intensive (total immersion) French course

[Catalpa]

has anyone done one of these / knows of one they can recommend ?

I'm thinking in terms of 1 or 2 week residential (ideally staying with French family) taught by mother-tongue French speakers.

I think the pros and cons of these have been discussed before but can't remember (or find) any recommendations.

[Isles]

Hi there

We did a total immersion course last July in region 47.  It was the best thing we have done in terms of getting to grips with the language.  We spent a week with Corine and Alain - address Valorme, 47250 Bouglon - go to their web at www.valorme.com.

We had almost one to one (there were 3 of us) tuition with Corine whilst a complete beginner had Alain all to himself.  The lesson starts as soon as you go down for breakfast and continues in a more formal setting at 9 am.  There is a break for lunch, but no break from speaking French.  In the afternoon Corine takes you out and about ie wine-tasting, local market, etc where you are expected to use what you have been learning.  Dinner in the evening continues with French being spoken throughout.  We had a very intense week and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Don't worry if you don't feel confident, Corine speaks fluent English as well as Japanese and Chinese!!!!  What a lady!

I can't remember the exact charges but it was reasonable enough for a pair of tight Yorkshire folk to afford.  Everything was included, food, wine, outings, lessons and accommodation.

We would go back again this year but we will be moving out there so we are not having a holiday as such.

You will get all the details from the web site and send our best wishes to C and A.

Denise and Chris

[letrangere]

Many thanks for posting this and the recommendation, my OH is looking for an intensive "brush up", sounds just the thing and the location too is perfect for us.  What material (text books, etc.) did you use?  Were the classes quite well structured, ie lessons planned, etc.?

M

[Isles]

When you make your booking you will be sent a brief questionnaire on your ability level.  On your first evening at dinner the conversation will be in French and Corine will judge your ability.  The classes are so small (max 6 people) that they can cater for everyone.  The other person on our course was an elderly Japanese man who spoke no English but Corine soon had us all speaking to each other (in French).  The lessons are very structured and mainly get you speaking in the past tense as, if you have a little French you cannot always speak in present tense, you so often have to say you went somewhere or did something and need to use past.  Even the conversation at mealtimes are structured ie Corine will, for example, ask if you slept well and you have to answer fully, no getting away with a simple yes or no.  You do not need a text book all you need is a note pad. 

It was a little nerve wracking at first but both Corine and Alain are very experienced and are lovely people too.  Oh, and did I mention the swimming pool!!

Enjoy

 

D&C

 

[Catalpa]

Thanks, Isles. This is a definite for the short list.

[Quillan]

This thread was sort of what I was looking for but not quite.

We are looking at around 4 weeks of the same thing preferably by a company that is recognised proffesionally so how do you know that you are getting quality teaching? Is there some sort of recognised body and where can I find these sort of courses down south?

 

[letrangere]

Chris, share your concern.  Have you thought of approaching your nearest British Consulate, where would that be Toulouse, Montpellier?  They are bound to have a list of "recognised" French language schools, though I can't recall now who does the recognising of language institutes in France.  M

[Tourangelle]

Nearest British Consulates would be Bordeaux and Marseille unfortunately, they are surprisingly thin on the ground.

If I were looking for a course in French I would look into the Alliance Francaise, I've heard good things about them and I know you can do exams like Delf with them and they are a very large organisation who are present all over the world.

[Quillan]

I have contacted the British Consulate who have strongly recomended Alliance Francaise.

I have visited their website at http://www.alliance-montpellier.org/indexang.htm which is just what I am looking for. Aparently you can take exams at the ned to prove your level of French which are accepted by the French institutions and companies.

[letrangere]

My goodness, I should have mentioned Alliance.  I was with them for in Paris for a couple of years and even continued my studies (and membership, they're also a social organisation) when we moved to the Middle East.  I've sat both the DELF and DALF, having followed their specially designed preparation courses.  You can probably manage to take and pass the first exams just by doing a general course but for the much more specialised DALF a special prep course is essential.  Incidentally, I cannot say enough about both diplomas.  Not only are they a huge boost to the self confidence and very useful professionally, at least in my experience, you learn so much about modern day French life and society along the way.  I would say passing the DAFL was one of the major milestones in my life, I was numb with joy for days after receiving the results.  M

[PeterCD]

I can also highly recommend Valorme - spent two separate weeks with them in 2001 and 2002 and as a complete beginner it was quite amazing how much I learnt.  The fact that it is virtuallly total immersion is what appealed to me and the first week was "one to one" with Corine and the second time there was only two of us with her.  Would definitely go back.