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French language schools

Updated: Sep 13, 2022

Do you want to study French either before you relocate to the nation or after you get there? This article provides all the information that you want on French language schools, courses, apps, and other relevant resources.


Living in France is, without a doubt, the ideal approach to becoming fluent in French since it allows you to fully immerse yourself in the culture and language. The process of moving to the nation and getting a visa is not quite as difficult as one may believe it to be, which is excellent news for prospective expats who are contemplating making the shift. This is especially important to keep in mind if you want to pursue further education in France.


However, if you don't want to study French via immersion, there are a lot of different methods to pick up the language, either before you travel to France or after you get there. In addition to the many schools of the French language that can be found all over the world and that provide classes for students of all levels, including beginners, intermediates, and advanced speakers, there are also a great number of online courses, apps, & language exchanges that can assist you along the way.


Lingoda


Lingoda is a cutting-edge online language school that places instructors who are fluent in the target language in the comfort of their students' homes. Their learning tool will guarantee that you are speaking French like a native before you even realize it. Join one of Lingoda's lessons from the convenience of your own home by selecting the class time that works best for you in conjunction with your current level of language proficiency. This may be done for either professional or personal reasons.


Why learn the French language?


There are around 267 million native speakers of French throughout the world, placing French at the seventh spot on the list of most commonly spoken languages in the world. Additionally, it is one of the most important languages used in diplomacy and international affairs, and it is still one of the official languages used by the United Nations (UN).


If you are coming to France, there are several reasons why you should make an effort to learn the language, including the following:


Career prospects: It will be much simpler for you to interact with your coworkers and customers, as well as get work and advance in your profession.


Social life: You'll have more opportunities to socialize, go out on dates, become involved in more activities, and experience less loneliness as a result of these things.


Integration: It will provide you greater access to French culture, as well as literature, news, magazines, and television in French, and it will help you feel more like a part of your community.


Legal requirements: If you want to remain in France for a longer time and later decide to apply for French citizenship or a residence card, you could be required to provide evidence that you are proficient in the French language.


Personal development: Your understanding will be widened and new opportunities will present themselves to you if you are fluent in many languages.


The good news for anybody planning to live and work in France is that the French language is not the most difficult to learn. It is feasible to acquire basic proficiency in the target language after attending anywhere from 600 to 750 hours of class time. This is about the same amount of time it takes to study Dutch, Spanish, and Italian, but it is substantially less difficult than learning German (750 hours), and it is a lot more reasonable than learning Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean (all of which need 2,200 hours).


Learning French before moving to France


If you want to learn French as quickly and effectively as possible, living in France or immersing yourself in a French-speaking environment is the best way to do it. However, it's never a bad idea to get a head start before you travel to France. Before going to France, you should investigate the possibility of enrolling in some beginning French classes at the university in your area or at a cultural center specializing in France.


Finding a language exchange partner, viewing language videos online, getting a language app, or watching French films to train your ear are some of the other methods to learn French. When you arrive in France, you will feel less intimidated and more motivated to test out your newly acquired language abilities since you will have prepared yourself before.


International French language schools


You may, of course, attempt to find a language school that offers campuses in both France and the nation in which you now reside. That way, even when you relocate, you won't have any trouble keeping up with your language studies. There are a handful of institutions that each have language centers located in a variety of nations. The following are examples of things you may wish to investigate further:


Alliance Française – has a presence in 132 countries throughout the world and provides French language materials, lessons, and exams in those areas.


Berlitz – offers instruction in several various settings, ranging from group sessions to individual, one-on-one lessons, and has seven facilities in the United States as well as 16 language centers spread out over France.


International House World Organisation –


represents a worldwide network of connected language schools located in 52 countries, of which 49 nations provide instruction in French.


Aside from this, the majority of language schools in your place of origin will offer French classes since French is one of the languages that is spoken the most often in other countries. Depending on where you are located, the following are some alternatives that you may investigate further.


