Author: François PFEIFFER

Student Visa: What You Need to Know Before Studying at ACCORD Paris

So, you’ve decided to learn French in Paris. Congratulations, you’re about to start an unforgettable adventure! But before you picture yourself ordering une baguette bien cuite at your neighbourhood bakery or chatting with locals on a café terrace, there’s an important administrative step to sort out first: the visa.

Visa rules can feel confusing, especially when they depend on your nationality, the length of your stay, and the type of course you’re booking. To help you prepare with confidence, we’ve put together this practical guide answering the questions we hear most often from our future students. Here’s everything you need to know before packing your bags for Paris.

I Would Like to Follow a French Course at ACCORD. Do I Need a Visa to Book a Course?
No, you do not need a visa to study at ACCORD French Language School in Paris.
However, you may need a visa to enter France.

Do I Need a Visa to Come to France?
If you are a citizen of the European Union, a member state of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to come to France.
For students of other nationalities, depending on your nationality and the length of your stay, you may need a visa. There are several types of visas:

• Short-stay visa:
  “Uniform Schengen” short-stay visa
  Short-stay visas for non-European French territories
  All information about these visas is on https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-de-court-sejour
• Long-stay visa:
  For any stay in France exceeding 90 days, you are required to apply in advance for a long-stay visa. In this instance your nationality does not exempt you from requirements. There are two main types of long-stay visas.
  All information about long-stay visas are on https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/visa-de-long-sejour

Can ACCORD French Language School Provide Me With a Visa?
No, ACCORD does not provide visas, as French language schools are not recognised and allowed to deliver a visa. If you have any questions about visas, please contact the French Embassy and/or the Campus France office nearest to you.
Important information: Due to the increase in the required income threshold for long-stay student visas, applications submitted starting August 1, 2026, will need to be accompanied by proof of income corresponding to a minimum of €877.50 per month.
More information on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/accueil

Is There an Official Website or a Webpage Where I Can Check My Visa Need?
Yes, here: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/assistant-visa

Is an Online Visa Application Possible?
Yes, here: https://france-visas.gouv.fr/en/demande-de-visa

Can ACCORD Language School Help Me Get a Visa?
Once we have received your complete registration (registration form and full payment by bank transfer for the programme or the requested and non-refundable deposit), we will send you an official letter of invitation also called letter of acceptance to be submitted with your application to the Embassy.
It is your responsibility to gather the other documents required by the embassy for your visa application (proof of income, passport, photos, payment of administrative fees, etc) and make sure you meet all eligibility criteria.

Are There Any Fees for Studying at the ACCORD French Language School in Paris?
Yes, and you can access our 2026 and 2027 tuition fees on our official website: https://www.accord-langues.com/accord-dates-and-prices/

How Do I Register for a French Language Program at ACCORD?
To book your French language course, you must complete an online registration form on https://www.accord-langues.com/adult-booking/

Can Any French Course Allow Me to Ask and Get a Visa?
No, usually French Embassies and Campus France offices ask for a course of minimum 20 hours per week. At ACCORD we recommend you to book the morning intensive course ‘A’ (20h or 26 lessons/week) or the PM2 afternoon course (20h or 26 lessons/week) which is a bit cheaper than the morning course A.
Tuition fees are, for example, 350 euro/week for a course ‘A’ booked for minimum 13 weeks in 2026 and 360 euro/week in 2027, and 280 euros/week for a PM2 course for minimum 13 weeks in 2026 and 305 euro/week in 2027.

After Completing the Online Booking Form, What Are the Next Steps?
At reception of your booking form, we will contact you by mail to ask you to send us the required documents (copy of your passport…) and our Bank details to allow you to make the payment by bank transfer of the full fees or the non-refundable deposit.
After reception of these documents, we will send you a letter of invitation and a certificate of registration if you have paid the full fees or a certificate of pre-registration if you have paid the non refundable deposit.
ACCORD reserves the right to cancel your enrolment if no payment has been received 1 month before the start of the requested course. Once payment has been received in full, you will be also sent a placement test which you will need to complete and return a minimum of one week prior to your course start date, so you are placed in the class of your level on your first day.

Can I Start a French Course Any Monday, at ACCORD?
If you are not at a beginner level, you can start a French course any Monday. For beginners, there’s a starting date beginning of each month. Exact beginners course start dates are published on our website on each course page, and they can be also downloaded from that webpage: https://www.accord-langues.com/accord-dates-and-prices/

What Happens if I Am Refused a Visa?
In case of visa refusal, the stay will be cancelled upon receipt of the visa refusal letter. To obtain a refund, you must send the original refusal document you have received from the French authorities. You can send a copy of the refusal document by email to inform us of your situation, but NO refund will be possible if ACCORD doesn’t receive by post the original document. We will then refund the stay, after deduction of the registration fee and bank charges, as mentioned in our Terms and Conditions’ webpage: https://www.accord-langues.com/accord-terms-and-conditions/

Ready to Start Your French Adventure?

Navigating visa rules may seem daunting at first, but with the right information and a bit of planning, it’s a very manageable step on the way to your new life in Paris. Thousands of international students go through this process every year to come and study with us, and soon, it could be your turn.

At ACCORD Paris, we’re here to support you throughout your journey, from your first registration to your first day of class in the 15th arrondissement, just steps from the Eiffel Tower. Our team will provide you with the documents you need for your visa application and guide you at every stage, so you can focus on what matters most: making real progress in French and enjoying every moment of your Parisian experience.

Still have questions about visas or your upcoming course?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team, we’re always happy to help future students turn their Paris plans into reality.

Contact us

 

How to Order Your ‘Café’ Like a True Parisian

One morning, push open the door of a Parisian bistro and you’ll always see the same scene: a customer leaning on the counter, a small black coffee in front of them, a croissant next to it, and a newspaper or phone in hand. In France, coffee isn’t just a drink to wake you up: it’s a real ritual, an institution. People have it before work, before class, between two appointments, or simply to give themselves a break at the counter.

