Academic Overview

The program begins with two days of orientation, conducted by one of the site directors. LCCF covers program rationale, organization, health & safety, intercultural competencies, personal goal setting, and academics.

The Cycle Court follows.* This is a civilization seminar introducing students to the history, society, politics, art, geography and cultural richness of the local area, but also of France within Europe. There is a substantial language component. The goal is to help students appreciate the historical and contemporary elements which shape their adopted communities, in order to better assimilate into their new situation. This seminar is led by the site directors, host institution faculty and professionals from the community. One of the two semester excursions are undertaken here. Instruction and assignments are in French, giving students an opportunity to hone writing and oral skills before beginning the semester proper

The program includes two excursions in the Alsace or Lorraine regions. There is also a multi-day excursion to Paris. Participation is required and some assignments are given during these events. LCCF directors also inform students of cultural events and independent travel opportunities.

Engaging in the culture is encouraged through course work, host families, and community involvement. The LCCF Tutorial, taught by local host institution faculty with input from the site directors, teaches students French ideas, then helps focus those ideas in a Village Field Study project that has an interdisciplinary focus. Students will each prepare for a visit to a regional village in order to research a predetermined topic, the range of which is as vast as the student’s imagination and interest. Once completed, students then present their findings to the group, turn in a written dossier, and sit for a juried evaluation. The LCCF tutorial is a requirement of the program, unless the student undertakes an Honor’s Tutorial Project.

Motivated and proficient students can apply on site for the LCCF Honor’s Project Tutorial. Honors students take advanced courses at the university. An experienced host institution professor is assigned and advises the honors project in weekly tutorial sessions.

At about week 8 of each semester, students meet with the site director to review individual achievements with emphasis on language acquisition, cultural competencies, and learning strategies; again at the end of the semester time is set aside devoted to assessing the overall educational experience with special attention to individual objectives determined at the beginning of the semester. The review process is not graded, but is required of each student. LCCF staff also give periodic updates to home institutions to inform of on-site semester progress.

Student internships, volunteer or work experiences are not required, but encouraged. Credited internships are possible with the approval of the student’s home institution departmental advisor or of the international studies director. LCCF requires 40 hours contact for each semester credit hour attributed, with the on-site director assisting in oversight and coordination with an internship director.

The Lewis & Clark College in France PORTFOLIO is a requirement of participants of the program to be submitted for review at mid-term and again at the end of the semester. As both a learning tool and as a concrete documentation for synthesizing experiences through study, participation and personal engagement, the semester portfolio is reviewed by the site-director and is returned to the student as an accompanying piece to complement course transcripts. The content of the portfolio is published in the on-site academic guide.

Program of Study

A Choice of 3 Academic Streams in an Individualized Plan

LCCF is not a university and does not offer degree programs. However, LCCF students, with approval of the students home institution, can earn academic credits toward their degrees through an individualized Program-of-Study. Academic advising is provided on site to determine a plan to attain the student’s objectives for each semester. The following are short description of areas of emphasis for each of three program-of-study streams:

Stream 1: French Language Studies

Site: Strasbourg
Host Institutions:

• Université Marc Bloch – Strasbourg
• Institut International d’Etudes Française

LCCF offers one site for French studies; Strasbourg. Students will be enrolled in one of the university centers for French Studies (the IIEF in Strasbourg), but may also take classes at one of the facultés of the host university system. Course offerings in French language, culture, history, literature, and art are all possible at these fine institutes or at the various facultés. This is the most general of LCCF programs-of-study, and can be adjusted to student subject interest and credit needs.

In addition, there are three levels of university diplomas and three levels of French Language certificates* that may be awarded. The university diplomas require taking a set module of course work, but students can sit for the certification regardless of their program-of-study.

Stream 2: European Studies

Site: Strasbourg
Host Institutions:

• Université Marc Bloch – Strasbourg
• Université Robert Schuman
• Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Strasbourg

Strasbourg is ideal for the study of economics, European and international relations, international business finance, international business marketing, and modern history. Instruction is in French, with occasional course offerings in English.

Full-year participants with LCCF may also earn a French university diploma from the IEP-Strasbourg. The institute awards the Certificat d’Etudes Politiques Européennes to international students. Many former students of the LCCF site directors have obtained this valuable certificate, going on to do graduate work and careers in related fields.

Students may additionally apply with LCCF for an internship or practicum under staff supervision at either the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, or the International Institute for Human Rights.

 

Stream 3: English as a 2nd Language - Education

Site: Strasbourg
Host Institutions:

• Université Marc Bloch – Strasbourg
• Institut International d’Etudes Française
• Rectorat - Académie de Strasbourg
• Département de Français Langue Etrangère

LCCF may recommend students for consideration to be offered a paid internship as an English Language Assistant at either of the host Académies (regional school districts).* The intern teaches from 6 – 12 hours per week and earns about 700 Euros per month. Working under the supervision of a teacher at a high school or junior high school, the language assistant may lead small group discussions, help the teacher in explaining a dialogue or film to a class, or prepare classroom material. As a primary school assistant, the work is similar, but an entire class may be his or her responsibility for a given period. Unpaid practicum are also possible.

Interested students must apply for long stay visa (visa long séjour) and must make a request for candidacy to the LCCF director during the semester prior to their stay in France with LCCF. Full year students may want to make a request for candidacy for participation during Spring semester.

To receive academic credit, as for all LCCF internship or work experience options, the student must have approval of the home institution in the U.S.A., either departmental or by the office for international studies. LCCF will provide regular support sessions for reviewing strategies for and discussion on teaching and pedagogy in the local setting. These sessions will accompany and guide students by offering opportunity for sharing presentation materials, problem solving, lesson planning, discipline brainstorming, and for understanding the educational system in France. Each Académie also has a resource center to which interns have access.