Seine

Montmartre

Montparnasse

Arc de TriompheChamps-Élysées

Sacré-Coeur

Gare du Nord

Galeries Lafayette

Republique

Gare Saint-Lazare

Avenue Montaigne Grand

Palais Jardin des Tuileries

Les Invalides

Musée de Quai Branly

La Tour Eiffel

Parc du Champs de Mars

Jardin du Luxembourg

Sorbonne

Notre Dame

Musée d'Orsay

Le Louvre

Les Halles

www.ef.comImportant Note: Factual information contained in this document is subject to change.

LanguageCourses AbroadFor adults and students aged 16 & above

EF International Language Centers

Accreditations and Memberships

The EF International Lan-guage Centers in London,

Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol

and Bournemouth are:

EF Dublin is accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in the USA are members of:

The EF Interna-tional Language

Centers in the USA are accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are accredited by:

EF Nice and EF Paris are recognized with the Label Qualité Français

Langue Etrangère.

EF Vancouver and Toronto are accredited by Languages Canada.

All EF Courses are certified by Southern

New Hampshire University.

EF Education is an active participant in

the Comité Européen de Normalisation.

The EF International Language Centers

in Brisbane and Perth are

members of:

The EF International Language Centers in

Cambridge, München, Cape Town, Paris and Nice are accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in London, Cambridge,

Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Bournemouth are

members of:

All EF Courses are recognized by Hult

International Business School.

Federation of International Youth

Travel Organizations.

EF Paris

ParisCapital of style, romance and “joie de vivre”,

many consider Paris to be the most elegant

and sophisticated city in the world. We offer well

equipped classrooms, excellent French tuition and

easy access to the city’s attractions.

Contact details:EF Ecole Internationale de Francais, 5 avenue de provence, 75009 Paris, France Tel: +(33)1 55 33 13 55 Emergency Tel: +(33) 6 24 55 17 48

Watch a video

Or visit us atFacebook.com/EFParis

Section Topic

1 .......... Introduction to EF

2 .......... Welcome to France

3 .......... Weather watch

4 .......... Travel & transfer service

5 .......... School information

6 .......... Academics

7 .......... Accommodation & meals

8 .......... Money matters

9 .......... Phones, faxes & Internet

10 ........ Health care & insurance

11 ........ School activities & excursions

12 ........ Transportation

13 ........ Expectations

14 ........ French culture & living tips

15 ........ Adjusting to a new culture

16 ........ EF school calendar & holidays

17 ........ Checklist

Contents - Paris

Dear Student

We are very happy to welcome you to our EF School

in Paris. We will do our best to help you to enjoy your

stay in Paris, known as the “City of Lights”.

You’ll have the opportunity to study French and

discover the ‘French Touch’. Have you already tasted

a delicious baguette freshly baked during the night?

What about a little cruise on the Seine – a good way

to discover the amazing monuments of the French

capital. The city offers a great deal of diverse activities

year round from cultural events to social gatherings to

exciting sports competitions.

See the best of Paris, while studying French and

enjoying all this city has to offer.

The school staff and I look forward to welcoming you

at EF Paris. Welcome aboard!

Bienvenue et à très bientôt!

Alix Lallement, School Director

EF International Language Center, Paris

3 Paris, France

2. Welcome to Paris, FranceParis is one of the world’s most famous cities.

For centuries people have visited the “City of

Lights” – where elegance and the art of living

are constantly being reinvented.

Paris plays host to many of the world’s re-

knowned tourist attractions including Notre-

Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and Sacré-

Cœur. Paris is not only the historical, cultural

and economic capital of France but also the

epitome of French civilisation.

Brief History of the City

A Celtic tribe named “the Parisii” settled the

town on the current Ile de la Cité. The name

was changed to Lutèce in 52 B.C. Following

invasions by Germanic tribes in the 3rd century,

the city was renamed Paris. By the end of the

15th century, the city had become the larg-

est economic and cultural centre in western

Europe, with 200,000 inhabitants. Though the

Bourbon kings of France favoured Versailles,

Paris regained its importance with the French

Revolution, in 1789.

3. Weather WatchParis has a mild climate, in between the oceanic

climate from the west and the semi-continental

from the east. This climate comes from the geo-

graphical position of Paris in Western Europe.

Paris has cool winters and mild summers. The

temperature has fallen to -15°C (like the winter

1953-1954) and risen to 38°C (like the summer

2003). But, rest assured, these extremes are

rare! Seasonal temperatures as mentioned be-

fore are mild. January is the coldest month with

an average of 4.7 °C. July and August are the

warmest months with an average of 20 °C.

4. Travel & Transfer Paris has two major airports (you can find in-

formation about arrivals or departures on www.

adp.fr). Orly (abbreviated ORY on the flight

ticket) is situated 14 km south of Paris and

Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (abbreviated CDG on

the flight ticket) 23 km north of the centre.