Cactus, Bond Street Languages, and International House are three language schools that you should consider attending if you are located in the United Kingdom.


There is a branch of the British Language Institute (BLI) in Quebec City, the American Language Center (ALC) in Montréal, and Learn French in Vancouver.


In Germany, you can check out Alpadia in Berlin


In addition, if you are in the Netherlands, you may begin learning French at language schools like Bogaers and Una Paloma Blanca, both of which offer beginner classes.


Language International is an online search platform that can also assist you in locating hundreds of French language schools located all over the globe.


Where to learn French in France


There are a lot of advantages to studying a foreign language in the nation where that language is spoken. For example, you are going to:


You have a variety of class options available to you, ranging from rigorous French courses to French conversation sessions and French summer courses.


Learn real, everyday French:


It is possible to study French in more natural settings by going on field trips with your students to locations like museums and marketplaces.


Grasp the nuances of the language:


through being familiar with the myriad of slang terms, idioms, phrases, and accents that are used in French.


Learn French quicker:


because you can quickly put what you've learned into practice outside of the classroom, as well as passively absorb the language throughout the day.


Have informal learning opportunities:


include things like free discussion nights, language swap activities, and programs that are supported by the state.


Language schools in France


When it comes to locating a school that teaches a language, finding one in France is not difficult at all. The following is a short list of some of the most prestigious institutions in the nation, which may be found in different parts of the country.


Alliance Française


The Alliance Francaise, a well-known worldwide language organization, has 30 chapters around the country of France. Classes, cultural events, and French certification are some of the ways that it aims to spread the French language over the world. The institution provides a variety of alternative packages that allow you to combine standard French lessons with additional courses, such as seminars or customized programs, to construct a French program that is tailored to your requirements, availability, and goals.


Locations:


Twenty language centers and six cultural centers may be found in various locations around France. You may locate a location close to you by using this interactive map.


Azurlingua


The French language is taught at Azurlinga from a pragmatic angle, and the school has earned the FLE accreditation, which stands for Qualité francais langue étrangère. It provides preparation for French language exams as well as courses for specialized purposes, such as university integration, the commercial world, the medical field, the scientific community, and tourism. It is designed to help you quickly advance your French communication abilities while also teaching you a wide range of topics to increase your general knowledge. The instructors are all native speakers of French who also have degrees from universities.


Locations: Nice


Berlitz


This international school has 16 different locations in France where they provide classes in the French language. Teaching may take place one-on-one, in small groups, or even at your place of business thanks to Berlitz's mobile instructors.


Locations: Arras, Bordeaux, Dunkerque, Grenoble, Le Havre, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse


Eurocentres


Eurocentres provides a diverse selection of French language classes, ranging from beginner to advanced levels, for students interested in acquiring the French language. The length of the courses ranges from one month to two weeks.


Locations: Amboise, La Rochelle, and Paris


France Langue


France Langue has six schools, five of which are located on the French mainland and one on the island of Martinique. These schools offer classes for all levels of general and specialized French (including business, legal, and medical), as well as training for French teachers and preparation for French language exams.


Locations: Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Lyon, and Martinique


In addition to looking into what French language schools could be found in your neighborhood, you can also investigate whether local colleges provide instruction in the French language.


Government-run French lessons in France


Let's say you want to find French classes that are either more reasonable or completely free. In such a scenario, the best course of action is to get in touch with the town hall (mairie) in your region to inquire about the amenities that are offered in your neighborhood. It's possible that the local government will set up lessons specifically for non-native speakers, or they could send you in the direction of local organizations.


As an example, the Mairie de Paris will sometimes provide French classes available to adults. During the registration process at your neighborhood Pôle Emploi employment center, you will also have the opportunity to inquire about French language lessons if you are currently jobless.


