Language Immersion Courses in France

Learning a new language (in this case French), offers a number of benefits. It looks great on a resume, can greatly augment your employment opportunities, and better prepares you to conduct business globally. It also helps to expand your horizons, to gain a new perspective, and offers a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. There are many methods for studying and ultimately mastering the French language, but according to linguists, the most expedient and comprehensive of these is through total immersion language courses—the type of courses taught in the language schools in France.

Tens of thousands of international students converge on France annually to study abroad. Some come for the wonderful academic opportunities in courses such as art and history, while some come just for the breathtaking sights and to bask in the French culture and way of life. Recently, however, a new trend has emerged, characterized by a great demand from students seeking to broaden their cultural and personal horizons by learning to speak the French language. In response to this demand, there are now a number of institutions, both new and established, offering language immersion courses.

The language immersion courses in France are unlike most of the traditional methods of language acquisition. Instead of learning strictly from course materials—textbooks, handouts, audio tapes, etc.—in French language schools, the language itself is the means by which students learn. Whether receiving class instruction from the professor, having one-to-one conversations with fellow students, or taking in a meal or a movie with a new friend, every sound uttered is in French.

According to language experts, full immersion is by far the most expedient way to learn French (or any new language). Just like a young child learns to speak his/her first language by being surrounded by it, so too do students learning a second language. Hearing French 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, will not only allow you to learn faster, but will make you more proficient. A book cannot possibly convey the inflections, or facial expressions some use when speaking their natural tongue, and it is these clues that lead to full fluency in the language, rather than just a mastery of French words.

There are many schools and universities in France offering a wide array of language classes. Some of these will span a semester or full academic year, while others are more intensive, taking place during the summer or school intercession. Typically, these classes are reserved for college and upper-grade high school students, but some are designed with everyone in mind, from the business professional to the casual tourist. Some courses even combine language learning with certain recreational activities, such as skiing or water sports.