French School
French school in Aix-en-Provence
The French language school in Aix-en-Provence is situated in a private mansion close to the town centre and near to a beautiful park. The devoted staff make every effort to offer a high quality language education with a focus on oral communication in small groups as well as giving a warm and personalised welcome.
There 16 classrooms are spread over 3 floors and each have air-conditioning, providing students with a perfect setting in which to learn French. Facilities also include a multimedia centre, two sun terraces and a garden with a lovely pond. The city centre is within walking distance and is also connected by two bus lines. The bus stop is right outside the entrance to the school.
Quality Labels
The French school in Aix-en-Provence is certified since 2007 with the official government accreditation Label FLE obtaining 3 stars (the maximum possible) on each of the 5 categories audited: Welcome, Premises, Teachers, Courses and Overall Management and were again awarded with the same number of stars at the re-inspection in 2011.
French Courses
Minimum age: 18 (Younger students accepted on request)
Standard French course
These French courses have been designed for adults of all levels who need to communicate with greater ease for personal or professional reasons. The qualified French teachers lead small international groups in a friendly and dynamic manner which encourages intercultural exchanges.
Lessons per week | 20 | Duration | 2-10 weeks |
Levels | Beginner to Advanced | Students per class | 5- 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
Intensive French course
This French intensive course offers language lessons in the mornings and theme workshops in smaller groups in the afternoons to broaden your skills;
French civilisation, conversation, creative workshops, activities outside the institute, phonetics, grammatical reinforcement, games…
Lessons per week | 30 | Duration | 2-8 weeks |
Levels | Elementary to Advanced |
Students per class | Maximum 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
Combined courses
This French combined course is designed for adults of all levels who need to communicate with greater ease for personal or professional reasons.
It combines group lessons that favour intercultural exchanges and the dynamism of a group with the private tuition to work on individual objectives.
Various intensity and length available.
Lessons per week | 20+4/6/8/10 | Duration | 2 weeks |
Levels | Beginner to Advanced | Students per class | Maximum 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
Long-term French course
The Long-term French course is designed for students who wish to extend their learning period and their knowledge of the French language over a longer period of time.
The French course is based on the curriculum of preparation for the DELF (Diplôme d’Etude de Langue Française) and gives the possibility of taking the DELF exam at Aix University or any other city and the TCF at the school in Aix-en-Provence, depending on the dates.
Participants are adults with at least an elementary level (A2) or two years of active French, who want to express themselves with greater ease, for professional or personal reasons.
Courses are in blocks of 8 weeks and students can attend for 8, 16 or 24 weeks. There are specific start dates for the long term course in Aix-en-Provence.
Lessons per week | 20 | Duration | 8, 16 or 24 weeks |
Levels | Beginner to Intermediate | Students per class | Maximum 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
Private tuition
French Private tuition is designed for adults who wish to learn or improve their French for personal or professional reasons.
It offers a maximum flexibility for students with specific needs of course contents or for students who cannot adapt to the group schedule.
Lessons per week | 10, 20 or 30 | Duration | 1-8 weeks |
Levels | Beginner to Advanced | Students per class | 1:1 or 2:1 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
French & Discover Provencal Cuisine
To be booked alongside the French standard course
This option allows you to practice French and to initiate yourself to Provencal cooking while participating to cooking workshops and to local products tasting.
Programme: A class of introduction and presentation of typical products of Provence ; A class of presentation and tasting of Provencal cheeses; A presentation of Provencal wines followed by a tasting; A discovery of one typical Provencal product: the “Calisson” ; Two cooking workshops followed by a tasting ; A discovery of the Provencal market followed by a cooking workshop.
Lessons | 16 hours over 2 weeks | Duration | 2 weeks |
Levels | Elementary to Advanced | Students per class | Maximum 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
French & Discover Provence course
To be booked alongside the French standard course
This option allows you to practice French while discovering Provence, its products and its countryside through various activities.
Programme: A guided city tour ; A class of introduction to the traditions and cultures of Provence ; A visit to Cézanne’s painting studio ; Two workshops to discover two different local products ; A half day’s excursion on the Mediterranean coast ; One full day excursion in Provence.
Lessons | 20 lessons over 2 weeks | Duration | 2 weeks |
Levels | Elementary to Advanced | Students per class | Maximum 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
French & Discover Provence on foot
To be booked alongside the French standard course
This option allows you to practice French while discovering the countryside of Aix-en-Provence, its natural sites, its vegetation and its culture on foot.
The excursions are led by professional guides who love their region and their job. You have to love walking and bring good shoes! (Hiking shoes (or equivalent) are highly recommended).
Programme: An afternoon’s walk following Cézanne’s footsteps to the Sainte-Victoire; An afternoon’s walk in the Domain of Beaulieu, a vineyard developing also other activities linked to the soil. The domain is situated on the unique volcano in Provence ; An afternoon’s walk in the Vauvenargues area, where Picasso spent the last years of his life; A full day’s walk in the National Park of the “calanques”, the rocky creeks of the Mediterranean Sea allowing you to discover the very typical vegetation of this area.