We highly recommend you to take advantage of

the one-way transfer service from the airport to

the homestay. You must inform the EF office in

your home country of the exact details of your

flight (airline, flight number, date and time) at

least one month before your arrival. This is espe-

cially important if you are staying in a homestay

so your hosts are home when you arrive.

When you arrive at Paris Airport, you should look

for the EF Greeter as you come out of customs

when you exit the terminal. Please make sure

that you use this gate as the EF Greeter will be

waiting for you when you come out. He or she

will be wearing an EF T-shirt or carrying an EF

sign. If you cannot find your greeter as soon

as you reach the arrivals hall, call the Toll free

number +33 800 00 29 21 from the airport or

the emergency number.

If for some reason you change your flight, miss

a connection or cannot find the greeter, don’t

hesitate to call the EF emergency number. It is

very important that we know of changes so that

we can meet you at the airport.

Independent Travellers

If you are arriving in Paris with your own travel

arrangements, please inform your EF office of

your flight or train details and your expected

arrival time at your homestay. You should

estimate 1.5 to 2 hours to get your luggage, go

through customs at the airport and travel.

Airport/city centre connections

Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport

❚ Air France coaches to central Paris, not

restricted to Air France passengers. Depart

from Paris CDG to Charles de Gaulle Etoile:

every 15 minutes. Average journey takes

about 40 minutes and costs around 10€.

❚ Roissy Bus: direct transport to the Opera

Garnier. Average journey is 45 minutes and

the approximate fare is 8.50€.

❚ RER B: A combined ticket of airport shuttle

and SNCF Train. Buses and train leave from

CDG every 15 minutes, the journey between

Gare du Nord and CDG takes 35 minutes and

costs 8.10€.

1. Introduction to EFEF Education First, welcomes students of all ages from every corner of the world to learn a language at our schools all over the world. Our innovative curriculum uses an intensively structured academic program along with an array of educational and so-cial activities, resulting in a fast and fun way to learn a language.

EF students come from diverse backgrounds and like you, they have chosen a program to enhance their language skills as part of their academic or career plan. Many have planned for many years to take advantage of this opportunity.

A large percentage of our students ap-ply their new language skills by taking a recognized exam. Successful completion provides the necessary language qualifi-cations for university and for professional endeavours. Many students view their time with EF as a chance to explore educational alternatives whilst honing language and study skills.

A great aspect of an EF program is the variety of nationalities at our schools. We welcome you to join this international com-munity where you’ll experience life and language with EF. We take great pride in our continuing dedication to our mission - breaking down barriers of language and culture.

4 Paris, France

❚ Taxis: it costs between 45€ and 60€ from

CDG to the centre of Paris. There is an extra

charge for luggage.

❚ Airport’s limousine service: A car with driver,

reservation mandatory and the cost is 160-

200€.

Orly airport

❚ Air France coaches to central Paris, not re-

stricted to Air France passengers. Departure

from Paris Orly to Invalides and Montpar-

nasse every 12 minutes. Average journey

takes 30 minutes and costs around 7.50€.

❚ Orly Bus: Departs Place Denfert Rochereau

every 15 minutes. The journey takes approxi-

mately 25 minutes and costs about 5.70€.€

❚ RER B and orlyval : A combined ticket with

airport shuttle and SNCF Train. The journey

costs 8.80€ and takes about 30 minutes.

❚ 4. Taxis: It costs between 50-70€ to go by

taxi from Orly to the centre of Paris. There is

an extra charge for luggage.

❚ Airport’s limousine service A car with driver;

reservation is mandatory and the trip will cost

approximately 160-200€.

Try to avoid cars during rush hours (8:30 to

10:00 and 16:30 to 19:30).

5. School InformationThe EF International School of French is

situated in the heart of Paris, within walking

distance of the Opéra, the George Pompidou

centre, la Bourse and Notre Dame. The school

occupies the ground floor and first floor of an

independent building.

A very competent staff of teachers and Aca-

demic Director assist the School Director. Also

available to assist you are a Housing/Adminis-

trative Coordinator and Activities Coordinator.

EF staff and teachers will be available to assist

you when you have problems, questions or

concerns.

Study Lounge

For those looking to study in between classes,

the school features a quiet study lounge and a

language laboratory/computer lab.

Computer Labs

The computer lab can be used outside of class

during limited hours to check email, do class-

work or practice French lessons.

Self-access centre

All students are invited to make full use of our

reading room and additional listening compre-

hension study materials.

6. AcademicsParis is home to more than 300,000 stu-

dents so it is the university capital of Europe,

therefore a very active city for students. The

EF academic programme gives students the

opportunity to study the French language and

the local culture for as long and with as much

intensity as suits the student and his or her

needs. All students will attend grammar, listen-

ing, speaking, reading and writing classes.

Your First Day

On your first day of school, you will be wel-

comed at 9:00 by the school staff (8:30 during

the summer) and you will be given a language

placement test lasting approximately 1.5 to 2

hours; this will allow us to place you in the right

class. Later you will have an orientation to give

you details about the school, the city of Paris,

its surroundings, and recreational activities. On

Tuesday, the second day, you will start your

French course.