In addition, the French Ministry of the Interior has collaborated with Alliance Francaise to launch a series of massive open online courses (MOOCs) titled "Vivre in France." These are accessible to you after you have registered for the online course and include levels A1 through B1.


In addition, the French government foots the bill for French classes for foreign nationals who have lived and worked in the country for at least a year. These classes are referred to as FLE, which is an abbreviation for Francais Langue Etrangère or French as a Foreign Language. You may enroll in them by logging into your Compte Personnel de Formation account (CPF). You will have access to language classes worth €500 for every year that you are employed. There are a variety of organizations that provide this training, one of which is Clic Campus, which also provides instruction online.


Parlez-vous français? and Alliance Francaise, on the other hand, provides students with the opportunity to study French in traditional as well as online settings. Checking with your workplace to see if they have any additional financing programs or relationships with local universities that might assist staff in learning French is another option to consider.


Learning French for free in France


If you are self-motivated and willing to put in the effort, there is a vast quantity of information available online for free that may assist you in becoming fluent in French. Continue reading if you want to learn more about that topic. In the meanwhile, local groups and charities such as the French Red Cross, La Cimade, and Secours Catholique often provide French classes at no cost or a reduced cost to recently arrived immigrants.


It is important to keep in mind, however, that the programs offered here are not often as rigorous as those offered at language academies, and the instructors may not necessarily have the same level of expertise. If you are in Paris, you may also find a listing of relevant groups and institutions in the city on the Secours Populaire website.


Signing up for local language exchange programs, which will allow you to learn French at no cost, is another wonderful suggestion that you should consider. Language clubs and events can often be found on websites such as Meetup in each of the world's most populous cities. You might also go through the local Facebook groups in your region to see if any of them exist.


Paying a visit to your local library, since many of them provide free materials for language study and occasionally arrange discussion groups or other language activities, might also prove to be beneficial for you.


Learning French online


There are a lot of different methods to study French online, and you may use them regardless of whether you want to learn it in France or before you relocate there. You may learn a language in a variety of ways, such as by enrolling in online classes, watching language learning videos, downloading language apps, or listening to podcasts. You are likely to discover a technique that is conducive to the way you learn best. The following is a list of possibilities that you may wish to investigate further.


Online French courses


There are a large number of companies offering online language courses, some of which were discussed before, that cater to students who want to study in an online version of a physical classroom. E-learning choices are currently offered by the majority of educational institutions and schools, and they range from sessions that are very intense and needs-specific and last for just a few weeks to courses that move at a more leisurely pace and last for at least a year.


In most cases, you will be able to enroll in online programs taught by a private instructor or in intimate groups. Prices will, of course, vary based on the kind of training you choose and the degree of assistance that comes with that training.


The following is a list of choices that you may wish to investigate further:


Parlez-vous French – provides rigorous introductory classes for five hours each week for a total of four weeks for €149


Alliance Française – provides a bundle of online programs beginning at €472 per month that includes nine hours of instruction each week.


Berlitz – There is also the option of taking a self-paced online course with a cyber instructor for a fee that starts at about €270 for six months.


italki – provides access to a network of French instructors that are available for private classes, with hourly fees that are tailored to your financial constraints


LanguaTalk – Find a French instructor that is willing to give you online one-on-one classes at a time that is convenient for your schedule.


Lingoda – features four different course choices, ranging from "Maintain," which costs €48 for four lessons lasting 60 minutes each every month, to "Immersion," which costs €320 for a total of 40 classes.


Digital resources


There are a lot of helpful tools available online that you may utilize to improve your French abilities. If you would rather do things at your speed, you can do so. Because there is such a wide variety of media, you also have the option of selecting one that corresponds to the way that you want to study.


Check out these possibilities, which are just a few of many available:


BBC – provides a user-friendly platform that offers everything from short classes to a comprehensive 12-week program


Coffee Break Languages – provides access to a variety of short audio lessons for learning French, all of which are available to download as podcasts.


