paris photo
The Paris program equips eager students with wonderful language skills and Paris graciously provides a culture and a lifestyle that helps students learn more about the world and even more surprisingly about themselves.
– Jennifer Carrier
Central College

meet the director

Each Central program offers an in-depth orientation that will acclimate students to the country's language and culture as they get a feel for their new environment.

Paris orientation
Get to know your surroundings by beginning your semester abroad with a full orientation led by your resident director. Students studying on the Paris program experience an introductory orientation in Tours as well as a full orientation upon return to Paris. Your week-long orientation is designed to give you the tools to begin to explore your new home in Paris. During this time, you will learn how to use the public transportation system, discover Paris through a scavenger hunt, get to know fellow students and finalize registration for classes.

Cultural excursions
One of the highlights of studying through Central College Abroad Paris is the number of cultural activities and excursions that are included as part of your program fee. Many of these excursions, facilitated by the resident director, link directly with your coursework in Paris and continue throughout the semester. Your classroom comes to life with visits to the French theatre, opera, museums, concerts and more. Most activities and excursions are covered by your program fee. Recent excursions included:

  • a boat cruise along the Seine River
  • performances of Le Mariage de Figaro, Comedie-Francaise and Les Precieuses ridicules by Moliere
  • visits to castles, chateaux and palaces
  • an evening at the Louvre
  • longer excursions included trips to Aix-en-Provence, Bordeaux, Champagne, Nice and Normandy

Students explore the amazingly different parts of France, from skiing or hiking in the Alps region to lounging on the beaches of the Mediterranean. With Paris being at the heart of Europe, it makes for a convenient travel hub. Some students take advantage of this, and make stops in London, Amsterdam, Barcelona or Rome, just to name a few!