Our teaching staff will make sure that you are

placed at the right level. Promotions to higher

levels are based on class performance, atten-

dance and teachers’ comments.

Class Schedule

Classes will be scheduled between 9a.m

and 6.00p.m Monday through Friday (8:30

am - 6:50 pm during the summer months).

Students will either have a combination of

morning and afternoon classes or a morning

schedule only. The schedule will be confirmed

during orientation on the first day. Classes are

usually taken in blocks of two lessons of 40

minutes each.

Class size

The average class size is 12 students; the

maximum class size is 17 students.

French teaching programmes

There will be Intensive and General courses,

from beginners to advanced levels. The Exam

and Business courses are available to students

of an intermediate to advanced level only.

Special Interest Courses (SPINs)

Depending on your course type you may also

select a number of special interest (SPIN)

classes. The selection of SPIN classes vary

throughout the year and may not be repeat

each year. Each lesson is 40 minutes in length,

and two lessons are combined into one eighty-

minute teaching period.

Course books

As part of your academic program, you’ll be

expected to buy the books and classroom

materials that you will use in class. The exact

number of books that you’ll need is determined

by your academic level, progress and choice of

special interest classes. If you wish to buy ad-

ditional books you may need more money. The

books you buy are yours to keep, write in and

take home with you for future reference.

Exams

Students also have the possibility of preparing

and taking either of the following exams:

Le Certificat de Français is suitable for stu-

dents with a lower intermediate level of French.

It takes place once a year, in April. A prepara-

tion course of 8 – 12 weeks is recommended.

Le Diplôme Elémentaire de Langue Française

(DELF) is suitable for students with an intermedi-

ate to advanced level of French. It is made up of

four units which are offered frequently through-

out the year and are cumulative. A preparatory

12 week Intensive Course is recommended

for candidates of an already intermediate level

or higher. It is sometimes possible to take the

missing units in your own country.

Le Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française

(DALF) is suitable for students with a highly

advanced level of French. It is made up of 2 units

which are offered only a couple of times per year.

Please consult your home office for exact

dates. A preparatory 12 week Intensive Course

is recommended for candidates already at an

advanced level.

Course Certificate

At the end of your course, you will receive a

certificate showing that you have attended

courses regularly. If you have stayed at the

school for four weeks or more, you will receive

5 Paris, France

an academic record attesting to the progress

you have made.

However, please note that these certificates are

only given to students who have attended class-

es regularly. To be eligible for an EF certificate,

students are expected to participate in class and

must attend at least 80% of all classes.

7. Accommodation & MealsWe feel that accommodation in a homestay is

the best way for you to integrate into French

society and make the most of your stay in Paris.

If you prefer to find your own accommodation,

then your EF office can inform you of the amount

that will be deducted from your total course fee.

It is important that you consider your options

before leaving your home country.

Once you have chosen the homestay accom-

modation, you have committed yourself to stay-

ing with a family for the duration of your course.

For your own comfort and safety, please ob-

serve the following rules during your stay in EF

accommodation:

❚ Consumption of drugs is strictly forbidden.

Students not respecting this rule will

be sent home at their own expense.

❚ Students cannot bring pets or animals with

them in homestay accommodation.

❚ No open flames (Candles, cookers, etc) are

allowed in student rooms.

❚ No alcohol is allowed in student rooms.

Homestay accommodation

Our homestays are selected by the local EF Ac-

commodation coordinator, who knows all of the

families personally. Your room is reserved from

the day before your course starts through the

Saturday morning immediately after it finishes.

Customs and traditions in France may be

different from what you are used to at home,

so remembering a few simple rules will help

to make your life, as well as your homestay

host’s, easier.

Transportation: You are responsible for all

transportation costs to and from the host’s

home. You may be placed up to one hour

away from the school.

Room: Bed linens and towels as well as closet

space will be provided. You will also have access

to a desk or table, which may be in another

room.Generally, you will share a twin room with

an EF student of a different nationality, although

we can not guarantee this at all times of the year.

Arrival: Please make sure you advise your

homestay hosts, or EF office, of your estimated

time of arrival.

Inviting friends: Please ask your hosts before

inviting friends to their home. Also, please do not

expect your hosts to serve meals to your friends.

Extra night : Please do not arrange extra

accommodation nights directly with your home-

stay hosts without letting the school staff know.

Damages: Should you cause any damages to

your host’s property, please inform them imme-

diately and settle the matter directly with them.

EF acts only as a mediator between student

and homestay and will not accept responsibil-

ity for any damages caused by you.

Telephone: Please do not use your host’s tele-

phone without asking them first. If you want to

make a phone call to your home country, make

a collect call (this is called “PCV” in France), or

ask your family and friends to call you.

Meals: Please note that the French tend to

be meat lovers and do not cater very well for

vegetarians.

Heating: Heating in many homes is not turned

on until November.

