Category: Blog

No visit to France would be complete without a trip to Versailles. The name alone conjures images of gold, glitz, glass, pomp and glory doesn’t it? Despite its luxury, it’s within easy reach by public transport from the city centre and a “passport” to visit the palace and grounds costs just under 30 Euros… so you can bask in the Sun King’s glory yourself for a few hours!

ACCORD suggestion: a Versailles Day Trip

All Photos: ©Frankie Pfeiffer

How to get to Versailles

ACCORD language school is all about being eco-friendly and taking care of the planet, so here are a couple of cheap and green ways to get to the palace (and you can put your French skills to good use when you buy your tickets at the machine or counter too!). Hop on the RER Line C train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station then walk 10 minutes to the palace (60-90 minute journey) or catch the RATP bus 171 from Pont de Sèvres (metro line 9 terminus) to Versailles (30 minute journey depending on traffic).

Humble beginnings

Looking at it now, you wouldn’t believe that the Palace of Versailles started out as a humble hunting lodge. Louis XIII took a liking to Versailles during hunting trips here and decided to have a little country house built between his main residence in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Paris in 1623. When we say humble, we mean it! It was described as a building that a gentleman would not be overly proud of… so the king had it rebuilt in 1631 and laid the foundations for the palace we see today. Louis XIII’s son, Louis XIV, developed a fondness for visiting the palace on hunting trips with his governor from 1651 and often ended up staying here. He was the one who saw the potential of the palace and the woodland around it, unleashed his inner architect and made the château what it is today.

The grand tour

It would take days for you to explore everything Versailles has to offer, so since you’re expected back in class at ACCORD on Monday morning, here are a few of the biggest attractions that you don’t want to miss:

• The Hall of Mirrors, a room used to host balls and receptions
• The King’s State Apartment, including seven salons named after mythological gods
• The Queen’s Apartment, recently reopened after renovation work
• The Gardens, André Le Nôtre’s masterpiece
• The Queen’s Hamlet, where Marie-Antoinette would escape court life

There are also Musical Fountains, Night Fountains, Musical Gardens and Royal Serenade shows at specific times between April 1^st and October 31^st so check the website to see if you can fit in a show. You can bring a picnic with you to enjoy in the gardens, have a meal or drink at one of the many restaurants on-site, fill your bottle with water from the free fountains throughout the estate and charge up your phone at free charging stations (which will come in handy with all the photos you’ll be taking). Versailles is so big that you may want to hop on the on-site tourist train (8 Euros per person), hire a golf buggy (38 Euros per hour) or bike (22 Euros per day) or hit the lake and have some time out rowing a boat (17 Euros per hour)

Enjoy your trip back in time to France’s Golden Age (with a capital “G”) and share your photos with ACCORD language school!

Learn French in France

You are looking for the Best French Courses in France? Select one of the Accredited French Language Courses proposed by a Qualité FLE school. Learn French in France with ACCORD French Language School in the beautiful capital, Paris. ACCORD is an accredited Qualité FLE Private Institute of High Education (registered n°588).

ACCORD French Language School near the Eiffel Tower: Founded in 1988, the all year round French language school is located just a few minutes’ walk from the famous Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars, the Musée du Quai Branly, the Invalides (with the tomb of Napoleon the 1st), the Seine river and the Bateaux Parisiens, and opposite the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro and its famous gardens and fountains.

ACCORD: 3bis rue Jean-Pierre Bloch, 75015 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 33 52 33

 

Welcome back to our “Introducing” series! You haven’t come all the way to Paris to study French at ACCORD French language school in July to miss out on the 14 Juillet celebrations have you?
Whether you’ve planned your trip to soak up the atmosphere in Paris on Bastille Day or it’s just a happy coincidence, let’s find out more about the big day and why everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetimes here in Paris.

Introducing… Le 14 Juillet

A potted history

Why do the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille every year on the 14 Juillet? The Bastille was a political prison and symbol of King Louis XVI’s oppressive powers over the French people. An angry mob of Parisians gathered outside the prison on July 14th 1789 after hearing that the King was planning to arrest the new National Assembly, which was to be the voice of the people. But the rebels weren’t there to free the prisoners inside the Bastille… they were there to steal the gunpowder and weapons the fortress housed alongside its inmates. The King and Marie Antoinette fled after the Storming of the Bastille and left the prison to be pillaged and burnt. The Storming marked the beginning of the French Revolution and the French celebrate it today as the symbol of the end of the monarchy and beginning of a modern republic.

