At what time of the day do classes take place?
Main classes (practical classes and workshops) take place in the morning from 8:45 until 12:00. In the afternoon, EMC courses are held for those who are enrolled. For students not taking part in the EMC classes, there is the possibility to study on your own at the Multimedia Centre.
Is the cost of teaching materials (handouts, brochures, etc.) included in the course price?
Yes.
Can I get a scholarship to study at the Cours de vacances?
Check with your university to find out if it has an agreement with the Cours de vacances. If your university does not, please contact the Cours de vacances.
Do I need to have a degree to enrol in the Cours de vacances?
No, you have to be 17 years old and wish to learn French.
How does the first day of classes unfold?
We meet at 8:15am in the Anthropole building at the University of Lausanne (the allocated room will be confirmed in your enrolment confirmation letter). You will take a written assessment test in the morning, which includes written comprehension and expression and oral comprehension. In the afternoon, an oral expression test will be undertaken, which finishes at 15:30.
Can I take an examination and obtain a certificate at the Cours de vacances?
Yes, you can do so by enrolling in the summer EMC program with the ECTS credits. This gives you the opportunity to obtain the Certificat de qualification en français.
Is there an entrance test at the Cours de vacances?
Yes, the assessment test which takes place on the first day of the course. This includes a written assessment in the morning and an oral assessment in the afternoon. Please note the purpose of this test is solely to help us place you in a class suited to your level. During summer courses, the assessment test isn’t run for beginners.
Exception for the Introduction aux écrits universitaires (IEU) course: Your entry in this class depends on the result of your assessment test on the first day of the course. Since you must at least be at level B1/B2 for this course, you must have acquired the skills of the B1 level and must be working on acquiring the level B2 on the first day of the course. If your result at the assessment test does not pass the understanding necessary for this course, we will endeavour to put you in a regular class, subject to availability. If your result at the assessment test does not pass the understanding necessary for this course and no places are available in the regular classes, you will not be able to attend the course and your course will not be refunded.
Is there a minimum level required to participate in the Cours de vacances?
No, you can attend the Cours de vacances even if you have absolutely no knowledge of French. The only exception is for the Introduction aux écrits universitaires (IEU) course, as mentioned above.
Are there courses for each level at each 3-week session?
In summer, all levels are can be taken. We also offer a 6 week course for beginners new to French. In winter, all levels can be taken, except for beginners new to French.
Is it possible to study French as a foreign language at the University of Lausanne also during the academic year?
Yes, you have two options:
- At the École de français langue étrangère, tel: ++ 41 (0) 21 692 30 80 or email: efle@unil.ch, www.unil.ch/fle.
- Remotely with FORCAD (UNIL Formation Continue à Distance) in french as a foreign language, tel: ++ 41 (0) 21 692 36 31 or email: forcad@unil.ch, www.unil.ch/forcad.
How can I self-assess my french level in order to enrol in the appropriate course?
You can refer to the criteria found on the following page: global scale of the European language portfolio. You can also download a more precise test application on the website: Le Point du FLE. It will take 40 to 60 minutes to do the test, so please plan accordingly for this.
It should be understood, however, that classes are ultimately organized according to the written and oral assessment that takes place on the first day of your course.