Learning French at Surval Montreux
Young women aged 16-19 who are looking for an international programme of languages, culture, personal development, new experiences and travel before embarking on their chosen education or career path.
Programme length:
Flexible 1 term, 2 terms or whole year programme. We recommend a year to develop fluency in French/English, and to take full advantage of Surval’s extensive opportunities.
Language, Arts and Culture:
Surval Swiss Gap Experience students are immersed in language in and outside the classroom. With intensive French lessons each morning (English upon request) in small classes, students are prepared for internationally recognized French DELF exams or for the English Cambridge Exams.
Our students also enjoy opportunities for creative, cultural immersion experiences; putting their language learning into practice, while expanding their interests and global perspectives.
The Surval family is a magnificent melting pot of diverse cultures and languages. Our popular programme of Savoir-vivre combines Art, Culinary Arts and Etiquette, complemented by international travel.
Living the European Culture
In our beautiful setting in French-speaking Switzerland, we have easy access to rich cultural experiences both in surrounding Switzerland and neighbouring France and Italy. Switzerland is world-renowned for its beautiful alpine scenery and picture-postcard mountain villages, for winter sports, for chocolate and cheese, for its multi-lingual, multi-cultural environment, for world-leading hospitality and business management schools and for its strength in diplomacy. Our cultural programme explores the rich historic, creative, gastronomic and sporting heritage of our host country and complements the language programme, providing authentic opportunities to put language into practice whilst expanding perspectives and interests.
Social Enterprise and Communications
Our Swiss-Gap students develop their business and entrepreneurial skills through initiatives which change the world for the better, with charity at its core. Our student-led Charities Committee is a driving force, fundraising for and volunteering in a diverse range of local, national and international charities and projects. Our Swiss-Gap girls also undertake various communications and media projects throughout the year, aimed at developing new skills and fresh perspectives in writing, giving presentations, critical thinking, analysis and creativity, which will serve them well in their future paths.
Enrichment and Personal Development
Our Swiss Gap students benefit from the vast range of Enrichment opportunities on offer at Surval: Sports activities, clubs and societies, cultural excursions and international trips, giving girls every opportunity to explore and discover their passions and talents, try new things and have a go, with many initiatives being student-led. This is a vital area of the Surval experience, integral to the personal development, growth and wellbeing of each and every student.
Weekends and International Travel
Surval takes the weekends seriously! Our extensive Weekend Activity programme includes cultural days out, extreme sports experiences and in-house projects. Students on the Surval Swiss Gap Experience can also use their weekends for Independent Travel, a component of their programme. This involves planning their own weekend trip: having chosen their destination and dates, girls select their transport and hotel, pack their bags and off they go!
Pre-University Preparation
At Surval, we prepare girls for University and their future careers. Students benefit from our personalised approach University guidance and support giving each girl all the tools to make informed decisions about their future. We develop our students as independent learners and thinkers, prepared for study at University or College. Many of our students go on to excellent Universities and Colleges worldwide, and we maintain strong contacts with some of the world’s leading Universities.
Once a Surval Girl, Always a Surval Girl’
“Once a Surval girl, always a Surval girl” on completing the Surval Swiss Gap Experience, our students join a global network of ‘Survaliennes’ – impressive, empowered women making their own distinguished and distinctive difference in the world in their own special way.
Our alumnae network is made up of inspiring, able women who have gone on to have exciting adventures, careers and lives across the globe. All from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, Survaliennes have one thing in common – Surval has helped to shape their future, whichever path they have taken.
We are delighted to be growing our contact with this vital group, connecting Survaliennes with the school and each other for milestone birthdays, personal and professional achievements, career guidance and local reunions, led by our regional Survalienne Ambassadors. Wherever Survaliennes are, whatever they are doing, our cherished collective history as a bespoke international girls’ boarding School in Switzerland is a treasured bond. Each Survalienne, through her life, manner and attitude inspires so many others – the Surval students who follow, and everyone she meets in the world.
I decided to come to Surval for my gap year to open my mind to new things, meet new people, and at the same time learn about important things such as English Literature, Art and Etiquette.
Survalienne, Dominican Republic