French Immersion Advice Needed
 

Hi All,

After 2 years of night classes I have finally decided to take the plunge and do an immersion course in France. Now i just need to pick which program! I have narrowed it down to the following three and would very much appreciate any advice/opinions on them!

CLE (Tours)
Coeur de France (Sancerre)
Millefeuille Provence

Here is my thinking: On the one hand, I do want to boost my french, especially my speaking and oral comprehension, so I want a program where I will be surrounded by French 24/7. (ie: Where the students are as serious about french immersion as the teachers are so we don't leave class and just switch back into english). On the other, this is my first trip to France ever, and I worry that a program like the MP, because their schedule has classes morning til night, keeps me on their compound - and for that I could just go to a super good immersion program in the US. I need to make my decision super fast (this week!) so, please don't hesitate to share any opinions!

Thanks,
Lena

Trying to learn a foreign language in only a classroom setting clearly has disadvantages as you point out. If oral comprehension is your primary objective, tune in to one of the many French radio programs available on the internet. There are podcasts and audio instructional material of all types available for free to those who simply search them out.

Not knowing your age, language skill level, or where you live make suggesting solutions difficult. However, I know many people who speak very highly of this location:

http://www.institutdefrancais.com/

One of the best language schools available in France is in Tours (sorry, it´s not CLE):

http://www.institutdetouraine.com/en

The only other school I should consider is in Aix-en-Provence:

http://www.iefee.com/

The advantage to Tours and Aix-en-Provence is that these locations have a large university population meaning there are a good number of young French people you can meet and hopefully with whom you might develop friendships.

Still, if you really want to develop in French you will need to converse on a daily basis, with French people, not fellow language students. For that I strongly suggest you spend a week at one of the many UCPA camps located all through out France. These are operated by the French government and are all oriented towards outdoor activities. One week at UCPA is worth two months at a school:

www.ucpa.com

I live in Tours and have only heard good things about the Institut de Touraine (don't know for CLE, sorry). Also the Tours region supposedly has the 'purest' form of French. To be honest, that claim makes me roll my eyes a bit - I don't speak the Queen's English, but I don't think that makes me any less 'pure'! However, I have lived in the South (Nice) and I found it instantly easier to understand people's accents here, so after only 2 years of night classes, you probably will too. I also find that it's much rarer for people to answer me back in French here than in some other parts of France.

I know some schools organise homestays, not sure if you would be into that, but it could be a good way to make sure you speak with real French people outside the classroom.

Sarastro - hadn't heard of the UCPA camps before. How bizarre that the government runs them, but I suppose that's France for you!

I have attended both CLE and Coeur de France and whereas both had the same great teacher-student ratio, I found the program at CLE to be a much more serious approach to learning French. There were people at CLE from all over the world, with French being our common language. OTOH, when I was at Coeur de France everyone was an anglophone, and everyone I met there, including me, was studying for "enrichment" whereas at CLE many students were working hard to learn French for their employment.

Coeur de France was a pleasant sejour in a charming village, and I enjoyed my week there, but my two weeks in CLE was much more valuable in terms of improving my French. I did a homestay there and would recommend that.

Whereas Institut de Touraine may have a good reputation and is less expensive than CLE, the teacher-student ratio is not nearly as good as that of CLE, 7-1, and to me that is very important.

Good luck in making your decision; I'm sure it will be a good experience wherever you go. Any further questions about these two places, I will be glad to answer if I can be helpful.

Hi All,
Wow - such quick responses. Thank you everyone!

The UCPA thing sounds fantastic, though possibly at slightly too high a level for me at the moment. (I am just about to finish advanced beginner.) I have bookmarked it and will definitely consider it next time around!

Grandmere - thanks for your comparison between CLE and Coeur. That was sort of the feeling I got based off the websites and it is nice to have it confirmed. I am now leaning toward CLE over Coeur. I have to admit, I am not sure about the homestay, though I know I really ought to! At CLE, did it seem like the school put real effort into placing the students in homestays that were appropriate? Did your classmates all like theirs generally? Also, at CLE, did the school or students themselves organize things to do on the weekends/ afternoons when there weren't classes or was everyone pretty much off to do their own thing?

