Annual Program Review CIEE Study Center at the Université de ...

Annual Program ReviewCIEE Study Center at the Université de Haute Bretagne, Rennes IIRennes, France2007CIEE Program Director: Catharine Scruggs, Program Director, Western Europe,CScruggs@ciee.orgCIEE Resident Director: Loren RingerCIEE Academic Consortium Board Program Evaluation: www.ciee.orgCIEE Academic Consortium Board Monitor: Paul DeYoung, Reed CollegeEach summer, program directors write a Study Center Review for each CIEE StudyCenter program commenting on the previous academic year. The program director writesthe review based on input from the CIEE Academic Consortium Board members, residentdirectors, sending institutions, and student evaluations. Each report is made public on theCIEE website at www.ciee.org.Program GoalsThe program has three main goals: to increase language ability for intermediate andadvanced students; to increase knowledge about France and French culture; and to offerstudents with an adequate level of French language ability the opportunity to takeUniversity of Haute Bretagne (UHB) courses alongside French students. These goals areachieved through intensive language coursework, humanities coursework, and culturalactivities throughout the semester.The program met these goals during the 2006-07 academic year.New and Noteworthy FeaturesAcademicCommunity Language CommitmentThe French Language commitment in Rennes is now a written document that resemblesa formal contract and which students sign on the first afternoon upon arrival at the Parisorientation. Students and resident staff gather about an hour before going to the welcomedinner and after introductions and a warm-up, get-to-know-your-neighbor exercise, anddiscuss the pledge and its purpose. Together, the group comes up with strategies onmaking this a successful tool during their stay in Rennes.This was the first year that the commitment was presented during the Paris orientationand the results have been positive. During the orientation both in Paris and in Rennesmore French was being spoken than ever before. Even if some students do not entirelyrespect the commitment, all students understand the importance and see how they areresponsible for a successful outcome to their semester.Overall, the Resident Director believes that much progress has been made because ofthe language commitment. Centre International Rennais d’Etude du Francais pour lesEstrangers (CIREFE) teachers at the Université de Haute Bretagne, Rennes II, point outthat this approach combined with the homestay programs, contributes to better Frenchlanguage proficiency by CIEE students compared to other international students at theUniversity.Language TeachingThe CIREFE and CIEE continue to have a very strong relationship. Although the CIREFEcourses are not run by CIEE, the CIREFE takes seriously any concerns raised by CIEE.Page 1 of 5

For example, a major change to the Avancé (formerly 2ème degré) requiring six hour oflanguage instruction was made, in part, by the CIEE Resident Director making a formalproposal to the CIREFE last year.In the coming year, the CIEE Resident Director will be working with the CIREFE and itslanguage professors to push for more guided language instruction, including moreassigned work outside of the classroom and continuous assessment. This correspondsperfectly with what students have often found most difficult in adjusting to the CIREFEsystem.Out of Classroom ActivitiesBoth the Art History and History of Architecture classes go to museums each semesterand in the case of the latter, the teacher proposes short excursions. Both teachersreceived excellent student evaluations.Subject Area StudiesCIEE CourseThe lone CIEE course, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), is designed asan internship opportunity for students to teach English in local schools. This year, thecourse was taught by a Master’s degree student at Rennes II. She was excellent, verywell trained, and the students really enjoyed working with her.Direct EnrollmentCIEE is pleased that many students are directly enrolling in regular University courses.This past year, students took, among many other courses, Islam and Power, the GreatEmpires; Regional Geopolitics in Africa; Evolution in Climate and Environment; History ofBrittany; Medieval Europe; French Chansons; and Post-Romantic French Poetry. Sixstudents enrolled each semester in Translation, a course offered by the UHB EnglishDepartment. In addition, those students also took a one-hour tutorial, provided by CIEE,and offered by the TEFL teacher.In terms of grades, students who take regular university courses generally do well.Students continue to comment, though, on the difficulty of adjusting to the very differentteaching styles. (See the “Challenges” section below for additional information on thisissue).Out of classroomThe CIEE Resident Director continues to meet with students as a group on a weekly todiscuss intercultural issues. These sessions are generally well received.Non-AcademicCIEE OrientationThe only major change during the last year was made during the spring semester basedon comments from the fall semester students. Rather than do most activities as one largegroup, staff split the group into smaller cohorts for cultural visits in the spring. This workedmuch better and will be continued in the new academic year.Cultural Activities / Field TripsDuring the fall semester, there were two overnight trips; the first one to the Normandy D-day beaches, Caen & Bayeux; and the second to southern Brittany including Pont Aven,Quimper, Concarneau, La Pointe du Raz and Locronan. Students were delighted bythese trips and the monitors also had positive input. In addition to an Ionesco play inPage 2 of 5