Respect your hosts: If you plan to be out

late, please inform the family when you are

expected to return home.

Laundry: Your hosts will launder your sheets

and towels, however they are not responsible

for your own personal laundry (although some

families may offer to do it for you anyway, for a

small fee to cover water and detergent). Upon

arrival, you will receive information which will

contain a list of launderettes available to you.

EF Staff: Should you feel unhappy with your

homestay, please try to discuss it with them.

You may suffer from “Culture Shock” because

the French do many things differently from

what you are used to at home. However, if

you have any serious problems and are still

unhappy after the first few days, you should

contact the EF staff who may, if necessary, find

another homestay for you. It is very unlikely

that such a case will arise, as our homestays

are selected with great care.

6 Paris, France

Changing homestays: Homestay accommo-

dation is booked for your entire programme;

requests for change will be considered on an

individual basis. If you decide to leave your EF

homestay family and find your own accom-

modation, you must give at least one month’s

notice and pay a cancellation fee. If you do not

respect this notice period, you will be asked

to pay your accommodation and the penalty.

If you are entitled to a refund you will be con-

tacted by your sales office.

Meals

Your hosts will provide you with breakfast and

an evening meal daily. You are responsible for

buying your own lunch every day. Since food

may be different from what you are used to

eating at home, you should come to France

prepared to sample a range of perhaps unfa-

miliar dishes.

8. Money MattersCurrency

The currency in France is the Euro. The symbol

for this currency is €. The euro is divided into

100 cents (sometimes referred to as euro-

cents, especially when distinguishing them

from other currencies).

Banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10,

€20, €50, €100. They will each be a different

color to allow you to tell them apart more eas-

ily. Coins come in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c,

10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2.

Spending Money

We estimate that you will need about 150€ per

week to cover the cost of activities, weekday

lunches, sports, entertainment, activities and

transportation between your homestay and

school. The amount you need will be relative to

what your choices of activities are.

You will also need to take money for learning

materials used in class and for any language

proficiency exams you plan to take.

Banking and Wiring Money

Before you leave your home country, enquire at

your own bank to find a corresponding bank in

Paris, so that the transfer of money can be as

easy as possible. When you arrive in Paris you

can then open an account at this bank and in

case of emergency, your parents or sponsors can

wire money to you this way. Having a local bank

account is also a safer way to keep your money,

as it is not a good idea to carry a lot of cash.

Please note: Students under 18 years of age

must bring an authorisation from their parents’

bank, allowing them to withdraw money in Paris.

Most banks now issue automatic teller ma-

chine cards (ATM or PIN cards), which work on

internationally compatible banking networks.

Using your card at compatible cash distribu-

tors (match the network symbols from your

card to those of local distributors) you can

withdraw money from your account at home

using a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Withdrawals (with some exceptions) should be

based on the current bank exchange rate, and

a possible per transaction fee. Please enquire

with your bank at home to apply for a card with

a compatible network in France. Be sure to

keep your PIN separate from your card, in case

of loss or theft.

Credit Cards

We strongly recommend that students travel

with either a Visa or MasterCard. Credit cards

enable you to rent cars, reserve hotel rooms,

and do various activities, which may be more

difficult with cash or traveller’s cheques.

Banks

Banks are usually open daily from 9:00

to 16:30 except Saturdays, Sundays and

holidays. Most banks are open on Saturday

mornings and some are closed on Mondays.

Foreign currency exchange offices are open

daily except on Sundays; they are open late

everyday at the airports.

Wiring money

International money order wiring through the

Post Office or American Express is the fastest

way to wire money from abroad. There are

American Express offices all over the city open

from Monday to Saturday.

9. Telephone, fax & InternetTelephone Service

Telephone numbers in France are composed of

ten numbers. When making calls to France from

abroad, you must first dial the international ac-

cess code, then the country code (which is ‘33’

for France) and omit the ‘0’ from the city code.

To make local calls you can use a public

payphone and it will cost you the minimum

of 0,30€. To call abroad you need to dial 00

plus the code for your country followed by the

telephone number you wish to call. You can pay

with coins or you can purchase a phone card

at the school or at a “tabac” shop. They come

in 7,62€ and 15,24€ denominations. You can

also make phone calls from the local post office

where you pay the cost of the call after you

have finished. If you make any calls from you

homestay host’s telephone, you should always

ask first and you should call collect (“en PCV”).

Useful telephone numbers

Emergency numbers

❚ Hospital Lariboisière: 01 49 95 65 65

❚ Centre Anti-Poisons de Paris:

Hôpital Fernand Widal

200, rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis 75475

Paris Cedex 10: 01 40 05 48 48

❚ S.O.S. Doctors 24h/24h: 01 47 07 77 77

❚ Doctors close from school:

Maité Lavielle: 01 48 24 25 44

Powell-Roussin Lydie: 01 47 70 38 01

Other numbers

❚ SNCF Lost Luggage: 3635

❚ City Lost and Found:

36, rue des Morillons à Paris, dans le 15ème

arrondissement.

