2023 FALL FRENCH IMMERSION

Information & Registration

Join Penobscot Bay Language School (PBLS), University of Maine at Augusta (French at UMA), and the Maine Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) for the return of the popular in-person 2023 FALL FRENCH IMMERSION held at Penobscot Bay Language School in Rockland, ME on Saturday, September 30th from 8am to 4 pm.

  • $90 for Students (full or part time, actively enrolled in an institution)
  • $125 Community Members

Scholarships available!

We hope to see you this fall!

Register Here

A special Togolese dinner at the PBLS at 6pm with French conversation + film at the Strand Theater at 8pm  – See below for more info.

Registration for both the Friday night dinner and the immersion day on Saturday closes on September 22nd. After this date, please call the school to inquire about remaining spots.

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. Our talented team of experienced volunteer French instructors are offering new and exciting workshops, popular activities from previous immersions, and will be accompanied by a few new faces!

There are two optional Friday evening events (September 29th), should you live in the area or wish to stay in Rockland the night before. We are hosting a special Togolese dinner ($45) from 6-7:15 pm at the school and you can choose that option when registering. We will have a wonderful dinner speaking French together! If you are shy about speaking or worried about the immersion day, it is a nice way to warm up in a smaller group setting.

In addition, the Strand Theater has offered to show a French film at 8pm that evening. Check their website for more information closer to the date. You would purchase your ticket directly at the theater that night.

If you are looking for housing on Friday night, you can check out the following locations.

https://tradewindsmaine.com/
https://www.rocklandharborhotel.com
https://www.250mainhotel.com/

Whether you are a high school student, college/university student, French teacher, an advanced or heritage speaker, or an interested community member seeking the challenge of a 100% French-speaking environment – you will benefit from this unique immersive opportunity!  Only French is spoken during the immersion; registrants need enough French to participate in the program fully.  Workshop facilitators are experienced educators and will guide participants through each workshop/activity, facilitate understanding and improve communication.  There will be handouts, supporting materials, and visual aids to help participants of differing levels and comfort stay engaged. Don’t worry – it is a very supportive environment and we are here to help you!

High school students should have completed two years of French study or equivalent, college students should have completed one year of French study or equivalent, and of course, community members who want to improve their language skills or who grew up with French in their household are always welcome.  If you are not certain of your level or wish to discuss it, please contact UMA Professor Chelsea Ray at [email protected].

Here is a list of the type of workshops typically offered:

  • writing poems
  • yoga
  • crepe making or cooking a special dish
  • exploring Quebec
  • French conversation
  • fun games (with cards and dice)
  • songs
  • knitting
  • Franco-American/Acadian culture
  • Francophone cultures in Africa
  • listening to news in French
  • French variants around the world

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

French at UMA and the Maine Chapter of AATF are offering several scholarships. Please complete the Scholarship Application prior to completing the registration form. If a scholarship is granted, recipients are asked to pledge that they will attend and participate in the immersion. For more information about scholarship cancellation policy due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, or similar reason, please contact [email protected]. There are scholarships available to following groups:

  • UMA students
  • community members
  • high school students
  • K-12 high school teachers

Please fill out this form by June 1st for consideration.  After that date, we will accept applications on a rolling basis if funding remains.

If you have questions about scholarships, please contact: [email protected].

Scholarship Application

NOTE ON CEUs

For participants seeking Continuing Education Credit a one-time $10.00 service fee will apply–paid directly to our partners UMaine Hutchinson Center–upon completion of the 2023 Fall French Immersion weekend at Penobscot Bay Language School (Rockland). Please contact Jared McCannell at [email protected] with specific questions about timeline, process or costs associated with CEUs and this event.

BUILDING ACCESSIBILITY

Please let us know if there is anything you’d like us to know about your health in consideration of this event.  If you have mobility limitations or a disability that would limit your participation in this event, please let us know so we can discuss specific needs. PBLS is wheelchair accessible, a one story building, with walkways and flat patio space leading in and out of the building and parking lot. There is one designated parking space with wheelchair loading a few feet from the front door. We strive to be accessible for all, and appreciate feedback about individuals’ experience at the building.

PLEASE REVIEW THE EVENT RULES & GUIDELINES

REVIEW

“The French Immersion weekend is a gem of an experience for active students of the language, as well as for members of the larger Franco-American community here in Maine, or those simply wanting to practice the beautiful language of French [..] The facilitators of the event are all such wonderful, warm people who create a beautiful opportunity to dive in and take one’s own pursuit of French to a new level.”     — Ashley Whittemore, UMA student and participant