An average day of Summer Language and Culture courses consists of four contact hours. The first two hours are used for intensive language and the last two hours are for elective courses. Available elective courses are: Oral Comprehension and Expression, Written Comprehension and Expression, Translation, Contemporary French Civilization, French Language for Business and 20th Century French Literature. Students take two different electives per month of summer study. Each elective course lasts two weeks. The chart below shows a typical four-week Language and Culture schedule.

One month-long program carries 80 contact hours, allowing 6 U.S. academic credits. EUS reminds students that the ultimate credits amount to be earned remains at the discretion of the student’s home institution. Following are the elective course descriptions. There are to be used as a guide for students when choosing electives.

The aim of this course is the use by the student of his/her passive knowledge of the language in order to reinforce fluency and gain more confidence. This course aims to give students more knowledge of spoken French. By understanding spoken French, students will gain more fluency.

Course Content
Based on audio and video material, this course is geared toward the acquisition of linguistic elements such as phonetics, grammar and vocabulary. Its aim is to help students gain the ability to communicate in everyday life situations such as story telling, relating facts, defending views, and interviews.

Course Organization
Courses are set in the form of travaux diriges (work directed toward a specific objective). These include diversified activities such as role-play, debate workshops, and acting. The topics and exercises studied in class are part of a course schedule proposed and organized by the teacher. However, it is also possible for students to suggest a given topic in which they hold a particular interest.

Level
All levels


WRITTEN COMPREHENSION AND EXPRESSION
This course prepares students for different styles of written production varying in range from the simplest to the most complex.
Course Content
The course lends itself to the acquisition of grammar and vocabulary elements. The main objectives are to perfect the technique of taking notes, analyze a text, construct an organized plan, and use contraction and amplification techniques useful in description, narration and argumentation.

Course Organization
This course is also organized in the form of travaux dirigés. During each class session, the documents that are studied focus on the course goal.

Levels
All levels

TRANSLATION
The aim of this course is the development of better insight into the meaning of the French language with regards to its English counterpart. Translations are from French to English and then from English to French. The focus in Translation tends toward grammar in the process of translating a text and conveying its proper meaning.

Course Content
This course is geared toward the study and meaning of vocabulary based upon issues in the news media in the form of news press articles and contemporary literature works. The study and translation of scientific and technical documents is available upon request from the students.

Course Organization
Travaux dirigés are organized around the idea of a balance between the course content and literature and current daily news topics. However, students are welcome to request specific study topics.
Levels
Advanced and superior

CONTEMPORARY FRENCH CIVILIZATION
This course explores aspects of contemporary life in France, and helps students to understand the different aspects of current thought within French society.
Course Topics

Course Organization
Courses are organized around two main areas:

Levels
Intermediate, advanced and superior

FRENCH LANGUAGE FOR BUSINESS
This course aims to develop writing and speaking skills vital to good business communications. The course’s goal is to enable students to be functional within a company.

Course Content
Students learn to write business communications in French, according to French standards. Communications include: ordering and billing, requesting payment deadlines, payment injunctions, and claims. This course will also help students learn to communicate in French using fax machines, photocopiers, and the internet. Students will also work on oral expression and comprehension. This includes working on phone communication in a business setting.

The main objectives of oral expression and comprehension are the ability to communicate in different professional situations: focus is given to mastering expressions pertaining to phone communication.

Course Organization
This course is primarily organized in the form of travaux dirigés based upon specialized documents (written documents, audio and video).
Level
Intermediate, advanced, and superior


20Th CENTURY LITERATURE
This course is meant to help students discover and enjoy 20th Century French literature. This will be accomplished through the study of primary works (novels, short stories, and poems) and their authors within the historical, artistic and cultural framework of their time.
The course includes analysis of one or two texts by each author on the course list. The analysis will bring out the main features of the authors’ and the different topics they have written about.
This course will also provide students with literary analysis techniques. These techniques will enable students not only to get to the core of the author's work, but also to help determine the overall meaning within the work.
Topics for Study
The main literary currents in the 20th Century are: Surrealism, Existentialism, and the "Nouveau Roman". These include:

Courses are organized mainly in the form of travaux dirigés and seminars. This course requires a written essay or an presentation.

Levels
Advanced and superior