French Language & Culture
Why Choose This Program?
Live the Language
Experience authentic immersion in the French language and culture.
Network
Meet new friends and gain a new family. Make lasting memories and connections.
Get Inspired
Jump up a level in French. Shine on college applications.
The Destination
Welcome to Toulouse—la ville rose (pink city)—famous for its cassoulet and lively cultural scene.
Accelerate your French with four weeks of language immersion in this student-friendly city in southern France. After language classes, dive into French conversations out in community markets, cafes, funky shops, chic boutiques, and the liveliest square in town—Place du Capitole. Also enjoy cultural activities, such as playing traditional music at the Centre Occitan, opportunities to talk with French teens, and visits to significant sites, such as the historic Jacobins monastery, the Aeroscopia Museum, or the Hall of Machines with its mechanical wonders, including a giant dancing spider!
Situated on the banks of the Garonne River and traversed by the Canal du Midi, a World Heritage site, Toulouse invites you outdoors where you can frequent cafés and open-air concerts, cheer at a rugby match, and view the ever-changing street art. Take in all the culture Toulouse has to offer and enjoy its tasty specialties, too—the sweet chocolatine and the irresistible cassoulet with its duck, sausage, and white beans.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Toulouse.
Social feed above may feature posts from all CIEE Study Abroad programs, including college programs.
Sample Itinerary
Sample Activities
Just Imagine All the Fun You’ll Have!
- Soak in the sun and have some fun canoeing down the Garonne River with your fellow Global Navigators.
- On your visit to the Cité de l’espace in Toulouse, marvel at how humans explore beyond our planet. Walk among life-size replicas of iconic spacecraft like the Ariane 5 rocket, the Soyuz capsule, and the Mir space station. Experience the thrill of astronaut training, uncover the mysteries of the cosmos in immersive planetarium shows, and witness real-time space mission updates.
- Find out about the birth of hip-hop in France and learn some new moves in a workshop. Put the moves together in a group performance.
- Cross the old stone bridge into Carcassonne and feel the Middle Ages all around you. Tour the chateau and cathedral. Stroll the ramparts and take in magnificent views of the French countryside.
- Explore France’s culinary traditions and participate in a pastry workshop. Make the famous Paris-Brest or a fraisier—then eat up these little works of art!
Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
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Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors—who have completed at least one year of high school French. Students who have completed at least two years of high school French may qualify for the Honors French Language & Culture program in Rennes, France.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Optional College Credit Fee
$150
Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree.
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 4 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,250 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 4 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $7,250 |
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Isabelle Jaffe
Center Director
A resident of Toulouse with American and French citizenship, Isabelle received her Licence (BA) in English and philosophy and her master's degree in literature from the University of Paris–La Sorbonne...
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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