cooking workshops, visit the famous vegetable
and fruit markets of Paris and Aix-en-Provence, interview an
artisanal chocolatier, and consider the role of family-run
dairies. There is a supplemental
fee of $250. Note: This is not a traditional cooking class,
but a multi-faceted exploration of French cuisine and
language. Students are required to speak French in class.
Conversational French
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Designed to maintain and improve existing conversational
skills, this course offers a series of informal discussions,
drills, and field exercises in French. Students must have
taken at least one year of high school French or the
equivalent. Note: Because of time constraints, students
wishing for more significant progress in language
acquisition should either take a major course in French or
consider Putney’s Language Learning program in France.
World War
II and the French Resistance
(back to course list) In
1940, Maréchal Pétain signed an armistice with Nazi Germany,
agreeing to collaborate in exchange for bringing peace to
his war-ravaged nation. Some of the many French citizens who
opposed collaboration formed the legendary Resistance
movement. Whether by distributing underground newspapers,
bombing German convoys, or staging peaceful protests, the
Resistance served notice to the Vichy régime and the Nazi
occupiers that freedom and democracy are at the core of
French national identity. In this course, students study the
role of France in World War II, discover the varied
character of different chapters of the Resistance, and
discuss and understand the measures taken by both the Vichy
régime and the Resistance. Field visits include excursions
to the beaches of Normandy, the Musée de L’Armée in Paris,
the American Cemetery, and a WWII internment camp.
History of Fashion
Design
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France has long been recognized as a leader in fashion. From
the established, iconic fashion houses to the young
designers opening boutiques in the Marais District, fashion
design has proven to be an art form that continually
reinvents and revitalizes itself. In this course, students
draw upon the fashion history of France to communicate
design concepts in clothing with style and expression, as
well as to consider the social and cultural implications of
fashion. Readings and discussions complement visits to a
Provençal textile mill, the Yves Saint Laurent Foundation,
and a designers’ studio. Inspired by past masters and
today’s innovators, students sketch their own designs,
choosing one piece to present at a culminating fashion show.
Students are responsible for purchasing extra materials for
their designs.
Architecture
through the Ages
(back to course list) Using the many stunning examples
of Roman, Gothic, and contemporary architecture in France as
points of departure, this course introduces students to the
major currents of French architectural history and provides
insight into the societies that produced them. Through a
series of field visits and informal discussions, students
observe some of the finest examples of architecture in the
world–le théâtre antique d’Arles, le Panthéon, le château de
Versailles, la Tour Eiffel, l’Arc de la Défense–and consider
what these works tell us about the people who built them.
France in Focus: Travel Photography (Minor):
(back to course list)
In this course, students learn how to use their cameras as
tools to explore new environments and document their
experiences. Through reviewing other photographers’ work,
class assignments, and critiques, students expand their
understanding of photography and develop the visual and
technical skills for capturing the essence of the people and
places that they encounter. By the end of the course,
students have created a dynamic body of work that goes
beyond the typical postcard shot and photographs of travel
companions. In order to best take advantage of the
inspirational surroundings, emphasis is placed on field work
and shooting techniques, rather than digital image
manipulation. Students must provide
their own digital camera with a pixel depth of at least 3
megapixels. There is a supplemental fee of $150 for this
course.
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