Full Immersion French Courses in Biarritz, France
Biarritz’ prestige and elegance dates back to the beginning of the century and is still famed today for its beaches, luxurious hotels, casinos and golf courses. A fun and very lively town for teenagers in summertime, there is always something going on : bands playing, jugglers, painters in the old port, street theatres, skate boarders and surfers showing off their talent.
Biarritz also provides a perfect environment for water-sport lovers, its long sandy beaches and incredible waves attract surfers from all over the world ! Biarritz is situated at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains in the heart of the Basque region, which extends into Spain. A region of strong traditions and rich culture that has preserved a certain quality of life in one of the most beautiful regions of France. Originally a quaint fishing village, until the end of 19th century when Napoleon III and the empress Eugenie fell in love with the regions natural beauty, Biarritz rapidly became a fashionable, refined sea side resort.
This era brought a prestigious clientele to the town and hence considerably developed its architecture, elegant buildings, casinos and palaces that today form the towns reputation.
In 1957, Biarritz welcomed its first surfers from the European continent and today has become a renowned “surfers paradise” thanks to its long sandy beaches and mild climate all year round.
Population: 30 000 inhabitants in winter and 120 000 in summer!
French Courses in Biarritz at France Langue
France Langue is an International French School with its headquarters located in Paris. In a very friendly but highly professional atmosphere, the French language school welcomes students from all over the world for intensive full immersion French courses in Biarritz. They offer a wide range of French Courses to meet most needs, adapted around each student’s requirements. The teaching methods are straight forward, but at the same time flexible and interactive. Essentially all the French courses incorporate various aspects of the French language to ensure a good balance between conversation, grammar, reading, listening and writing. France Langue is registered with the Rectorate of Bordeaux (French Ministry of Education) and is a member of SOUFFLE (the only quality control organization for French language schools and universities in France). In 2003 they opened a new center in Biarritz.
The France Langue School is located in the center of Biarritz, within 5 minutes walking distance from the lively Halles district, and a 10 minute walk from the Côte des Basques beach, a world-famous surf spot. The train station and the airport are 15 minutes away by car.
The French school is housed in a renovated typical “Pays Basque” house dating from 1850, it is located next door to our junior school. The France Langue/BLS School has 7 classrooms, a spacious terrace, a swimming-pool, a computer room. It also offers free WiFi access and Parking (limited spaces).
Please click on the following tabs for more information:
Ecole France Langue – French Courses in Biarritz
Notes: Minimum age: 17. Prices include: School enrollment fee, number of lessons listed under each course option, all teaching material, a practical guide to the city, a guided city visit, a French film each week at France Langue, 24/7 assistance in the event of emergency, and a course completion certificate. Note: France Langue also offers French Courses in Paris and French Courses in Nice. Programs can be combined between all schools, even after course is already in progress.
France Langue Biarritz offers several French Language Course Options:
General French Group Courses – IMPORTANT CHANGES TO COURSE STRUCTURE:
France Langue has introduced a new approach to their French language courses for 2021: French Learning & Coaching Cooperative Language Learning Intensive Programs.
Cooperative Language Learning is based on the practice of the language in real-life situations, using many different environments: in the classroom, outside of the class, on the FL Online platform, on the “MOOC” platform offered by France Langue. The use of all the teaching technologies and methodologies available creates a complete experience with a full support for the learner.
Here is a graphic that explains the new approach by comparing it to the traditional language teaching method:
The General French Courses consist of 20, 26 or 30 lessons per week:
Standard French Courses: 20 French lessons per week (each lesson is 45 minutes long) maximum of 14 students per class. Classes may be held according to the following schedules. Schedules depend on French level, and while every effort will be made to accommodate student’s requests, a specific schedule cannot be guaranteed. Mornings (Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM) or afternoons (Monday-Friday from 1:45 PM to 5:00 PM). This option is perfect for those willing to start learning French or improve and perfect their level while enjoying enough free time to take advantage of their stay in France. The Standard 20-lesson weekly program consists of: 12 General French lessons (in school), 4 Academic Project lessons coordinated by the academic coach that will take you outside the classroom to practice the skills learnt in class, 2 Linguistic Reinforcement lessons during which your coach will focus on your weaknesses and help you overcome them, and 2 “Meet the locals” virtual sessions that introduce students to the local culture.