❚ Airport: 3950

Fax

The EF school has a fax machine for use

to conduct business. You are permitted to

send and receive faxes from this machine.

The following fees will apply to use the EF fax

machine.

❚ To send: 5€ per page

❚ To receive: The first two pages are free, with

a 1€ fee per page for each additional page.

Public fax machines can also be found in local

copy shops, post offices, etc

Internet Access

The school has a computer lab complete with

Internet access. You will have access to student

computers for language learning and may use the

computers with your teacher during class time.

Students also have limited access to computers

outside of the class timetable; a schedule of open

hours will be available at school. The school is

7 Paris, France

equipped with free Wi-Fi, wireless Internet. Stu-

dents are encouraged to bring their own laptops.

10. Health Care & InsuranceThe EF staff is happy to assist you in finding

an appropriate medical facility. EF requires

that all students be insured upon starting their

programme of study, if not, students will be re-

quired to purchase the EF recommended Erika

Travel Insurance. Students should take into con-

sideration that they have to pay for their visits to

the doctor, it can range from 30€ to 50€ (even

if one has insurance), this can then be refunded

later on by making an insurance claim.

We strongly recommend that you take out a

comprehensive health insurance policy before

leaving for Paris. An insurance policy specifically

geared to cover you in case of illness while away

from your home country is available through your

EF office. Regardless of which insurance provider

you subscribe to, we recommend that you bring a

translation in either French or English of your proof

of coverage or your policy details in order to

avoid any confusion about your coverage during

your stay. If you have any health problems during

your stay, please alert your homestay hosts, your

EF Resident Advisor, or the EF staff at the school,

any of whom can put you in touch with a doctor.

If you do have to see a doctor during your stay,

you should:

❚ Keep copies of all bills

❚ Keep all prescriptions

❚ Fill out an EF Insurance Claim Form if you

have purchased Erika Travel Insurance (forms

available upon request at the school).

Mutual Health Insurance Agreement

The below countries have a mutual health insur-

ance agreements with France. We recommend

that students ask their health insurance in their

home country for an E-111, E-106 or E-109 form.

❚ Austria, Israel, Poland, Belgium, Italy, Portugal,

Denmark, Liechtenstein, Spain, Finland, Luxem-

burg, Sweden, Germany, Morocco, Switzerland,

Greece, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Iceland,

Norway, United Kingdom and former Yugoslavia

Even students from the above countries should

consider purchasing a supplementary insurance,

since this mutual agreement covers them only

for basic treatment by the first available doctor. A

supplementary private insurance like Erika Travel

Insurance (see section on EF recommended in-

surance) entitles the student to a wider choice of

treatments and doctors, health services available

to them more quickly, and preferential conditions

for hospital stays.

Third Party Liability Insurance

Please make sure that you have third party liability

insurance. Particularly for longer-term students,

this is a condition for obtaining your Visa from the

local authorities.

Please inquire with your EF office prior to depar-

ture, as this type of coverage may already be

included in your policy, if you have purchased

student travel insurance through EF.

Erika Travel Insurance

Because security is EF’s number one priority, we

have negotiated a comprehensive tailor-made

travel insurance package for EF students with

Erika Travel Insurance, an international insurance

expert. The policy protects you against expenses

incurred through accident or illness, and provides

coverage for loss or theft of baggage and per-

sonal effects. It also provides coverage against

interruption of your EF program due to illness as

well as liability and legal expenses. The EF staff is

trained to assist with your Erika Travel Insurance

questions and claims. When you are sick or

injured the last thing you want to do is deal with

such issues. Let us help you!

11. Activities & ExcursionsExtracurricular activities contribute greatly to

your social and academic success. They not

only help you to relax after a day studying, they

also provide you with an opportunity to meet

and make friends from other classes, other

countries and other cultures. Your school’s ac-

tivities and trips give you the opportunity to apply

your life skills, practice French in real situations

and familiarize yourself with the French culture.

In addition, all museums are free for European

students under 25 years old.

Activity Programme

You will have the chance to take part in a pro-

gramme of sports, activities and excursions.

They are organised by the activity leader at

minimum cost to the student.

12. TransportationThere are several Metro (subway) and bus sta-

tions a few minutes walking from the school;

“Bonne Nouvelle” (subway, line 8 or 9), the

exit which should be taken is rue d’Hauteville,

Grands Boulevard (line 8 or 9), Strasbourg St

Denis (Line 8 or 9) and other subway stations :

8 Paris, France

Sentier (line 3), Bourse (line 3), Le Peletier (line

7). RERA: Opera (10 to 15 minutes walk.) There

are also many bus lines: 20, 39, 48, 67, 74, 85.

Public Transportation

The first metro is at 5:30 am and the last train

leaves the terminals of each line at 12:30 am

except when indicated (1:30 on Saturdays and

bank holidays). Passengers must stamp their

ticket at the point of departure. Metro and bus

maps are available for free in all metro stations.