But here’s the catch: when it comes time to order, the coffee menu can quickly turn into a headache for a foreign student. Espresso, noisette, allongé, crème, macchiato… Each word refers to a very specific preparation, and mixing them up can surprise the waiter, or make you miss out on the coffee you were really dreaming of. Don’t panic: this guide will teach you to order your coffee with confidence, as if you were a local.

The counter classics

Here are the coffees you’ll find on (almost) every French bistro menu.

• An espresso (or expresso) – the classic: short, strong, with a beautiful golden foam on top.
• A double expresso – simply double the coffee in the cup, for mornings that need a bit more.
• A café serré, or ristretto – an espresso even shorter and more concentrated than a classic espresso, with less water and therefore a more intense taste.
• A noisette – an espresso with a small amount of hot milk or foam added, just enough to give it its “hazelnut” (noisette) colour.
• An allongé – an espresso with extra water added. The more allongé (stretched) a coffee is, the longer the water runs through the coffee grounds, which makes its taste more bitter and its caffeine content higher than that of a plain espresso.

Milkier coffees, for a softer taste

If you prefer a rounder, milder coffee, head to this category.

• A café au lait – an espresso with a large amount of hot milk and a thin layer of foam. A little anecdote: café au lait is said to have been born in France in 1685. Coffee made its first appearance in France in 1644 in Marseille, but it really became popular when Louis XIV discovered it in 1669. Quickly labelled a “noble” drink, it charmed the Sun King and his courtiers. Since coffee remained very bitter, sugar and honey were first added to it. It was in 1685 that a court physician had the idea of softening this coffee, “black as the devil,” by adding white milk — and café au lait, as we know it today, was born.
• A café filtre – slow-brewed coffee, giving a milder, larger, and less concentrated cup than an espresso.
• A crème – an espresso with a little cream or milk added. An insider tip: avoid ordering a “grand crème,” an expression that instantly gives away a tourist to Parisians!
• A cappuccino – an espresso topped with hot milk and a lovely layer of smooth foam, with a little cocoa powder sprinkled on top.
• A mocha – an espresso with chocolate powder or syrup, and frothy milk, for lovers of indulgent coffee.
• A macchiato – a coffee with a thin layer of hot milk foam added, literally “stained” with milk in Italian.

And in summer, why not order an iced coffee?
When temperatures rise, it’s hard to stay loyal to your piping hot coffee. Iced coffee is the perfect drink to cool off while still satisfying your caffeine craving: a tall glass, black coffee, ice cubes, and sometimes a little syrup are enough to create this star of the hot season.
You can also ask for your iced coffee with sugar, whipped cream, and syrup, to turn your coffee break into an even more indulgent, generous moment. This is what’s known as a café frappé.

The price: counter, seated inside, or terrace?
In France, the price of a coffee depends on where you drink it, not just its recipe. A coffee taken standing at the counter will always cost less than the same coffee served seated at a table, indoors or on the terrace. It’s a very French tradition: service and a seat come at a price, even for a simple espresso, so don’t hesitate to lean on the bar like the regulars.

Want to order (and understand) your coffee in real French?

Knowing coffee vocabulary is good. Ordering it with confidence, in French, right at the counter of a real Parisian bistro, is even better. That’s exactly what our students experience every day at the ACCORD French Language School in Paris, in the 15th arrondissement.

Our French language courses for adults aren’t limited to the grammar and vocabulary learned in class: they naturally continue in the streets around the school, between two bistros, a pastry shop, and a sunny terrace. Just steps from the school, our students love testing their freshly learned French by ordering “une noisette,” “un café allongé,” or “un crème” like true Parisians — and leaving with a little more confidence with every cup.

So, ready to trade your thermos for a real bistro counter?
Join ACCORD Paris, immerse yourself in French language and culture, and turn your next coffee into a real, life-size French lesson.

With ACCORD, it is not only about a French course, it is a life experience!

Contact us

 

You can’t visit France without falling in love with a French baguette. But step into any boulangerie and you’ll quickly realize that bread in France is a whole universe of its own: dozens of shapes, flours, and names, each with its own personality.

Whether you’re planning a language trip to Paris or already dreaming about your next croissant, this guide will walk you through the essential French bread vocabulary you need to know before you order. And if you’d rather learn this vocabulary the fun way, standing at a real Parisian boulangerie counter, baguette in hand, keep reading to the end, because that’s exactly what we do at ACCORD Paris.

Your Guide to the Boulangerie

Breads are classified according to the flours used

• brown bread
• white bread
• wholemeal bread

French legislation classifies breads based on their composition and production method: traditional French bread, homemade bread, sourdough bread, wood-fired bread, artisan-style bread, country-style bread, rye bread, bran bread, wheat bread, and standard French bread.

Baguette-Style French Breads
The baguette is the icon, but it has plenty of relatives.

• Une baguette: the classic French bread stick, long and thin with a crisp crust. In fact, the Belgians call it “French bread”, so commonplace is it in our country. Bakers offer it in a variety of specialty baguettes: seeded, épi (sheaf-shaped), fournée, amourette…
• Une baguette tradition: made according to a strict standard, without additives, featuring a more pronounced flavour and an open, airy crumb.
• Une ficelle: This narrower version is as long as a standard baguette but weighs half as much.
• Un pain: bigger and heartier than the baguette.
• Un bâtard: literally “bastard,” because it sits between une baguette and un pain in size.
• Une baguette sarmentine: a loaf with four-pointed ends, giving bread lovers extra crust to enjoy.
• Une baguette viennoise: a sweeter baguette, often studded with chocolate or nuts, and noticeably smaller than the original.

