French in Montpellier

Montpellier

Located on the doorstep of the wild wetlands of Camargue, Montpellier is a gorgeous natural region stretching across the southwest coast of France. Founded in medieval times as a farm and birthplace of La Marseillaise, this once-sleepy university town – now home to 80 000 students which make up 30% of the population – will succeed in charming your senses, taste-buds and eyes in every possible way.

Montpellier is a thriving southern town a-buzz with cultural happenings, flavoursome southern cuisine and multicultural energy centered around the dazzling white-paved pedestrian expanse of the Place de la Comédie, crowned by the Opera House and the place for people-watching and enjoying one leisurely drink after another. Elsewhere in town, l’Ecusson district‘s underground electronica concerts, art house cinema and quirky boutiques will also keep you entertained.

Montpellier is a well-kept French secret, and only a hop, skip and a jump away from beautiful white sandy beaches. It’s a fantastic place to make progress in French while experiencing authentic Languedoc culture.

Our partner school, LSF, is located just a few minutes’ walk to the famous Place de la Comédie with bus and tram stops just 3 minutes away on foot.

School accreditation: Qualité FLE 5*, Campus France

School facilities include:

20 bright, fully-equipped and air-conditioned classrooms spread out in 3 different buildings located at a 5mn walk from each other
3 SmartBoards
Flatscreens with broadband Internet and free WiFi access
Chillout lounge with vending machines with hot drinks and snacks and a water cooler
Outdoor terrace
Private garden
Library and film library
Tourist information: guidelines, brochures, newspapers, cultural programme

French language courses: the basics

Lesson length: 45 minutes
Class size: average 8 students (10 maximum)
Schedule: morning and/or afternoon lessons. During summer and the high season, the school reserve the right to organize the standard courses in the morning or the afternoon, in order to preserve the teaching quality
Placement test: written test before departure, speaking assessment on the first day of lessons
Certificate of completion at the end of your stay
Access ot the school e-learning platform during your stay (access to course summaries, self-corrective exercises, grammar and vocabulary sheets, oral and written comprehension exercises, school activities,…)
Weekly progress tests to make sure you are ready to move up
Qualified native French teachers

20 general French lessons + 2 worshops per week

The objective of our standard French courses in France is to provide you with the essential lexical and grammatical tools to communicate in French by working on the five skills necessary to acquire a language:

Listening comprehension
Oral production
Oral interaction
Reading comprehension
Written production

Our teachers give you the tools you need to be able to interact in your personal, student or professional life. Our standard courses also allow you to discover the cultural and social specificities of French and French-speaking countries and, for example, to debate on major current issues.

Each week, you take a test which allows you to assess yourself, measure your progress and memorise the essential points of the week.

Language level: elementary (A1) to advanced (C2)

26 general French lessons + 2 worskhops per week

In addition to the standard morning classes, you will attend two afternoons of group classes per week.

Our intensive courses allow you to communicate in French on everyday subjects as well as on current affairs and social issues. You study the essential grammar, conjugation and vocabulary to enable you to develop the five skills necessary to progress in a language:

Listening comprehension
Oral production
Oral interaction
Reading comprehension
Written production

The 2 afternoons of intensive courses are real improvement courses of oral practice in French. All the documents used come from French-speaking media:

Videos
Radio broadcasts
Reports
Games

They allow you to exchange, discuss and debate in order to express yourself in an ever more fluid manner.

Language level: elementary (A1) to advanced (C2)

30 general French lessons + 2 worskhops per week

In addition to the standard morning classes, you will attend two afternoons of group lessons per week of intensive courses as well as 4 private lessons.

This formula allows you to progress in your knowledge of the French language and culture by following the standard courses, to improve your oral skills in the intensive courses, and to work on specific points with the one-to-one lessons.

You develop all your skills to progress in French:

Listening comprehension
Oral production
Oral interaction
Reading comprehension
Written production

Before your arrival, you fill in a document to detail your expectations and specific needs to your teacher who then develops a tailor-made programme especially for you. In private lessons, your teacher will help, advise and correct you in a totally personalised way.

