Study Abroad Program Brings Europe Close to Home

This summer 10 lucky students will be traveling to Quebec City, a city province of Canada, for the French Study Abroad Program at UCBA. Professor Jody Ballah, Department of Foreign Languages, will be leading the group for a French culture immersion experience. This program is developed, as Professor Ballah says, "to take the language out of the textbook. The students wake up and say 'Bonjour,' and the learning doesn't stop."

Quebec is named the "Most European city in North America" and is unilingual with French being the universal language. This Study Abroad trip gives students a chance to see what life is like in a French-speaking city.

For students who want to continue their careers in French, this is a perfect way to have a little something extra to add to their resumes. They have classes in the mornings and then keep speaking the language all day in cafes and while sightseeing. If over 21, the student could even order "une biere" (a beer) in the restaurants. Instead of only a formal classroom, the city serves as a fun teaching tool with various leisure activities the students can participate in.

Unlike the British excursion for Study Abroad, students on the Quebec trip are required to have at least one year of college level French, but the payoff is that the trip itself offers three credit hours (French Civilization & Culture). It gives the students a chance to have a leg up in their future language courses as they get to experience it hands on. It is also character building and a major step for students gaining their independence.

The trip costs $2,000 but this year 80 percent of the students attending were granted scholarships that will pay for the whole trip. The students are already attending Professor Ballah's pre-trip prep seminars to prepare them for the journey.

Unfortunately, the deadline has passed for this year's journey. However, the next trip to Quebec is scheduled for summer 2014 as the Study Abroad Program alternates between the French and Spanish programs.

If you are not one of the 10 that are attending but are interested in French or Study Abroad, you can go to the UCBA Study Abroad Program website or contact Professor Ballah in room 312 of Muntz Hall.