Is the SLI Right For You

Taught by dedicated instructors from the University of Virginia's Department of French, the Summer Language Institute in French provides an intensive program of language study in a near-immersion setting. Students attend approximately 7 1/2 of instruction per day, divided into morning, afternoon & evening sessions. Students who successfully complete both sessions of the program will receive credit for the first four semesters of elementary- and intermediate-level French language at the University of Virginia.  In addition, graduate students preparing for reading exams or research in Francophone archives have the option to enroll in the “Graduate Student Session in Translation,” a program within the SLI that is specifically geared to their needs

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Generally the SLI is best for students with the following backgrounds:

• undergraduates who have never studied French before
• high school students who want to get ahead on their college language courses
• undergraduates who have had one or two years of high school French and/or have not had French in several years
• graduate students who have not studied French before
• graduate students preparing to take proficiency exams
• graduate students who have had one or two years of French and/or have not studied French in several years

LEARNING STYLES AND GOALS

The SLI is geared toward students with the following skills and goals:

• students who wish to practice reading, writing, listening and speaking, but with a stronger emphasis on speaking and understanding spoken French
• students who enjoy learning foreign languages and who wish to fulfill the language requirement in one summer
• students who wish to study and/or conduct research in a French-speaking country
• students who feel comfortable working at an accelerated pace
• students who enjoy working with others, and who are willing to adapt to socializing, learning, and in some cases living with a diverse group of students
• students who enjoy participating in social activities
• Students who have the time and motivation to devote to the intensive classroom instruction as well as the required evening activities