Language level: elementary (A1) to advanced (C2)

Combine the standard course with cooking classes

20 lessons of General French + 2 cooking classes (2 x 3 hours) + 2 workshops per week

In addition to the standard course, you take cooking classes with a chef two afternoons per week.

The “French & Cooking” course is an ideal formula for students who wish to improve their French while enjoying the pleasures of French gastronomy and discovering the secrets of its famous cuisine. This programme is available all year round, for all levels of French and cooking.

In the standard course, you develop all your skills to progress in French. The cooking classes take place in a very well equipped professional kitchen located 15 minutes walk from LSF. Our chef welcomes students in the kitchens of their restaurant.

Cooking Classes

Thanks to a dynamic and creative teaching, the students create a dish and a dessert which they then enjoy together at the end of the workshop.

Language level: elementary (A1) to advanced (C2)

Prior to their arrival, students complete an online written test that allows us to assess their level. On arrival, this level is confirmed during the oral test. Students enter a class adapted to their level. We consider it very important to satisfy our students: throughout their stay, from their first week to their last day. We ensure that the courses offered meet their expectations and needs.

“LSF’s commitment: to accurately assess each student’s entry level and remain attentive to the objectives expressed by them, in order to offer a learning experience that is adapted to their needs. We carefully monitor the progress of our students throughout their journey in the French language.” — Elisa, Director of Studies.

We remain attentive and, if necessary, offer remedial solutions that can consist of a change of class and/or level or personalized assistance as part of the tutoring offered each week at the school.

To facilitate students’ daily lives, LSF has created an application available on smartphones to consult their course schedule.

You will enjoy a varied calendar of social and leisure activities every week, in the afternoon or during the evening. Attendance is optional. Many of these activities are free of charge, however, some may charge a fee. All activities are subject to change without notice and may be offered seasonally.

Some of the many activities available include:

Guided tour of Montpellier
Museum outings
Traditional Montpellier apéritif tasting
Sports: football, handball, bowling, ice skating
Day trips to Avignon, Pont du Gard, Regional Nature Park of the Camargue, Saint Guilhem-le-Désert, Clamouse Caves, Carcassonne, etc

Single room, shared bathroom, self catering (you have access to the kitchen to make your own meals

Travel time to our partner school: the carefully selected host families live about 35 minutes away from the school. They are located nearby or just a short bus or tram ride away.

Optional extras:

Breakfast
Half board

Practical Information:

Linens/towels provided
Laundry: your host family will let you use their laundry facilities once a week or let you know their laundry day
Airport or railway station round-trip transfer included

Résidence l’Observatoire – 1 rue Henri Guinier or Résidence Beaux-Arts – Nemea – 9 avenue Saint-Lazare

Allocation is made by the school depending on availability. The 2 residences offer similar features.

Individual Studio Features:

1 single bed, 1 desk, 1 chair
A TV corner
Small kitchen (fridge, electric hob, microwave, cupboards, cutlery and dishes)
Private bathroom
No meals included
Travel time to school: approximatly 10 minutes on foot (Observatoire) or 20 minutes on foot or, 14 by Tram (Beaux-Arts)
Location: less than 20 minutes on foot away from Place de la Comédie
Deposit to be paid upon arrival, refunded at the end of your stay provided no damages are incurred

Facilities and services

Bed linen provided (students should bring their own towels)
Common areas with TV and Netflix
WiFi access
Bicycle parking
Mailboxes
Self-study area
Coin laundry facilities
Cleaning service once per month
Reception 7/7 days (Monday- Saturday 9:00 to 12:00 am and 2:00 to 6:00 pm, permanence ensured on Sundays)
Night watchman

Please Note: Your studio must be left in good condition. A cleaning service is available, with a supplement if washing the dishes is required.

