Learning French can be a daunting experience, especially if you move to the country with minimal language skills. Perhaps you thought that it would be easier once you got here, but your social circle seems to be filled with fellow English speakers and no one to practice your French with.
Maybe you are thinking of going for French citizenship and you need to get your French up to scratch (this might be the case for those seeking permanent residency too, soon).
Regardless of your reasons, language courses are notoriously expensive, so we’ve put together a list of options that won’t break the bank.
Professional Training Account (My 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 (city hall) 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. Any many mairies also offer heavily discounted language classes.
In Paris the city hall offers ‘Paris Adult Classes‘ in everything from sewing classes to lessons in Excel, but there are around 300 classes in French as a foreign language. 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 city hall 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.
“Open the school to parents for the success of children” (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.
Job center
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 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.
University for All
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.
Good luck