Sarastro and Gwan - thanks for your recommendation of the Institut de Touraine. I had heard that it had a very strong program but had been originally scared off by the high student-teacher ration as grandmere alluded to. (I know that in my classes with 6 students I made more progress than in the classes with 12.) Possibly I should reconsider? Have you found/heard that student-teacher ratios have less of an impact on an immersion experience? (As in, it might be different in a classroom in the US when we do french twice a week versus in France where french is ostensibly all around us.) Looking at the website, it seems somewhat standard. Had you heard what it is that makes the Institut de Touraine so much better than most other schools? (Sorry, I know that kind of puts you on the spot a little.)

Finally, yes, I have also heard very good things about the Villefranche sur mer (Institut de Francais) program but my schedule is such (these days at least) that I always need to go sort of last minute and they have always had about 4-5 month waiting lists when I've asked. One day when I have a normal schedule I'll go there!

Again, thanks to all for your help (and if anyone else has an opinion, I don't book til Friday so please feel free to put your two sense in!)

Lena

Lena, I studied at CLE several years ago, and while I was there, everyone I talked to really enjoyed his/her homestay. I think I heard some "hearsay" about someone who had been unhappy, but this is bound to happen from time to time. I was placed with a couple who were my age, but there was an 18 yr old staying there from Belgium. This couple had a lovely house, and they had renovated a building on the same property that probably had been a granary at one time. I had a very nice, modern room with sky light and private bath, as did the other bedroom in the building. The husband worked in Paris during the week, and "taking care" of students was the wife's job, so to speak, and she went out of her way to ensure that her paying guests had a good experience. We sat outside under cherry trees in the evening talking and sometimes played board games, etc., and I had to tear myself away to do my homework!

We were all off to do our own things in the afternoon, but there was an organized trip to the chateaux the middle Saturday afternoon I was there and dinner at a Michelin starred restaurant right before I came home. As soon as I entered the class, I was invited to have lunch each day with my classmates, and everyone was very welcoming. I went to the movies one night with my class members, also. Alliances formed along skill-level lines; in other words, people hung out mostly with members of their own class, regardless of age. Except for one person around my age, I was the oldest in my class by many years but that made not one bit of difference in my feeling accepted. You will be kept busy by homework and as busy as you want to be socializing, IME.

I really have nothing but good things to say about my little 2 week stay at CLE.

I should point out that UCPA is NOT a language school and it is doubtful that anyone there will speak much if any English which is why it is such a great place to advance your language skills. It was explained to me by some French friends that the government, after a particularly poor performance at one of the Olympic games many years ago, decided to encourage France´s young people to become more involved in sports and physical development.

Hence UCPA offers camps in many subjects involving sports and are opened to anyone interested, understanding that those attending should be able to converse in French at some level. The camps are very inexpensive from 300€ per week depending upon subject or theme followed. Foreigners can kill two birds with one stone so to speak: have a great time improving one´s skills in a sport and really become immersed in the language.

Lena - I think l'Institut de Touraine's reputation is just based on the quality of the teaching, rather than the class size or extramural activities per se. That said, I think I've only heard opinions from French people on it, rather than people who have studied there!!

I've never done an immersion programme (unless you count living here ha ha), so I can't really comment too much on that, but of course student-teacher ratio is generally pretty important.

Villefranche sur mer is a very beautiful place, but again, touristy. I had a lot of trouble connecting with French people when I lived in Nice (7 months). A lot of it was due to my different living and working situation, but still, I find it a lot easier to chat with people here while I'm out and about.

They will probably tell you this if you do a course in Tours, but there is the 'Café des Langues' on a Monday night, which is basically a language exchange night in a bar. The tricky part will be not speaking English, as of course there are a lot of French people there who are keen to speak with a native!