TV5Monde Apprendre le français – a website that allows for interactive learning of French via the use of videos, with over 2,000 different exercises


Le Point du FLE – offers approximately 15,000 links to benefit students and instructors of French as a Foreign Language (FLE) (FLE)


Le Plaisir d'apprendre – This online resource for educators and students was developed by the Alliance Francaise and covers topics like phonetics, oral and written comprehension, as well as French history and culture.


When you're out and about in your new nation, it's a good idea to bring along an electronic translator like Word Reference or Google Translate just in case you run across any language barriers. The latter can even immediately transcribe and translate speech, which can enhance the flow of discussion while you are still getting a better grasp of the language.


Language learning apps


Downloading an app that teaches languages might be incredibly helpful if you want to study French on the side for conversational purposes. However, since everyone has their unique approach to learning, you need to be sure that the method you choose is tailored to how you learn best.


To get you started, here are a handful of the more common ones:


Babbel – a highly rated mobile application for learning a language via quick, engaging lessons


Berlitz Talk & Travel - When traveling to a foreign country, having one app that can read menus in up to 17 languages, including French, may be helpful.


Bonjour! – focuses on learning via conversation and provides hundreds of different dialogues that may be used in everyday situations.


Brainscape - based on the use of flashcards, repeated practice, and tests


Busuu Learn French – teaches you the fundamentals of French by providing you with 3,000 words spanning 150 different subjects and including games and quizzes.


Duolingo – an extremely popular software that provides bite-sized courses regularly and has an appealing user interface


FluentU – promotes language acquisition via the use of films taken from actual life


Fluenz French – This is targeted squarely at native English speakers who are interested in picking up one of six other tongues, including French.


Mondly – This software, which is both instructional and compulsive, is all about having a good time while learning new things.


MosaLingua - offers you the assistance of a French language instructor in a virtual setting to get you up to speed on your fundamental French.


Pimsleur is a language learning platform that is based on the time-tested Pimsleur Method. It is comprised of several audio courses that place a strong emphasis on both auditory and verbal perception.


Rosetta Stone French - These well-known online courses are now also offered in the form of an application.


Language learning programs


There are a lot of websites that promise to provide the greatest online French classes for learning the language rapidly and keeping the knowledge you learn. Many of them provide online lessons, language learning applications, and computer programs, and you may join up for any or all of them to get the most out of the experience. There is always the option of beginning with a free trial, but after that, the rates change.


Consider the following choices and pricing before making a decision:


Babbel – provides you with full access to all French classes and tailored courses for an affordable monthly fee of €4.99


Brainscape - a platform for collaborative learning that can be accessed both online and on mobile devices, based on flashcards, repetition, and quizzes, with a monthly fee of $5.


FluentU – offers online French immersion via films and quizzes, with prices beginning at $19.99 per month.


Fluenz French – a software that bills itself as serious and charges $398 for complete access to all of its tiers.


Mondly – an online platform that is both aesthetically interesting and instructive; for the low price of €9.99 per month, you can join up and start learning French.


Pimsleur – The total fee for the Premium French course is $575, and it consists of 80 hours.


Rocket Languages – The whole French immersion course is available for a price of $259.90 for a total of 422 hours of instruction.


Rosetta Stone French - is a well-recognized organization with expertise dating back more than 25 years and offering a service that incorporates voice recognition technologies. Pricing begins at $7.99 a month, or $179 for a lifetime subscription that grants unrestricted access to the company's language-learning software.


Practicing French outside of the classroom


There are a wealth of possibilities to study French outside of the classroom that present themselves on a day-to-day basis when living in France.



The following is a list of some examples of things that you may do each day to enhance their language skills:


Get chatting: Engage in conversation with your next-door neighbors, proprietors of nearby shops, other parents of children attending the same school, market sellers, or bartenders. Do not be embarrassed by the fact that you want to increase your French proficiency via practice and study.


