Baylor in Paris

Homestays with French Families

A unique advantage of the Paris program is the opportunity to live and interact with French families. These are middle-class families who have been carefully screened and selected by a Parisian staff. Many of them have previously hosted American students. During the program, students have a demi-pension arrangement—they share a room with another student in the program and have breakfast and dinner with the family. Students are reim­bursed for lunch and can either eat in a café or buy something at a delicatessen.

Courses

Students register for two courses in intermediate or advanced French. Course offerings will include French 2310 and 2320 (second-year grammar, reading, and conversation), French 3320 (Conversation and Composition in Paris), and French 3348 (A Moveable Feast: An Exploration of Paris and Its Culture). Classes will generally be held every week­day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Baylor in Paris center. Afternoons are generally reserved for group visits or leisure time. It may, however, be necessary to schedule a class hour or two in the afternoon. Final exams will be given in all classes.

Eligibility

In order to apply, students must be in good standing at a college/university or must have recently gradu­ated. They must also have completed one semester of college French by May 2026 and should be enrolled in a French course during the spring term. Students who have completed two semesters of French will enroll in FRE 2310 and 2320. Students who have completed three semesters will enroll in FRE 2320 and 3320. Students who have completed at least four semesters will enroll in FRE 3320 and 3348. For admission to the program, students must have at least a “C” average in French. Students who receive a final grade lower than a “C” in their spring 2023 French course will be dropped from the program.

Trips and Excursions

In Paris, students will have the opportunity to visit major museums and points of interest such as Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Musée d’Orsay. Outside of Paris, the group will visit the Palace of Versailles and take an over­night trip to visit the châteaux in the Loire valley. At the end of the stay in Paris, the group will take a two-day trip to Normandy which will include visits to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, the coastal city of Saint-Malo, and the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach.

Responsibilities

Student advisement, counseling and enrollment will be provided to all participants on a continuing basis before leaving for France by the two Baylor in Paris professors, who will teach the courses and direct the program. Neither the university nor faculty in charge assumes any responsibility for personal injury or loss of property. The director reserves the right to modify or change any part of the program (including trips and excursions) if necessary. Applicants will be required to sign a waiver of liability regarding Baylor University and the program directors. No refund can be given to students who terminate their stay with the program before the end of the session, or whose health does not permit them to participate in the program. All students must enroll online in a health insur­ance plan provided by Baylor in order to ensure coverage while in France. Information on this plan is available on the Baylor Center for Global Engagement website under Study Abroad.

Travel to and from France

Departure date is Thursday May 28. Students are free to make their own travel arrangements but need to be in Paris for the program orientation, which will be held the morning of May 30. Since the group will be meeting the families on May 29, any student arriving before this date will have to arrange hotel accommodations in Paris. Pre-departure orientation meetings for the program will be held beginning in January. Further information pertaining to the group flight, packing, the Parisian lifestyle, French family life, excursions and other activities will be discussed at those meetings.

Faculty

Dr. Cristian Bratu, Professor of French and Director of the Division of French and Italian, holds a Ph.D. in French from New York University. He has taught at Baylor since 2007 and will be participating in the Baylor in Paris program for the sixth time. His research interests are in French medieval chronicles and histories.

Dr. Alexandre Thiltges, Senior Lecturer in French, earned his Ph.D. from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. He teaches a wide range of French language and culture courses and is actively involved in campus life and the Waco community. Beyond the classroom, he helps lead the French conversation group and brings his passion for music to a local jazz band.

Application

Students may submit applications to the Baylor in Paris Program on the Center for Global Engagement website under Study Abroad. Baylor in Paris fills on a first-come first-served basis.