Language classes in Paris and elsewhere in France

Just yesterday I read a negative comment about Alliance Francaise in Paris. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I saw it, so I cannot provide a link. I might have been following a link posted on this forum, in which case perhaps someone else remembers.

For a month-long period, I would prefer being in a city with a lot of things to see and do, and Paris fills that role better than any other place in France. Others might recommend that you choose a more isolated place where it won't be so easy to lapse into English with those around you, but a month in such a place would be too much for me.

I did 2 weeks of lessons in Nice last May, and that was fine. I didn't come close to running out of things to do. My only problem was that most days, my lessons were in the afternoon, which made sightseeing in my free time more of a challenge.

I would also consider the weather during the time of year you propose to study. May was probably as good a time of year as you can have on the Riviera, with the possible exception of September. But I had more sunlight in May.

When looking at side-trip possibilities, keep in mind that local transportation is rather regional. If you want to travel to a place 30 or 50 miles away that happens to be in a different region, you may find that you have to travel into Paris and back out again, which doesn't work so well if you don't even have a full day. I lucked out in Nice, because the trains runs east and west along the coast to a lot of great spots, and Nice is also a bus hub for the hill towns.

Edited to add: Found the anti-Alliance Francaise comment right on this forum. See Alexander's post, currently six posts from the bottom of the thread. He was writing specifically of the FLE courses at AF in Paris.

In case you are not interested in French language classes within a group only, there is such option in Brittany, near Mont St Michel, St Malo and Rennes, where you may combine private classes and tours (http://visite.bretagne.free.fr/index.php/en/brittany-differently.html). For a few days it may be a way to improve in French while discovering another region, and then find some equivalents in other parts of France.

Thanks for posting that, Korriganed. I will explore that option for my next trip to France. The cost is reasonable, and I like the idea of combining sightseeing with some language instruction.

The Institut de Francais in VilleFranche-sur-Mer has been recommended to me. It's on the pricier side; they also have a network of accommodations in the charming town. There are a number of them in Nice as well; DH has been to one and some are flexible with placement and scheduling of classes.

No matter the town you pick, certain ones tend to attract certain types of students. If you are not college-age or younger, you may not feel as comfortable taking a course at a youth-targeted summer course.

I took a weeks' class at the Accord School in Paris in Feb. 2016, and really enjoyed it.

http://www.accord-edu.org/docs/ACCORD%20Paris%20-%20Brochure%20(ENG).pdf

It was just morning classes , so I had afternoons free.
The instructors were lively and entertaining, and I think I learned a lot!
My class had about 6 or 7 people in it in all, from Brazil, India, Sweden, Norway and Montreal; all with varying levels of previous French knowledge, but somehow it worked.
They were all younger than me, I'm early 60's, but I enjoyed it very much.
It's easy to get to by bus and Metro; and I would recommend it.

Thanks, everyone, for these wonderful suggestions. Please add more ideas if you have any!

Also consider Québec. Doing a month in Canada is a heck of a lot cheaper than in France. There I suggest Ecole Québec Monde. The teachers are fantastic and the school is well reputed. Plus the city of Québec is amazing.

Thank you, Alexander. Reading your post, i’m having an uh-duh, why-didn’t-I-think-of-that moment. You see, we live in Vermont, adjacent to Quebec province! It’s an easy drive from here to there. I’m surely going to France but I’ll follow up on your idea too.