If you do decide to come to Tours, feel free to drop me a private message, presuming you can do private messages here (?) if you want to ask any other questions about the area or to grab a drink some time. Je parlerai français, promis! I'd rather not give out my email address, but you could alternatively contact me via couchsurfing - gwan57.

Hello Lenalee - I can't offer you any first-hand advice on either school, yet, but I am headed to Coeur de France this summer (in less than two months!) and will be posting about the school after that. A friend of mine will be attending CLE in Tours at almost the same time, so I'll know a little bit about that school, too.

My friend and I choose our schools for completely different reasons - I wanted a vacation/language experience and she wanted intense language instruction. We are both at the advanced level of French - she has been studying for several years and has taken advanced level college classes, and I am one French class away from finishing a B.A. in French.

The thing about Coeur de France that attracted me was the setting. From the video, it appears that the entire village of Sancerre participates in the learning process, and I liked the idea of being able to speak French with "everyday" people vs. classroom instructors. My last "hump" before becoming what I consider fluent is comprehension, and this is what I hope to improve in Sancerre.

Although there may be many English speaking students at the school, my goal is to only speak French during my two weeks in Sancerre. I'm going alone without my family in order to accomplish this.

I also have to confess that white Sancerre is my favorite French wine, so I am looking forward to doing a little wine tasting while at Coeur de France - this may have somewhat influenced my decision :-)

Whichever school you do choose, please post a review after your return. I'm going to be going back to France next year to study and plan on trying a different school.

dlejhunt - you hit the nail on the head regarding the differences between CLE and Coeur (vacation/ language experience vs. intense study). Now I just need to figure out which I want. Either way, I certainly will post a report after I attend.

Gwan - What a kind offer! Thank you! If I choose Tours I will definitely take you up on that.

Anyone back from language schools with reports? I'd love to hear about everyone's experiences.

As an aside, I am hearing good things about a school in Hyeres, called ELFCA. Three members of my French class here in Pgh. have been there this summer, all doing homestays.

Grandmere - As requested, my review of Coeur de France:

I chose to attend Coeur de France with the hope that two weeks of immersion into the language and the culture of France would move me from my textbook French towards "real" French - that is, the level of French that would allow me to actually communicate in the language. My studies at Coeur de France gave me exactly what I was looking for. I was part of the Advanced class and really enjoyed my time at the school. My fellow students were wonderful; I met so many nice people. My professor, Valérie, was one of the best French instructors I have had. She not only taught us the intricacies of the language (je n'ai plus peur du subjonctif!) but also showed us how to speak and understand the language that the French use in their everyday lives. Coeur de France's lessons take place in the school's classrooms and they continue in the surrounding village - the Sancerrois are incredibly friendly and helpful to the school's students. After two weeks of speaking only French I even began to dream in French - incroyable!

After leaving the school I spent six days in Paris. As I walked the streets of the city I found myself overhearing French conversations and for the first time, understanding what people were saying! It was almost as if I had gained a new superpower - I was now "French Speaking/Understanding Woman". I had conversations in French with taxi drivers, shopkeepers, and people on the streets of Paris. I was even stopped a couple of times by French tourists who asked me for directions, which I was able to give in French. A whole new world opened to me, and I attribute this to the time I spent at Coeur de France.

I only found one small fault with my experience, that is, that Sancerre is a very small town and conveniences can be somewhat limited. I became very ill during my second week at the school and found it difficult to see the doctor since there is only one, and she works only certain days/hours. There are several small grocery stores in the town but their hours and their stock are limited, too. The big grocery store is quite a hike down the hill - it's not so bad on the way down, but somewhat difficult on the way up with a bag full of provisions. All of this would not be a problem if one has a car - so next time I attend the school I will be driving from Paris rather than taking the train. My issues are in no way the fault of the school, though, and in fact, the staff went out of their way to help me during my illness.

All in all, the school is a great value - the accomodations are spacious and comfortable and the instruction is top notch. Gerard and Marianne, the owners, are incredibly charming and welcoming to the students. The professors are amazing and the town of Sancerre quaint and friendly. I would highly recommend Coeur de France to all levels of French students. I loved my time there and hope to return soon.

