I've just recently begun studying the Coursera "learing how to learn course", I have 2 degrees and recently realised that I struggled to get them. Anyway I'm already seen improvements in what I do (for instance exercise helps the learning process ! ), anyway for those of you who maybe are experts in learning or who don't feel that using a free, online course lead by world experts on improving your learning skills I still recommend you google "Benny Lewis" he has a book out and a website which offers free advice on how to accelerate your language learning opportunities.

Has helped me a lot.

Hi all, very useful thread here!

Fortune: I am interested in your experience trying out the different schools you mentioned (Institut de Francais in Villefranche, Acces Francais in Montpellier, Lyon Bleu in Lyon and Créa-Langues in Moustiers-Ste-Marie and CLE). How did they compare?

I am currently debating between some schools: CLE Tours, Millefeuille Provence, Access Francais and Lyon Bleu. Millefeuille seems to be closest to what I am looking for (very intensive course with some one-on-one course options) but is by far the most expensive. Institut de Francais does not accept students for less than 4 weeks in summer so it's unfortunately not an option for me.

If anyone else has experiences with the schools above or any other advice on immersion courses, I will greatly appreciate hearing about it!

LInstitut de Francais WILL accept students for les than 4 weeks in the summer if the student is advanced and will not be a disruption to the flow of the class. I went for two weeks in July one year.

I stumbled upon this thread again because I was considering a return to the Institut in 2016 but for me, the program is really too easy, even at the most advanced level.(they actually acknowledged that as a potential problem when I initially registered and they were correct) I would love some alternative suggestions!

I have only been to Crea Langues, three times now, but I can't compare it to other places of course. I found Crea Langue to be excellent, everyone stays in the Monastery in lovely rooms, the food is amazing. It is a total immersion, french spoken 24/7. The teachers are wonderful, group sizes a max of 6. Classes in the morning and activities in the afternoon to practice your french. It is isolated so you are transported everywhere by the school, but you see heaps and experience wonderful things. They do business french if you are interested in the afternoon instead of activities. I can't recommend it highly enough.

ananditamp : >>Fortune: I am interested in your experience trying out the different schools you mentioned<<

Fortune only ever posted on this one thread and hasn't been on Fodors in 2 years.

ananditamp, I am not familiar with any of the schools you mentioned but I was in Lyon for a week last summer and really, really loved it. I'm going back to France next summer to study French and will study at Coeur de France or Lyon Bleu, so will be following this thread again.

This forum has been very helpful. I will be leaving for France in a month and am looking for a full immersion course. Millfeuille Provence looks incredible but is twice as expensive as the other programs and doesn't seem easily accessible by train (?) CLE in Tours is in the lead for me and I hope to hear back from them soon regarding available space - as I am booking rather last minute. Thanks again everyone for the useful information. I hope to be able to speak French well one day!

Also, has anyone had any experience with the school French In Normandy? It came highly recommended but I am on the fence. Any info is appreciated. Thank you!

Welcome to Fodors Lydia. Instead of tacking on to a 4 year old thread you might do better if you start a new thread of your own.

I am looking for a school which can impart a good training for me to be able to take DELF B2 this June. I am very strongly inclined toward CLE, but the school website doesn't say much about classes for DELF. There are other well-established/known programs for DELF in cities like Montpellier and elsewhere, but there are a couple of reasons, they don't appeal to me. These schools are overrun with students who are doing their semester abroad. There are too many younger people (college-aged) who don't seem as serious especially in regards to speaking French outside of classes. Although I love being around these people, there is not much social interaction for me as I am well into my 50's.I had a taste of this type of life when I was in Cannes this summer. The average age in CLE is older and they seem to have a very good program. What is holding me back is the lack of a specific program for DELF. Does anyone know any school with the kind of program that I have in mind? Or does anyone know enough about CLE, to reassure me that they could help me adequately with my exam preparation. I am going to be investing a lot of time (6wks.) and money into it this summer, so I would like my money and time well-spent. Thanks in advance to any or all who may have some advice.

musafir09 -- this thread is very old. You probably should start a new topic of your own.

Thanks. Will do.