FRENCH STUDY GUIDE 2023


a residential course in France. Fortunately there are plenty of schools willing to welcome students of all ages, nationalities and abilities – whether you’re starting from scratch, brushing up your conversational skills or fine-tuning business French. If you’d prefer to study from home, there are also countless online courses available.


ALL OVER FRANCE The following institutions offer residential courses all over France – just pick the city or the region you’d most like to stay in.


La Creuzette is based in a beautiful country house in Creuse in central France


the latter, have your ochre paints at the ready. Courses are held outside and focus on painting landscapes with watercolours, oils, acrylics or alkyds. Studio painting is also available. www.artists-atelier.com


La Creuzette


For this residential course, running from May 21 to 26, 2023, you’ll be staying in a lovely country house near Boussac, in Creuse. Art tutor Louis Jansen van Vuuren will guide you through techniques in aquarelle, acrylics and pastels. In addition, you’ll also get the chance to try yoga, meditation, kitchen demonstrations and excursions into the French countryside, courtesy of your other host, Hardy Olivier. The price of €3,250 includes five nights’ full-board accommodation, transfers from the local railway station, all art materials, and all extra activities. www.lacreuzette.com


Steven Reed France


British artist Steven Reed runs week-long residential art courses over the summer and early


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autumn at his 17th century farmhouse in Saint-Séverin- d’Estissac, near Bergerac in the Dordogne. He focuses on all sorts of media from watercolour, pen and ink, and oils, to acrylics, mixed media and pastels. The £1,250 price includes tuition, full-board accommodation for seven nights and transfers from Bergerac airport. Groups are limited to a maximum of eight students. Non-painting partners are also welcome. “There are many historical châteaux, exciting local markets, breath- taking landscapes and peaceful river scenes to make your brush quiver,” Steven says. stevenreedfrance.com


Grasse Institute Of Perfumery At this institute in Grasse, the capital of Europe’s perfume industry, students will learn about fragrances, natural extracts, cosmetics, taste and smell, with access to a classroom, a perfumer’s laboratory and a collection of more than 500 raw materials. Beginners’ courses in 2022 cost €1,700 for a week’s tuition, and €2,300 for a two-week course.


Check the website for next year’s prices. “Grasse being the historical epicentre of flowers and fragrance sets our school and location apart from all others,” say the owners. “Throughout our various courses, we go on trips to museums, sights, fragrance houses, production facilities, and visit the fields of generational farmers. We proudly share with our students the heritage of perfumery past and present.” www.grasse-perfumery.com


Studio Préniac


Based at an 18th-century farmhouse in the Lot, Studio Préniac hosts week-long textile and painting holidays, suitable for all levels, with maximum classes of 15. “Courses are fully-catered, making the most of the wonderful local and regional produce, with all students and tutors staying on-site,” they say. www.studiopreniac.com


FRENCH LANGUAGE COURSES There’s only one way to learn French, and that’s to immerse yourself in the language through


Alliance Française Founded in Paris in 1883, Alliance Française is one of the biggest names in language education, with a global network of over 800 chapters in 133 countries. The Paris headquarters on Boulevard Raspail is one of the oldest schools in France, dedicated to teaching French as a foreign language, and it welcomes more than 10,000 students every year. This is where the Français Langue Étrangère (FLE) teaching programme was first established, and today it’s the benchmark curriculum for learning French anywhere in the world. Alliance Française doesn’t just offer excellent language instruction, however: it’s also known for a rich cultural programme, from film screenings and art exhibitions to literary meetings with authors and gastronomic festivals. www.alliancefr.org


Berlitz


Berlitz is one of the best-known language schools in the world. Its direct approach focuses on the spoken tongue, encouraging students to speak the target language exclusively from start to finish. The organisation offers a broad range of French language courses at 13 schools across France, aimed at adults, teenagers and children. Students learn from highly trained, fluent instructors and can enjoy days split between studying and


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IMAGE © LA CREUZETTE


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