Celebrating Bastille Day

First of all, Bastille Day is a bank holiday in France so your ACCORD French language school is closed for the day and you can enjoy the festivities. Paris celebrates Le 14 Juillet with a huge military parade (the oldest in Europe as a matter of fact) and flyover at 10.30am on the Champs-Élysées, which sees the iconic street decked out with flags. President Macron will make a speech after the parade with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, as his guest of honour. After that, make a beeline for Champ de Mars where you’ll find free concerts in the early evening before a special classical music and opera performance at the base of the Eiffel Tower at 9.10pm. The festivities end on a high with a spectacular fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower on Champ de Mars at 11pm. So bring a picnic (NB: no alcohol consumption after 4pm) and blanket along to soak up the atmosphere at the park then feast your eyes on the show.

Bals des Pompiers

Traditionally, fire stations around Paris are the place to be for the Bastille Day after party! The first “firemen’s ball” happened in 1937 when locals followed the firemen who had marched in the military parade back to their fire station… the rest is history. Nowadays the main fire station in the city’s 20 arrondissements throws a huge party on the premises or at a nearby venue between around 9pm and 4am. What to expect: food for sale, music, dancing, live bands, DJs, alcohol and soft drinks. Some stations charge a small fee or ask for donations (2-3 Euros) dropping in the traditional barrel to help improve working conditions for the firemen. Don’t be surprised if you have to queue to get in for an hour or two at peak time (around 11pm-3am) but do expect to join in with a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise! All together now!

Allons enfant de la patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L’étendard sanglant est levé…

We hope you’re enjoying our “Introducing” blogs. Are there any landmarks or profiles you’d like us to cover in future blogs? Get in touch.

ACCORD French School in Paris

The ACCORD French language school offers a wide choice of French language courses: 8 French intensive courses (from 20 to 29h/week), 2 French super-intensive courses (32h and 35h/week), 5 exam preparation courses (DELF, DALF, A/AS level, ILC , Abitur), 8 French intensive PLUS courses (intensive course with 5 to 20 individual lessons), Business French and French and Law lessons in mini groups, as well as 7 afternoon lessons and French private and individual lessons.

The ACCORD Paris French language school is recommended by the editorial staff of PARIS MOVE

ACCORD is rated 5 stars on Tripadvisor

 

Paris is known to be the home of stylish fashion, historical architecture, and center for art, but ACCORD Paris Language School makes Paris a home for you.

My name is Alexis Bardy and I am a student at ACCORD Paris Language School. My mission for success when I first registered for intensive French courses was to gain a deeper understanding of French speaking and comprehension, little did I know how exciting my experience would truly be!

ACCORD Paris Language School Lends a Helping Hand

Similar to many students at Accord, I came to Paris with a few suitcases, eager to learn French, and completely on my own. I was originally apprehensive about how my afternoons would be occupied, but ACCORD provided me with the safe environment I needed to thrive in this new city. The staff immediately greeted me once I entered the school and provided a helping hand for any questions I had about French language courses and culture. I found the resources available at the school, such as professors and staff that were local to the area, to be extremely helpful in discovering new places around the city to explore.

ACCORD Language School: A Whole New World of Friendships

Then my only concern was who I was going to explore with! The classroom sizes at ACCORD Paris Language School are approximately 5-10 students with one professor. The intimate classroom environment helped me make friends so easily! Our professor often held collaborative assignments so we could practice our French with a partner and learn more about each other. It was a new feeling for me to be the only person from my home country in the entire classroom and I loved it!! I was so excited to learn more about my fellow classmates as we all were each other’s first friends in Paris. Every student is required to study at least one week at the school, but I met so many students studying for upwards of one month to one year!

“Tout au long de mon séjour de quatre mois à Accord, j’ai acquis une nouvelle confiance en matière de parler et de comprendre le français, tout en établissant des liens internationaux qui me dureront toute une vie.” – Milena, a student at ACCORD Paris Language School.

