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LEARNING FRENCH

How to find affordable language classes in France

Language classes can be expensive so if you're seeking to learn French or just improve your language skills, here are some of the free or affordable classes on offer.

How to find affordable language classes in France
Learning French conjugation in school at Ile d'Arz, in western France (Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP)

With the news that France is bringing in new, tougher language requirements for foreigners seeking long-term residency permits or citizenship, many people are making a new resolution to improve their French.

Whether its to do with admin or just to be able to have a chat with French neighbours or colleagues, language courses are notoriously expensive, so we’ve put together a list of options that won’t break the bank.

Compte Formation Professionnelle (Mon CPF)

All employees in France get an annual ‘training budget’ of up to €800 that you can spend on developing your professional skills – and if you’re foreign you can use that budget for language classes.

You first need to register on the Mon Compte Formation app or website, using your social security number and then once you have worked a full year in France you become eligible for the budget.

Search ‘Français Langue Etrangère (FLE)’ in the site to find courses near you – the training is run by local language schools and so inevitably you will find more of a choice if you live in the city.

Find full details of exactly how to sign up HERE.

One thing to note – unfortunately the CPF scheme name is often used by scammers, if you get phone calls or text messages offering to unlock your account it’s better to ignore them and just head directly to the government website or app.

The Office for Integration and Immigration (OFII)

The Office for Integration and Immigration is a compulsory stop for many people living in France, and if your French is very basic/non-existent they can order you to attend classes.

But as well as the compulsory beginner-level classes, the OFII also offers voluntary classes at higher levels. 

Offering language courses of 50 to 600 hours depending on the needs and level of the person concerned, the OFII seeks to ensure that anyone seeking a long-stay residency permit in France can at least speak, read, and understand basic French.

The standard course is aimed at the A1 level, though they also offer courses for A2 and B1. The classes are provided by “AFCI and its co-contractors” and are held “during the day, evening or weekend.”

If you are on a long-stay residency permit you have likely either already finished your half-day reception at the OFII or you have it coming up. During the reception, the OFII representative will determine whether your French rises to A1 level or not, and if it does not reach that threshold then they may prescribe you French training courses. While OFII’s goal is to help those at or below A1 level, you can always reach out regarding options for A2 and B1 as well.

Your local town hall

The town hall (mairie) is responsible for many things in France. If you are new to the country, it might actually be one of the best places to visit first.

Your town hall is a great resource for finding recommendations for services, organisations, and activities, especially if you live in a more rural area. Many mairies also offer heavily discounted language classes.

In Paris the mairie offers ‘Cours d’Adultes de Paris‘ in everything from sewing classes to lessons in Excel, but there are around 300 classes in Français langue étrangère. The modules are between 20 and 180 hours and are adapted by level and ability.

The courses are usually held in school buildings throughout Paris.

If you live outside of Paris, you can contact your local mairie to ask what they recommend in regards to subsidised language courses. They will likely be able to point you towards NGOs operating in the area that hold classes.

For parents of schoolchildren 

If you have children in the French public school system, but France is not your native language and you want to improve, then there is a specific programme just for you.

Ouvrir l’école aux parents pour la réussite des enfants” (Opening schools to parents for the success of students) is a government scheme from the Ministry of Education aimed at helping parents integrate in order to better support their children’s schooling. 

OEPRE allows parents of non-French children in the school system to take between 60 and 120 hours of French classes over the course of a year (about four hours per week) with the goal of improving their French and better understanding the school system. The lessons are free and are offered to groups of approximately 8 to 15 people. 

You can learn more HERE

Pôle d’Emploi/France Travail

This is the French government organisation that helps job-seekers find potential professional opportunities. It also offers formations (courses) to help those seeking work keep their skills sharp, including free language classes for those who are not French natives.

You first need to be registered with Pôle emploi (shortly to change its name to France Travail) as a job-seeker, which usually means you have already been working in France. 

If you are a registered job-seeker you can then create an account on the Pôle emploi website, head to ‘Trouver ma formation’ and search “Français Langue Étrangère” to see what courses are available.

Université pour Tous

The ‘university for all’ programme is about offering further education to adults, but unlike the UK’s Open University it’s not all at degree level and many offer beginner and intermediate French classes for foreigners.

It’s organised on a local level so you will need to find the Université pour Tous website for your département and then search the courses – prices and courses on offer vary according to location. 

Language exchange

As a native speaker of English you have a valuable skill to offer and ‘language exchange’ options are a great way to get free or reduced price tutoring.