Intensive French Courses – Standard French Plus 6: 26 French lessons per week (each lesson is 45 minutes long), maximum of 14 students per class. Course is divided into two sections: 20 French lessons per week of Standard French course (see above) plus 6 specifically targeted workshops focusing on one element of the French language, suited to your needs and desires: such as speaking and listening, writing and reading, phonetics or grammar, but also, for more advanced levels, cultural themed workshops such as current events, traditions and civilization are available. Schedule: Standard French course mornings (Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM) or afternoons (Monday-Friday from 1:45 PM to 5:00 PM), with afternoon workshops assigned by the school depending on the workshop.
Super Intensive French Courses – French for Work: 30 French lessons per week (each lesson is 45 minutes long), maximum of 14 students per class.. Course is divided into sections: 20 French lessons per week of Standard French course (see above) PLUS plus 6 specifically targeted workshops (3 sessions of 1 1/2 hours each) focusing on different elements of the French language (oral, written, vocabulary, civilization, etc.), PLUS 2 private French individualized lesson to provide training in professional French (French for business, French for tourism and hospitality, legal French, etc.), PLUS an additional 2 Tutoring Lessons accompanied by a teacher, where you approach the points of grammar, lexicon, conjugation, which may not have been completely assimilated during the course. Sample Schedule: Standard French course mornings (Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 12:45 PM) or afternoons (Monday-Friday from 1:45 PM to 5:00 PM), with afternoon workshops assigned by the school depending on the workshop.
FRENCH COURSE PRICES 2023:
All programs: NO application fee. A non-refundable USD 100.00 deposit is required at the time of enrollment. Deposit will be subtracted from final program invoice. See Application Procedures.
| Course Description | One week | Two weeks | Three weeks | Four weeks | Six weeks | Eight weeks | Twelve weeks | Twenty four weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard French Course - 20 Lessons | $514 | $932 | $1,350 | $1768 | $2,354 | $3,106 | $3,666 | $6,691 |
| Intensive French Course - 26 lessons | $585 | $1,075 | $1,565 | $2,055 | $2,784 | $3,680 | -- | -- |
| Super Intensive French Course - 20+6+2+2 lessons | $854 | $1,613 | $2,372 | $3,170 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Prices include school enrollment fees.
2023 Starting Dates for all group French courses: Elementary to advanced students may start any Monday. Complete beginners must start on the following dates: 5 June / 3 July / 4 September.
Holidays 2023: 10 April, 1 May, 8 May, 18 May, 29 May, 14 July, 15 August, 1 November. Classes lost due to Holidays are NOT made up!. The school is also closed from 18 December 2023 until 2 Jan 2024.
SPECIAL FRENCH COURSES in Biarritz:
Private French Courses (One-to-One French Lessons): Private French lessons are available at USD 97 per lesson plus USD 103 school enrollment fee. (10 lesson per week minimum booking). One-to-one French lessons can start any Monday. Discounts: more than 20 lessons: USD 84 per lesson
French and Surfing: Combination of Standard French Courses (20 French lessons in the morning) plus one Surfing lesson each day from Monday to Friday. Minimum enrollment: 1 week. Important: A minimum of 3 participants is required from November to March for the course to be offered, during this time please confirm availability with us before confirming travel arrangements!
2023 Starting dates: Elementary to advanced students may start any Monday. Complete beginners must start on the following dates: TBA
French and Surfing Prices 2023:
Low Season: TBA.
French and Golf: Combination of Standard French Courses (20 French lessons in the morning) plus one Golf session each day from Monday to Friday. Golf sessions take place at the Biarritz International Golf Center, a 9 hole course with amazing views of the sea and the mountains. Minimum enrollment: 1 week. Important: A minimum of 3 participants is required from November to March for the course to be offered, during this time please confirm availability with us before confirming travel arrangements!
2023 Starting dates: Elementary to advanced students may start any Monday from 30 March to 30 October. Complete beginners must start on the following dates: TBA
French and Golf Prices 2023:
Low Season: TBA.
France Langue – Accommodations in Biarritz
France Langue offers accommodations with selected local host families. Host families of all ages and backgrounds are available, but they all share one thing in common: their hospitality and friendliness. The school rigorously selects and trains each host family and carefully places students taking into consideration their individual preferences whenever possible. Most families are located between 5 and 30 minutes from the school. Pricing for host families is seasonal: High Season prices apply from 28 May to 26 August 2023 and from 17 December 2023 to 1 January 2024.
“Superior” host families are also offered. These families offer private bathrooms, special diets or are located close to the school (20 minutes max by public transportation). Supplements apply. Please see pricing table below for supplement option pricing.
Student residences and hotels are also available upon request (an additional USD 100 reservation fee applies to all Residence, Hotel and Apartment Hotel bookings).
Host family placement options and prices 2023:
| Standard Host Families: | One week | Two weeks | Three weeks | Four weeks | Extra weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host Family Single room / half board | $454 | $812 | $1,171 | $1,529 | $358 |
| Host Family: Single room / breakfast only | $364 | $633 | $902 | $1,171 | $269 |
| Standard Host Families High Season: | |||||
| Host Family Single room / half board | $490 | $884 | $1,278 | $1,673 | $394 |
| Host Family: Single room / breakfast only | $400 | $705 | $1,010 | $1,314 | $305 |
High Season prices apply from: 28 May to 26 August 2023 and from 17 December 2023 to 1 January 2024.
Superior/Special Request Host families options (please request request any additional desired host family option(s) at the time of enrollment):
Private Bathroom: Add $70 per week.
Close to school: Add $57 per week.
Special diet: Add $57 to half-board rate.
Notice: an additional charge of USD 44 will apply to arrivals at the host family before 2 PM on Sundays and departures after 12 Noon on Saturday.
Activities
Cultural Program – In addition to their French courses in Biarritz, the school arranges an activity and cultural program weekly that allows students to experience the local culture. Activities are optional and may involve additional charges. Here is a sample of activities offered:
• Guided tour of Biarritz’s architecture and historical monuments.
• Tasting of local products (wine, Basque cheese, chocolates, cakes, etc.).
• Guided tour of museums (sea museum, chocolate museum, Basque traditions museum, etc.),
• Excursions to the Pyrenees mountains and discovery of Basque villages, historical sites, pre-historical caves, shepherd’s from the Pyrenees.
• Hiking, horse riding and mountain bike riding.
• Cookery class and discovery of local dishes.
• Excursion to Lourdes.
• Thalassotherapy (seawater therapy).
• Water sports activities on sea and river ( surf, sea water canoeing, rafting, hydro-speed)
• Golfing, tennis, …
• Pelot Basque initiation (Jai-lai).
Airport Transfer: Transfers from the Biarritz airport or the train station can be arranged upon request at an additional fee of USD 58 each way. Transfers from Bordeaux, San Sebastian or Bilbao can also be arranged upon request (but are significantly more expensive!).
SUMMER FRENCH PROGRAM For Teenagers in BIARRITZ (14-17 years of age):
Please click the following link for available programs in France for Summer 2021: FRENCH SUMMER CAMP in Biarritz for TEENAGERS
What students have to say about this program:
“The people in the school are very friendly and welcoming. The teaching is great and I really enjoyed the activities we did ! My French has improved so much that at times I start thinking in French and speak with confidence. The family is very friendly and the children are fun to be with. Biarritz is very lively !”
Alison Coutinho – UK