Distance Learning at French Universities
If you want to learn French, a French University is the place to do it. The best way to learn French is to actually study abroad, but if you can't do that, then doing distance learning at a French University is the next best thing. There are several considerations though when you decide to do this.
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History and Today
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Studying at French universities has always been a great way to learn French, but studying through distance learning is a great alternative that became popular in the last several years. The first distance learning programs were developed as mail-order courses in the '80s and '90s. However, it was soon found that these programs didn't work as well as they could have. French universities started to offer online distance courses at the start of 2000. Since then, the programs have grown, and so have the number of schools offering them. Currently, there are about 50 programs that offer French language learning by distance learning. Some of them are better than others.
Benefits and Programs
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By studying French from a French university in a distance learning method, you get all of the great instruction and learning that you would if you were doing a study abroad program. You would study from your own home, without having to worry about studying abroad. Also, you can usually do this for much cheaper than a study abroad program.
The best programs---found at schools like those in Orly, Pau, Paris, and Orleans---are programs in which you take courses via technology like video and audio recordings, live video feed, and Internet chat rooms. These programs allow you to see and hear instructors and other members of the class. Learning French is easier when you can study using advanced technology.
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Cost
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It is important to weigh the benefits over the cost when looking at prospective programs. A typical study abroad program can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per semester, not counting room and board. An online or correspondance class taken independantly will cost you anywhere from $300 to $500 per course. However, some schools, like those in Paris, will require you to be enrolled, so you will have to pay full tuition plus other courses. With studying from home, of course, there will be no room and board costs and no traveling costs.
Finding Programs
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If you're interested in a distance learning program to learn French at a French university, conduct an online search for French correspondence or distance learning programs in France. There are hundreds of programs within the United States and other countries which operate in the same way, but by searching for the programs within France, you'll find exactly what you're looking for.
Considerations
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Although French universities are typically the best places to learn French, and although some offer correspondence courses, you might also find distance learning courses and correspondence courses through universities that exist only online, such as the University of Arizona or the University of Auckland. Although these are not French universities, the schools are online based, so each program is set up for distance learning.
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