Thanks for reporting back!!!

Hi All,

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I had a lovely time at CLE and as promised, here is my trip report:

Overall I was very pleased with CLE. Before I went, I was absolutely terrified about the prospect of staying with a host family, since I tend to be a more private person. CLE picked this great family for me to stay with, whom I absolutely adored. They took me to meet other family members during a holiday, constantly talked to me (only in French - they just slowly and patiently kept talking until I understood, it was great!), took me to street markets every Saturday, etc. They went out of their way to really engage with me and make me feel a part of French life.

I also felt the quality of the teachers was quite high. They really planned out lessons and taught well, which I appreciated as I think it really helped structure my learning. I think my writing and oral comprehension progressed a fair bit from this fact alone.

Moreover, Tours was a great place to spend a few weeks. Small enough to be comfortable for a first time visitor to France, but not so small that there was nothing to do. Tours had great train/bus linkages for those without cars and that made it really easy to explore on your own. Also, everyone was really friendly. I never had a problem with people giving me the cold shoulder because I was foreign (and had a rather atrocious accent). All the French people I met in stores, on the street, on trains etc. went out of their way to be helpful.

The one downside to the school was that some of the other students tended to be a little clannish. Not that there was anything the school could do about it, so I hesitate to say it was a fault with the school, but when I arrived there were two different large groups of students doing long stay programs who tended to associate mostly with each other and speak their own native language to each other when not in class. Not only was it occasionally quite distracting to have to hear English all around the school when I was working so hard to try and get myself thinking in French, it also made it a bit lonely at times. The school was fantastic about putting together activities and programs, but required that a minimum number of people signed up. These students never did, and at times during my stay, there were relatively few other students besides the two big groups. Again, this really isn’t the fault of the school. They made every effort to encourage after school activities in French and trips through the region.

Overall, the school is well run with friendly teachers and host families, in a charming town. Before I went, I truly didn’t believe that I would actually ever really communicate in French, but by the time I left, I was doing so. I don’t hesitate to recommend the school.

(Btw, Gwan, I did try looking you up on couchsurfing but couldn’t seem to find you. Technology just doesn’t like me sometimes. Anyway, sorry for not getting in contact.)

Lenalee and Dlejhunt, thanks for reporting back; I'm sorry to be so late in responding to your reports.

Dlejhunt,
It sounds as though your time at Coeur de France was a great experience for you. Valerie was a teacher when I attended C de F, and she had an excellent reputation. I think if I had had her or Beth, I might have had a better learning experience. My teacher was very knowledgeable, etc., but talked too much and did not give us a lot of opportunities to speak even though it was an Intermediate/Advanced class with only 5 students. When I looked online it appears that there are fewer teachers than in 2007. That's too bad that you became ill and had trouble finding a doctor; I guess charming villages have their downsides! But you give a glowing report of C de F, and it's good to hear that.

Lenalee,
It sounds that you, too, had a good learning experience at CLE and with your host family. That's unfortunate that there were large groups of students there who did not venture from the comfort of people they knew. I wonder if CLE tends to have these types of groups these days? As I mentioned it was several years ago that I attended CLE, and as a middle-aged woman I was so impressed at how readily I was accepted into the group, which was based on language ability rather than age or nationality. I traveled to Tours with a friend, but we had different homestays and b/c we were in different classes, we rarely saw each other during the 2 weeks other than to say, "Bonjour". The friendliness of the students was a real plus for me.

In general, it seems that you both had positive experiences, and I do appreciate your telling us about them.

