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Academic Trek combines the perfect blend of French language
immersion, cultural exploration, action-packed adventure
and community service to create an unforgettable summer
experience. Guadeloupe is a slice of France nestled in
the heart of the Caribbean’s French West Indies.
The result is a unique fusion of French and Creole influences,
with charming towns, delicious food and an easygoing
pace of life. A French Overseas Department, Guadeloupe
provides a great alternative location for language studies.
You won’t hear English spoken here, so prepare
for complete immersion in the French language on an amazing
island adventure! Home stay in the picturesque seaside
town of St. Anne. Hike rugged volcanic peaks and dense
rainforests. Try your hand at surfing, sea kayaking and
soaring through the forest on a zip-line. Shop in colorful
markets and volunteer on a variety of service projects.
Then sail to nearby Marie-Galante and/or Ile des Saintes
to discover more of this quintessential French island
paradise. |
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| Day 1–3 |
| Shaped like a butterfly, Guadeloupe
is actually comprised of two islands — Basse-Terre
which boasts towering mountains and lush tropical forests,
and Grande-Terre with its white sandy beaches and thriving
coral reefs. Eager to explore this natural playground,
we head out on an overnight hiking excursion in Guadeloupe’s
spectacular national park. Dwarfed by giant trees and
ferns, we trek to stunning waterfalls and magnificent
vistas. Next, we see why the Carib Indians called this
place Karukera or ‘Island of Beautiful Waters’ as
we kayak to our campsite on the deserted Island of La
Biche. There is still time before the sun sets to put
on your mask and snorkel and discover the underwater
wonders of this tropical paradise. Around the campfire
at night, we already feel like old friends as we eagerly
discuss the next phase of our adventure. |
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| Day 4–9 |
| St. Anne enchants us with its beautiful
beaches, swaying palm trees and quaint town. Here we
begin our language studies in earnest. We spend our mornings
at our school, Media Langues Caraibes, studying and conversing
with experienced language instructors in small groups.
Afternoons are spent practicing our conversational French
in real world settings and soaking up the festive island
atmosphere. Visit vibrant local markets where women dressed
in colorful Creole attire sell everything from fresh
mangoes and papayas to local Caribbean crafts. With a group of local teens, participate in drumming, traditional art and cooking lessons which give us a finer appreciation for the Creole culture that is the lively combination of French and African influences. |
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| Day 10–11 |
| Take a break from your language studies
and set out for more adventure! Explore the natural wonders
of Guadeloupe’s forests from a new vantage point
as you fly from tree to tree on a zip line and high ropes
canopy tour. Try your hand at surfing in the turquoise
blue water off the shores of St. François. Our
experienced French surfing instructors teach us one step
at a time, and before long we feel the exhilaration of
catching a wave. |
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| Day 12–16 |
| Eager to continue our language exploration,
we head back to St. Anne. This time we stay with host families
who greet us warmly and welcome us into their homes. Our mornings are spent working on community service projects and our formal language instruction continues in the afternoon. Projects may include helping out at a day camp for local children or working with an organization that assists the needy. In
the evenings, share stories from your day as you eat dinner
with your family. For a few days you become a real part
of the island community, living, working and playing alongside
native speakers. You’re more comfortable speaking
the language now than you ever imagined possible. |
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| Day 17–21 |
Hop aboard our 50-foot sailboat for
our final adventure in the French West Indies. Set sail
to nearby Marie-Galante, the largest of Guadeloupe’s
outer islands that boasts a rural character virtually untouched
by tourist development. You’ll feel like you’ve
traveled back in time as you discover charming villages,
spectacular white sand beaches and a landscape scattered
with nineteenth century windmills. Ile des Saintes offers
unspoiled tropical beauty and some of the best snorkeling
in the area, the perfect place to spend our last days together.
Our return voyage gives us the chance to reflect on our
many experiences shared and how much we’ve learned
in just a few short weeks.  |
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Learn French through Cultural
Immersion and Instruction |
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Hiking, Sea Kayaking, Surfing, Camping |
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Live-aboard Sailing Voyage |
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Home Stay and Community Service
Work in St. Anne |
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Earn High School/College
Credit |
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Earn 20+ Hours Community
Service Credit |
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Prerequisite: One Year High School French |
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