EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: ENGAGEMENT IN PARIS

Engagement in Paris is a mandatory course for all students enrolled at IPP 

Organized and monitored by Laetitia Boisdron, Gary Lavenia, and Elisabetta Cereghini

Students choose one option amongst four letter options:  

• A: Sustainable Urbanism - walk the neighborhoods of Paris and understand the challenges of 21st century global cities

• B: French schooling & Education System - work as an English T.A. in a middle school, high school, art school, or hospitality school. (in French or in English)

• C: Non-profits - volunteer in NGOs of your choice and help Paris face local and global issues. (in French or in English)

• D: Farming in Paris - work on a Parisian farm and experience urban agriculture. (in French or in English)

Within their option, students join a local organization with which they dedicate an average of three hours weekly (total of 39 hours). 

Students can choose between French or English as their academic language. They must compose a final paper that combines the description of their experience, their personal reflections as well as some relevant and strong academic research. Typically, French papers are 10 pages and English papers are 15 pages. 

Students meet regularly with their EIP instructor who monitors their experience and their final paper. 

The combination of their chosen option and their academic language may lead to a wide array of credits: French, Global Studies, Political Science, Economics, Environmental Studies, Integrated Biology, Agriculture. 

Links : 

• Portrait of a student on the website of  Bénénova (local organisation) for Option C

• Radio show on France Inter about Hologramme (local organization) with a picture and an interview of a student of the program (Remy S., center of the picture) : 

WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT EIP...

My experience was phenomenal and had a great impact on me. I learned much more than I would have in a classroom and, above all, I am very proud of the work I have done for Zone Sensible Parti Poétique and of everything I have learned. 

-Daniel N., Student

My actions with Benenova showed me a part of Paris that very few people know about and they made me want to learn about the lives, stories, and challenges of those individuals in various communities the association called "people in solitude". 

- Matthew S., Student 

Our students changed their perspective on the learning process thanks to the American students : with them, everything makes more sense and becomes more concrete. And since they are almost the same age, they bonded very fast. I think it’s a fantastic experience.

- Mme Termens, instructor of English at collège Victor Hugo