France
Language and Culture Immersion
This language program offers French language students the opportunity to immerse themselves in French culture through travel and an 18-day homestay. The program will begin in France’s second largest city, Marseille, where we will explore the infamous Chateau d’If and the Cote d’Azur for two days before traveling to Arles. For nearly three weeks, students will be staying with a host-family stay in Arles, a small provincial city, where they will hone their language skills and deepen cultural competency while exploring the history and culture of Southern France. At the end of the program the group will spend a couple of days in Paris as they wrap up their language immersion experience. A central question in each location will be an interrogation of where these various cities are looking: one to France’s Roman history, one to France’s ties to North Africa, and another to the future and the Americas.
In Arles, students will hone their language skills through daily classes with Arles à la carte, our partner in Arles, through continuing Deerfield’s sit-down lunches in French, and afternoon cultural activities and site visits in the town that Vincent Van Gogh called home. Students will also enjoy day programs and afternoon excursions, which may include visiting the magnificent Palais des Papes in Avignon, exploring the Camargue region, touring an ancient Roman arena, and more. They will also have an entire weekend with their homestay family, where travel away from Arles may be possible (with advance permission from the faculty leaders). Students will return to Deerfield with increased command of the French language and a deepened understanding of culture, grounded in connections made to a family in France and to central questions that have focused their attention.
Program Notes
- During this program students will be staying in a homestay as their primary accommodation. Students will be placed one student per homestay.
- As part of Deerfield’s commitment to face-to-face interactions, during certain times of the program students will be “unplugged” without access to cell phones.
- This program ends during the summer break. Families are responsible for transportation from the arrival U.S.-based airport at the end of the program to the student’s destination for the remainder of the break.
- Students and faculty leaders will update families and friends at home through our Notes From The Field blog.
Program Dates
May 25 – June 18, 2026
Program Eligibility
This program is open to all current 9th, 10th and 11th grade French language students, with a preference toward those enrolled in French II or above who have demonstrated their commitment to the study of language and culture and who are committed to the study of French upon their return. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.
Please note that this program overlaps with the following:
- Rowing Training season (May 28 – June 11)
- Rowing Nationals (June 12 – 15)
Students will need to have or obtain a Passport or Passport card for this program.
Program Snapshot
Accommodations: Homestays & hotels
Meals: Group meals at hotels & restaurants, and meals with homestay families
Activities: This program will include a high level of walking with various site visits and community-based activities.
Faculty Trip Leaders
Brian Hunt
Estimated Cost: $8,900
All meals, transportation, accommodations, and activities during the trip dates are included in the program fee.
2026 Preliminary Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
The students will begin their program in Marseille before traveling to Arles, where they will engage in an orientation that introduces them to the city, the program structure, and important safety practices. Over the course of their stay, the students will participate in 17 hours of French language instruction with Arles à la Carte teachers, adapted to their proficiency level and conducted both in and outside the classroom. They will also take part in daily “language lunches” at local restaurants, continuing to practice French in an authentic context with their instructors. Living with Arlesian host families, the students will share meals and daily routines, allowing them to experience French culture and community life firsthand.
In the afternoons, the students will explore Arles through 15 hours of guided visits to monuments, markets, museums, and art foundations, conducted entirely in French. The program also includes three full-day excursions: to Avignon and the Palais des Papes, to the Alpilles foothills with visits to Les Baux-de-Provence and the Abbaye de Montmajour, and to the Camargue villages and beaches. At the conclusion of the Arles stay, the students will participate in a farewell reception with their host families before continuing to Paris for four days. By the end of the program, the students will have strengthened their language skills, expanded their cultural understanding, and gained meaningful insight into French history, art, and daily life.
Health & Safety
We take student health and safety seriously. Please review the resources and information below as you consider applying for the program.
Travel Health & Risk Advisory
We encourage families to review the latest travel guidance for France:
Travel Medicine Advisory Letter
A letter from Dr. Bryant Benson provides important guidance on health preparations for travel. View Letter
Vaccination Guidance
No vaccinations are required for entry to France. However, we strongly recommend reviewing the CDC’s list of recommended vaccines and consulting your healthcare provider.
Travel Insurance
All students are covered by Deerfield Academy’s International SOS travel insurance policy while on the program.
Visa Information
Students and parents are directly responsible for the student’s immigration status and/or visa application process to comply with local laws for participation in this program. Deerfield Academy and the CSGC office are here to assist and can provide specific supplemental documentation as required for the application.