Other Types of French Bread
Beyond the baguette family, French bakeries offer plenty of variety.

• Un pain rond: a round loaf.
• Un pain complet: whole wheat bread.
• Un pain de campagne: a round loaf with a thick crust, often made from a blend of wheat flour, rye flour, and natural sourdough starter.
• Un pain viennois: mild and enriched with milk, butter, and sometimes sugar.
• Un pain de seigle: rye bread, traditionally served with oysters.
• Un pain au levain: characterized by long fermentation, a dense and slightly tangy crumb, and a longer shelf life.
• Un pain aux céréales – aux graines: bread studded with whole seeds.
• Un pain aux lardons: bread loaded with bacon bits.
• Une fougasse: a flatbread originating from the south of France, often flavoured with olives and herbes de Provence.
• Un pain de mie: A soft, rectangular white bread, often eaten in slices. The perfect sandwich bread. You find it in many bakeries, but the supermarkets usually offer a wide selection of this bread.

What is a “biscotte”?
Une biscotte is a dry, twice-baked bread that almost every French household keeps in the cupboard, the emergency backup for when the fresh bread runs out. Not quite a bread, not quite a cracker, it’s a small but essential part of French food culture. Its name, biscotte, is a borrowing from the Italian *biscotto*, composed of the prefix bis– and cotto, the past participle of *cuocere* (to cook), meaning “cooked twice”.

Essential Bread Vocabulary
Before you order, it helps to know how the French actually talk about bread itself.

• La mie: the soft, white interior of the bread.
• La croûte: the crust, the crunchy outer layer.
• Le croûton: the very end piece of a baguette, prized by many French people as the best bite of all, since it’s all crust.

Sweet French Bread Specialities
No trip to a French bakery is complete without exploring les viennoiseries, the sweet cousins of everyday bread.

• Un croissant: the buttery, flaky classic.
• Un pain au chocolat : a pastry filled with chocolate.
• Un pain aux raisins: a spiral pastry with vanilla cream and raisins.
• Une brioche: soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet bread.
• Un chausson aux pommes: a pastry filled with stewed apples.
• Un pain au lait: similar to a brioche, but with its own distinct texture and taste.
• Un palmier: a caramelized, palm-leaf-shaped puff pastry.
• Des chouquettes: Small choux pastries sprinkled with pearl sugar. Light and airy, they are perfect for snacking on at any time of day.

Boulangerie or Pâtisserie: What’s the Difference?
Many French shops combine both specialities under one roof: une boulangerie-pâtisserie. But technically, they’re two different trades.
Une boulangerie is where you’ll find bread, baguettes, loaves of every shape, and the sweet viennoiseries too. Une pâtisserie, on the other hand, is dedicated to cakes and pastries.
Now you know exactly what to ask for on your next trip to a French bakery, and you’ll understand what the baker means when they ask whether you’d like it bien cuite (well baked) or not!

Learn French in Paris — And Taste It Too

Reading a vocabulary list is one thing. Standing in a Parisian boulangerie, smelling warm bread, and confidently asking for une baguette bien cuite or un pain aux raisins in French is another experience entirely, and it’s one of the joys that makes learning French in Paris so rewarding.

At ACCORD Paris, our French language courses for adults go beyond grammar and textbooks. Just steps from the Eiffel Tower and in the lively 15th arrondissement, our students practice real, living French every day, including the exchanges that happen at the bakery counter, the market, and the café terrace. Vocabulary like this isn’t just something to memorize, it’s something you’ll use every morning before coming to class or during the break, sampling a fresh croissant or a warm croissant or a pain au chocolat with your coffee.

So why not turn this bread vocabulary list into your first real conversation in French? Join us at ACCORD Paris, immerse yourself in the language, and discover that the best way to learn French is to live it, one boulangerie visit at a time.

Contact us

 

The partnership established by the ACCORD French language school with the GET YOUR GUIDE agency allows all students of the ACCORD school to participate in the visits and cultural program offered by this agency whose office is located two minutes from the school, 62 avenue de Suffren, in Paris.

Students can, in addition to their French course, sign up for visits to famous museums or monuments, a cruise on the Seine or the Canal Saint-Martin, an excursion to Giverny, Versailles, Honfleur, or even to Mont Saint-Michel or Disneyland Paris.

Among the visits and excursions currently offered:

• Cruise on the Seine departing from the Eiffel Tower, one-hour cruise
• Disneyland Paris: 1-day ticket
• Disneyland Paris ticket with transfer
• Tourist cruise on the Seine with the Bateaux Mouches
• Hop-on hop-off bus with optional cruise
• Reserved Access to the Louvre and Boat Cruise
• Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie: Combined tickets
• Versailles Palace and Gardens: Full Access Ticket
• Evening cruise on the Seine, with music
• Entrance ticket to the Opéra Garnier
• Classical music concert in Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre
• Dinner show at the Moulin Rouge
• Tickets for classical music concerts in Parisian churches
• Entrance tickets to the Musée d’Orsay
• Guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay with options
• Cruise on the Saint-Martin canal and the Seine
• Half-day excursion to Giverny, Monet’s house and gardens
• Day trip to the gardens of Giverny with a professional guide
• Honfleur: Private excursion aboard the gardens of Giverny and Honfleur
• Excursion to Giverny and Versailles with lunch
• Normandy: Guided tour of the cliffs of Étretat
• Excursion to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris
• …and more…

This partnership between the ACCORD French language school and the GET YOUR GUIDE agency is displayed throughout the school:

To participate in this cultural program, students must be enrolled in a semi-intensive or intensive French course offered by the ACCORD Paris school.

To find out more about our French courses in France: contact our French Language School in Paris.

 

Ready to Make Real Progress? Discover Full Immersion in the Heart of Paris

If you want the fastest way to improve your French, an intensive French course is exactly what you need. Packed with 20 to 35 hours of classes a week over a relatively short period, it’s the ultimate shortcut to real progress, and a genuine opportunity for full French language immersion.

ACCORD French language school in Paris offers 12 intensive courses, running all year round. So which one is the best fit for you? Here’s a side-by-side look at five of our most popular intensive courses, to help you pick the one that will take your French to the next level, and get you one step closer to booking your stay in Paris.

What Is an Intensive French Course?

Taking an intensive French course means learning French for several hours a day, usually at least 4, often more, alongside classmates from all over the world. Our courses welcome every level, from complete beginner to advanced, and you can join most classes any Monday. The one exception is complete beginners, who start on a dedicated date at the beginning of each month.

During the Covid years, many schools switched to online French courses. But for most learners today, an in-person course is by far the better choice: you stay fully focused, and you get to put your French into practice through real conversations and everyday French culture, well beyond the classroom walls.

Want to go even further? Live it, don’t just learn it.

ACCORD also offers full French immersion, with accommodation in carefully selected Parisian host families. On top of your French classes, you’ll be hearing and speaking French all day, every day. For the fullest experience, we recommend a half-board host-family stay: your own room, breakfast, and dinner with your host family, every single day. It’s one of the most effective — and most memorable,, ways to genuinely live in French.

How Much Does an Intensive French Course Cost?

A selection of 5 intensive and super-intensive courses at ACCORD Paris:

• Intensive French course ‘B’ — 23h/week
• Intensive French course ‘C’ — 26h/week
• Intensive French course ‘D’ — 29h/week
• Super Intensive French course ‘G’ — 32h/week
• Super Intensive French course ‘E’ — 35h/week

The longer you stay, the less you pay per week. In 2026, a one-week intensive course of 23h costs €445, a 26h course €475, and a 35h super-intensive course (E) €575.

Stay 5 weeks, and the weekly price drops to €425 for the 23h course, €455 for the 26h course, and €555 for the 35h super-intensive course (E).

For longer stays, the savings are even bigger: €405/week for the 23h course over 9 weeks, and €385/week over 13 weeks.

Prefer to study in the afternoon?
Our PM2 course (20h/week) costs only €315/week for a one-week stay, dropping to €290/week over 9 weeks and €280/week over 13 weeks.

And for the full immersion experience: select a host-family accommodation

Host-family accommodation costs €370/week for a single room with breakfast, or €500/week for a single room with breakfast and dinner every day.

One more perk: staying with a host family also means you don’t pay the Paris Occupancy Tax that applies to hotels, aparthotels, and residences.
As with any trip, remember to budget for extras like transportation to and from France, and any excursions or activities you’d like to enjoy on your days off.

Which Intensive French Course Is Right for You?

Start by thinking about your hopes and expectations, and where you’ll feel most comfortable and focused. Are you after a truly intense experience, packing in as many classes as possible? Or something a little more relaxed (though still genuinely “intensive,” as the name promises)? Would a homestay or immersion experience take your progress even further? Does your choice of location in France matter to you?

Whatever your answers, ACCORD has an intensive course built around your goals, and your French.

Ready to take the next step?
Book your intensive French course in Paris today and start living the language.

Contact us

 

France, the kingdom of cheese: the French fromage top 20

“How can you govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese?” Général de Gaulle’s words from 1962 capture the complexity and independent spirit of the French in the nation’s diverse gourmet heritage. The tally grew in the French mindset to 365 varieties, one for every day of the year, when Général de Gaulle (him again!) apparently also said: “A country that produces 365 types of cheese cannot lose the war.”
Fast forward to the present day and the number has exploded since the 1960s, with over 1200 or even 1600 types, as different varieties of the same cheese have been brought to market.

There are two things for sure:

• France is the world’s third biggest cheese producer and the undisputed leader in terms of regional diversity and AOP designations (Appellation d’Origine Protégée or Protected Designation of Origin).
• France is the world’s biggest cheese consumer, weighing in at around 26kg per year per person, a little over 2kg per month per person.

There are definitely over 1200 types of cheese in France, ranging from unpasteurised to pasteurised, hard cheese to cheese spread, cow’s milk to goat’s milk… Enough cheese for you to try a different one every day for over three years!

The French’s top 20 favourite types of cheese

Brie (de Meaux): Soft cheese with a bloomy rind from Île-de-France. One of the oldest types of cheese in France and called “the king of cheeses” at the Congress of Vienna.

Camembert: Soft cheese with a bloomy rind from Camembert in the Orne region of Normandy. Scroll down to find out more about camembert.

Roquefort: Blue cheese made using ewe’s milk and aged in natural cellars in the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, in Aveyron. Diderot and Alembert named it “le roi des fromages”.

Comté: Hard, pressed, cooked cheese made from unpasteurised cow’s milk in the Jura region. The best-selling AOP cheese in France and the nation’s favourite in taste tests.

Emmental: The French eat more of this cheese than any other (over 150,000 tons per year) and tend to buy it grated, ready to use in their recipes. Its big holes make it easy to recognise.

Reblochon: Pressed, uncooked cheese from Savoie with an orange washed rind. The star ingredient in tartiflette.

Munster: Soft cheese with a washed rind from Alsace, famous for being strong in aroma yet mild in flavour.

Cantal: Pressed, uncooked cheese from Auvergne, one of the oldest types of cheese in France and sometimes called “cheddar’s French cousin.”

Crottin de Chavignol: Dinky goat’s cheese with a natural rind from Berry. The texture changes depending on how long it has been aged for.

Beaufort: Pressed, cooked cheese from Savoie known as “le prince des gruyères” and made at high altitude using milk from Tarine and Abondance cows.

Bleu d’Auvergne: Blue cheese with prominent green-blue veins made from cow’s milk. Milder than roquefort.

Saint-Nectaire: Pressed, uncooked cheese from Auvergne with a natural grey rind and an earthy flavour.

Époisses: Soft cheese with a washed rind soaked in Marc de Bourgogne, one of the strongest-smelling cheeses and a big hit among fromage fans.

Tomme de Savoie: Pressed, uncooked cheese with a sweet hazelnut flavour. Often less fatty than other mountain cheeses.

Mimolette: Pressed cheese from the North with an iconic bright orange colour and rough, grey rind.

Morbier: Pressed, uncooked cheese with a signature strip of black ash in the middle, hailing from back when the cheese was made in two stages.

Chaource: Creamy soft cheese with a bloomy rind and tangy flavour from Champagne.

Livarot: Soft cheese with a washed rind from Normandy. Nicknamed “le colonel” because of the dried reeds wrapped around the rind, reminiscent on the stripes on an army uniform.

Pont-l’Évêque: Soft cheese with a washed rind and classic square shape. One of the oldest cheeses from Normandy.

Ossau-Iraty: Pressed, uncooked cheese made using goat’s milk and from Béarn and the Pays Basque. Usually served with cherry jam.

Chat about cheese like a local

An un-brie-lievably useful glossary

The French have specific words for things like the pâte (texture), croûte (rind) and affinage (how it’s made or aged) to describe the flavour and feel of your fromage.

Texture:

• Pâte fraîche: Fresh, unaged cheese with a high water content (e.g. faisselle).
• Pâte molle: Soft, creamy, melt-in-the-mouth (e.g. camembert).
• Pâte pressée: Cooked/uncooked cheese pressed to remove water (e.g. cantal, comté).
• Pâte persillée: Veined with blue mould (e.g. roquefort).

Rind:

• Croûte fleurie: Soft white rind (e.g. brie).
• Croûte lavée: Smeared or washed in water or alcohol whilst ageing (e.g. munster).
• Croûte naturelle: Natural unwashed rind (e.g. crottin de chèvre).

How it’s made or aged:

• Caillé: Curds produced once the milk has coagulated.
• Présure: Rennet, a natural substance to help coagulate the milk.
• Affinage: The time the cheese spends ageing in the cellar to build flavour and rind.
• Persillage: Little blue or green veins in the cheese itself.

We just can’t camembert the suspense!

Camembert is named after the little Normandy village where the cheese is made. The village lies in the Pays d’Auge, an area famous for its lush grass and dairy cattle. The reputation cheese from the Camembert area was first mentioned in texts dating back to the early 18^th century.
Legend has it that a local farmer called Marie Harel invented camembert in 1791. The story goes that she got the recipe from a priest who she hid during the French Revolution. The priest told her to use a similar ageing method to the technique involved in making brie.

Which cheese do the French call “le roi des fromages”?

The French call roquefort “le roi des fromages” after Diderot and Alembert gave it the nickname in the 18^th century. Outside France, Italian parmesan is often called something similar whilst Brie de Meaux was named “the king of cheeses” at the Congress of Vienna.

What is France’s best-selling cheese?

Emmental is the biggest seller in France, closely followed by camembert and comté.

• Emmental: Over 150,000 tons sold annually in France. Often bought grated and ready to use.
• Camembert: Second in terms of sales volume (44,000-47,000 tons per year).
• Comté: The biggest-selling AOP designation cheese (Appellation d’Origine Protégée) and France’s favourite in taste tests.

In the name of fromage:

If there’s one cheese that will give you a giggle in French with its naughty play on words, it’s Le Trou du Cru. This little Burgundy cheese’s rind is washed in Marc de Bourgogne and its tongue-in-cheek name joins the likes of Clacbitou, Le Bouton de Culotte and La Boulette d’Avesnes.

“En faire tout un fromage”

The French expression, “en faire tout un fromage”, means to make a big stink about something (an apt translation given the subject matter) or make a mountain out of a molehill. It’s often used to put things in perspective, e.g. “Ce n’est qu’un retard, ce n’est pas la peine d’en faire tout un fromage !”).
The expression first came about in the 20^th century and “en faire tout un fromage” refers to making milk into cheese. Milk is readily available, whereas it takes time, technique and craftsmanship to make cheese. So, “en faire tout un fromage” is about turning something basic, like milk, into something more elaborate and complex, like cheese.

Cheesy slang

How do you say cheese in French slang? The French tend to say frometon, fromton, clacos (or claquos) and calendos.

• Frometon: the cuter dimunitive.
• Clacos/Claquos: a common term often used to describe soft cheeses.
• Calendos: a nod to our famous camembert.

It’s your turn to cheese the day!

When it comes to French, ACCORD French language school in Paris is the place to brie! Now you know your stuff about twenty types of cheese and you have the lingo you need to wax lyrical about any cheese platter that appears on the table!
Make the most of your French course in Paris to sample, compare and ask for advice at the market, cheese shop or over dinner with your host family: the French love sharing their passion for cheese and you’re bound to get into a fascinating conversation about it (a golden opportunity to practise your spoken French too!).
Who knows, maybe you’ll find your own “roi des fromages” by the end of your stay in Paris.

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Paris in August: what not to miss if you’re studying French at ACCORD this summer!

As every student at ACCORD school will tell you, Paris doesn’t suddenly become a ghost town in August! There is so much to do and see: pop-up beaches on the banks of the Seine, museum exhibitions, outdoor concerts and festivals in the French capital’s leafy parks. You’ll soon see that Paris is jam-packed with excuses to get outside the classroom, explore the city and practise your French in a convivial and relaxed atmosphere.

Whether you want to spend time studying Matisse or Delacroix paintings, experience the thrill of the European Aquatics Championships or enjoy an outdoor concert one evening in August, here is a selection of events which must not be missed this month in Paris.