For any future readers about Fench Immedrsion courses, I'd like to tell you about my experience, though it's now been a few years. I first considered going outside of Paris, but finally decided on the American University in Paris because of the museums and cultural events I could enjoy when not in class. It proved to be a great decision.
I had a great family stay, though at least 1/3 of the students had complaints about their hosts and in some cases switched homes. I was fortunate enough to be in Paris 2 months before my stay, and the school arranged for me to meet the family. I wanted a home where there would not be numerous American students, so that I could speak only French and because I was much older than the college students. The family always spend a short time with me when I returned at the end of the day, usually as we were in the kitchen cooking our separate meals. Very nice, yet allowing my independence.
As in most schools, we were tested the first morning and told what level classes we should take. Half the students were college age, half were older adults. We all got along very well, even had dinners with mixed ages. We all had a general class in the morning according to level, then had ooptional classes in the afternoon. Lunch in the cafeteria always had a teacher at each table, ensuring we'd speak French. One class was conversation and met twice a week after lunch. A fabulous class was taught by an architectural historian, who took us on twice weekly walks of different Paris neighborhoods. That was the best class--seeing new areas, or with a new set of eyes, trying to listen to French in the middle of the street was a challenge in itself. On Friday afternoons our morning teacher took us somewhere--to visit inside the Poulaine bakery, visit a violin maker in his studio, ride the Bateau Mouche. It was an incredible 3 weeks. Like someone said above, you start eavesdropping on French conversations around you. My French really developed in those 3 weeks.
In my limited spare time during the week, I would rush off to various museums, attended ballet and theater with student discounted tickets, and on week-ends made day trips on the train. My landlady allowed me to cook for myself, so I stopped at the market by the school and brought home gorgeous vegetables to saute, roasted chicken, etc.
A most memorable experience.

Hi All

I have read through this thread and others on French immersion and just wanted to bring the thread back to life in the hope of hearing more first hand reports, particularly recent ones.

Merci Beaucoup!

Hi Bwino, I'm on the thread trolling for advice for this summer's Paris trip, but I have a friend who is headed to France for more study this year and will ask her to post about where she is going and why. I am plotting right now my return trip to Coeur de France, probably in the Spring of 2014.

Hi !! I'm thinking of attending either CLE or Institut de Touraine .. We're 4-6 ppl and have no problem being the student ration 15:1 coz u get to meet new ppl and discuss new stuff !! So CLE or Touraine ??

Bookmarking this very helpful information for, hopefully, future reference!

I have attended 5 language schools in France (advanced level) and am planning to go to CLE in Tours this year. I have always stayed in an apt, apt/hotel and am cautious about a homestay (partially due to my age which is 69). Has anyone used the apts that CLE offers? Coeur de France did not work for me, by the way. Too remote without a car, mediocre teacher and all other students but one were families. So, it was a bit lonely. The town, while lovely, also offers very little. At the end of a week I knew every corner of it. But I was in a class with only one other student so spoke a lot of French. Unfortunately, lessons were not directed and there were many references to having covered certain things earlier in the month (when I wasn't there!!) Other schools I attended, for those who are interested, are Institut de Francais in Villefranche, Acces Francais in Montpellier, Lyon Bleu in Lyon and Créa-Langues in Moustiers-Ste-Marie.

My daughter (21 year old) has done French Immersion Classes in France twice. The first time she went to Lyon Bleu in Lyon for two weeks, and the second time to somewhere in Paris for a week -I am having a seniors moment and cannot for the life of me remember where in Paris (and she is not home at present to ask). But, the point I want to make is that she really enjoyed the one in Lyon - thought it was well structured, classmates were interesting (often foreigners living in France trying to improve their French) , and good value for money. She felt the course in Paris did not measure up favourably. Half a wasted day being assessed (in Lyon it was only an hour), quite a lot more expensive, and just the overall course quality and friendliness was missing. So my advice is to look at the reviews of the language schools carefully before choosing.

I have been to several language schools studying French, all in Paris, although none were "immersion", whatever that means, not sure. However, one was a private school in Paris (l'INstitut Parisien) and they did take longer than an hour to assess you, as I recall. That isn't long to take a test and perhaps speak to someone to assess your oral capabilities, as well as have that graded and you placed in a class. I know it took a half day probably when I went to the Sorbonne and another university in Paris. In any case, while it took longer, it was not part of your study week, you were supposed to do that within the week before classes started, I think there were various times you could do it, or you made an appt, don't recall. So I'm not sure one hour of assessment means it was better, but schools don't always consider that part of your classes. None of the ones I attended considered the assessment part of your classes.

