French Courses - Schools in France - Learn French in France

Attend our French schools and courses in France and learn French in a country full of riches. France has so much to offer, you may find yourself taken aback by its magnitude choices.

France remains one of the world's most talked-about and written-about countries. It is packed with traditions of every sort: cultural, culinary, sensual, you name it. And perhaps that's why France has been called le deuxième pays de tout le monde (everyone's second country).

The French claim credit for developing Gothic-style architecture and the cathedrals that stand as legacies of soaring stone. From the time of the Middle Ages, creators of everything from grand cathedrals to subway stations have drawn some inspiration from designs born in France. The monuments whisper the stories of a land that has shaped, and been shaped by, the rise and fall of rulers and empires since the ancient times. It is a country that has been the scene of, and the subject of bloody battles. France entered the new millennium as part of a unified Europe, but it remains, and always will remain, inexpressibly, unwaveringly French.

France - History

I n ancient times France was part of the Celtic territory known as Gaul or Gallia. Its current name is derived from the Latin Francia, meaning "country of the Franks," - Germans who conquered the area during the 5th century, at the time of the descent of the Western Roman Empire. It became a separate country in the 9th century.

S ince the 17th century, France has played a major role in European and world events. However, the devastating effect of two world wars, political and social disturbances, and the loss of the empire in Indochina, Algeria, and Western Africa were major 20 th century crisis for France. It has, however, survived and emerged from the ruins of World War II to become an important world supplier of agricultural and industrial products and a major partner in the EU.

French Courses in France - Geography

France covers 551,695 Square kilometres (213,010 sq mi) and possesses a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal plains in the north and west to mountain ranges of the Alps in the south-east, the Massif Central in the south-central and Pyrenees in the south-west. At 4,807 metres (15,770 ft) above sea-level, the highest point in Western Europe, Mont Blanc, is situated in the Alps on the border between France and Italy. France also has extensive river systems such as the Loire, the Garonne, the Seine and the Rhône, which divides the Massif Central from the Alps and flows into the Mediterranean Sea at the Camargue, the lowest point in France (2 m / 6.5 ft below sea level). Corsica lies off the Mediterranean coast.

French Schools in France - Economy

France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France 's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare.

The government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly 50% of GDP in 2005). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the Euro zone's 3%-of-GDP limit; unemployment stands at 10%

France - Food

There are many places to try French food in France, from three-star Michelin restaurants to French "brasseries" or "bistros" that you can find at almost every corner, especially in big cities. To obtain a greater variety of dishes, a larger outlay of money is often necessary. In general, one should try to eat where the locals do for the best chance of a memorable meal. Most small cities or even villages have local restaurants, which are sometimes listed in the most reliable guides. There are also specific local restaurants, like "bouchons Lyonnais " in Lyons, "crêperies" in Brittany (or in the Montparnasse area of Paris ), etc. Ethnic food is available throughout France, Chinese restaurants and takeaways (actually most of them are Vietnamese) are everywhere, and large cities have North African, Greek, Italian (pizzerias) restaurants and eateries. The ubiquitous hamburger eateries (US original or their French copies) is also available.

In France, taxes (19.6 per cent of the total) and service (usually 15 per cent) are always included in the bill; so anything patrons give in addition to the bill amount is an "extra-tip". French people usually leave one or two coins if they were happy with the service.

Learn French in France - Climate

The north and northwest have a temperate climate, however, a combination of maritime influences, latitude and altitude produce a varied climate in the rest of Metropolitan France. In the south-east, a Mediterranean climate prevails. In the west, the climate is predominantly oceanic with a high level of rainfall, mild winters and cool summers. Inland the climate becomes more continental with hot, stormy summers, colder winters and less rain. The climate of the Alps and other mountainous regions are mainly alpine in nature with the number of days with temperatures below freezing over 150 per year and snow cover lasting for up to six months.