One ticket costs 1.60€ and a book of ten costs

11.60€ and are used on the metro and on the

bus. They can be purchased on the bus or at

metro stations and at some corner stores.

There are also other travel cards :

❚ Mobilis: This card is valid for one full day

and can be used for an unlimited number of

trips by metro, RER, bus, suburban SNCF

Trains, the Montmartre funicular, the St Denis

Bobigny Tram and night bus. It is possible to

go as far as Euro Disney.

❚ Paris Visite: this card is valid for 1,2,3,4,5

consecutive days over the entire network

of the RATP (metro and buses), RER (fast

metro), SNCF (train) in Paris and Ile de

France, as well as on the some buses and

Roissyrail services in particular (it is possible

to buy it for up to 5 zones + airport). Paris

Visite can be purchased at the Paris Tourism

and convention Bureau, in metro, RER and

SNCF stations as well as in the airports.

❚ Weekly Travel Card: at a cost of 11.60€ per

week this card represents a cost effective way

to travel around Paris. With this card you are

entitled to one week unlimited travel within cen-

tral Paris (Zones 1 and 2), including the bus.

Buses

Please note that buses are often crowded during

rush hour and slower than the metro. The bus

lines that stop near the school are 29, 74, 48, 95.

Noctambus

The noctambus is for travel after the metro

closes. The service includes 10 bus routes

which leave the heart of Paris (Châtelet: avenue

Victoria or Rue Saint Martin) and go to the city

limits. Timetables: Châtelet/suburbs, a bus

leaves every hour between 1:30 a.m and 5:30

a.m. Suburbs/Châtelet: every hour between

1:00 a.m and 5.00 a.m. One ticket costs 2.60€.

Balabus

The balabus will take you to the main tourist

sites in Paris, every Sunday and Public holiday

between Apr 11 and Sept 26, from 12:30

- 20:00. Departures: bus stops are marked

Balabus. The whole trip lasts 50 minutes. Main

stops are: Gare de Lyon, Saint Michel, Musée

d’Orsay, Louvre, Concorde, Champs Elysées,

Charles de Gaulle Etoile, Porte Maillot, Neuilly.

Batobus

The Batobus (literally boat bus) travels up and

down the Seine and is a pleasant way to dis-

cover Paris and its historic centre. Unlike the

Seine cruise boats, it is cheap and allows you

to get on/off at most of the monuments, muse-

ums and prestigious sights situated along the

Seine. It runs seasonally from May-September.

Taxis

You can identify a taxi by the light on its roof.

If the light is switched off, the taxi is unavail-

able. Beware of bogus taxis (missing lights on

the roof) they charge high/unregulated fares.

There are additional charges for luggage, a

fourth passenger and for animals.

Car rentals

The approximate cost for renting a car per

day is 150€.

Bike rentals

You will find addresses for bicycle rentals and

excursions at your school. Prices vary from

16€ to 20€ per day and around 70€ for a

week. Vélo RATP has rental service packages:

ranging from 4€ per hour to 32€ for 8 days.

With “Vélib,” you’ll find stations are all over

Paris to rent your bike. The first 1/2 hour is free

of charge. More details at school

13. ExpectationsExpectations are a normal part of anticipating a

new experience. We understand that everyone

has their own individual beliefs and anticipations,

however we ask you to come with an open mind.

What you can expect from EF:

❚ Supportive staff, available for guidance and

encouragement.

❚ An academic program which combines language,

special interest, and culture-oriented classes.

❚ Full program of local activities and excursions

at special EF rates.

❚ Accommodation in either homestay or stu-

dent residence.

❚ All designated meals.

❚ EF Academic Year Abroad Diploma for

Academic Year Abroad students with 80%

attendance per term and good academic

standing and academic records

❚ EF Course Certificate for International Lan-

guage Students with 80% attendance and

good academic standing.

❚ Preparation classes and/or materials for appro-

priate standardized language exams and avail-

ability of University Placement Service (UPS).

What EF expects of you:

❚ To develop a greater understanding of the

world around you.

❚ To attend at least 80% of all classes and to

do your best in class at all times.

❚ To be respectful of your homestay hosts, your

classmates, your teachers and your community.

❚ To keep your room and shared areas clean.

❚ To speak French at all times.

❚ To abide by all laws, rules and regulations of

your host country, state, campus and school.

What you can expect from your homestay hosts:

❚ A comfortable, clean place to live.

❚ Prepared meals or accessibility to food to

prepare yourself according to the meal plan.

❚ Access to the school in approximately one

hour by public transportation. All transporta-

tion costs are your responsibility.

14. French culture & living tipsPassport/Visa

Duration of stay between three months and a

year: Citizens of EU countries do not require

visas. Students from outside the EU staying

three months or more, should obtain a “longue

durée” visa prior to arrival. Please check with

your French Embassy regarding the exact

formalities necessary. You will also have to

provide the following documents upon arrival:

Students from outside the EU: In addition to

the “longue durée” visa obtained prior to your

arrival, you will need: a copy of your passport,

three black and white photographs, a copy

of school diplomas (officially translated into

French), birth certificate, bank statement/proof

of funds, health insurance (all officially translated

into French) and the school’s admission letter.

