Holiday courses

Faced with the political tensions of the late 19th century, some young intellectuals chose Switzerland as a peaceful place to study. It therefore became essential for these new students to perfect their knowledge of the French language so that they could follow the courses offered by the University of Lausanne. This is why, in parallel with the creation and development of the Ecole de Français moderne (EFM), the professors of the Faculté des lettres, supported by the prorector (outgoing rector) Georges Favez, proposed to the Département de l’instruction publique et des cultes (DIPC) in February 1895 to set up holiday courses for foreigners wishing to improve their knowledge of the French language. The Faculty is also asking the DIPC for financial assistance. The initiative was accepted by the State, which established the Cours de Vacances as a financially independent body that received annual state subsidies. The Holiday Courses must not be confused with the EFM, even though they collaborate and evolve in parallel. The same teachers sometimes teach at the EFM and during the summer at the Cours de Vacances. In addition, the directors are often common to both institutions and the teaching materials are shared. The fundamental difference between the two institutions lies in the financial independence of the Holiday Courses. They operate like a private school. They are financed by the students' enrolment fees and by direct (subsidies) and indirect (free premises, paper) aid from the State.[1]

Concrètement, apart from their programme, little is known about the first sèries of Cours du Vacances dispensés dès lé 1895. Judging by the titles of the courses (Etude historique de la conjugaison française and Questions de politique contemporaine), the level appears to be high. The target audience is students of literature and teachers of French abroad, not students. Above all, we want to give the teaching an academic and university character. The practical organisation of the first courses is not known; they began on 22 July and ended on 31 August 1895. It is not known how many students took part in the first flight, or how much of the teaching was devoted to the study of culture, tourism and the language itself. But there is no doubt that the courses have been a great success from the moment they were launched.

Over the years, they have grown and diversified. With a view to providing a cultural introduction, they offer boat trips, funded by the DIPC. The range of courses on offer was renewed and focused on current affairs, which led to an increase in the number of students. From 1898 onwards, the course syllabus allowed professors considerable freedom to explore certain subjects in greater depth through ex cathedra seminars. The organisation thus offers a flexible teaching system depending on the context, the number of students and the various motivations of the teachers.

From 1905 onwards, translation courses from German, English and Russian into French began to develop. Enrolment grew until the First World War, which had a significant impact on the number of students on the courses, which also increased. Some courses were even discontinued during the summer of 1919, only to resume in 1920. The organisational framework was now better defined, and the recreational, tourist and cultural activities more developed. Those in charge offer excursions to the Alps on Saturdays and walks in the Broye on Wednesdays. The advertising for the holiday courses is an effective way of promoting the University of Lausanne. As demand is constant and growing, they must be able to offer a diversified range of quality courses to compete with other institutions. As part of this renewal, the director, Georges Bonnard (1920-1939), played an important role, particularly in the search for new funding. His dynamism, dedication and personal motivation led to the purchase of new books, which were also made available to the EFM. From the start of the academic year, the courses will have a library and a study room.

In 1926, new regulations were adopted, offering the opportunity to obtain a Certificat d’études françaises after two semesters of teaching. Given their great success, the courses were extended in October 1928. As a result, students can choose between two sessions of A courses between July and August and two sessions of B courses between September and October.[2]

Despite the development of the Courses and the increase in financial resources, administrative and human resources problems arose in the mid-1920s, culminating in a serious crisis and a questioning of the institution's validity.

At the time, staff regularly called on the University secretariat for administrative work. However, despite the allowances paid to the secretary and caretaker by Bonnard, the Chancellery was upset to see the secretariat monopolised by its new responsibilities. In 1929, Chancellor Frank Olivier asked for a detailed set of specifications setting out the duties of the secretariat for the holiday courses. Director Bonnard and the Board felt under attack and asked the University whether it wished the institution to continue its activities or not. This question, which was seen as a form of pressure, exacerbated the situation and fanned the already existing rifts between the Rector, the Chancellor and the management of the Courts. The crisis culminated in the dismissal of the Council and Director Bonnard in November 1929.[3]

The Faculté des lettres then took up the defence of the Cours de Vacances, which it considered useful à the renown of the Université and the city of Lausanne. It asks the Director and the Council to extend their respective activities until the summer of 1930, so that it will be possible to find successors. The arrival of this new player is helping to ease the situation.

This new player is also helping to ease the situation.

To succeed Bonnard, René Rapin and Pierre Gilliard were approached to take on a dual leadership role. They accepted the mandate subject to conditions, in particular financial support from the City and the State. The State became the financial guarantor of the courses, and the City of Lausanne paid an annual subsidy of CHF 1,500. From then on, the two co-directors reorganised all the teaching, making it more flexible and simpler in order to reduce the costs involved. The administrative crisis of 1929 led to a clear redefinition of the rights, duties and financial responsibilities of the holiday courses.[4]

Dès 1942 programmes were oriented in two directions: «a spécial course for maîtres/maîtresses of Frenchçais from Switzerland and abroad and a général course intended for people who wish to perfect their knowledge of the Frenchçaises language and culture»[5]. Special courses on specific themes are offered, such as Rousseau and the Pays de Vaud or the writer Gustave Flaubert.

In 1948, Gilbert Guisan (1948-1979) took over the running of the Cours de Vacances and innovated by introducing special teaching materials. For its director, the material was a support for the practical teaching of grammar, translation and language exercises, phonics/pronunciation and reading[6]. It introduces reading, grammar, translation and phonics booklets in A5 format, compiled by teachers and directors. Courses on literary education, given by experienced teachers on subjects such as The Novel in the Eighteenth Century and Writers of Religious Inspiration, were also added. From 1956 onwards, Guisan rethought the division of the A and B courses, which had previously been chronologically divided. The A course now focused on literature for foreign teachers of French, while the B courses were based on the study and practice of the language and were open to everyone from the age of 16.

By the end of the war, the Cours de Vacances institution was well established. It moved seamlessly into the Dorigny site in 1982. Its move to the campus allowed it to become fully integrated into the university community through an administrative agreement with the University. From the 1980s onwards, enrolment stabilised at around 650 students per year.

Today, the Cours de Vacances is still a dynamic and flourishing institution for the University of Lausanne. Over the years, it has expanded its offering to include course sessions for people with disabilities. The A and B courses, which are either literary or practical, now offer basic courses for all levels in the mornings and optional courses in the afternoons. The latter include lessons in general culture, pronunciation, writing, grammar and work in the multimedia centre.

Emilie Arbelay and Sacha Auderset - UNIRIS 2014

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Holiday courses

Notes