When I arrived
in France speaking only English,
I knew I had to learn some French as soon as possible. Dijon isn't Paris,
and not many French people are going to risk embarrassing themselves
with poor English pronunciation just to help you. If you want to help
dispel the ugly American sterotype, please try to learn some French
before you come. Get a book, or check out an on-line course to learn
the basics. Don't expect French people here to speak English for you!
Since I was going to be LIVING here, I needed more than the basics,
so I contacted the University in Dijon and received information on their
language program, CIEF. That's the International Center for French Studies.
Most students are college-aged, but if you haven't been in a classroom
awhile, you aren't looked at strangely because you enrolled to really
learn French, and not just to find out how people of other nationalites
kiss or how much foam a Dijon bar can make for the ever-popular "foam
night". Now, there is also the Alliance Francaise, where you can
take classes by the hour. But it is more expensive. CIEF is an intense
15-20 hour/week course. You can enroll by semester, by year, or take
summer classes. They also offer classes for people working to improve
their already decent French. Contact them for more information. I started
in Niveau I and finished in Niveau II. Although I never got past these
beginner courses(there are six levels!), I imagine I would pass Niveau
III now with no problem because my French has continued to improve from
hanging around my french friends and watching french TV. There are bonuses
to learning through CIEF: they serve a nice mid-day meal at the student
dorm at a good price, you can participate in University events and you'll
meet people from all around the world. Just stay away from the foam
bars if you're over 25.
Most beginner classes
are held at the International student dorm located on a bus route outside
of centre ville, others are held at the very smokey campus building
called "the FAC". Depending on how advanced you are, you will
have different classes on subjects like grammar and history. Once you
have passed level four you are allowed to enroll in the University of
Burgundy. Buses go everywhere (the #9 drops you off right in front of
the building that houses administrative CIEF on campus), although many
students purchased bikes to use during their stay. It's about a 15-20
minute walk from the dorm to campus. For lodging, many students choose
to live in the dorm, but most Americans I've met there can't handle
it for long. But, if you're used to living with hoardes of people in
a dorm environment and don't mind sharing a kitchen, shower, and toilet
with 50 other people, this is the place for you. Otherwise, furnished
studios are fairly abundant and you shouldn't have trouble finding one
through the Bien Public local newspaper site. They come out with apartment
listings on Thursdays, so check then if you can for the largest, newest
selection. Many students opt to live with a French family, and this
is great for younger students or those of you who don't speak enough
French to live alone! CIEF can help you with this, although I found
that no one spoke English when I went there and my husband had to help
me. Many teachers speak English but won't let you know it. They only
want to hear French. And speaking from experience, I can tell you it
is possible to learn French by only hearing it. Even if you don't speak
a lick of it. Don't ask me how the brain works, but if mine can figure
it out, yours can too.
Check out their website
for more information: http://www.u-bourgogne.fr/CIEF.
And don't worry. It's available in English!
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