France
Homestay & Language Immersion
About the Program
Immerse yourself in French culture through this unique homestay and language immersion experience. Live with local families in Carcassonne, practice your conversational French, and gain firsthand insight into day-to-day life in France. Students will participate in community service projects, engage in cultural exchanges, and explore historic sites in both rural and urban settings. This program is designed to enhance language skills while fostering meaningful connections with the local community and deepening cultural understanding.
Itinerary
Discover the exciting adventures and impactful moments that await each day on this itinerary!
- Depart from the U.S. on an overnight flight to France
- Flight arrives in Paris. Global Works trip leaders meet the group at the airport and you transfer by private bus to a carefully-selected hostel in the city center
- Settle into the hostel, picnic lunch, and a short orientation
- Start exploring the city with a walk to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the heart of Paris, Ile de la Cité
- Dinner at the hostel and then some well-deserved rest
- Breakfast at the hostel
- Tour the Louvre or Musee d’Orsay and see timeless works of art
- Lunch in the Jardin de Tuileries
- Take the metro to the Eiffel Tower and catch a view of the city from the top!
- Dinner as a group in town
- Breakfast at the hostel, then depart for the Arc de Triomphe. Go to the top, then walk on the Champs Elysées
- Lunch, then explore Paris underground in the Catacombs
- Take the metro to the artsy neighborhood of Montmartre
- Wander the narrow streets, see the Sacré Coeur Basilica and have a final Paris dinner as a group in town
- Breakfast at the hostel
- Take a high-speed train to Avignon in the region of Provence and have lunch on the train
- Arrive in Avignon and settle into the hotel inside the walled city
- Start exploring the city! Visit the famous Pont d’Avignon and tour the Palais de Papes
- Dinner as a group in Avignon
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Take a bus to Aix-en-Provence for the morning market and a cooking class
- In the afternoon, visit les Baux de Provence, a hill-top stronghold from the Middle Ages with winding streets
- Return to Avignon for group activities and role play for upcoming homestays
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Visit the morning market in Avignon and gather supplies for a picnic lunch
- Board the bus with all bags and depart for Pont-du-Gard (30m)
- Walk across the stunning Roman aqueduct and enjoy a picnic lunch
- Drive to Carcassonne (2h 30m)
- Meet homestay families and settle into our new homes (at least 2 students per homestay)
- Spend the morning exploring the medieval Cité as a group, including the fortress & castle walls
- Picnic lunch reflection time in the Cité
- It’s time to start service projects! Past groups have restored local heritage sites, maintained trails on the Chemin de St. Jacques pilgrimage route, and helped excavate 11th-century châteaux!
- Return to homestays after group reflection in the evening
- Return to service project site and continue the project
- Lunch break in the community
- Spend the afternoon volunteering with a day camp for elementary school students (seasonal). Run games and activities to practice French and teach some English along the way
- Take the bus as a group to Collioure for a day on the Mediterranean coast
- Spend the day visiting the castle, wandering through the narrow streets, and buying souvenirs
- If the water is warm enough, go for a swim!
- Wrap up service projects and reflect on time spent in this interesting and welcoming community
- Connect with local students for introductions, activities, and sports
- Celebrate the last day in the community at a goodbye pot-luck with all of our new family members
- Say final goodbyes to homestay families
- Go on a bike ride along the Canal du Midi, stopping for a picnic lunch
- In the afternoon, visit an underground cave system to see stalactites and stalagmites
- Depart for Toulouse for final dinner and celebration
- Depart for the airport according to flight schedules
Educational Focus & Highlights
Live with French Families
Stay with host families in Carcassonne, where students immerse themselves in daily life, practice French, and experience the local culture firsthand.
Discover the City of Light
Visit iconic Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Louvre. Experience the rich art, history, and culture of France’s vibrant capital.
Preserve French Heritage
Contribute to service projects like restoring local heritage sites and maintaining trails. Engage with the community through meaningful projects and volunteer opportunities.
Explore the Coast
Take a trip to the Mediterranean coast, visiting the picturesque town of Collioure. Enjoy beach activities, explore historic sites, and relax by the sea.
Gallery
Lodging
Participants
Participants stay in comfortable, dorm-style rooms that typically accommodate 4-6 students per room. These accommodations are carefully selected and often include locally run hotels and eco-lodges that reflect the culture of the area. Each location is chosen to provide private meeting spaces for group activities, ensuring a supportive environment for our programs. Homestays typically house 2-3 students. Participants stay with families who have long-standing relationships with Global Works.
Chaperones
Chaperones can expect to stay in private rooms, unless otherwise noted by the Global Works operations team. These rooms are located in the same facility as the student accommodations, allowing for a peaceful environment to relax and recharge without compromising proximity to the group. During homestays, chaperones typically have a choice to either stay with a homestay family or in a nearby hotel (location dependent).
Bring Your Classroom to the World
Collaborate with Global Works on an impactful service-learning travel program for your students.