Lessons | 17 lessons over 2 weeks | Duration | 2 weeks |
Levels | Elementary to Advanced | Students per class | Maximum 10 |
Minutes per lesson | 45 | Minimum age | 18 |
Painting, Horse riding or Golf
Optional activities that can be booked alongside the French standard course in Aix-en-Provence. Please contact the office for details.
DELF preparation
Students can prepare for the DELF exam in the Long term course as this course follows the curriculum for the DELF exam or students can choose to prepare for the DELF exam in private lessons.
Accommodation
Host Family
The host families are rigorously selected within 30 minutes on foot or up to 20 minutes by bus from the school. Please note that the procedure for arrivals is after 18:00 on Sunday and on Saturday mornings for departures.
3 options are available :
- Half-board: single room with continental breakfast and dinner. You have lunch elsewhere and cannot use the host’s kitchen.
This type of accommodation encourages linguistic and cultural immersion; it’s an excellent complement to you French language course in France.
- Bed & breakfast: single room with continental breakfast; you have your other meals elsewhere and you cannot use the kitchen unless the host agrees.
This kind of accommodation is recommended for people who want to be independent – contact with your host family is rather limited.
- Room with access to the kitchen: you stay with a host family and no meals are provided, but you have access to the kitchen to prepare your own meals – you and your host decide on what times you can use the kitchen.
This kind of accommodation is recommended for people who want to be independent and/or have a special diet.
Summer Residence
(May to September)
Located 25 minutes on foot to IS Aix-en-Provence, 5 minutes to the Cours Mirabeau, the Rotonde and 10 minutes to the bus station, the residence is located in the heart of the cultural centre and also in the heart of the shopping and restaurants area with the Allées Provençales.
Studios Description
-20m² studios for 1 person with small balcony
- Equipped kitchenette
- Bathroom with shower and toilets
- Fan at your disposal (no air conditioning)
- Free WiFi
- Bed linen included (no towels provided)
Services
- Reception: open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 12:30pm and from 2:00pm to 5:00pm except on Wednesday afternoon. Appointments possible on Saturdays starting at 9:00am. Entrance with a code (previously sent by email) on Sundays
- Coin laundromat
- Free rental of vacuum cleaner, iron and board
- Cleaning once every 2 weeks and change of linen on request
- Underground parking: 25€/week
Activities
Activities
Outside of French courses, the school offers a wide range of cultural and social activities. They are also happy to help in students to organise sports activities such as tennis, golf, swimming etc.
The activities offer a cultural interest, an opportunity to practice your French and a chance to get to know the other students better.
A sample of activities:
- Guided tour
- Cooking classes in cooperation with “l’Atelier des Chefs” or in a private home.
- Wine-tasting in cooperation with “la Cave du Félibrige”
- Guided tour of the market
- Pastry workshop
- Writing workshop and other language workshops
- Pétanque contest with aperitif
- Accrobranche
- Hiking in cooperation with Evana
- Sailing (mainly summer-time but possible year round on request)
- Excursions to places of interest (Arles, les Baux, la Camargue, Avignon, Pont du Gard, le Luberon, Cassis & the calanques, Marseille, Saint Tropez, Monaco, the carnaval in Nice, the Cannes film festival, les Gorges du Verdon…
In addition to the activity programme students are given ongoing information about current events in Aix; it’s a very lively town with always something on. In summer there are several music festivals, such as the International Festival of Lyric Art in July and “Aix in Music” in June. Throughout the year there are numerous dance events, mainly thanks to the Ballet Preljocaj.
To read more : http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/en
Information
How to get to Aix-en-Provence?
From the airport of Marseille Provence
By bus (it will bring you to the bus station in Aix-en-Provence, 5 minutes from the centre of town)
Bus: N°40 Cartreize
Duration: about 30 minutes (bus each 15 or 30mn) / Price: about 8€
From the airport of Nice
By bus (it will bring you to the bus station in Aix-en-Provence, 5 minutes from the centre of town)
Bus: 20A L.E.R
Duration: about 2 hours (bus directly by highway or by national roads) / Price: 20€ - 30€
From the TGV train station of Aix-en-Provence
By bus (it will bring you to the bus station in Aix-en-Provence, 5 minutes from the centre of town)
Bus: N°40 Cartreize
Duration: about 15 minutes (bus each 15 or 30mn) / Price: about 4€
From the TGV train station of Marseille St-Charles
By bus (it will bring you to the bus station in Aix-en-Provence, 5 minutes from the centre of town)
Bus: N°50 Cartreize
Duration: about 30 minutes (bus each 10mn) / Price: about 5€
By car
Autoroute du soleil (E80 / E74): Paris-Nice via Lyon (Aix is situated 8 hours from Paris)
By taxi
If you wish to book a transfer, you must let us know at the earliest one month prior to arrival, indicating:
- the day and the exact time of arrival
- the place of arrival (Aix TGV train station, airport Marseille-Provence or other)
- the flight number or train number and its departure city
- your mobile phone number in case of a proble
From the airport of Marseille-Provence and TGV train station of Marseille Saint-Charles: about 55€
From the TGV train station of Aix-en-Provence: about 35€
Your First Day
If you decide to learn French in Aix-en-Provence with our school, you should arrive in Aix on the Sunday before in order to be able to start your course on Monday morning. If you have chosen homestay, your host family is expecting you on Sunday from 18:00. For other types of accommodation, the arrival procedure varies from one formula to another.
