Bonjour chers amis / chères amies!
Our 2026 immersion weekend will be Nov. 6-7th. There will be an optional Friday night dinner on the 6th and then a full day of immersion on the 7th. Mark your calendars! Below you will find information about the 2026 immersion weekend, as well as videos and photos from past events.
If you wish to add your name to the email list for updates, contact: chelsea.d.ray@maine.edu. On attend avec impatience de vous voir cette année!
Are you looking to practice your French and learn more about French-speaking cultures? Join us for a comfortable language learning environment with French teachers who are there to support you! You need one year of college or two years of high school French to participate. Heritage and native speakers are also warmly welcomed! The immersion day will take place on the UMA Augusta campus on Saturday, November 7th, with an optional dinner and performance on Friday, November 6th.
Participants will be paired up with similar level speakers during our experiential and interactive workshops, while mixed level, facilitated conversations will create an authentic immersion experience for all learners. See below for examples of workshops.
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This is a rare opportunity and one of the few immersion events in the United States that brings together high school and college students, French teachers, and community members as an annual event on a university campus. Our aim is to have fun while continuing to build our knowledge of the French language and the Francophone world! Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!
Activities
We are designing a fun, interactive, and enjoyable experience to help you take your French speaking skills to the next level. Immersion is great because it gives you time to absorb more language and encourages you to find new ways to communicate with the tools and vocabulary that you have used in the past. It also helps you to expand beyond your current knowledge.
The immersion weekend was featured in the national publication of the National American Association of Teachers of French newsletter, when it was held at Blueberry Cove.
You will have the opportunity to choose workshops at your level, and some do not require as much conversation (singing, art, games, etc.).
Every year, we offer dynamic workshops that help you to better comprehend and learn French! In addition, we have many workshops with a cultural component so that you learn more about French-speaking cultures as well! Here are some examples of workshops from past years:
- Crepe making
- News in French
- Francophone Africa
- Songs
- Games (both card games, etc., and outdoor games)
- Quebec
- Puppets
- Artwork and crafts
- Franco-Americans in New England
- Yoga
- Nature walks
How much French do I need for the immersion day?
We welcome intermediate and advanced speakers of French, whether you are a high school student, college/university student, French teacher, or interested community member seeking the challenge of a 100% French-speaking environment.
We only speak French throughout the weekend, so you will need enough French to participate. This does not mean that your French must be perfect! There will be handouts, supports, and visual aids to help you along. The workshop leaders are experienced teachers and can guide you through and facilitate understanding and communication.
High school students should have completed two years of French study or equivalent and college students should have completed one year of French study or equivalent.
Friday Dinner Details
The Friday evening event starts with icebreakers as people arrive at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served at 6:00 p.m. After dinner, there will be a performance by a Francophone group in the Farber Forum on campus, a quick 5-minute walk away.
More information on the show will be forthcoming. This show is free and open to the public, so you can invite friends and family.
Lodging
We plan to offer a block of rooms at a reduced price at a local hotel. More information will be forthcoming soon.
How to Register
Registration is a two-step process. You are not guaranteed a spot until you have completed BOTH STEPS.
If you receive a scholarship, there will be a place to note that during the registration process.
We expect to fill this year as we have in the past. If we have a waitlist, you will be notified if a spot becomes available and you can pay at our online store at that time.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received on or before October 22nd will be refunded at 50%. Cancellations after October 22nd will not be refunded, as food orders and final plans will be confirmed.
Cost
We strive each year to keep costs down for our participants. As in past years, registration cost is $90 for part- and full-time students and $125 for community members.
The optional Friday night catered dinner is $40.
When you register, you can choose to register for the full immersion day on Saturday with or without the dinner. If you are not yet sure about your plans for dinner, you can choose to register later for the dinner.
If you are able to help support scholarships for this event, we very much appreciate it! Please consider donating during registration so that we can keep this event open to all!
Deadline
Registration for both the dinner and the immersion day will close on October 28th. We anticipate that this event will fill, so you should register well before that date to ensure you get a spot!
Scholarships
Scholarship sponsors for the weekend include French at UMA, University of Maine, and the Maine Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French. See the FAQ section below for information on available scholarship opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Event Committee and Sponsors
This event is sponsored by French at UMA and the American Association of Teachers of French (Maine chapter). It is organized by UMA French Professor Chelsea Ray (coordinator), AATF President Nathalie Gorey and a devoted team of teachers who have a passion for language immersion and who work hard to provide these kinds of experiences to students of diverse levels and backgrounds.
French at UMA has been involved in the immersion weekend since around 2010, deepening its involvement by hosting it in 2018 and 2019, as well as during the pandemic on Zoom (2020, 2021). Most recently (2022-2023), the immersion weekend was a program of the Penobscot Bay Language School under the direction of Jared McCannell.
Julia Schulz was the heart and soul of this event for many years as the co-founder and President of the Penobscot Bay Language School. Here is her biography and a brief history of how the immersion weekend came to be.
Organizing committee from the event in 2024, held at UMA:
Donate to French at UMA!
By donating to French at UMA, you are supporting this kind of French language programming and help ensure that future students receive scholarships to the immersion weekend and other events. MERCI BEAUCOUP!