*Double Studio only available for participants travelling together

Travel

Arrivals: Sunday

Departures: Saturday

Residence reception opening hours:

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.-6:00p.m. (Monday-Saturday)

Year round the night watchman arrives at 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Arrival Montpellier airport,or
Montpellier St-Roch or Sud de France Railway Stations

Please note that if you have opted for Residence accommodation, only airport transfers are available. An additional fee is charged for transfers between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The residence l’Observatoire is located 300m from Montpellier-St Roch Railway Station.

If you have opted for a Homestay, airport or railway station transfers are included in the price of your stay. Your host family will pick you up and drop you off.

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

Visa Information

You might need a visa for this course. For more information please visit our Visa Information page.

Do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you require any additional information.

Dates 2022

Course start dates: Courses start every Monday, year-round except otherwise indicated as follow. In case Monday is a Bank Holiday, the course starts on Tuesday.

Course start dates for complete beginners: 07/02, 07/03, 04/04, 02/05, 06/06, 04/07, 01/08, 05/09, 03/10, 07/11

Special Campus Summer course dates : from 03/07 until 27/08

Bank holidays and holidays (No lessons will take place on these dates and will be rescheduled during the week): 01/01, 18/04, 11/11. The school will be closed during the Christmas holidays from 19/12/202 until 02/01/2023 included.

Prices 2022

All taxes and enrolment fees included

Lessons and accommodation in a host family, individual room, breakfast included
Duration	20 lessons per week	26 lessons per week	30 lessons per week
1 week	€ 485	€ 555	€ 585
2 weeks	€ 835	€ 975	€ 1.035
3 weeks	€ 1.215	€ 1.425	€ 1.515
4 weeks	€ 1.550	€ 1.830	€ 1.950
6 weeks	€ 2.285	€ 2.705	€ 2.885
8 weeks	€ 2.860	€ 3.420	€ 3.660
10 weeks	€ 3.550	€ 4.250	€ 4.550
12 weeks	€ 4.005	€ 4.845	€ 5.205
16 weeks	€ 5.315	€ 6.435	€ 6.915
18 weeks	€ 5.970	€ 7.230	€ 7.770
20 weeks	€ 6.220	€ 7.620	€ 8.220
24 weeks	€ 7.450	€ 9.130	€ 9.850
32 weeks	€ 9.905	€ 12.145	€ 13.105
36 weeks	€ 11.135	€ 13.655	€ 14.735
Extra week	€ 305	€ 375	€ 405

Lessons and accommodation in a host family, individual room, breakfast included
Duration	20 group lessons & 10 private	26 group lessons & 4 private	French & Cookery
1 week	€ 910	€ 730	€ 645
2 weeks	€ 1.740	€ 1.380	€ 1.170
3 weeks	€ 2.570	€ 2.030	€ 1.610
4 weeks	€ 3.350	€ 2.630	€ 2.110
6 weeks	€ 4.985	€ 3.905	#REF!
8 weeks	€ 6.460	€ 4.860	#REF!
10 weeks	€ 8.050	€ 6.050	#REF!
Extra week	#REF!	€ 575	#REF!

DELF/DALF preparation and accommodation in a host family, individual room, breakfast included
Duration	DELF/DALF
5 weeks	€ 2.360

Accommodation extras
Extra night	€ 45
Host family - Half board (per week)	€ 50
Special diet (Vegan, Lactose or Gluten free, etc.) per week	€ 50
Residence - double or individual room (per week and per person)	€ 60

Transfers
Trip	One-way	Round
From Montpellier station to the residence	€ 40	€ 80
From Montpellier airport to the residence	€ 60	€ 120
Host family: round transfer from Montpellier airport/railway station to accommodation included
Arrival between 22.00 and 07.00: extra fee (please contact us)

Prices include:

Your chosen course and accommodation
Single-room homestay, breakfast included
If homestay: round-trip transfer from and to Montpellier airport or railway station
Course materials
Access to all school facilities
Access to school Moodle platform
Guided tour of Montpellier
All school taxes and enrolment fees

Prices do not include: