French language lessons
 

My granddaughter and I are looking for a place for take a few weeks of French lessons. There are many advertised on the Internet. Any suggestions? We are not beginners, but certainly not comfortable in French. We would like to stay in Paris, but are open to any suggestions. Thanks for any ideas.

I enjoy Alexa's lessons on the net: http://learnfrenchwithalexa.com/cate...lessons-1to15/

She posts new lessons each week.

My American guest from Pennsylvania enjoyed her French lessons in Dijon with Alliance Française. You may also find them in Paris http://www.alliancefr.org/sommaire.php3?lang=en .
Bonne chance et bienvenue en France :-)

You might try your local Alliance Francaise for recomendations and lists of places that offer lessons in France. If you have one convenient it's a great place to practice your French at their various functions. We have a great time going there

I liked l'Institut Parisien in Paris and it's one of the few places that has lessons that start almost every week and that you can take for such a short period. In other words, it is very flexible and I think the teachers are good. Most places will have classes longer than a couple weeks, I think.

I might be wrong, but I don't think Alliance Francaise has any classes that are drop-in like that for just a couple weeks.

I think I've heard Accord in Paris is pretty good, and also one of the few that caters to people wanting short time periods.

might be wrong, but I don't think Alliance Francaise has any classes that are drop-in like that for just a couple weeks.

I meant she ought to look into joining a US AF in addition to classes they alsooffervarious events each month and almost everyone will be speaking or trying to speak French. It really helps to have someone to interact with frequently

I too started out looking for schools in Paris. But the problem with Paris, is that when you try to speak french, they hear your american accent, and they automatically switch to english, thus defeating the purpose. In the south, people are much more likely to stay speaking french and also they are just a bit more patient. :)

I discovered this school named Valorme after scouring the internet for weeks looking for the perfect French course to take during my vacation. The school is located in Foix, a small medieval village in the Mid-Pyrenned, in the southwest of France. I wanted something which was immersion, but still relaxed enough -- i was on vacation after all! I settled on this school after reading review after review which described the instructors and program as more of a family like setting, but still having structure good for learning French practically. The setup was morning classes in French, followed by lunch and an afternoon or evening activity. The class was perfectly sized - max of 6 students at a time. There was 3 in my beginner course and 3 in the advanced course. Corine and Alain her husband always spoke in French, but it was in such a way that you could understand them easily. The trips they arranged were also by far the best ones i've had in France. And they really make you feel like family. I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know the other students as well. They were from all over the world, but all of us were unified by our one common passion -- learning French!

I can't recommend this program enough. You can do 1 week or more. I did 2 weeks. I suspect if you do the 1 week though, you will regret it and wish you did at least 1 more week.

The studios they offer are also wonderful. For very cheap, you have a really cute studio which opens up to the castle of foix which rests on this rocky hill. It's truly stunning and incredible. Each morning, i would walk across the cobble stoned street and walk to the boulangerie for my croissant or crispy baguette and an espresso. It was so perfect. In the evenings i would explore neighboring medieval villages and some of the narrow roads would be surrounded by expanses of sun flowers, often taller than my car. I could hardly believe that such beauty was real.

For anyone that has interest in France or French, this program is a must try.
http://www.valorme.com/

Not in Paris, but in the picturesque village of Sancerre, couple of hours away from Paris on the train. www.coeurdefrance.com

I spent a week there a couple of years ago and would recommend it for you and your granddaughter.

The BBC has a very good fairly comprehensive course :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/

I highly recommend l'Ecole des Trois Ponts in Roanne, France.
http://www.3ponts.edu/

See my trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...es-3-ponts.cfm

I will be going again this summer for the 5th time! You can also take cooking courses there which are just wonderful!

bookmarking

I can recommend Crea Langues in Provence. Total immersion, great food and great ambiance as well. http://www.crealangues.com/ I did the two week course a couple of years ago and I am helping to organise a group of 45 to go there next year over a period of two weeks as there is a max of around 24 students.
Schnauzer

My husband did a two-week intensive course at Eurocentre in Paris and got a great jumpstart on learning French. Located in St-Germain des Prés, in the charming little Passage Dauphine.

http://www.eurocentres.com/en/

I would make sure that the teacher:student ratio is good; not more than 7 or 8 in the class. Very important, IMO.

Hello Grandmere, I saw that you posted on a different thread about another school that you attended; do you have a preference between the two?

I am looking for a school to study at next summer. I'll be finishing up my BA in French and will be studying in France looking for a little finishing touch to my skills. I originally planned on spending a month in Paris and studying at either the Institut or the Alliance Francaise, but I find, like many others do, that because of the numerous English speakers in Paris (and because of the general reluctance that Parisiens have to speak French with Americans)I don't really have much occasion to practice in the city.

I investigated the school in Sancerre that you posted about and really liked the set up and the prices. I'll be bringing my husband and two teen-age children with me and so the possibility of staying in a two-bedroom apartment is quite appealing. But the school is the most important thing, of course, so any input would be appreciated.

I felt that CLE (in Tours) took their mission very seriously, and that school had people from all over the world; many were there for their employment, such as in hotel industry, etc. I learned a lot in the just two weeks that I was there. We started every morning with a dictee that had been recorded from French news, and that was a great learning experience, if fraught with anxiety! And I had to study every evening especially on the days that we had afternoon classes so would not have wanted to be in Paris with all the distractions.

The school in Sancerre was good but everyone when I was there was an anglophone, and it was not as intensive. However, I would recommend it for a family trip such as you're planning especially if your husband and children are planning to take classes. A month in Sancerre might be a long time there, though. If not taking classes, your family would need a car to get out of town! Class size in both places was limited to 7.

Let me know if I can answer more specific questions.

Not sure in my earlier post how the symbol got there; it was supposed to be a /.

Chère Grandmère, je vous remercie.

It sounds like the school in Tours may be more what I am looking for academically. I'm going to be looking at the site today. However, the school in Sancerre sounds like it would be perfect for my family...though I have not yet convinced anyone else to take lessons.

Hello!

My mother in law has a wonderful 17th century house in Gers (south west of France, near the pyrenees ans the spain frontier) and she gives french lessons to english speaking people living in France or welcomes travelers who wish to take a french course for as long as they want. She also hosts visitors in her "Chambres d'hôtes".

Here is her website : http://www.lamirandelle.com/ you can contact her from me (I'm Vanessa) and she'll answer your questions