Years ago, Bill and I spent 2 weeks at a language school in Cologne learning German. We were in large group classes or self-study for 6 hours each day and then went “home” to a wonderfully warm and welcoming grandmother who treated us like family. Breakfast and dinner were included in our fees and she even invited us to share Easter lunch with her daughter and grandkids. Her son-in-law brought a mini-keg of beer that helped the food, conversation, and laughter stretch well into the evening. This approach worked so well that we decided to try a similar but even more personalized method with French.

In Cologne, for classroom instruction we were with a room full of other students, so this time we were looking for private tutoring that could accommodate the language level difference between Bill and me. Blog readers and new French residents, J & D, had good things to say about a language school in Sancerre (link below) that offered just such an arrangement for couples but we also wanted even more immersion. Living with the teacher, taking all meals with her plus going on excursions (Bill took all of today’s photos on our walks) meant that other than when we were in our room we could not escape speaking French for most of the day. Exhausting, but well worth it. (Cheater’s note: even in our room we were supposed to speak French to each other but we spoke quietly in English. Désolé, Marianne, de te décevoir, mdr 🤣 )

Here’s what the email from the school said would be included in our week:

• 7.50 hours of private lessons for Bill and 7.50 hours for Bob (Monday to Friday)

• 3 activities with the teacher as a guide

• About 25 hours of guided conversation during meals and activities

• 6 nights accommodation with private bathroom

• Full board with guided conversations (breakfasts, lunches and dinners included)

A typical day would start with a breakfast of fresh breads and pastries, fruit, yogurt, juice, and coffee. Three hours of classroom instruction, split between us and directed to our specific needs followed by a 3 or 4-course lunch. In the afternoon we might go on an outing to something nearby (cathedral, old town, cheese or wine tasting) then back in time for an apéro before a 4-course dinner. The hosts often prepared a regional specialty for us and we bought enough wine to share each evening. From the beginning of the day to the end, we were all talking together, leaving the two of us to dream in French.

Was it expensive? Since that’s one of those “how high is the sky” questions, perhaps it’s better to ask, “was it worth it”? First, however, let’s look at the actual invoice price of 3027€ that included accommodation, food, excursions, and instruction. We knew in advance that if we wanted anything extra—wine at dinner, or an entrance fee to a castle, for example—there would be an additional fee. We were in the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie so we based our price comparisons on what we could find there if we had arranged each segment separately on our own.

• Private bedroom with private bathroom attached: 100€ per night=600€
• 3 home cooked meals per day: 75€ per person per day (150€ per day)=900€
• 15 hours private lessons/25 hours guided conversation: 40€ per hour=1600€
• Total price for comparison: 3100€

So, the pricing seems right on target and to have the complete package arranged in advance was certainly easy. And was it worth it? We were both touched during our final dinner when the teacher’s husband, who was present at most meals, said that instead of being students he felt as if we were neighbors who had stopped by to chat. That says it all. 

Immersive language schools that we considered:

Coeur de France: https://www.coeurdefrance.com/

French Today: https://www.frenchtoday.com/french-immersions/

SL Immersion (the school we chose): https://slimmersion-france.com/