As the name suggests, you chat with a French speaker and they help you and correct your errors and in exchange you do the same for their English.

There are numerous groups who offer this, so search online. Most are either free or charge a reduced price. You generally need to be able to chat at some level so they’re not ideal for complete beginners but are a good way to improve your fluency once you have the basics.

The social network “Meetup” is a great resource for finding pre-existing language groups in your area, or virtually if you prefer. This website might favour those who live in large cities, but you might be surprised to find options in small towns as well. Plus, if something does not exist yet, you can always create it.

Facebook groups are also another great way to find likeminded people who are seeking cultural and linguistic exchange. Groups like ‘BlaBla (insert your city)’ can help connect you to conversation groups. 

Online groups

During the pandemic many language classes moved online, and plenty of them have stayed there, giving more options to people who live outside the cities or bigger towns.

If you are looking to practice your French solely online, some websites like Polyglot Club offer free choices for users to interact and practice their language skills.

Conversation workshops at libraries 

In Paris, both the BPI and BNF, as well as at least 15 other municipal libraries, offer one hour to one hour and a half language exchanges that are led by library staff and/or volunteers.

You can learn more at the Paris library website

Outside the capital, some libraries also offer conversation groups, so ask your local library if they have something similar.

Bon courage

Member comments

  1. You didn’t mention the UPE (Université populaire européenne) which offers a wide range of language classes including various levels of French. The academic year runs from end September to end May and the price is very reasonable. Lots of other classes ranging from gym and yoga to art are also on offer.

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FILM

French films with English subtitles to watch in March 2024

Lost in Frenchlation – the cinema club that screens French films with English subtitles – has six films on offer in March 2024, including two Oscar-nominated dramas.

French films with English subtitles to watch in March 2024

Lost in Frenchlation has plenty in store for English-speakers looking to enjoy French cinema this March in Paris.

There are six films on the docket, including a rare foray into another European language, German, and two Academy Award-nominated films.

You can also subscribe to their weekly newsletter with more updates here.

Madame de Sévigné

March 8th, from 7pm to 11pm

L’Arlequin, 76 Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris

Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, aka the marquise de Sévigné, is one of the best-known women of historical French literature. Isabelle Brocard’s film – with Karin Viard as the titular heroine – traces the story of how the marquise tried to craft her daughter into a brilliant and independent woman in her own image, but lost influence and alienated her … until history takes a turn for the devastating.

Tickets: €9.50-€12

MadameDeSevigne_FA_01_1080p24_709G24_LtRt_STA_h264 from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Anatomie d’une Chute

March 10th, from 7pm to 11pm

Club de L’Étoile, 14, Rue Troyon

Oscar night is nominee night at Lost in Frenchlation, with Justine Triet’s multi-lingual courtroom drama the centre of attention. Sandra Hüller is the German writer who is suspected of murdering husband at their isolated mountain chalet. Milo Machado-Graner is the couple’s partially sighted son, who faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.

Tickets: €8-€10

The Zone of Interest

March 15th, from 7pm to 11pm

L’Entrepôt, 7 Rue Francis de Pressensé, 75014 Paris

Jonathan Glazer’s Academy Award-nominated (it may even be a winner by the time of this screening) German-language drama about the efforts of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, and his wife, Hedwig, to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the notorious camp. Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller star.

Tickets: €7-€8.50

Même si tu vas sur la lune

March 20th, from 7pm to 10pm

Luminor Hôtel de Ville, 20, Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris

A group of young Syrian students and refugees in Paris reflect on their current and past lives while at the country house of a university professor. Are they still who they were in Syria or have they reinvented themselves in exile?

Tickets: €7-€8.50

MSTVSLL_Trailer_EnglishSub from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Daaaaaali!

March 24th, from 7pm to 10pm

Balzac, 1 Rue Balzac, 75008 Paris

A French journalist meets the iconic surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (the brilliant Gilles Lellouche) on several occasions for a documentary project that never came to be – expect the unexpected in a film easily as surreal as Dali’s works.

DAAAAAALI_TLR-DATE-V8_H264_1080-239_24p_FR-WEB_EN_20240112_LAB (1) from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Tickets: €10 

Le Successeur

March 28th, from 7pm to 11pm

Luminor Hôtel de Ville, 20, Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris

The new artistic director of a famous fashion house starts experiencing chest pain – and discovers that he may have inherited much worse than his estranged father’s weak heart. Marc-André Grondin stars.

Tickets: €7-€11

LE SUCCESSEUR_FA_24-422_169-2.35_ST-ANG_23123889 from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

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