In 1978, Joel, Alex and Laura are among the American college students who enroll at the Institute for French Studies in Paris, France, for their junior year abroad. During orientation, they are addressed by the stern Monsieur Albert Tessier, a former Sorbonne professor, who now runs the Institute along with his elegant wife, Madame Tessier. Although Albert is disgruntled about educating American youth, he also enjoys the profitable earnings from the school, which afford him and his wife a luxurious lifestyle. Meanwhile, Laura obsessively explores France's historical sites on her own since her boyfriend was unable to join her in Paris as she had hoped. Initially, Joel has a difficult time adjusting, but his culture shock eases when he encounters Toni, an attractive young French woman, who works at a stationery store. In contrast, Joel’s roommate, Alex, an aspiring songwriter, envisions the school year as a romantic European adventure. When Madame Tessier reprimands Alex for neglecting his studies, he becomes infatuated with the directress and later secretly follows her shopping. He is surprised to learn that behind her stylish French facade, Madame Tessier adores American products and owns a Corvette sports car. Arriving home from a night on the town, Alex finds Joel watching an episode of “Star Trek” on television dubbed in French. After Alex urges his “shut-in” roommate to explore Paris instead, Joel calls the stationery shop to ask Toni for a date. However, another clerk answers the telephone and plays a practical joke by pretending to be Toni. When Joel arrives at Toni’s apartment, he is humiliated to discover that she is not expecting him and has plans with her boyfriend Pascal. As a solution, Toni proposes that both men take her to dinner and a disco, but throughout the evening Pascal ridicules Joel and criticizes America. Upon returning to Toni’s place, she dismisses the Frenchman and invites Joel, who has charmed her with his pleasant manner, to spend the night. After class, Alex plays one of his songs for Madame Tessier, but she appears unmoved by his infatuation and advises him to finish his literature assignment. However, when she overhears her cheating husband arrange a rendezvous with another woman, she decides to take revenge by seducing Alex. While Albert is out of town, Madame Tessier invites Alex to her house, decorated in “the Eisenhower fifties style,” for an evening that begins with wine and a dip in the hot tub. However, Albert unexpectedly arrives home early as they are undressing in the bedroom. Escaping through the back door, Alex encounters the jealous husband who lunges at him. When Alex realizes that he is a pawn for Madame Tessier’s revenge, he leaves dejected. Meanwhile, Joel and Toni enjoy their romance, until Joel discovers that Toni previously dated another American student from the Institute. The couple argues, and Joel is hurt after Toni calls him a “coward.” Feeling disheartened by their love affairs with French women, Alex and Joel decide to skip classes and take a trip to Spain, but at the last minute, the indecisive Joel disembarks from the train. He returns to the stationery shop and reconciles with Toni. Meanwhile, Laura continues to visit cultural sites. After friends refuse to join her for a medieval festival in Laon, France, she accepts an offer from Darius Sayyid, an Iranian travel agent, to drive her. During the journey, Laura becomes annoyed with Sayyid as he detours to a winery and becomes intoxicated. After they check in to adjoining rooms at a Laon hotel, Sayyid tries to seduce Laura. While struggling with the travel agent, Laura tumbles and is knocked unconscious. Sayyid then flees from the hotel. After recovering, Laura runs to the town square, but the festival has already concluded. In tears and shivering, she curls up on a bench as a rainstorm erupts. Back in Paris, Alex returns from his travels and joins Joel and Toni as they visit Laura in the hospital, where she is recovering from a nervous breakdown. After Laura is released, she and Alex confide in each other about their disappointment and loneliness during the year and consequently begin a romance. At the year-end celebration, the students perform a play written by Joel, who exudes a new confidence and is thrilled that Toni has decided to return to the U.S. with him. However, the couple’s future plans are threatened when their parents surprise them at the theater. Elsewhere backstage, Alex and Laura discuss taking a trip to Greece. As the students gather for a party after the play, Madame Tessier arrives and attempts to resume her seduction of Alex, now that she is separated from Albert. Seeing Madame Tessier kiss Alex on the dance floor, Laura is hurt and leaves. After retreating to another room, Alex rejects Madame Tessier’s flirtation as well as her offer to employ him at the Institute. Meanwhile, in their determination to pursue their own agenda, Joel and Toni escape from their parents. Later, the friends arrive at the airport for their flights to the U.S. While Laura prepares to fly home alone, Alex surprises her with two train tickets to Greece, and she changes her mind to join him. On the way to the departure gate, Joel sees Madame Tessier waiting for the arrival of the next class.