My name is Kate and this is the second time I have been coming to study at ACCORD French Language School in Paris. I have always loved Paris, and I want to be more proficient in French every time I visit Paris. I had of course learnt French at school and I did manage a good mark at my French A Level, but being typically British, I always felt embarrassed to speak French in France. As I love France, the culture, the food of course, but also the French attitude towards family life, traditions, and after many trips and holidays, I decided to take the bull by the horns.
How and why did I choose to study French at ACCORD Paris
I decided to come to Paris to take a French language course, as Paris is such a beautiful city with many things to see and do. It is also the easy option for me as I can take the Eurostar and arrive in the city centre and of course there is only one border control on departure, which means you don’t have to queue up once you arrive and worry about having to check-in your luggage.
I then searched for a French course and spent some time checking out the various schools located in Paris. One of my friends had told me to choose a school accredited “Qualité FLE” as it is a guarantee of the quality of the courses and teaching, like the British Council in the UK. I then looked at many school websites. My priority was improving my communication skills and I wanted to join a reasonably intensive course so I could be more confident. I also felt I needed to stay with a Parisian host family so I could keep practising with my hosts, but I wanted to be sure that I would be in a safe area, close to a métro station, etc.
I contacted a few schools via their website contact page and the first one to respond was ACCORD. In fact they responded within a few hours of my request being sent, which was great. The information I was sent was very precise and complete. It helped me choose the course.
I did then send other mails with other questions, such as the location of the host families, the commute time I should expect, etc. The team at ACCORD always responded to me very quickly and very precisely. I finally was ready to book the French course and host family for 3 weeks.
My first French course and stay in Paris with ACCORD School
I had a fantastic time… the course I selected with the help of the School Team was the Oral Communication French Course. I met some fantastic people at the school, the students from all over the world are all motivated to improve their French. The teachers were always keen to help us, correcting our pronunciation, use of structures, and practising with confidence. I was placed with a lovely host family in a really beautiful area of the 13th arrondissement and close to the Parc Montsouris.
Together with my fellow students, we organised visits to museums, wandering round the markets at the weekend and using our French wherever we went.
At the end of the three weeks, I could not wait to come again.
My second stay in Paris with ACCORD School
For my second trip to Paris and my second time at ACCORD French Language School, I chose to come in the summer for two weeks. I had now reached a good level of French and this time I booked the morning course with three afternoon lessons focusing on writing and French grammar. As it was hot in Paris, I also enjoyed the fact that the school is fully airconditioned.
The emphasis again was on the oral communication in the morning and the afternoon lessons dedicated to writing and grammar were perfect as I could focus on my writing skills and revising some French grammar structures. Again, the teachers were very professional, attentive to our individual needs. And this time I also booked some trips with some of my classmates via GetYourGuide as they have an office located round the corner from the school. It was easy to find out about excursions and visits as the cultural programs available with GetYourGuide are displayed in the school. I chose to visit Giverny and Monet’s house and also booked a cookery lesson to make “macarons” which was fantastic.
I also stayed with a great host family in another beautiful area of Paris, Montmartre. It was lovely to chat with the hosts at then end of the day over dinner and get their insight about life in Paris.
Already planning my third French course at ACCORD Paris!
I can’t wait to go to Paris again to ACCORD hopefully this autumn as I am now considering finding a new job where I can use my French professionally. I have already asked about the French for Business courses available at ACCORD. Can’t wait to go back!
Each time I take a course at ACCORD Paris, I feel I am more confident and no longer embarrassed speaking and now writing French outside the classroom. Just book a course at ACCORD Paris French Language School to improve quickly with confidence… you will love it!
To receive information about French courses at ACCORD Paris, don’t hesitate to contact ACCORD.