I've never done a homestay as I was not interested in them, although I'm not sure the university classes even offer that. I think private schools do. I did rent my own apartment when going to l'Institut Parisien, but I didn't depend on them in any way to get it for me.

Another bookmark! Wouldn't I love to do this too!

Many persons from various European countries, diverse walks of life and various ages go to Quebec City, Canada to study French. There are French immersion schools in this beautiful city where French is the main spoken language. International French is taught and well understood by the locals. Quebec people's accent is different from Paris' accent. Many beginners at learning French find easier to understand Quebec's accent. Learning French in Quebec City may be another option to consider.

Enjoyed reading this thread. Does anyone know where -- other than this Forum -- one can read independent reviews of French language schools in France (or Canada)? There are just so many of them (schools) out there!

My wife and I have been to one school in Paris, L'Atelier 9 -- twice, in fact, for a total of 13 weeks -- and hope to go again in late spring next year. But first, we're going to try a second school in Villefranche next April. Last year, we visited Sancerre. Had heard from a friend -- and fellow student -- that it was an excellent school. The school seems to be the center of attraction there. But for us, we want to be in a larger city. We also visited a school in Amboise (on the Loire near Tours). We talked to some students who were enjoying the course. Like the school in Sancerre, It too looked like a nice set-up.

In my experience, so much depends on the instructor: how s/he handles the class, is s/he organized, does s/he assign some (but not too much) homework, etc. Class size is a factor as well, and classes with more than 7 or 8 students usually are too large; simply can't get enough time to talk. By the way, I don't get too bothered if I hear English spoken on break, as some students are just beginners. I have also learned not to expect too much -- and to enjoy the process. But, as a retiree, and somewhat paradoxically, I am less pressed for time than others.

Um -= I'm not an expert but Canadian French is NOT the same as French French. Not that it's not understandable - but it is definitely a different accent and some different vocabulary (think US vs UK English - and the many variations).

So - it depends on what you are going to do with it - and if you care what sort of accent you have. (For tourists either will work.)

L'Institut de Francais in Villefranche sur Mer is an excellent school for serious students. I attended a couple of years ago with my husband. He spent three weeks and I spent two. The program attracts many business people, diplomats, some younger students and retires. It definitely caters to those who need to learn French in a hurry. The days are long, the food is good and the area is beautiful. The problem with any immersion program is that often there is a variation in the linguistic competence of students in each class. It is very difficult to create homogeneous groupings. I was too advanced for the most advanced level which was frustrating for me, though I still benefitted from the experience. The program is expensive but I would not hesitate to recommend it for those who are willing to put in the time and effort. I have a degree in French and have studied both in Canada and France which may inform my perspective. Those looking to relax and have lots of free time may wish to look elsewhere.

I just want to say that when I was twice in Villefranche at the excellent language school there, there were Canadians in the program who were trying to learn proper French, so-to-speak. There are differences and if you want to speak French in France you do not want to speak like a Canadian!

I think some people make too much of differences in French between places. In language schools in Canada, I imagine they teach you traditional French, not local slang or Canadian peculiarities.

And for a beginner, accents probably aren't going to matter that much. I've been to Quebec and understood them perfectly well (at least some, there are some unusual accents in certain areas of Canada, but I'm sure you wouldn't be taught that in a language school). What was funny was some bartender, to whom I was speaking in French, told me that in France, they claimed they couldn't understand him, either (when I said sometimes they told me that in Paris). I didn't have any problem understanding him, though, so I think some of that could be snobbery in France, or Paris at least, as I am not fluent and I could understand him. They have different accents in Provence, also, and people go there to learn French.

I think for something whose had only 26 weeks total of French, Canada would be fine if that's what they could fit in. I wouldn't worry about learning some French that isn't used in France. I've had Swiss and Egyptian teachers in French class when I was studying in US university, after all. And there are some French immersion places even in the US, also, some college in New England, as I recall, does that.

