Dates
Travel Dates
July 3rd — July 27th, 2023
Program Dates*
June 25th — August 4th, 2023
*Program dates include online sessions to prepare students prior to travel and synchronous interviews to complete final assessments after travel. Dates are subject to change.
Locations
- Paris
- Annecy
- Swiss Alps
- Nice
Staffing
9:1 Student to Staff Ratio
Program Fee
Program Full
Refunds and Cancellation
We've made it easier to plan your education while minimizing your financial risks.
Scholarships
Up to $5,000 in Scholarships Available
Availability
2023: closed
2024: open
Why Take this Program?
If you are ready to immerse yourself in the richness of French culture, art, and cuisine, MEI offers you the perfect way to speak French in real-life scenarios. We will take you from the bustle of modern Paris to the markets of medieval Annecy and from the mountains of the Swiss Alps to the sun-soaked beaches of Nice. In each location, we get out from behind our desks and leave the screens and worksheets behind to surround ourselves with the beautiful language and culture of the French people.
Program Photos
What People Are Saying
I feel so lucky to have spent the most incredible summer of my life, surrounded by like-minded people who became a second family to me within a few short weeks. Aside from the academics, and a deep understanding of the French language and culture that no textbook ever could have given me, I made so many lasting friendships and memories. I returned home a more independent and overall changed individual.
Halle Pelletier
Student, France and Switzerland, 2019
Program Itinerary
Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!
Online Foundation Work
Program Preparation
Reading lists will be posted on your program site in early May. Online pre-departure sessions with your teachers and classmates begin one week prior to departure. These virtual sessions are designed to introduce you to your classmates, teachers, and course work. Our goal is to prepare you to hit the ground running and reduce your workload onsite.
Departure
Day 1: On the day of departure, we meet at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Here, we unite as a group to distribute coursepacks, T-shirts and MEI Journals. After a meet and greet, we board a flight to our first location.
Paris
Days 2 — 10: Our first stop in France is Paris, one of the most beautiful and storied cities in the world. While exploring the romantic cobblestoned streets of the Marais, or the manicured lawns of Versailles, we immerse ourselves in various forms of French media. We gain an appreciation for art as we participate in lectures and debates at the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée du Louvre. In the evenings, we enjoy dinners in the open-air cafés and bistros of the Latin Quarter and St. Germain as we discuss French readings, practice our language skills, and reflect on topics of the day.
Annecy
Days 10 — 15: Snow-capped mountains, turquoise waters, and even a medieval turreted castle form the backdrop for classes in the picturesque south of France. Here, we put our language skills to the test as we converse with locals and participate in presentations and BookChats to further build our skills and confidence in French.
Swiss Alps
Days 15 — 19: As we continue our journey, discovering the beautiful nuances of the French language and culture, we enjoy an unforgettable stay high up in the Swiss Alps. Morning coffee with cool mountain air, rich blue skies, and stunning white-capped mountains make this a sublime stop on our journey through Europe. The peacefulness of Swiss village-life allows for tailored, one-on-one sessions with teachers to further help us refine our language proficiency—all while hiking along mountain trails and Alpine peaks.
Nice
Days 19 — 25: The final location of our journey through France and Switzerland is in the dynamic city of Nice. With its buzzing cafés, grand esplanades, and famous stone beaches, this seaside town serves as our hub to explore the south of France. We have time to take in the chic modern art museums and visit the nearby city of Monte Carlo, while completing our final academic assignments and preparing for our final exam. As the sun sets on the last evening, we celebrate the end of our journey along the pebbled shore of the French Riviera.
Departure from Nice Airport on Day 25
Online Final Evaluation Week
Upon your return, you have time to complete additional research and pull your work together before your final one-on-one online assessment. This week allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and integrate them into the course material. MEI staff have found this style of evaluation enjoyable and the most authentic way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic skills.
Paris
annecy
nice
gimmelwald
What's Included
Fee Breakdown
Program Full
Program Costs
- Ministry-approved credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
- Custom course pack
- Student Login
- MEI journal
- MEI T-Shirt
- Digital yearbook
Travel Costs
- Hotels and accommodations
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
- Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
- Approximate airline departure taxes, surcharges and fees
- Airfare between countries
- Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
- Transportation for all listed program excursions
Program Fee Does Not Include
- Lunches
- Insurances
- Gratuities
- Local Transportation
- Course texts
- Medical Insurance and Cancellation Protection†
- Non-refundable $95 Registration Fee
† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical Insurance.
**Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee or any airline taxes or fees. Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.