Events

• Paris Plages (jusqu’au 30 août)
• Championnats d’Europe de Natation au Centre Aquatique Olympique (1 au 15 août)
• L’Esports World Cup à l’Expo Porte de Versailles (jusqu’au 23 août)

Exhibitions

• Matisse, 1914-1954 au Grand Palais (jusqu’au 2 août)
• Madame de Sévigné, Lettres Parisiennes, au musée Carnavalet (jusqu’au 23 août)
• Clair-obscur, Art moderne, à la Bourse du Commerce-Pinault (jusqu’au 31 août)
• Exposition générale à la Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain (jusqu’au 23 août)
• Chiens et Chats, Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (jusqu’au 30 août)
• Giovanni Segantini, musée Marmotan Monet (jusqu’au 16 août)
• Beyond the Street, à la Grande Halle de La Villette (jusqu’au 30 août)
• Eugène Delacroix, musée Delacroix (jusqu’au 11 septembre)

Concerts & Festivals

• Arènes Lyriques (jusqu’à mi-août)
• Festival de Cinéma en plein air de la Villette (jusqu’au 16 août)
• Rock en Seine (26 au 30 août)
• Jazz à La Villette (jusqu’à fin août)
• Festival Silhouette (jusqu’au 6 septembre)
• Festival Classique au Vert (jusqu’à début septembre)
• Paris Jazz Festival (jusqu’à début septembre)
• Cinéma sur le toit (jusqu’à mi-septembre)
• Festival de Théâtre en Plein Air (jusqu’en septembre)

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Why the 15th Arrondissement Is One of the Best Places to Study French in Paris

Study French. Experience Paris. Live the Language.

When people imagine studying French in Paris, they often picture elegant cafés, lively markets, beautiful boulevards and conversations on sunny terraces. The good news? You don’t have to imagine it. In the 15th arrondissement, this is everyday life.
Located on the Left Bank of the Seine, the 15th is one of Paris’s largest and most welcoming neighbourhoods. It combines everything international students look for: safety, excellent transport connections, authentic Parisian life and a vibrant atmosphere, without the overwhelming crowds found in some of the city’s busiest tourist districts.
It is also the neighbourhood where an accredited French language school such as ACCORD Paris welcomes students from around the world every year.

Experience the Real Paris

One of the greatest advantages of the 15th arrondissement is its authenticity. Unlike neighbourhoods designed primarily for tourists, the 15th is where Parisians live, work, shop and meet friends.
As you walk through its streets, you’ll quickly discover local bakeries filled with the aroma of freshly baked croissants, independent food shops, bustling cafés, family-run restaurants and neighbourhood squares where everyday Parisian life unfolds.
For students learning French, this creates countless opportunities to hear and practise the language naturally. Every visit to a bakery, every coffee ordered in French and every conversation with a shopkeeper becomes part of your learning experience.

A Safe and Comfortable Environment for Students

Choosing where to study abroad is about more than selecting a course, it is also about feeling comfortable where you live.
The 15th arrondissement is widely appreciated for its residential character, clean streets and friendly atmosphere. Families, professionals, university students and local residents all contribute to a neighbourhood that feels welcoming throughout the year.
Whether you are travelling alone or studying abroad for the first time, the area offers the reassurance of a lively yet relaxed environment where students quickly feel at home.

Discover One of Paris’s Best Outdoor Markets

Few experiences are more French than shopping at an open-air market. Several times each week, the neighbourhood comes alive as colourful market stalls fill the streets with seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan cheeses, fresh seafood, flowers, pastries and regional specialities.
For language learners, these markets are much more than places to shop. They are living classrooms. Listening to conversations, asking questions, discovering new products and interacting with local vendors provide authentic opportunities to improve your French while experiencing an important part of everyday French culture.

Learn French Between Cafés and Brasseries

Some of the best language lessons happen after class. The 15th arrondissement is filled with traditional cafés where you can enjoy a coffee while reading the French newspapers, reviewing your notes or simply listening to conversations around you.
As evening arrives, the neighbourhood takes on a different rhythm. Friendly wine bars, cosy restaurants and classic Parisian brasseries welcome both locals and visitors, creating the perfect atmosphere for practising French with classmates or simply enjoying Parisian life. Language learning becomes part of your social life.

Close to the Eiffel Tower—Yet Wonderfully Local

One of the great pleasures of studying in the 15th arrondissement is its location. The Eiffel Tower is only a short walk or métro ride away, allowing students to enjoy one of the world’s most famous landmarks whenever they wish.
Yet despite this proximity, much of the neighbourhood has preserved its authentic local character. You can spend the afternoon visiting one of Paris’s iconic monuments before returning to quiet residential streets, neighbourhood cafés and local shops where everyday Paris continues at its own pace. It is the perfect balance between discovery and daily life.

Excellent Connections Across Paris

Paris has one of the world’s most efficient public transport systems, and the 15th arrondissement is particularly well served. Several métro lines, buses and nearby train connections make it easy to reach museums, universities, theatres, monuments and every other district of the capital.
Whether you want to explore Montmartre, the Latin Quarter, Le Marais, Le Louvre museum, Notre Dame cathedral, La Saint Chapelle or Saint-Germain-des-Prés after class, the entire city is within easy reach.

The Ideal Place to Learn French

Learning French is not only about what happens inside the classroom. It is about hearing the language every day. Speaking it. Living it. The 15th arrondissement naturally encourages this immersion.
From ordering your morning croissant to chatting with market vendors, relaxing in a café or discovering local restaurants with friends, every day offers new opportunities to gain confidence and improve your French.