9 Paris, France

Once you have applied for the Carte de Séjour

and provided all the necessary documents,

you will receive from the local authorities a

temporary permit which will allow you to travel

(called a “demande de Carte de Séjour”).

Additionally, after about 1-2 months, non-EU

students will need to go for a routine medi-

cal visit, and then afterwards will receive the

Carte de Séjour which will be attached in their

passport. The mandatory medical visit costs

55€. The entire process normally takes a few

months to complete.

The Schengen Visa

Very important for non-EU students on the

Multi-Language Year Programme or any

non-EU students intending to travel after their

programme in the Schengen states. The fol-

lowing European Countries participate in the

Schengen programme: Austria, Germany,

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece,

Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal,

Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands.

If applicable, a Schengen Visa issued by a

Consulate of the Countries mentioned allows

the holder to travel freely in these Countries.

For any non-EU students who are not normally

required to hold a visa for individual stays of up

to 90 days in one Schengen Country, but who

will be staying for a consecutive period of more

than 90 days in the Schengen Countries collec-

tively, either a Schengen visa or a valid visa from

each of the countries to be visited is required.

In either case, the visa application(s) must be

completed before you leave your home coun-

try, you will not be eligible to apply for a visa

from outside your home country and would

need to return home in order to obtain the ap-

propriate visa in person.

❚ If you intend to visit only one Schengen

Country, you must apply at the Consulate of

that specific Country.

❚ If you intend to visit several Schengen Coun-

tries, you must apply at the Consulate of the

Country, which is your main destination or

the Country where you will be staying longer.

❚ If you intend to visit several Schengen Coun-

tries, but do not have a main destination or

you will be staying the same amount of time

in each of them, you must apply at the Con-

sulate of the Country you will enter first.

❚ If you do not need a visa for the Schengen

Country which is your main destination,

please note that a visa may be required for

other Schengen Countries. You should then

apply for a visa at the Consulate of the Coun-

try you will enter first.

To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need:

❚ To appear in person at the Visa Office of the

Consulate closest to you. You must submit

the application form filled out completely stat-

ing the reason for requesting a visa and the

expected length of stay in the first Schen-

gen state you will visit as well as a recent

passport-size photograph. Please inquire

with your local consulate to see if more than

one copy of the application form, or multiple

photos will be necessary in your particular

case, which may vary depending on the

countries you intend to visit during your stay.

❚ To present your passport (which must be valid

at least 90 days over your expected stay), proof

of residency in your jurisdiction, a valid round

trip ticket for transportation, and proof of finan-

cial means to support yourself during your stay

to the Visa Office. You should also bring the

acceptance letters from each of the schools you

will be attending in the Schengen Countries,

specifying dates of attendance. If you will be

travelling to another destination following your

stay in the Schengen Countries for which you

are required to hold a separate visa, you will

also need to present this visa when applying for

your Schengen visa. Further documentation

may be requested from you by the Consulate,

particular to your application. Fees will vary;

please enquire at time of application.

Appliances

Electric outlets in France have a 220 voltage and

use round two-pin plugs.

Mail

Post offices are usually open weekdays from 8.00

to 18.00 and Saturday from 8.00 to 12.00. Post

offices are always closed on national holidays.

Post and sending mail

A few blocks away from our school is the Cen-

tral Post office located at 52, rue du Louvre

(Métro : Louvre) which operates a 24-hour,

seven day service for international telegrams,

phone calls, and wires. There are also three

other post offices situated near the school. The

nearest is located Impasse Bonne Nouvelle

and is opened from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.

Tipping

Five to ten percent in restaurants if the waiters

have been nice and patient. Tipping is not

compulsory, even if some waiters might try

to tell you otherwise. A 15% service fee is

automatically added to the bill in all restau-

rants. You can’t avoid it, but you are advised to

check that it has been accurately calculated.

Entertainment

Cinema tickets cost about 8€. Tickets are

reduced at most cinemas on Mondays and/

or Wednesdays along with Sunday mornings.

For listings of concerts, events and clubs, pur-

chase Pariscope or Figaroscope or L’officiel

des Spectacles.

15. Adjusting to a New Culture The EF community is more than a group of

students who have come together to learn

French. It is also a multi-cultural group of

young adults who are eager to share their

own culture and learn the culture of their host

country and fellow classmates.

One’s culture is made up of values, beliefs, arts,

traditions and practices of a specific community

or population. Our culture affects how we view

ourselves, how we relate to others and what we

value as important in life. We are often unaware

of how much our culture affects our lives.

You may have already had some exposure to the

new culture you are about to experience. You

may have seen television shows, read books,

or studied in school about France. While some

parts of this culture may already seem familiar

to you, experiencing a new culture first-hand

will prove exciting. You will be meeting students

from all over the world who, like you, are looking

forward to spending a year learning and living a

language, both inside and outside the classroom.

