Academics & Leadership

ACADEMIC OVERVIEW

School: Local language institute

Course Hours:  30 Hours (Summer 1 & 2) or 60 hours (Month/Immersion Extension)

French Language & Conversation:  Students are broken up by levels, and attend French language and conversation classes Monday – Friday in the mornings. The courses focus on developing French communication skills by simulating real life situations through interactive class activities that include writing, oral expression, film, music, food, and literature.

> French levels 1 through AP/IB
> 5-15 Students per Class
> Certified native instructors with advanced teaching degrees

CULTURAL LEADERSHIP ENRICHMENT

SPI offers a unique cultural leadership enrichment component for our European programs. The component is geared toward connecting students with their local surroundings and language while engaging them in real-life skill building exercises. The component incorporates unique activities, excursions, and daily group discussions with a focus on team building, leadership, personal growth, travel skills, and cultural awareness.

> SPI Leadership Building Seminars
> European Travel Skills Workshop
> Exchanges with French locals
> French Culinary Experiences

Activities & Excursions

ELECTIVE ACTIVITIES

In addition to SPI’s cultural leadership enrichment program, students will have the exciting opportunity to enhance their experience abroad by participating in optional elective courses and activities!  Electives range from sports activities to unique cultural events and are designed to further engage students into the local culture and, of course, just to have fun! Exact electives will vary per program and are based on student interest and weather. Upon arrival abroad, students will choose which electives they wish to participate in.

Biarritz Elective Activities:

> Elective Courses: Surfing Course (Beginner to Advanced), Visit to Artisan Workshop, French & Basque Cooking and Gastronomy
> Additional Potential Electives:  Zip-lining, Whitewater Rafting, Running, Soccer, Volleyball, Swimming.
*Optional elective activities may have an additional cost

TRAVEL EXCURSIONS

From visits to world-class museums to magnificent hikes through lush mountains, students explore the most important monuments, cities and natural wonders in the Biarritz region. Weekend and cultural day travel excursions help students dynamically use the language of study and interact with the local community.

Biarritz Travel Excursions:

> Bordeaux (Month/6 Week)
> Bayonne/Anglet
> San Sebastian, Spain
> St. Jean de Luz
> La Rhune-Pyrenees Mountains

What Alumni Say…

“From the moment we arrived at the Paris airport to the final farewell dinner, SPI provided a super-charged (and super fun) study abroad experience in France.  The staff went out of their way to teach us little things that you would have never learned if you were there as a “tourist.”  I cannot thank my on-site directors enough for making this such a life-changing summer!”

Whitney, Washington DC

“I thought I knew what good French food was until I ate my French homestay madame’s delicious cooking.  My homestay went out of their way to make me and my roommate feel welcome the entire stay.  My French teacher in Biarritz, Isabelle, really pushed us out of our comfort zone to practice our skills with locals.  I really gained a lot from our outings after class to local markets and shopping around town.”

Robert, Florida

“I would definitely recommend SPI Biarritz.  It was a great place to really feel immersed into the French language and culture.  The city was so walkable and everyone was always smiling and friendly with a warm, “bonjour,” as they welcomed you to their store.  I must say that I started the program a little shy and reserved, but left feeling very confident in both the language and myself.”

Vivanne, California

Safety & Supervision

ON-SITE DIRECTORS & STAFF

Directors and on-site staff are professional multilingual educators and caring leaders who serve as international “moms and dads”. We maintain a highly personal student to director ratio of typically one director for every eight students. Directors actively participate in all aspects of the immersion experience focusing on student well-being, cultural adjustments, and daily check ins to ensure active student participation.

DAILY SUPERVISION & FREE TIME

To ensure student safety, on-site directors are available 24 hours a day and carry local cell phones at all times. Directors check-in with students on a daily basis in the mornings, afternoons and evenings and monitor all aspects of the program.  At SPI, we believe in the educational value of giving students a structured amount of free-time on certain afternoons.  Students are expected to abide by SPI’s standards of conduct at all times, and we implement a “buddy system.”

CURFEW: 11 PM on Weekdays and 12 AM on Weekends