<p>Xiggi - Omigod how exciting if I can actually offer you some info of value!</p>
<p>Princeton has its own program, called Princeton in France. Unfortunately it's not open to other students, or at least it wasn't 25 years ago. However, if I were you I would emulate the experience.</p>
<p>Here's what it was. Simply, a summer job in France. Jyber is right. If you work in the country you want to learn about you learn the language much better and learn much more about the country. I spent the summer between my F and S years in college working in France. I came back with fluent French and an abiding love and understanding of the country. My friends who did semesters abroad, even with Stanford, say, have forgotten their French and mostly remember hanging out with other Americans. I was the sole American in my job, in what was then a remote part of the country. One of the best things I ever did.</p>
<p>So if you go a) make sure you are the only or one of the few Americans b) work if you can and spend a summer and if it has to be the school year let it be only one semester. Because it will be very difficult to find the educational experience in France that you are getting at Claremont.</p>