The School

The junior school was opened in 1984 and welcomes 100 students per week. The school offers different programmes at Easter and in the summer, some for 12 to 14 and some for 15 to 18. Depending on which programme students are doing, they may be accommodated in the Pavillon or in the adventure base. Each programme has 16 to 20 students per week. A few French students also participate in the programme.

Location: The centre is located in a beautiful private provencal domaine near Gréoux-les-Bains.

Facilities: The domaine has two main sections: the Pavillion d'Aurabelle and the Adventure Base. The Pavillon d'Aurabelle is the main part of the centre, it offers various teaching areas (indoor and outdoor classrooms), a swimming pool, playgrounds, beachvolley, a basketball pitch, a circus corner, a giant chess and a computer room with internet access.

Students: The school welcomes students aged 12 to 18, split into 12 to 14 and 15 to 18. The majority of the students are europeans (mainly from Belgium but also from Germany, Switzerland, UK, Ireland,The Netherlands, Italy) and the rest come from America, China, Canada, Turkey and Thailand.

Bank Holidays: Lessons and activities take place as usual on bank holidays and weekends.

The school has the following affiliations or memberships:

FLE, Officially recognised as a "centre de formation" by the French ministry of Employment and Solidarity, member of Maison de France, Bildungsurlaub

Lessons

The French workshops take place every morning. The center has developed its own teaching method based on "la communication des 3P: parole, pratique et plaisir". You will be practising three hours a day, at your own level and in small groups of 6 to 8 students. The learning sessions are creative: role playing games, interviews, radio or video reporting. You will gain confidence which will make you feel like speaking French all the time.

Activities

The activity and leisure programme includes exploring the hills of Aurabelle on horseback, canoeing through the 'Basses Gorges' of the Verdon river, meeting craftsmen, taking part in creative workshops (pottery, masks or pizza-baking), learning how to juggle, playing an African jembé drum and much more. The programme also includes two full day excursions.

There are also activities in the evenings such as theatre enactments, camping in the open air (bivouacing), local village ball, pizza evening, quizzes and a hip dance party. The friendly monitors will join in everything with you.

It is possible to combine this programme with four sessions of horse riding at the neighbouring stable yard. Sessions are taught in ability groups by professionally trained instructors. This option costs an extra 80 euros.

Accommodation

The programme includes full board accommodation in the main part of the domaine, the 'Pavillion d'Aurabelle'. The Pavillon offers comfortable bedrooms for 4 to 6 students all with toilet and showers. Students and instructors enjoy delicious meals together at a long table on the terrace.

Practical Information

Want to know more? Request More Information about this and other courses.