Study French in the Heart of Paris

Choosing an accredited French language school located in the 15th arrondissement means studying in one of the city’s most enjoyable neighbourhoods. Here, your classroom extends far beyond the school itself. Paris becomes your teacher. Its streets become your vocabulary book. Its cafés become conversation practice. Its markets become listening exercises. Its people become part of your learning journey.
The French language school is fully air-conditioned!
And long after your course has ended, you may discover that what you remember most is not only the French you learned, but the Paris you experienced.

Ready to experience French where it is spoken every day? Discover our accredited French courses in Paris and start your own language journey in one of the world’s most inspiring cities.

Study French. Experience Paris. Live the Language.

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Learn French Through Music: 40 French Songs to Sing Along With ACCORD Paris

Looking for a fun way to learn French? At ACCORD, our French school in the heart of Paris, just a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, we believe that learning French should be both effective and genuinely enjoyable.

This is why we’ve put together a playlist of French songs, including some of the most famous ones out there. Whether you’re a fan of Piaf, Trenet, Higelin, Lavilliers, Gainsbourg, Barbara or Goldman, our music selection will help you improve your French while having fun, singing along and learning the lyrics as you go.

Why learn French through music?

Listening to music is a particularly effective form of language immersion: it encourages you to discover and memorise new vocabulary and improves your listening comprehension.

Listening is great, really great, but repeating song lyrics (and singing along with the artist!) really helps with your pronunciation without you even noticing. In almost all of the video clips below, the lyrics are shown karaoke-style, but you’ll always hear the original singer performing the song.

Learn French with…

Female singers

Edith Piaf – La vie en Rose  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPU8mENUBXk

Edith Piaf – Hymne à L’Amour  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgBldNsK-xw

Edith Piaf – L’Homme à la moto  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-c-w6SBe_E

Barbara – L’aigle noir  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-d1-783aA0

Françoise Hardy – Tous les garçons et les filles  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPkBMqehr5k

Dalida – Le Temps Des Fleurs  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO_YzK5dTjg

Sylvie Vartan – La plus belle pour aller danser  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBWfklvlUAE

Juliette Gréco – Sous le ciel de Paris  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MtkiiF6YMo

Juliette Gréco – Un petit poisson, un petit oiseau  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj_LzQYyaAM

Marie Laforêt – Viens, viens  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HUW2Zcpdlk

Brigitte Bardot avec Serge Gainsbourg – Bonnie and Clyde  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgBqyNJwjqE

Brigitte Bardot – Harley Davidson  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzhtfFfuL84

France Gall – Poupée de cire, poupée de son  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H0UPA_bixs

France Gall – Ella, Elle l’a  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaFFlu_QQxE

Male singers

Serge Gainsbourg – Ce mortel ennui  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyMqgv5Djf0

Serge Gainbourg – Couleur Café  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etTcm6b4y3A

Serge Gainsbourg – Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN-Kk5dFt9s

Charles Trenet – La mer  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka–QM_tJ-s

Charles Trenet – Que reste‐t‐il de nos amours ?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muTtoG399kM

Charles Trenet – Douce France  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsEw0kcx8yE

Jacques Higelin – Pars  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO6xE1j0axQ

Bernard Lavilliers – Les mains d’or  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_FrCekiYSY

Jean-Jacques Goldman – Quand la musique est bonne  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_7G-FXQK3c

Jean-Jacques Goldman – Comme Toi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzFxSoiLBY

Jean-Jacques Goldman – Là-bas  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWNnf5-hhU8

Joe Dassin – Et si tu n’existais pas   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMR8S154_zA

Joe Dassin – Les Champs Elysées  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FNJtKRL20s

Jacques Brel – Ne me quitte pas  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0tPRFMBZ98

Jacques Brel – Amsterdam  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn2KkqTue1Q

Jacques Brel – La Chanson des vieux amants  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_0RZ4WzFUg

Florent Pagny – Savoir aimer  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlAjOjtbI9Q

Jean Ferrat – La montagne  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JBeO0RhzQY

Jean Ferrat – Aimer à perdre la raison  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpjcSFNj4BQ

Alain Bashung – La nuit je mens  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0KOBTkNrWE

French pop-rock bands

ANGE – Ces gens-là (chanson de Jacques Brel)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHVU6dQBkKE

Téléphone – Un autre monde  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE4Pf24pfEg

Téléphone – La bombe humaine  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgfoOJziPfc

BIJOU – Rock à la radio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWxuMXM8UWs

Noir Désir – Le vent nous portera  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd-Gga7Smyg

TRUST – Antisocial  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2MChYplYeM

Indochine – J’ai demandé à la lune  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot4aDt3j1RE

Learning French through music is also a great complement to a language stay in France. At ACCORD, our French courses draw on a wide range of materials: songs, but also newspaper and magazine articles in French, French films and role-playing exercises. Our goal is to help you progress as quickly as possible while immersing you in French culture.

Dynamic French courses open to all levels

Our French language school in Paris offers French courses for all levels, from complete beginner to advanced. Depending on your goals, you can choose from our 9 intensive courses, our 2 semi-intensive courses, our exam preparation courses (DELF, DALF, Abitur, A/AS Level, ILC), or our specialist courses such as Business French or Legal French. See the full list of our French courses in Paris.

While you wait to join us at ACCORD Paris, learn French through music with ACCORD Paris, sing along with the 40 songs we’ve put together for you today!

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The best French sweet pastries and cakes to try during your stay in Paris

France is world-renowned for its gourmet cuisine and sophisticated sweet treats. Whether you’re a fine foodie, enjoy trying local specialities or just want to practise your French, sampling our local specialities is all part of experiencing a language stay in Paris.

ACCORD French language school in Paris actively encourages students to practise their French outside the classroom. Visiting a bakery, ordering a cake, asking the baker for a recommendation and chatting with the staff and customers are golden opportunities to use your French in real-life situations.

Some French pastries and cakes s are famous all over the world, others are local gems that overseas visitors are yet to unearth. Here’s a mouth-watering selection that you won’t be able to resist ticking off your to-do list after your French class in Paris.