Complete Immersion = Rapid Progression

Making friends in class is a super useful tool for learning French. The students and professor only speak in French for the entire duration of class. Having a friendly shoulder to lean on if you are unsure of any material helps your comprehension of the language and team working skills. The professors also want you to understand all material that is being discussed in class, so they often pause for questions throughout the lesson and make themselves available to answer any sudden questions you might have as well. By far, my favorite part of class is listening to the way my professors spoke. Although many students have previously taken French classes in their hometown schools or universities, the opportunity to listen to the way French is pronounced by a native Parisian speaker is a very special experience. The experience of French immersion through living in Paris and taking classes taught entirely in the native language is an amazing way to rapidly improve my French speaking and comprehension.

“Studying at ACCORD Paris Language School is an investment in the growth of my future friendships and international opportunities. I can’t wait for you to explore the city of love with the friends you’ll meet from around the world. With classes provided all year long, we’re looking forward to seeing you study at ACCORD Paris Language School.”

Alexis Bardy – June 2023

Why I Love Being a Student at ACCORD Paris Language School

ACCORD French Language School near the Eiffel Tower: Founded in 1988, the all year round French language school is located just a few minutes’ walk from the famous Eiffel Tower, the Champs de Mars, the Musée du Quai Branly, the Invalides (with the tomb of Napoleon the 1st), the Seine river and the Bateaux Parisiens, and opposite the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro and its famous gardens and fountains.

ACCORD: 3bis rue Jean-Pierre Bloch, 75015 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0) 1 55 33 52 33

How to get to the ACCORD Tour Eiffel school:

• by Métro (underground/subway)
  Nearest stations: La Motte-Picquet Grenelle (lines 6, 8 and 10) and Dupleix (line 6)
  Other stations: Ecole Militaire (line 8), Bir-Hakeim (line 6)
• by Bus: line no. 86 (Champ de Mars), line no. 82 (bus stops: Champ de Mars – Suffren, and/or Général Detrie), line no. 42 (bus stop: Desaix and/or Champ de Mars – Suffren)

Books recommended by ACCORD school: Whether you’ve booked your French course at ACCORD language school and can’t wait to get a taste of what’s to come, or you’re already studying at ACCORD and looking for inspiration, books are a great way for you to soak up the city and unearth hidden gems.

Books set in Paris

Here are a few of our favourite classics and quirky tomes for you to get to grips with Paris before, during or after your French course with us.

Books recommended by ACCORD school:
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, 2003

Conspiracy theories and iffy history aside, The Da Vinci Code is jam-packed with Parisian landmarks and streets for you to go on your own adventure. The novel follows symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu as they investigate a murder at the Louvre and explore an alternative religious history. Given it sets the scene for the murder that brings the two main characters together and the pyramid where the novel ends, the Louvre is a must-visit. Don’t miss Saint-Sulpice Church where you’ll find the mysterious gnomon and “Rose Line” or a wander along the Seine to uncover more symbols. Can you find the “keystone”?

Books recommended by ACCORD school:
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, 2006

Take a look at life inside a Parisian apartment building as we join Renée Michel, the unsuspectingly intelligent and knowledgeable concierge. She works hard to maintain her uncultured persona among her successful but empty employers until she meets Paloma, a 12 year old resident who refuses to end up like the other tenants and decides to end her life on her 13th birthday. Until the sudden death of one of their privileged neighbours changes both their lives forever… The apartment stands on Rue Grenelle in the plush 7th arrondissement, so soak up the atmosphere and get a feel of what Renée and Paloma live on a daily basis.

Books recommended by ACCORD school:
The Ladies’ Delight (Au Bonheur des Dames) by Emile Zola, 1883

Whether you want to read this classic in French or English, you simply have to read it on a bench with a view of Le Bon Marché which inspired the novel. Like Le Bon Marché, The Ladies’ Delight is a fabulous department store in Paris where our heroine, Denise, a naïve country girl comes to work as an assistant. We join her as she attempts to settle in the glamorous city, overcomes its challenges and bravely weathers all the humiliation her capitalist boss Octave Mouret throws her way. This is a tale about determination, capitalism and feminism that has withstood the test of time and is very relevant today…

Books recommended by ACCORD school:
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, 1933

Although this novel is split between both Paris and London (which you can visit from the capital on the Eurostar at Gare du Nord, if you fancy doing the full Orwell experience), this memoir documents the author’s “first contact with poverty” in Paris and is an eye-opening read. Experience life through the eyes of a struggling writer in his twenties as he sleeps in bug-infested hostels, survives on scraps, lives amongst tramps and gets a job as a dishwasher at a deeply unpleasant hotel in the City of Lights. Can you work out the identity of “Hotel X”?

