The Service Learning Student

One of the Seine's many bridges with the Eiffel Tower beyond Seminar student translates at La Mosquée de Paris

The Service Learning in Paris Program seeks students who are energetic and want to work — both intellectually and physically; to be involved; to get to know people of other cultures. This requires independence, adventurousness, curiosity, and flexibility. Those who enroll must be willing, literally and figuratively, to roll up their sleeves.

All students are expected to be punctual, and to participate in every scheduled activity, to give assiduous attention to the requirements of their Community Service projects, to demonstrate appropriate respect for the customs and mores of the local culture, and to follow the house rules as described in the handbook. The Program reserves the right to dismiss students who are unable to meet these expectations.

Back to top

In the Volontaires Métro, the stop nearest the Foyer

Orientation is an important element of the program. The goal is to help students become: active participants in the study and service projects; thoughtful observers of the French; and good guests in Paris. We want students to acquire or perfect the skills needed to observe, learn, discover, become self-reflective, enjoy, contribute, and benefit from everything that is available to them during the month.

Before coming to Paris, students will be sent a few short readings on community service and cross-cultural education. On arrival, participants will get right down to work by joining in a service project, beginning French classes, getting first-hand knowledge of the city and its sites, and gaining the self-confidence and experience necessary to be more than tourists or casual visitors to Paris. They will learn the public transportation system, necessary safety precautions, facilities in the neighborhood - banks, post office, small groceries, cafés, and parks. Students will quickly become acquainted with one another and with the French residents of the Foyer. They will discover for themselves, as Adam Gopnik, (New Yorker writer and author of Paris to the Moon), visiting speaker to the program pointed out, Paris is far more than its well known romantic portrait, and is a city undergoing tremendous cultural change.

Back to top

Travel to and from Paris

Students are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Paris. They will be met at their point of arrival - airport or train station - and accompanied to the program housing site. The procedure will be reversed on departure.

Back to top

In front of the Foyer

Students and staff are housed at the Résidence Jérôme LeJeune, also known as the Foyer des Infirmières, a complex in the 15th arrondissement, not far from the Gare Montparnasse. The Foyer is owned by a private foundation and has two parts: a main building which provides housing for nursing students and health professionals and an adjoining structure which houses retired health professionals. During the summer, most rooms in the main building are rented to French students from outside of Paris and others who are studying, visiting, or working in the city.

Students will have either an individual room (with shower, toilet, and sink) or a double room with sink and bathroom facilities off the public corridor. The residence has a lovely garden and separate terrace, two television rooms, a sitting room, kitchen and dining facilities, twenty-four hour security and desk service. Students also have access to personal food storage and refrigeration in the dining area.

Back to top

Barbecue at the Foyer The Salle á Manger / at the Foyer

Breakfast and dinner are provided each day. Students are responsible for their own lunches. Many will share a meal with people at the community service site. Others may buy the quintessential baguette and cheese sandwich at a pâtisserie, or meet friends for a plat du jour at local restaurants. Students are also able and encouraged to use the kitchen at the Foyer.

Evening meals at the Foyer are prepared and served by a staff cook. Dinners out in the city provide an unusual opportunity for a small group of students to experience Paris life by dining with a faculty member or guest.

Back to top

Fantastic Métro entrance near the Comédie Française

All participants in the program will be given a monthly Métro pass for travel in the city and la proche banlieue. Coaches will be used for study travel and explorations outside of Paris proper.

Back to top

Costs and Refund Policy

Metro

A modest amount of need-based financial aid is available.

Service Learning in Paris has two named scholarships which are awarded each year.

The Scott Aborn Award is in memory of a gifted teacher of French who taught and guided many young people during his years at the Burr and Burton Academy in Vermont.

The Alex Mendel Scholarship is given in his memory. An alumnus of the 2001 Paris program, Alex was a graduate of Trinity School, a student at Tufts, a model citizen, a good friend to many, and someone who understood deeply the importance of international education.

The $50 application fee should be submitted with the paper copy of the application. Students who apply on line are asked to send the application fee separately. The $1,500 enrollment fee is requested after the student has been accepted into the program. Bills will be sent in the spring.

If a student needs to withdraw after enrollment up until June 1, all fees paid, minus $300, will be refunded. If the student withdraws between June 1 and June 30, 60% of the program fee will be refunded. For withdrawal after June 30, there is no refund.

Back to top

Financial Aid

While hewing fairly closely to standard financial aid practices, our goal is to simplify the process as much as possible. To help us make reasonably equitable yet reasonably speedy decisions, please send us the following—by mail, E-mail or fax:

1. A copy of the front page of your 2007 or 2008 tax return
2. A letter in which you tell us the following:
   
   
   1. Word about any net tuition paid for children in your family (i.e. school or college fees, minus any scholarship offered).
   2. A brief description of any unusual expenses for your family.
   3. Given program costs, airfare and personal expenses, the dollar figure you estimate to which you can stretch to support the student in July.

Once we have your materials, we'll get back to you very promptly with a decision.

Back to top

2009 Calendar

The Eiffel Tower, Bastille Day fireworks

September 1, 2008
Application Period Opens

April 15, 2009
Application Deadline

July 1
Arrival in Paris

July 24
Last Day of Community Service

July 26
Departure

Back to top