France - Interesting Facts

• France is the largest European country for land area after Russia and Ukraine.
• Nearly 20% of the territory of France lies outside Europe and known as "DOM-TOM" (overseas departments and territories), where over 2.5 million French citizens live.
• 20% of the French people live in the Parisian region.
• According to a 2004 IFOP survey, 44% of French people are Atheists (up by 24% since 1947).
• French people boast the highest female and third highest male life expectancy in the European Union.
• The name " France " comes from "Frank", a Germanic tribe that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 6th century and founded the first independent kingdom covering most of today's France.
• The French state was founded in 843, splitting from the Carolingian Empire based in Aachen (Belgo-German border).
• The region of Paris was settled around 4200 BCE. The city wasn't founded by the Parisii, a Celtic tribe, until around 250 BCE. The Romans renamed it Luteca from 52 BCE, and it didn't became known as " Paris " after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.
• In France, under certain circumstances, it is possible to marry a deceased person with the authorisation of the President of the Republic.
• France boasts the highest wealth tax of any European country.

Learn French in France - Advice

At our French schools and courses in France our advice can really be summed up with one simple word - practice! What kind of study materials you use is not quite as important as how or how often you use them. Your hard work and determination will be one of the biggest factors in successful language learning.

The French school and course you choose in France is going to be the core of your French study, so make sure you choose a French language course that gives you structured lessons and lots of opportunity to practice your new language skills. Our French courses at our French schools in France, will give you the perfect opportunity to study, learn, and practice French in a supportive, well planned and friendly environments.

You must work at your new French language skills every day. Ideally, you should study French an extra hour or more every day. If you can get at least an extra half-hour of study time, that's pretty good too. Try to at least get a little review and study, learn and practice French every single day.

If you attend one of our French courses in France and you learn French everyday, you will have a good basic knowledge of the French language in a reasonable amount of time. Your knowledge and ability will increase and improve depending upon what other tools you use and what kind of experiences you have using the French language.

Grammar book. A good old-fashioned grammar book may be boring but they are a great way to really get to grips with the details of the language.

Phrase Book

These are extremely helpful books that you can carry with you. They can be useful for practicing pronunciation, or for quickly finding a lot of more commonly used phrases, words and idioms. Phrase books are always a nice supplement to learn French and they are convenient and cheap.

Dictionary. Absolutely necessary in the long run. You must have a dictionary if you wish to expand your vocabulary, and you will need one in order to take full advantage of many of the French language learning tips set out here. Make sure you get one that translates both ways e.g. Spanish to French AND French to Spanish. It is also helpful to find a dictionary that contains idioms - the phrases particular to the language which you are studying - as well as phrases that are commonly used in the French language, but may be difficult to translate.

Flashcards

A simple French language learning tip, but a very effective way to review, refresh your memory and expand your vocabulary. There are pre-made flashcards that can be purchased, or for extra help, you can create your own. Keep them with you at all times, in your pocket or in your car, and look at them for a quick review or language lesson at every opportunity. They are very convenient.

Talk to yourself

It may be obvious, but the best way to learn French in France is to speak French in France! This convenient method can be use at all times, as you can even talk to yourself. Even if you are in public and don't feel comfortable talking to yourself out loud, you can make it your habit to practice French by thinking French. Throughout the day, think of the French words for everything you pass - objects in your house, things you pass when you are traveling, things you use at work or school, etc. Learn basic French phrases like - ‘it is cold today' or ‘it is sunny today' and use whichever is appropriate when you first look out the window. By putting this tip into use on a regular basis, the vocabulary and phrases will become more routine and automatic.

Practice with friends

Taking it even further than talking to yourself, you can practice with your friends. Even if they don't speak French, talk to the people you know by using your new language. Warn them in advance that you are practicing your new knowledge and they'll know what's coming. Even a simple 'good morning' or 'see you later' in French will make those phrases more natural to you. Your friends may even begin to learn a few words and join in the fun too!

Listen to music

Listen to French music. You'll hear the French language used in a real context and this will help you pick out the rhythm and pronunciation even better. This method will also give you a further understanding of, and appreciation for, the culture and customs of the people. Music in French might be easier to find than others, but Amazon or eBay and many other global websites will enable you to find music in French and many different languages.