Books recommended by ACCORD school:
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, 1964

Another memoir, another struggling writer in Paris… This time it’s Ernest Hemingway’s turn to introduce us to the Paris he lived in during the 1920s. Here’s a little background to it: Hemingway recovered two trunks he had stored at the Ritz in Paris nearly 30 years earlier, in March 1928. Inside the trunks were notebooks he had filled in the 1920s, which he had transcribed and worked on them to turn them into a memoir: A Moveable Feast. He shows what life was like for aspiring writers in Paris, working in Parisian cafes, meeting up with Scott Fitzgerald and living in the Latin Quarter. As you’d expect with the novelist, there are lots of references to wine so why not channel you’re inner Hemingway, pop into Prunier Victor Hugo and settle back with a good book and verre de vin? Please drink responsibly.

Books recommended by ACCORD school:
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, 2014

Let’s fast forward a few years to World War II where we’ll meet a blind Parisian girl and a German boy with an unlikely relationship. Marie-Laure lives in Paris with her father Daniel, the locksmith at the Museum of Natural History, who makes her a model of her local neighbourhood so she can find her way home. The museum has a starring role in the plot of this novel as it sets the scene for a mystery where Marie-Laure and her father take its most valuable jewel when they flee Paris. Read this modern Pulitzer Prize-winning classic and hop onto the metro from ACCORD language school for a half hour ride to soak up the museum for yourself!

To purchase these books we recommend:
–Shakespeare and Company 
-ICI Librairie, on the Grands Boulevards

Are there any books you’d like to see on this list that capture Paris through the ages? Let us know so we can add them to our future blogs and see your name on the website!

Ecole de langues ACCORD Paris: 3 bis rue Jean Pierre Bloch, 75015 Paris, France

ACCORD French School in Paris:
The ACCORD French language school offers a wide choice of French language courses: 8 French intensive courses (from 20 to 29h/week), 2 French super-intensive courses (32h and 35h/week), 5 exam preparation courses (DELF, DALF, A/AS level, ILC , Abitur), 8 French intensive PLUS courses (intensive course with 5 to 20 individual lessons), Business French and French and Law lessons in mini groups, as well as 7 afternoon lessons and French private and individual lessons.

The ACCORD Paris French language school is recommended by the editorial staff of PARIS MOVE

ACCORD is rated 5 stars on Tripadvisor

 

Welcome to the first edition of our “Introducing” series! It would be rude of us to launch our new blog series and not put the spotlight on our iconic Parisian neighbour: the Eiffel Tower. You haven’t come all the way to Paris to study French at ACCORD language school without a few facts about the landmark under your belt. We’re sure you already know that it stands 330m high, weighs in at 1,100 tons and is made of iron, so we’d like to share a few titbits with you that you may not already know about France’s very own iron lady.

The Eiffel Tower is alive

The tower is built out of puddle iron which makes it sensitive to changes in temperature. That means that it shrinks in winter, expands in summer and can even increase in height by 15cm. Although the tower was built to withstand strong gusts, in stormy weather you can see the landmark shudder.
How about in the sunshine? The tower has four sides to it so as the sun shines on each one, the tower leans into the sun. The top of the tower can actually move in a circle 15cm in diameter (that magic number again!) on clear days. The Eiffel Tower gives you a unique experience whatever the weather!

A pop-up Tower

The Exposition Universelle and French Revolution hold no secrets for you anymore since you’ve been learning in your French classes at ACCORD language school. But did you know that the Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary display for the 1889 World Fair to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution? Nobody wanted to see it go so Gustave Eiffel erected a radio antenna and wireless telegraph transmitter to secure its longevity. His gamble paid off as the French government thought it was too useful to dismantle and the Eiffel Tower still broadcasts radio and TV programmes today.