Paris, the students also attended a contemporary circus show called Cirque Ici in Rennesin late October.During the spring semester, there were two 1-day excursions and one weekend trip. Thefirst was to St. Malo and Mt. St. Michel. This is an important excursion as it is the first timethat year and new semester students have a chance to meet. The guide at Mt. St. Michelwas excellent and the students were in awe of this world-renowned monument. Thesecond trip was to the prehistoric rock formations in Carnac and the city of Vannes. Theguided tour of Vannes was fantastic – the two guides for both groups did a good job ofshowing students this lovely medieval port city. The final excursion was to the LoireValley Castles. The students were overwhelmingly pleased with this trip.As for cultural activities in the spring, in addition to the Ionesco play in Paris, the studentsattended the Bartabas Equestrian Circus. This troupe has become as well-known inEurope as Cirque du Soleil has in North America. The show was absolutely stunning.Students were delighted.HousingAll students lived in host families with the exception of three year students who movedinto apartments during the second semester.There are no changes in the administration but the Resident Coordinator has beenregularly visiting families and joining the RD on all recruiting of new host families. TheResident Coordinator will be the primary homestay liaison beginning in spring 2008.The vast majority were pleased with their host families. They sited a good deal ofintegration, the language immersion and the sincere attempt of host families to makethem feel comfortable and have a pleasant stay in Rennes. For a small percentage, theexperience was not totally positive but they had to make more of an effort. A number ofthem were quite upfront in saying that they realized that it was quite complicated to livewith a host family after a couple years of independence from their own families. Othersfelt they were mismatched. Though some students are always placed in suburban areas(with wonderful hosts in beautiful, spacious homes) the bus stops at 9pm during weeknights (1am on weekends) which some students find inconvenient.Seven students were changed throughout the academic year which is higher than theusual number. In two cases, year students changed between semesters to try anotherfamily given certain difficulties.Community Engagement and IntegrationFor-Credit Internship and Community Service OptionsOne of the new CIEE Resident Coordinator’s Staci Soum-Fontez’ major tasks was tooversee the CIEE internships tied to the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)course. She contacted new schools and strengthened relationships with existingestablishments. There is a solid mix of grade, junior & high schools where CIEE studentscan teach. Staff carried out two observations of every student and students.Not-for-Credit Community Service / Volunteer ProjectsIn the fall, four CIEE students agreed to go to a retirement community home and explainthe tradition of Thanksgiving. They then ate with the residents and all of them werepleased with the contact. Additional volunteer opportunities are in the works for thecoming academic year.Page 3 of 5

Challenges and Future DirectionsAcademic ChallengesFrench Language and CIREFE classesAlthough the language prerequisites of students coming to Rennes haven’t changedoverall, there were three students first semester and one second semester that testedinto the very lowest language level. All of them did quite well and so the lower languagelevel does not constitute a problem for the CIREFE. However, this does tend to slowdown the whole group on any of the collective activities. In addition, it jeopardizes thesuccess of the language commitment. However, all four students did very well with theirhost families.The percentages of students that place in a given CIREFE level do not vary too muchfrom year to year. Since beginning the Advanced Track in French, there has been anincrease in students placing in Autonomie and Maîtrise. The methodology used in theCIREFE is sound but perceived as being a bit traditional. Students often say they arebored with the language classes and that they do not move fast enough. And yet, duringexam week a number of students are panicked and worried about their grade. Thediscrepancy usually takes place because teachers have a tendency to take for grantedthat students will learn by heart certain grammar rules, new vocabulary or stylistic devicespresented in class. Although CIEE wants students to have an authentic French learningexperience, CIEE is working with CIREFE professors to help our students more byassigning more homework, establishing more precise syllabi, and giving students moredirection.Direct EnrollmentThe challenge remains getting more students interested in direct enrollment andespecially courageous enough to take the plunge. They still fear that their grades mightsuffer. In addition, when they see the nice selection of content courses in the CIREFE,some of them find it easier just to stick with these options.CIEE is working on a program to provide additional support for students taking directenrollment courses beginning in spring 2008. French university students will accompanyCIEE students to their first few classes, making sure they find the classroom, understandthe professor and to give pointers on proper note-taking.Non-Academic ChallengesThe student group dynamics were excellent this year. Internet access improves each yearand has reached adequate standards. There is now wireless access on campus and overhalf of the host families have internet at home. There are relatively inexpensive internetcafes in town for those first few days when students might not have access.Integration continues to be the chief non-academic challenge. Staff continue to work onfinding an array of family types to host CIEE students. It is clear that the host familysituation offers the best chance for significant student integration into Rennes society.This year, in particular, students reported being included in all kinds of things; attendingmoves, going to concerts, being invited to street fairs and visiting the region. A goodmany students made friends through a host brother or sister and went out often. Anothersource of student integration is the Franco-American Institute. One student put on a fullscalerecital and presentation. Other students were regular attendees of the languageexchange conversation hour held there every Thursday. One student was enrolled in theRennes Conservatory and really enjoyed the contact he had with his professors andfellow students. Another student was on the university swim team; he attended meets inPage 4 of 5

Lille and Amiens during his stay and reported that it was a great experience and that hereally got to know other team members. During fall semester, three students were on theultimate Frisbee team and they also traveled to several cities here in Brittany for meets.Future DirectionsThe Resident Coordinator will join the Resident Director in the Paris orientation along withtwo French student monitors beginning in fall 2007. Therefore, all of the cultural visits willbe conducted in smaller groups.The Resident Coordinator will continue to look for adequate TEFL internship options forstudents, particularly in high schools.In terms of additional volunteer opportunities, the contact with the Rest Home has beenan encouraging experience and this and additional venues will be pursued.In recent discussions with the CIREFE faculty and resident director, the time seems ripeto once again expose the department to what the CIEE students would consider the bestpossible teaching methods for them. Without wanting to diminish the authentic Frenchclassroom experience, the resident director will be working closely with CIREFE toenhance language instruction, especially in the lower levels.The Resident Director will be on sabbatical during the spring semester 2008 replaced byDr. Andrew Irving of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Page 5 of 5