Important Program Information
Academic Course Term: Summer 2027 Semester
Tentative Travel Dates: May 29 – June 26, 2027
Application Deadline: January 15, 2027
Scholarship Application Deadline: November 1, 2026
Interest Meetings: Complete our interest form to receive a meeting invite. View upcoming meetings on the Education Abroad calendar.
Program Description
Transform your summer with the UCA France Immersion program—a five-week faculty-led study abroad experience in the heart of France! Designed for University of Central Arkansas students, this immersive program partners with Tours Langues to help you build real-world language skills, gain deep intercultural insights, and step into global citizenship. Beyond classroom learning, you will experience daily French life firsthand by staying with a welcoming local host family—giving you an authentic, inside look at French culture.
Destination Highlights:
- The Heart of the Loire Valley: Experience life in Tours, a historic city celebrated for its vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and reputedly “purest” spoken French—making it the ideal classroom for language immersion.
- Châteaux & Countryside: Explore the world-famous castles, gardens, and historic estates scattered throughout the picturesque Loire Valley.
- Homestay Life: Live directly with a French host family, offering an extraordinary opportunity for cross-cultural connection, home-cooked local cuisine, and natural daily conversation.
Program Highlights & Activities:
- Intensive Language Instruction: Elevate your speaking, listening, and writing skills with structured coursework tailored to accelerate your French proficiency.
- Cultural & Media Analysis: Study French film, popular culture, and societal customs to build a sophisticated understanding of contemporary France.
- Guided Cultural Excursions: Participate in curated group trips and guided visits across Tours and the surrounding region to bring your studies to life.
- Global Skill-Building: Develop key competencies in intercultural communication, critical cultural analysis, and global perspective that set you apart in any career field.
Program Cost & Scholarships
Program Costs
View the program’s Cost and Funding page in Via, for more information about the total cost to attend the program, including Student Program Fee and tuition, payment deadlines, and details regarding financial aid and scholarships.
Scholarships
Students attending this program may be eligible to apply for the following institutional study abroad scholarships:
- Office of Education Abroad Study Abroad Scholarship
- The Robert and Carol Adcock Study Abroad Scholarship
- Nicole Wable Hatfield International Study Scholarship
- EDGE Funding
- Travel Abroad Grant (TAG)
Course Offerings
- French Culture, Art, and Daily Life in France
- Film, Tourism, and Popular Culture in France
- French Language Immersion — French as a Foreign Language
Faculty Leaders
Dr. Arnaud Tcheutou
Assistant Professor of French
Dr. Tcheutou brings a strong international and intercultural perspective to his teaching. His research focuses on Francophone African literature, postcolonial studies, theater, and cinema. He is passionate about helping students build French-language skills, cultural awareness, and global perspectives through immersion and travel.
Dr. Glenn Jellenik
Associate Professor of English
Dr. Jellenik teaches 18th- and 19th-century British literature, literary theory, and film and literature. His research focuses on adaptation, particularly during the long eighteenth century. His recent work explores historical approaches to adaptation and the connections between contemporary ideas of adaptation, Romanticism, and originality.
