Hi Everyone,
Does anyone know of places that offer french language classes specifically over 50? Or at least not college age since we are upper 50s. I see a couple online and a big one in montpellier, but we are hoping to find something 2-8 weeks in paris proper, hopefully right in the center somewhere.
Does anyone know of any places that do language for "not just college age?"
Thank you!
Absolutely. Check out L'Institut Catholique. They do summer programs with people of all ages and nationalities.
Don't let the name scare you. Their summer classes are held in the Saint-Germain-des-Pres area.
I took a month-long course at the L'alliance française in Paris, but the average age of the students enrolled was, just as you fear, 22. The school also offers one-on-one tutoring at a handsome price. You might want to check two websites for personalized instruction--either by Zoom or face-to-face. I have had very good luck finding French tutors in France via Superprof.com as well as Apprentus.com. You can always arrange for a first meeting at a cafe or someplace neutral, if you are afraid of meeting strangers through the internet.
So not Paris but might be worth a look anyway. There’s a school in Rouen called French in Normandy that offers classics for 50+ with classroom time and cultural excursions. It’s a max 1.5 hour train ride from Paris though Rouen itself is a fantastic city in which to stay and study.
Hi BillB,
While I did not take this immersion class in Paris (I took in Bordeaux), I did use Alliance Française de Bordeaux and was quite happy with it. Yes, I was the oldest (the age range was spread out between 22 to 50+), but not by much. I would encourage to look at the teaching philosophy of any school to see if it matches your goals in language learning. Some are more practical (real-world), some are more grammatically precise. FWIW I have heard good things about the schools in Montpellier and it's a beautiful city with great weather. Good luck!
When I was in Paris, I did Alliance Francaise. I highly recommend it.
You might check Eurocentres. I went to the school in Amboise, now closed, and liked the instructor and course work very much. There was a range of ages, more mid-career than over 55 though. When Amboise closed for the winter months, the teachers transferred to Paris and our teacher complained that attendance tended to be low there as the young people spent more time in the city than in class. It might mean more individual attention with mature students.
