French courses for young students
If you are learning French at school, one of our French courses for children and teenagers is the perfect way to improve your language skills as well as have lots of fun and make loads of new friends from all over the world!
We offer these courses in a range of different locations throughout France and even have programmes in Canada (Montreal) and Switzerland (Leysin). We offer courses by the sea in Nice, Antibes, Cannes and Biarritz, as well as courses in historic cities such as Paris, Montpellier and Vichy!
Most of these junior language programmes are offered as summer camps during the school holidays in June, July and August, although our school in Antibes actually offers courses from April to November!
Our French courses for juniors are specifically designed for students under 18 years of age. They combine French lessons with exciting activities and a high level of supervision appropriate for the age of the kids. Accommodation is always offered on a full board basis, usually with a carefully selected host family.
Suitability
These special junior language programmes are suitable for kids and teenagers that wish to study French exclusively with other young students of a similar age from all over the world. The activities will ensure that you are entertained and, as you will be encouraged to try to use French as much as possible, they will also help you to improve your confidence when speaking French! This is a particularly good option for young students who have never travelled abroad on their own before, although these courses are also popular with more experienced travellers too!
The high level of supervision provides parents with the peace of mind that their children are able to learn French in a Francophone country in safety.
Courses
Our French courses for young students usually consist of 15 or 20 lessons per week, although some programmes do offer more intensive course options too. All the language courses we offer are total immersion courses and so French will be taught and encouraged from the first day.
If you already speak some French, you will usually take a level test on arrival at the school (some schools will send a written test to be completed in advance, although you will also take a short oral test on arrival). Our colleagues will use the results to make sure that you are placed in a suitable group, with students of a similar level to yourself. Your teachers will all be native French speakers who are fully-qualified to teach French to international students. They will also be experienced in teaching students of your age and will do their best to make sure that lessons are fun and engaging!
Accommodation
Accommodation is offered on a full-board basis, which means that you will be provided with all of your meals. The accommodation is usually offered either with carefully selected host families or in a student residence. Some programmes offer both options. In most cases you will share your room with another student, or with several other students, of your gender. Most schools will try to mix nationalities, to encourage you to use your French with each other.
Most students do travel independently, but if you are travelling with a friend or a group of friends and would prefer to stay together, or close to each other, please just let us know at the time of booking. As this is dependent on availability, this cannot be guaranteed in advance, but the school will do their best to meet your requirements.
At the time of booking we will ask if you have any allergies, special dietary requirements or medical conditions. This is so that the school can place you in the most suitable accommodation for you and can make sure that the meals you are provided with are suitable for you.
Student residence - Students staying in a student residence may have lessons on-site or they may need to travel to the school (although when students do have to travel to the school, they do normally travel together). Supervisors also stay on-site to ensure students are safe and supported at all times.
Host family - Host families usually live in different areas and students are normally expected to make their own way to the school each day. Hosts will ensure that students are confident that they know the best way to get to the school. Host families do tend to come in all shapes and sizes, although often they are older couples or single ladies, as these tend to be the type of people who have the room and time to host young students and kids. Each school has a dedicated accommodation officer who carefully selects the host family and knows them well. The accommodation officer visits host families regularly to ensure that they continue to offer safe and suitable accommodation for students.
Activities
Most of our courses for juniors do offer very frequent activities; usually with something offered every day. All activities will be conducted in French, so should give you a fantastic opportunity to practice what you have learnt in class. They will also allow you to make friends with students of your age from all over the world!
Many programmes offer activities such as guided tours of the city, excursions to local places of interest, parties at the school, screenings of French films, arts and crafts workshops, theatre workshops and dance lessons. The majority of programmes offer lots of sports activities, although sporty kids may particularly enjoy our programmes in Biarritz and Antibes. Our programmes in Biarritz offer children the opportunity to surf in the afternoons, and in Antibes students can choose to add some golf lessons to their course!
Schools usually finalise the activities programmes a couple of weeks before the course starts, so these really are just examples to give you an idea of what to expect. Our colleagues at the school will confirm to you on arrival what will be offered during your time at the school. However, if you do have any questions, just let us know!
Transfers
Airport transfers can always be arranged, but it does depend on the programme as to whether they are included in the course price or not.
Students aged 16 to 18 years
If you are 16-17 years, you can choose between a course for young students or a course for adults. Please feel free to contact us for more information about this.