Thanks to those who described their experience at several schools, especially Pirouette, Fortune and Grandmere, who seem to have goals similar to mine.

I studied for one week at CLE in Tours five years ago and stayed with an older woman (my age) who lived near the school. She included me in several of her evening activities (yoga, dinner and movie, concert), which made the stay very pleasant. I placed at an advanced level, but was put in a class with two intermediate students--the same problem Pirouette mentioned. The teachers were excellent, however, especially in the private class included in my package. Tours is a pleasant, easy-to-navigate city, and it's easy to get there from the TGV station at the CDG airport in Paris. From the train station in Tours, I took a taxi to the house where I stayed. One week was too short a stay, but I was in France for a wedding, and the classes prepared me to enjoy it as the only non-French guest.

I'd love to learn more about the Inst. de Francais in Villefranche-sur-Mer from Fortune or Pirouette. Did you enjoy the evenings? Is it complicated to get there from Paris? Did your accent and comfort speaking French improve to a noticeable degree?

The discussion on french immersion courses is excellent and wonder if new information can help me decide on where to go. "Fortune" was going to CLE in Tours last year. I too am an older adult with low ? intermediate french skills. I am thinking of going to CLE and staying in a home stay in order to improve my speaking facility. If "Fortune"is still active, I wonder how your experience was with the instruction and the homestay. If others have been, can you advise me on your experiences at a 3-4 week french immersion course?

MORE INPUT ON FRENCH IMMERSION EXPERIENCE WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS PLEASE! Ceran was recommended by a good friend but the cost is astronomical compared to others recommended on this string. CLE is leading the pack for me based on input from this string. I would be grateful to hear some more recent experiences. Thank you.

We've been to L'Atelier 9 in Paris three times (2012 for 9 weeks, 2013 for 4 weeks, and 2014 for 2 weeks), and the Institut de Français in Villefranche-sur-mer last year (for 4 weeks). They are both excellent schools, in our opinion, though each is quite different from the other.

The Institute de Français in Villefranche has a magnificent campus-like setting overlooking the Mediterranean, is very intense (8 to 5 each weekday), a bit formal (no English to be spoken while on campus), includes breakfast and lunch each day, encourages students to spend at least one month there, and, on a per week basis, is rather expensive. This school takes about 70 students each month. If you're a serious student, I would highly recommend it for at least one month (there are many who return, and I was in a class last year with a man who had been there 8 different times!).

L'Atelier 9 in Paris is located on one floor in a somewhat dated building in the 9th arrondissement, is smaller (30 students), less intense (9-1 each weekday), and more informal, is less concerned if students come for less than a month (some attend for only a week), and, of course, is less expensive. Whenever we are in Paris, we spend at least 2 weeks here, allowing us to study French (with some structure) in the mornings and to get to know the city better the rest of the day (although there is usually some homework to do).

Each school had students from around the world, though probably a majority came from English-speaking countries (namely, US, Canada, GB, Australia). Both offered excursions as part of the tuition. And, I was (and am) impressed with their teachers. In both schools, I think, the average age of the students increases in the winter months and decreases in the late spring/summer months.

Next year, to get to know the Languedoc-Roussillion region, we're going to the Institut Europeen de Français in Montpellier for 4 weeks in May. Based on the information on its website, the course there will probably be more like the L'Atelier 9's program. In June, we will return to L'Atelier 9 for another 2 weeks.

By the way, tomorrow we are driving from LA (where we are vacationing from Miami, FL) to San Diego to spend a few days with a couple we first met in 2012 in Paris while attending L'Atelier 9.

An interesting thread... some of these courses are only a few weeks in length? Hmmm....

I have recently been researching language schools in France so appreciate reading about everyone's experiences.

I went to CLE in Tours for 1 week in 2008. I was in an intermediate class but did not come away feeling like I learned too much from the experience. There were 5 in my class so I did appreciate the small class size. The school did offer a couple of excursions.

