Secondary School in France

Students are housed on a full-board basis by local, carefully selected volunteer host families. Living with a host family gives students full insight into how French families really live and provides complete immersion in the language and culture. Host families are carefully screened and selected by a network of local coordinators all over France. They are visited and regularly contacted throughout the student’s stay. As a member of the family, your child will share in the family’s daily life and take part in their normal day-to-day activities.

Host families will provide:

• A genuinely caring environment
• Clean and comfortable surroundings
• Convenient access to schools
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Single or shared bedroom

French families’ motivation for hosting comes from a genuine interest in learning about other cultures and the belief that hosting a student from Ireland is the next best thing to visiting Ireland itself. Unlike an exchange programme, there is no guarantee that there will be other children in the family. Placements are always in safe residential areas and are mostly made in rural areas and medium-sized towns, very rarely in the centre of big towns. Students can be placed in any region in France except Paris, so they must be open to this when applying, as there is no guarantee of geographical preference in the placement process.

Host families come in all shapes and sizes: single parents with children living in the house, nuclear families, older couples whose children no longer live at home, and young couples who may not have children are all considered potential host families.

N.B. Students and parents cannot reject a host family placement in favour of a new one. Once host family details are sent to the student, they are final; students and parents must agree to accept them without prejudice and enter the programme with an open mind. Cancellations will incur loss of deposit.

Lycée is the second part of the French Secondary School system, and is aimed at students aged between 15 to 18. If the host family has children of their own, our partners try to place students in the same school as the children, this cannot be guaranteed. Students’ academic records are also taken into account. Please note that, like in Ireland, students may have to commute to school via public transportation, which could take up to 45 minutes each way.

Students may be placed in classes lower than their Irish equivalent depending on language ability and the community.

The school day in France is long, with an early start, a long lunch break, and an end at 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm. Actual start and finish times will vary by school. Students must be aware that French lycées do not offer sport and extracurricular options as schools in Ireland do. These can be found within the host communities.

Schools in France are divided into three regional zones, and each has different 7-week breaks. These breaks tend to last 10–14 days. Schools are closed in July and August for summer holidays.

• Please note that friends will not be placed together. This programme is designed for individual placement. Emphasis is on full language and cultural immersion. If friends apply together, they will be intentionally separated and placed in different communities and schools.
• Students may not return home for the duration of their programme. This includes Christmas and Easter holidays, and mid-term breaks. Likewise, all family visits must be limited to the end of the student’s programme, not at the beginning or in the middle. After years of experience, we find that such visits disrupt the adjustment process and can lead to further homesickness and integration problems. Of course, if an emergency, family bereavement or special circumstances arise, this will be null and void. Students cannot go on international family holidays or similar trips while on the programme.
• PPlease note that EIL/AFS may request students to take a French aptitude test, which will be organised after receipt of the application. Should a student not be accepted onto the programme, deposits will be refunded.
• EIL/AFS Ireland and our partner AFS France reserve the right to send home any student whose health requires it or whose conduct is considered improper or offensive to the host family, community or school. Such conduct includes drug use, vaping, unacceptable sexual behaviour, excessive drinking, violation of the law or failure in schoolwork. In the event that the student is returned home, either alone or accompanied, parents or guardians are responsible for all expenses above those covered by the fee. In such cases, no refunds will be available. If a student chooses to end the programme early on their own accord, for reasons including travelling home for a holiday or during mid-term, no refund will be given.

Please note that our Programme Agreement will be sent with applications. This agreement will need to be signed.

Students will be collected by their host families or volunteers from the selected airport or railway station and transported to the host community or an alternate location agreed upon by the host organisation and host family.

Some students may not be able to take a direct flight from Ireland and may need to connect at another airport or take a train to their host community.

Students will need to make this journey on their own and unassisted. Once a placement has been made, EIL will inform you of the specific airport or railway station and confirm the programme’s official dates.

Flights and local transport to the agreed station or airport are not included in the programme fees and should be booked by the participant and their parents.

Local and international transportation is not included in the programme fees. Students may need to take the bus to school and should ask their host families or EIL staff whether they need to budget for it in their spending while on the programme.

For current programme fees and further details, please contact us at [email protected].

• Deposit: 50% of the program fee
• Late application fee: €250
• Included: orientations, hosting fees, admin fees, three meals a day, board, school administration fees and medical/liability insurance
• Not included: flights, pocket money, transport money while abroad, school stationery, school uniform, school field trips, snack money, toiletries and special dietary food etc.

For current programme fees and further details, please contact us at [email protected].

• Deposit: 50% of the program fee
• Late application fee: €250
• Included: orientations, hosting fees, admin fees, three meals a day, board, school administration fees and medical/liability insurance
• Not included: flights, pocket money, transport money while abroad, school stationery, school uniform, school field trips, snack money, toiletries and special dietary food etc.

Looking for a different country? Explore our other Secondary School Abroad programmes for Irish students:

• Secondary School in Belgium – French immersion in the heart of Europe
• Secondary School in Germany – German exchange programme for Transition Year students
• Secondary School in Spain – Spanish immersion in southern Europe