Bonjour chers amis / chères amies!
Return to this page often for updates and information about the upcoming immersion day.
French at UMA and AATF-Maine are once again teaming up to offer our beloved tradition of the in-person French Immersion Weekend. It will take place at the University of Maine at Augusta on Saturday, October 5th, 2024 from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with an optional dinner on Friday, October 4th.
We have a wonderful full-day immersion planned for Intermediate level French speakers, but welcome and encourage Advanced and Heritage speakers of French to register and participate as well. Participants will be paired up with similar level speakers for many activities, while mixed level, facilitated conversations will create an authentic immersion experience for all learners. See below for additional information on language levels.
There is also an optional catered dinner on Friday, October 4th (5:30-8:30 p.m.). Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. This will give you an opportunity to meet some of the immersion day attendees and enjoy a nice meal from a Francophone country! After dinner, attendees will have the choice of engaging in conversation (with prompts and support for the intermediate group) or playing games. More information on that below!
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The immersion weekend was featured in the national publication of the National American Association of Teachers of French newsletter, when it was held at Blueberry Cove.
We would love your participation!
This is a rare opportunity and one of the few immersion events in the United States that brings together students, teachers, and community members. Our aim is to have fun while continuing to build our knowledge of the French language and the Francophone world! Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!
Activities
We are designing a fun, interactive, and enjoyable experience to help you take your French speaking skills to the next level. Immersion is great because it gives you time to absorb more language and encourages you to find new ways to communicate with the tools and vocabulary that you have used in the past. It also helps you to expand beyond your current knowledge.
You will have the opportunity to choose workshops at your level, and some do not require as much conversation (singing, art, games, etc.).
This year, we will offer hands-on, interactive workshops on topics such as:
- Crepe making
- News in French
- Francophone Africa
- Songs
- Games (both card games, etc., and outdoor games)
- Quebec
- Puppets
- Artwork and crafts
- Franco-Americans in New England
- Yoga
- Nature walks
How much French do I need for the immersion day?
We welcome intermediate and advanced speakers of French, whether you are a high school student, college/university student, French teacher, or interested community member seeking the challenge of a 100% French-speaking environment.
We only speak French throughout the weekend, so you will need enough French to participate. This does not mean that your French must be perfect! There will be handouts, supports, and visual aids to help you along. The workshop leaders are experienced teachers and can guide you through and facilitate understanding and communication.
High school students should have completed two years of French study or equivalent and college students should have completed one year of French study or equivalent.
Friday Dinner Details
The Friday evening event starts with icebreakers as people arrive at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6:00 p.m. After dinner, attendees can choose to continue with conversation or play games.
Games include: Sept familles (a “Go Fish” type of game in French), scrabble (in French), ping pong, foosball, cornhole, and Molky (a Swedish throwing game with points). Activities could also include a walk on the campus trails.
Lodging
If you wish to avoid traveling home after the Friday evening event (only to drive back in the morning), you can stay in Augusta. We have blocked off rooms at the Senator Inn in Augusta for Friday night. There are single queen bed rooms for $109 and double queen rooms for $149. You will need to call them to get the group rate: 207-622-5804.
You would need to reserve before September 1st to get the group rate.
GROUP CODE: SEN French Immersion Group.
The on-site restaurant opens at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast and the hotel is less than 10 minutes from UMA.
How to Register
This event is now full. You can still fill out the registration form to be added to the waitlist. Should a spot open up, we will email you and you will have three business days to purchase and secure your spot.
If you receive a scholarship, there will be a place to note that during the registration process.
We expect to fill this year as we have in the past. If we have a waitlist, you will be notified if a spot becomes available and you can pay at our online store at that time.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received on or before September 16th will be refunded at 50%. Cancellations after September 16th will not be refunded.
Cost
Registration cost is $90 for part- and full-time students and $125 for community members.
The optional Friday night catered dinner is $45.
When you register, you can choose to register for the full immersion day on Saturday with or without the dinner. If you are not yet sure about your plans for dinner, you can choose to register later for the dinner.
Deadline
Registration for both the dinner and the immersion day will close on September 24th. We anticipate that this event will fill, so you should register well before that date to ensure you get a spot!
Scholarships
Scholarship sponsors for the weekend include French at UMA, University of Maine, and the Maine Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French. See the FAQ section below for information on available scholarship opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Event Committee and Sponsors
This event is sponsored by French at UMA and the American Association of Teachers of French (Maine chapter). It is organized by UMA French Professor Chelsea Ray (coordinator), AATF President Nathalie Gorey and a devoted team of teachers who have a passion for language immersion and who work hard to provide these kinds of experiences to students of diverse levels and backgrounds.
French at UMA has been involved in the immersion weekend since around 2010, deepening its involvement by hosting it in 2018 and 2019, as well as during the pandemic on Zoom (2020, 2021). Most recently (2022-2023), the immersion weekend was a program of the Penobscot Bay Language School under the direction of Jared McCannell.
Julia Schulz was the heart and soul of this event for many years as the co-founder and President of the Penobscot Bay Language School. Here is her biography and a brief history of how the immersion weekend came to be.
Forthcoming: we are planning to showcase past photos from previous immersion years, so watch for that!
Donate to French at UMA!
By donating to French at UMA, you are supporting this kind of French language programming and help ensure that future students receive scholarships to the immersion weekend and other events. MERCI BEAUCOUP!