The first day of your French course in Aix-en-Provence
You are expected at our French language school on Monday morning between 08:30 and 09:00. The schedule for the first day of all the French Standard courses is usually the following :
08:30- 09:00: Registration (Please bring two identity photos)
09:00-10:00: Written and oral evaluation
10:00-10:15: Break
10:15-10:45: General Information
10:45-12:00: Guided tour of Aix-en-Provence on foot
12:00-13:45: Lunch break
14:00-15:30: Course (exceptional schedule due to first day of class)
Schedule may vary, make sure to read your arrival information.
On the first day at IS Aix-en-Provence you will be provided a folder containing your schedule and all necessary information regarding your stay. Cultural and leisure activities are organized every week and you will receive detailed information on these as well.
The schedule for the first day of other course types will be indicated in the confirmation letter that you will receive about 3-4 weeks before the course start.
Course Prices
FRENCH COURSES
1 lesson = 45 minutes / Minimum age = 18
ADMINISTRATION FEE: € 60.00
Week (s) | STANDARD COURSE
20 lessons per week / Max. 10 per class |
INTENSIVE COURSE
30 lessons per week / Max. 10 per class |
1 | € 450.00 | € 630.00 |
2 | € 760.00 | € 1120.00 |
3 | € 1140.00 | € 1680.00 |
4 | € 1520.00 | € 2080.00 |
6 | € 2040.00 | € 3120.00 |
1 week on request. |
Week (s) | LONG TERM COURSE
20 lessons per week / Max. 10 per class |
8 | € 2320.00 |
16 | € 4640.00 |
24 | € 6960.00 |
The long term courses have their own specific start dates. |
COMBINED COURSE 2 weeks | |||
20+4 lessons | 20+6 lessons | 20+8 lessons | 20+10 lessons |
€ 706.00 | € 834.00 | € 962.00 | € 1080.00 |
PRIVATE TUITION | ||
10 lessons | 20 lessons | 30 lessons |
€ 640.00 | € 1280.00 | € 1890.00 |
SPECIAL COURSES Must be booked alongside the standard course.
DISCOVER PROVENCE | 2 weeks: € 450.00 |
DISCOVER PROVENCE BY FOOT | 2 weeks: € 450.00 |
HORSE RIDING | Please contact the office for prices. |
COOKING | |
PAINTING | |
GOLF |
ENROLMENT FEE | € 85.00 per person |
Accommodation Prices
ACCOMMODATION
Sunday to Saturday
Week (s) | HOST FAMILY
Single room / Self catering |
HOST FAMILY
Single room / Half board |
1 | € 215.00 | € 298.00 |
2 | € 430.00 | € 596.00 |
3 | € 645.00 | € 894.00 |
4 | € 860.00 | € 1190.00 |
6 | € 1290.00 | € 1788.00 |
8 | € 1720.00 | € 2384.00 |
16 | € 3056.00 | € 4480.00 |
24 | € 4584.00 | € 6720.00 |
Week (s) | HOST FAMILY
Single room / Breakfast |
1 | € 220.00 |
2 | € 440.00 |
3 | € 660.00 |
HOTEL RESDINCE | 2 weeks |
1 PERSON STUDIO WITH SHOWER, BATHROOM & KITCHENETTE | Please contact the office for prices |
Booking fee: € 35.00 |
2024 Dates
STANDARD, INTENSIVE, COMBINED COURSES : Non-beginners can start on any Monday start date shown below. Beginners must start on the dates shown in RED. | |||
JANUARY | 8 | 22 | |
FEBRUARY | 5 | 19 | |
MARCH | 4 | 18 | |
APRIL | 2 | 15 | 29 |
MAY | 13 | 27 | |
JUNE | 10 | 24 | |
JULY | 8 | 22 | |
AUGUST | 5 | 19 | |
SEPTEMBER | 2 | 16 | 30 |
OCTOBER | 14 | 28 | |
NOVEMBER | 12 | 25 | |
DECEMBER | 9 |
PRIVATE TUITION | Any Monday |
LONG TERM COURSE | 22nd January, 18th March, 13th May, 8th July, 2nd September and 28th October |
DISCOVER PROVENCE | 4th March, 15th April, 24th June and 2nd September |
DISCOVER PROVENCE BY FOOT | 18th March, 10th June, 16th September and 14th October |
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS | 1st January, 1st April, 1st May, 8th May, 9th May, 20th May, 14th July, 15th August, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Lessons lost on these public holidays will be made up with an extra afternoon of lessons in the same week. |