Host playdates:


Spending time with French-speaking kids will naturally teach you all of the fundamental terminologies, and they won't correct your wonky grammar or pronunciation, either!


Join a local sports club or association: Inform others around you that you are ready to learn and that you will apologize in advance for any errors that you may make.


Be persistent: You should only communicate in French with your new pals and coworkers.


Watch French TV and films (with subtitles): After some time has passed, you will be able to turn off the subtitles and see how much you comprehend without them.


Read French newspapers: Start with the free, local newspapers; the articles are concise and will give you an understanding of the neighborhood around you.


Attend various exhibits and museums, and while you're there, pick up a French audio tour to take with you so that you can improve your vocabulary as you go.


Join a language exchange: You may find language exchanges in your area on websites such as Meetup, Polygot Club, and BlaBla Language Exchange. You can also join local café polyglottes in your area.


Learning options for children


Your kid may be eligible for linguistic help and additional language lessons if they attend a French school in France thanks to the fact that you enrolled them there. On the other hand, not all schools have the financial means to support a specialized teaching assistant. Because of this, it is beneficial for them to strengthen their understanding of French before even beginning school.


A few of the aforementioned internet sites will also include selections that are appropriate for younger students. For instance, Berlitz provides online lessons for toddlers and teenagers, with class sizes ranging from three to six students.


Notably, if a game or some other kind of interactive activity is used to teach a language, youngsters are likely to be more receptive to the material being taught. And to our great good fortune, there are a plethora of language learning applications available for youngsters that incorporate all of them. You may give some of the applications that are listed below a try, or you can search for more that are appropriate for your child's age, skill level, and personality:


French Learning For Kids – Exploding balloons, coloring images, and putting together puzzles are all fun ways to teach children the French alphabet, numbers, and words.


Gus Learns French – Come along with Gus, the friendly owl, as he travels all around the world and investigates languages spoken in every region of the world.


Boukili – a reading experience that is immersive, interactive, and instructive for children aged 4 and up


Studycat: French Language Instruction for Children – for students aged 3 to 8, including 14 different language lessons and two different topical courses (colors and animals).


Bonjour! Learning French for Children and Complete Novices - Mini educational games that may be played by youngsters as well as adults, making it much simpler to learn and retain the new language.


You may also borrow French books that are simple to read from your local library and set up play dates with other children so that your children can learn the language while also interacting with their peers.


Official French language examinations and qualifications



There are four primary certifications available in the French language:


DILF (Diplôme initial de langue française): an A1.1 rating for novices that is exclusive to France and is only accessible there.


DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française): up to level B2, which is the minimum need to enrol in courses at France's higher education institutions


DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française): up to the C2 level, the most comprehensive exam of your oral, written, and reading comprehension abilities


TCF (Test de Connaissance du français): evaluates your current level of French knowledge, and the certification you get is only valid for two years after you receive it. To get a residency permit (CRF test) or French citizenship, you may be required to take a specialized TCF exam (ANF test).


It costs roughly between €100 and €150 to take each level of the exam, and there are over 1,200 test centers around the world (including over 200 in France) that issue these certificates. These certificates are required for people to apply to universities, pursue employment opportunities, and establish immigration statuses. These credentials may also be obtained via various language institutions and the majority of the country's universities. Whether you are in France or elsewhere in the world, you can use our convenient interactive map to locate an examination center that is close by.


You may take an online test on Ev@lang, which is a platform that was established by the French Ministry of Education, to identify your level of French language proficiency and to find out which certification would be the most appropriate for you.


Useful resources


Ev@lang – an approved online testing tool that may assist you in determining your current level of French language proficiency


France Education International – gives information on all of the activities that the French government has taken to promote the study of French in other countries.


A gateway for the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by the Ministry of the Interior (massive online courses)


Mon Compte Formation – provides the ability to search for French training institutions and online courses that are supported by the French government.


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