As a visitor to a new culture, you may experience

periods of fatigue and discomfort when you are

uncomfortable. Culture shock is what some-

times happens when we try to meet challenges

of our new culture by using the values, beliefs,

and attitudes of our own culture. As visitors to

a new culture, we must learn that cultural differ-

10 Paris, France

ences are merely different - not right or wrong.

It is a good idea to bring traditional objects from

your culture to share with other students and

your host to teach them about your country.

Tips on coping with change

Remember that change does not come with-

out some effort! We humans need a certain

amount of stress to motivate us to learn new

ways of being. Learning always involves some

form of change. You should try the following:

❚ While you might be tempted to surround

yourself with things that are familiar to you, try

not to isolate yourself by being only with others

from your home country. Keep reaching out to

your host, roommates and other students.

❚ Put off making major decisions such as an

accommodation change, until you feel more

“at home” with the culture in general.

❚ Talk to us about your worries or problems.

EF Staff are here to help and would prefer to

know about any problem you may have so

that we can help you.

❚ Set goals, no matter how big or small, and

accomplish them! You will feel good about

yourself in doing so, and you will reduce the

negative feelings associated with culture

shock. For example, set a goal that you will

speak French at all times.

❚ Remind yourself that you came to this

country to experience a new culture, to meet

others and to explore your new surroundings.

Relax, take a deep breath and reflect back on

the days before leaving your home country

when you were excited about your new ad-

venture. Try to refocus this former excitement

towards your experience.

Keeping a journal

One way to keep track of emotions and

changes that take place over the year is to

keep a journal. By recording your experiences

and feelings on a regular basis, you will be able

to reduce the impact of culture shock. You will

have a record of your academic and personal

progress to look back on in days and years to

come. Be sure to note changes in:

❚ Language skills

❚ School performance and involvement

❚ Campus/host adjustment

❚ Individual learning and growth

Keeping a journal will help to remind you that

culture shock is truly a temporary phase

of adjustment.

Bring pictures and Items from home

If you have room in your suitcases for some

music, a costume, pictures, or some typi-

cal crafts, it would be good to show other

students, as well as to decorate your room

to make it seem like home. We have seen

costumes and drums from Korea, dancing and

music from Austria and a piñata and tortillas

from Mexico. Please bring pictures of your

friends, family and surrounding area.

Important telephone numbers

C

hec

klis

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16. EF school calendar & holidaysSchool holidays

The EF International Language Center in Paris

recognizes the following public holidays when

there will be no classes. If your arrival falls on

one of these dates, please check with the

school staff upon your arrival for an exact orien-

tation schedule.

2013

1 January - New Year’s Day

1 April - Easter Monday

1 May - Labour Day

8 May - Victoire de 1945

9 May - Ascension Day

20 May - Whit Monda

14 July - National Day

15 August - Assumption

1 November - All Saint’s Day

11 November - Armistice de 1918

25 December - First Day of Christmas

26 December - Second Day of Christmas

2014

1 January - New Year’s Day

21 April - Easter Monday

1 May - Labour Day

8 May - Victoire de 1945

29 May - Ascension Day

14 July - National Day

15 August - Assumption

1 November - All Saint’s Day

11 November - Armistice de 1918

25 December - First Day of Christmas

17. Checklist ■ Valid passport (with visa where neces-

sary) It’s a good idea to make copies of

these and pack them in your suitcase

just in case. You don’t need to carry your

passport with you while you are in France

but you must keep it and your other docu-

ments in a safe place while you are in

the country.

■ Passport Photos (4) for EF student

identification cards, travel cards and other

possible documents

■ Flight ticket

■ Luggage correctly labeled

■ EF Confirmation letter & other

EF documents

■ Make sure all EF forms are complete,

especially the Health Certificate

■ Medical and travel insurance documents

■ Basic medical supplies, any medication

you take regularly and a spare pair of con-

tact lenses or glasses if you wear them.

■ An International Driving License if you are

planning on renting a car.

■ Local currency for first week and for any

learning materials that are not included in

the cost of the course.

■ Money in the form of an ATM card

(Automatic Transaction Card), credit cards

and/or traveler’s checks (Do NOT bring

large amounts of cash in any currency!).

■ Electric adaptor for any electrical appli-

ances you plan to bring with you.

■ Pencil and/or pen and notebook.

■ Items from your hometown or country so you can share your culture with friends, homestay hosts and teachers.

■ Personal sports equipment.

■ Favorite books, photos and a camera.

■ Homestay or student residence details and emergency numbers.

Homestay host’s or student residence name:

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address:

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s):

_________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number:

_________________________________________

EF School telephone number:

+(33) 1 55 33 13 55_________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number:

+(33) 6 24 55 17 48_________________________________________

Additional notes or numbers:

Transfer (Toll free number from airport): 0800 00 29 21 _________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s)

_________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number

_________________________________________

EF School telephone number

_________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number

_________________________________________