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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