Went to coeur de France in Sancerre in 2013. There were 6 in the class - all Americains. Everyone was great about speaking French all the time. I got a lot out of the class. My only hesitation about going back is that I didn't have a car while there and as another poster said, after a few days, I felt like I'd explored every corner of Sancerre.

I've been looking at Valorme language school in the town of Foix in southwestern France but can't find many reviews of if. Anyone been there?

Thank you Billandcindy for the info on L'Atelier 9. I'll check it out.

powhatangal -- and others: -- I am curious about what features of the language school made or makes a good experience. E.g, powhatangal didn't find CLE as beneficial many years ago as Valorme. Was it the length of time you spent in each school ? The teachers? The level of the class or class mates? The amount of time speaking French? Luck? Or other things.

I will be going to a language school this spring and would like to make the most of my experience (I am going to CLE in Tours).

AnnArborite, I've already discussed our school experience (above). For us -- both recent retirees -- learning a language is a process. In the way of context, my wife and I have been studying French since 2010. Since 2012, we've spent 2-3 months a year in France and, while there, have gone to school more than half the time. Yet, we are still a ways away (for me, maybe quite a ways away) from being advanced level French speakers.

When going to a language school, all the factors you mentioned -- time, teachers, fellow students, etc -- play an important role. Some of these you cannot control. But one that you can is speaking French as often as possible, in and out of class. Overall, I would guard against setting your expectations too high, look for opportunities to speak French, especially to the French (not always easy to do as they will often respond to you in English, especially in Paris), and enjoy the experience (malheureusement, I've seen some students who clearly didn't).

AnnArborite - just now seeing your post. I was at CLE in Tours for only a week and also only at Coeur de France for a week. I found that my classes at CLE weren't very structured whereas the classes at Coeur de France were more structured with some grammar, listening skills, lots of conversing with the teacher and classmates, and even homework. That kind of structure suits me so I loved that learning environment.
I have been studying French for over 40 years (my collage major and spent my junior year studying in Paris). I think my placement levels at both schools were appropriate and the teachers at CLE were great. I just took away more from my experience at Coeur de France than CLE.
Valorme is something I'm looking at for 2016.
Enjoy CLE this spring. Place Plummereau is a great place for cafes!

Hi all.

Just thought I'd contribute to the thread and add my experience.

I took a 6 week intensive course at Cavilam in Vichy in November 2014 and was very happy with the experience and progression of my french.

Courses they offer start at one week, but I'd recommend you do at least 3 weeks. I noticed my french improving a lot by the 3rd week. First week though, I was totally swamped.

Classes go most days for about 3 hours in the morning. Not a word in English - all french. Almost all oral work interacting in groups and with the prof. Very, very intensive and draining but worth it.
My listening comprehension and speaking improved a huge amount. Profs are very well qualified and follow a syllabus. Afternoon classes most days went for an hour and a half. I chose "oral", but you could go for vocab, writing. Again, all in french so daunting at first.

Student ages were mostly in their 20's or early 30's. I'm in my late 50's and was a rarity. Most were there to improve their uni french or for their work. I was the only one in my class doing it purely for pleasure.

I chose studio accommodation organised by Cavilam. I was disappointed with my accommodation at first. Studio very dumpy - maybe my expectations were too high.
After 3 days I decided to switch to a homestay family- partly because studio was dumpy, partly I decided I was too isolated in the studio.

Cavilam were good about switching my accommodation. No issues there.

Homestay was good. I have no doubt my french improved as well because of the extra immersion at homestay.

I started at french level A2-2 and finished at B1-1. Listening and speaking improved a huge amount for me.

I intend returning to France to push myself to the B1+ or B2 level later this year. Probably will return to Cavilam - I liked their intensity, no language other than French in class, and classroom style. Lots of oral work in groups so important you forget about being too shy.

Still uncertain on the type of accommodation I'll get. I like my privacy, but homestaying really improves your french further.
If you're unhappy with family or studio, Cavilam will switch you on request.

Hope this helps some. Any questions I'll be happy to reply to.