Overview | Academics | Cost | Location | Life Abroad | Student Voices
Located in Tours, a city in central France, the Institut Touraine was founded in 1912 to teach French language and culture to students and French teachers. The Institut is housed in the beautiful Hotel Torterue which dates to the Second Empire (1852-1870). Now the Institut welcomes over 2,500 students each year from over eighty countries. The Institut employs twenty-five highly qualified teachers, along with four student support staff members.
This program is perfect for students at all French levels who wish to improve their language skills while learning about the French culture with other students from around the world.
Students can choose one four-week program in June or July or both for an eight-week program. These programs are in large part comprised of intensive language courses, but if a student tests into the intermediate level, they have the option to take culture, literature or history classes.
Located on the lower reaches of the Loire River between Orleans and the Atlantic coast, Tours (pop. 142,000) is the largest city in the Loire Valley. Tours offers over 30 open-air markets weekly that feature fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. The surrounding Touraine region is known for its wines, its chateaux, and for the unaccented perfection of its spoken French.
Getting to Your Program
Participants are responsible for arranging round-trip transportation to the program site.
Visa
U.S. passport holders are not required to obtain a visa for studies in France of less than 90 days. Participants must have a passport valid for six months after the end of the program.
Orientation
A required orientation session held before departure at UW-Madison helps students prepare for studying abroad. Topics covered include academic, financial, administrative, cultural, and site-specific issues. In Tours, students attend orientation sessions that include walking tours, a welcome reception, and practical information about life in Tours.
Housing
The Institut offers several different housing options including: family homestay and furnished studio apartments (Lamy Residence serviced studio apartmets. Students are asked on their registration form which housing option they prefer and the Institut arranges everything for the student.
The homestay option includes living with a French family in the town center. Depending on availability, bathrooms and bedrooms could be shared or personal. Rooms are furnished with bed(s), a cupboard and desk. During the week, breakfast and dinner is provided by host family while all meals are provided on the weekends. Laundry is also included in the homestay fees.
The Lamy Residence serviced studio apartments are located in the city center and are only a 15-minute walk away from the Institut. Rental fees include electricity, internet access and monthly cleaning. Shared areas include laundry with washer and dryer and a cafeteria serving breakfast for 4 euros a day.
Excursions and Activities
An art history professor acts as tour guide, showing students around Tours and other nearby sites. The first day of the term, students are given a tour of Tours to help them get acquainted with the town. More in-depth outings are planned throughout the month on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays, outside of class hours. Nearby sites include the castles of the Loire Valley, the palace of Versailles and Futuroscope, a future-themed amusement park.
Insurance
All participants in IAP programs are enrolled in health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
Students can contact the Student Affairs Department on-site (Le Service Scolarite) with any questions about housing, enrollment, excursions and sports.
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Tours, France Summer 2013 Handbook (Summer - 2012-13)
Tours, France Summer 2013 Handbook (Summer - 2012-13)
Tours, France Summer 2013 Handbook (Summer - 2012-13)
Returned Student Network
Click
here to see testimonials from students abroad or to contact a returned student.
Participants take classes at the beautiful Hotel Torterue with students from over 80 countries. Upon arrival, participants will take a placement test to determine their language proficiency. Class size does not exceed fifteen students and courses are split into two groups for all spoken activities and laboratory classes. Instruction takes place Monday-Friday and students can expect to spend twenty hours a week in class.
The coursed offered are mostly language classes, however, if a student tests into the intermediate level or above, they are eligible to take culture, literature or history classes.
Courses are taught by twenty-five instructors who are trained in teaching French as a foreign language. The instructors are familiar with the particular language acquisition problems common to native English speakers. Students are assessed on a regular basis and can move into the next language level on their teacher's recommendation.
Affiliate Institution(s)
www.institutdetouraine.com/index/institut_de_touraine-A.html?LANG=FRA
Foreign Courses
Available Courses
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
Sort by Foreign Course Titles
Sort by UW-Madison Course Titles
Group by host institution and Sort by Foreign Course Titles
Group by host institution and Sort by UW-Madison Course Titles