Did you know…
The French don’t class croissants and pains au chocolat (also known as chocolatines) as pâtisseries in France; they call them viennoiseries. They’re made using puff pastry and traditionally served for breakfast or as an afternoon snack, whereas pâtisseries tend to be served as dessert or as a sweet treat.

French pâtisserie classics

Éclair
Éclairs are one of the most iconic French cakes. They’re made with choux pastry filled with crème pâtissière with a glossy glaze on top. Chocolate and coffee are classics but pâtissiers make them in all kinds of flavours, including vanilla, caramel and pistachio.
Lightbulb moment: éclair means lightning in French, so does it take its name from the fact that we eat it at lightning speed?

Millefeuille
Millefeuilles are made up of three crispy puff pastry layers with vanilla crème pâtissière sandwiched between each layer. Its white glaze adorned with chocolate feathering make it instantly recognisable. It’s named after the many layers created by the puff pastry or feuilletage. Are there really one thousand? Find out for yourself!

Tarte Tatin
A Tarte Tatin is essentially an upside-down cake from the 19^th century. The apples are caramelised in butter and sugar in a pan before being given a pastry top and baked. When it’s ready to serve, the tart is turned over so the apples are on top and the pastry is on the bottom.
Legend has it that the recipe came about from a happy accident when the Tatin sisters overcooked their apples at their inn.

Paris-Brest
This sweet treat was designed in 1910 to celebrate the famous Paris-Brest-Paris bike race, which is why it looks like a wheel. Its choux pastry ring is filled with praline cream and decorated with almond slivers. It’s a wheel French pâtisserie classic.

Opéra
Sleek and stylish Opéra cakes are made up of delicate layers of Joconde biscuit, coffee buttercream, chocolate ganache and a glossy chocolate glaze.
The beautiful balance between chocolate and coffee makes it a popular dessert and its good looks make it a regular in Parisian pâtisserie shop windows.

Fraisier
The French love a fraisier in spring for its light sponge, crème mousseline and fresh strawberries. It’s a favourite at birthday parties and family get-togethers.

Religieuse
This cute concoction has two choux buns, one on top of the other, filled with chocolate or coffee crème pâtissière and topped with a chocolate or coffee glaze. Why’s it named after nuns? Just take a look at the shape… doesn’t it remind you of a nun’s traditional headdress?

Unmissable French treats

If you want to try something different once you’ve sampled France’s signature sweets, push the boat out and try some of our regional specialities during your time in Paris. The French may know and love them, but not many people have heard of them overseas. Our regional cakes capture the diversity and variety of French pâtisserie in all its glory.

Kouign-amann
The kouign-amann from Brittany is often said to be one of the most indulgent cakes in France. Its name means gâteau au beurre or butter cake in Breton. It’s made using bread dough and lots of butter and sugar, making it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Saint-Honoré
The Saint-Honoré was first concocted in the 19th century in tribute to the patron saint of bakers. It has a puff pastry base with lashings of whipped cream and a ring of little caramelised choux buns. Look out for this chic showstopper in the best cake shops and tea rooms in Paris

Flan pâtissier
If may look simple, but the flan pâtissier is a French pâtisserie favourite. The indulgent creamy filling is made using eggs and vanilla in a shortcrust or puff pastry case. Locals love serving it for dessert or grabbing a slice of flan for an afternoon snack.

Pithiviers
This frangipane-filled puff pastry cake hails from the town of Pithiviers in the Loiret (not to be confused with the savoury meat-filled pithiviers pie). Bakers score pretty patterns into the crust with a knife before baking it until golden.
Can you tell the difference between a pithiviers and a galette des Rois?

Tropézienne
The Tropézienne comes from 1950s Saint-Tropez and is a soft brioche filled with whipped cream and topped with sugar crystals. It shot to stardom after the release of the Brigitte Bardot film, And God Created Woman, and is the perfect summer dessert.

Merveilleux
A merveilleux is the perfect combination of crisp meringue, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. It’s light as a feather and melts in your mouth. It originated in Northern France and Belgium and is popular all over France. It’s certainly merveilleux!
Foodies describe the merveilleux as a cake that looks as good as it tastes!

Gourmet glossary

France is home to a few different types of shop:

• A boulangerie sells bread, pastries and a few cakes too.
• A pâtisserie specialises in sweet treats and desserts.
• A boulangerie-pâtisserie brings the two together.
• A salon de thé is the place to go for cake with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

French phrases to use when you’re in a Parisian pâtisserie

These phrases could come in handy during your stay in Paris:

• Bonjour, je voudrais…
• Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
• Je vais prendre cette pâtisserie.
• Est-ce que je peux manger sur place ?
• C’est à emporter, s’il vous plaît.
• Combien je vous dois ?
• Merci beaucoup. Bonne journée !

Practise your French in real-world situations as you explore the wonderful world of French pâtisserie.

A mouth-watering must-do during your language stay in Paris

No trip to Paris would be complete without visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre and the French capital’s bakeries to sample a French speciality and make chit-chat with the shop owners. These slices of everyday life are often the best way to improve your French as they help you broaden your vocabulary, build your confidence and get to grips with French culture.

ACCORD FLE language school encourages its students to squeeze every drop out of their immersive language experience. So once your French lessons have finished for the day, why not plan a gourmet tour visiting the pâtisseries in 15th arrondissement, Le Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés or Rue de Rivoli?  It will satisfy your appetite for culture, French practice and sweet treats!

Come hungry!
Which of all the French bakes and cakes we’ve mentioned are you the most excited to try?
Feel free to ask your teacher or ACCORD staff for advice: they are only too happy to recommend a few great little spots near the school!

Bon appétit et à bientôt chez ACCORD à Paris!

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