AUGUSTA – The University of Maine at Augusta and the Maine chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French (are thrilled to announce the return of their beloved French Immersion Weekend on Oct. 5 with an optional catered dinner and game night on Oct. 4 at UMA’s Randall Student Center, 46 University Drive. This full-day event promises an unforgettable experience for French enthusiasts. From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., participants will immerse themselves in the beautiful French language and rich Francophone culture.
Highlights include:
- Interactive workshops on Quebec, crepe making, Francophone Africa, news in French, Franco-Americans in New England, puppets, artwork and crafts
- Fun-filled activities like indoor and outdoor games, yoga, singing, and nature walks
- Opportunities to connect with fellow French speakers
This event is perfect for intermediate to advanced speakers looking to challenge themselves in a 100 percent French-speaking environment. Whether you’re a high school student, college learner, French teacher, or community member, there is no need for perfect French – our experienced workshop leaders will guide you through this immersive journey. However, for the best immersive experience, we require that high school students have completed two years of French, while college students must have one year or equivalent.
This is a rare opportunity to enhance your French skills outside of a classroom, engage in real-world conversations, make new friends, and celebrate the Francophone world. It is one of the few immersion events in the U.S. that brings together such a diverse group of French enthusiasts. “We are very passionate about this immersion weekend, which has been part of Maine’s Francophone community for decades. It is an honor to host this event at UMA and welcome everyone to campus to practice their French in a supportive, warm community of teachers, students, and community members. Venez tous!” shared Dr. Chelsea Ray, UMA French professor and event organizer. The organizing committee is made up of officers from the AATF, as well as other local French teachers.
All Immersion Weekend events will be held at UMA’s Randall Student Center.The weekend begins the evening of Friday the 4th with an optional catered dinner event featuring delicious cuisine from a Francophone country. There will be icebreaker activities as people arrive at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m. After dinner, join us for French conversation or play games such as Sept familles (a “Go Fish” type of game in French), Scrabble (in French), ping pong, foosball, cornhole, and Molky (a Swedish throwing game).
Registration for both the dinner and the immersion day is open through Sept. 24 or when sold out. When you register, you may choose the full immersion day on Saturday with or without the dinner. Registration cost is $90 for part- and full-time students and $125 for community members. The optional Friday night catered dinner is $45. Scholarships are available. For more information or to register, visit uma.edu/frenchimmersion.
UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs. For more information, please visit https://www.uma.edu/.