The Tower in the World Wars

Speaking of its radio antenna, it certainly came in handy in 1914 when World War I broke out. The radio transmitter in the tower jammed German radio communications and slowed down their progress. The Eiffel Tower is thought to have played a decisive role in the Battle of Marne and helped the Allies to victory as the wireless station intercepted enemy signals broadcast from Berlin. In 1944, when it looked like the Allies were about to liberate Paris, Hitler ordered the entire city and Eiffel Tower be destroyed and reduced to rubble rather than give it up. Luckily his men thought the order was too unthinkable to carry out or else you wouldn’t be enjoying your French class at ACCORD language school in Paris today!

And finally…

An American competitive archer called Erika Aya “married” the tower in 2007 after a “coup de foudre” in 2004. It was love at first sight for Erika Eiffel! She now runs Objectum Sexuality Internationale, a website supporting people who develop strong attachments with inanimate objects. That clears things up!

Now you’re ready to dazzle your ACCORD language school teacher and fellow students with some fun facts about the Eiffel Tower and the famous Champs Elysées. Let us know if you find out some more to add to our list.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the first in our series of “Introducing” blogs. Are there any landmarks or profiles you’d like us to cover in future blogs? Get in touch.

ACCORD French Language School in Paris

The ACCORD French language school offers a choice of 8 French intensive courses (from 20 to 29h/week), 2 French super-intensive courses (32h and 35h/week), 5 exam preparation courses (DELF, DALF, A/AS level, ILC , Abitur), 8 French intensive PLUS courses (intensive course with 5 to 20 individual lessons), Business French and French and Law lessons in mini groups, as well as 7 afternoon lessons and French private and individual lessons.

ACCORD 2023 dates and prices to view and download

The ACCORD Paris language school is recommended by the editorial staff of PARIS MOVE

ACCORD is rated 5 stars on Tripadvisor

 

Things to see and to do before your afternoon French language course in Paris

Do you want to kill time before your afternoon French language course at ACCORD without being late for class? Or do you fancy unwinding after your French lesson without venturing too far from ACCORD’s prime city centre location? Whatever you fancy, we’ve got you covered!

Feeling energetic before your afternoon French language course?

Speaking of mingling with the Parisians, it doesn’t get more French than a round of boules or “pétanque” at the nearby Champ de Mars, so keep your eyes peeled for a glint from that shiny silver ball. The park is popular with runners and walkers too if you fancy letting off some steam and enjoying the scenery. If you want to get some fresh air without the sore muscles, make memories on a segway tour with Wheels and Ways (1km from the school) or Go Go Segway Tours (750m from the school).

Culture vulture?

ACCORD language school is less than half an hour from the beautiful Rodin Museum. Take in a bit of culture along the way with a walk through the leafy Champ de Mars, famous for playing host to the Universal Exhibition and the iconic Eiffel Tower. Your journey takes you past the Ecole Militaire, a military school founded by Louis XV back in the 18th century. It’s a real sight for sore eyes!

Then head north to visit Napoleon I’s tomb before you reach your final destination: the Rodin Museum. Explore the artist’s famous sculptures and visit the grounds.
Here’s a top tip: visitors get free admission on the first Sunday of the month between October and March.

Hungry for more?

If your afternoon French language course in Paris has whet your appetite or you need a bite to eat before you fill up on French grammar, here are a few suggestions near ACCORD language school. You’re just a minute away from tickling your tastebuds at “Le Presles” with a 23 EUR set menu for two courses or 26 EUR for three courses. Take your pick from classic world cuisine at “Aux Cerises” in a sleek yet cosy interior. If you want to feast your eyes on views of the Eiffel Tower and do a spot of people watching, you can’t go wrong with Comptoir Principal with its sandwiches, light bites and small plates.
France is famous for its pastries and cakes, so make a beeline for “Boulangerie Suffren” or “Le fils du Boulanger” to pick up a sandwich and a sweet treat to enjoy as you explore the local area. The staff at all these venues will encourage you to speak French so don’t be offended if they correct you. They know you’re ACCORD students and they want to help you improve your French. Bon appétit!

“I loved every minute of my stay in Paris, the school, the afternoon French language course, the teachers, living in Paris with a great host family and living like a Parisian! I can’t wait to come back to ACCORD and go all “Emily in Paris” again!”
Helen S. – Lancashire, UK