French Courses in Tours, France (Loire Valley)
Tours, located one hour from Paris by train, is a warm city where one quickly feels at ease. With a population of 250,000, Tours offers a broad range of cultural activities even though it is just moments away from the countryside. It is located in the Loire Valley, known for the grand chateaux of the kings of France from the 12th to the 16th centuries, and is well known for its mild climate and beautiful countryside. This part of France is known as the garden of France.
The CLE French Language School is located in the heart of this historical, picturesque city.
French Courses in Tours at the CLE French Language School
CLE is an independent institute for French studies which has been offering high quality French courses in Tours since 1985. Our years of teaching abroad have helped us to create a friendly school with a positive working atmosphere. Our bright and comfortable premises and dedicated staff will ensure that you study French in the most favorable conditions. At CLE, you will rapidly feel at home.
To accelerate your French Language learning process, there are never more than 7 students per class. Each student benefits from a caring environment which offers much individual attention. You are making the effort to come and learn French; we always try to make sure that you have the best possible stay during y0ur French Course in Tours.
CLE is a member of the Groupement FLE (French as a Foreign Language). It is the first professional organization in France to have established a code of conduct (1999), and committed itself to an ongoing quality control process for its member schools. This process led to the creation of a Reference Document based on the criteria used by professionals working in the field of FLE and integrating the ideas of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Our French Courses in Tours are conducted in a magnificently renovated 18th century building with large, comfortable rooms, located in the heart of the lively old town section of Tours. Near the school you will find a square surrounded by 15th century homes. A multitude of restaurants and terrace cafés can be found just two steps away from the school in the shade of this quaint medieval area.
CLE occupies a magnificently renovated 18th century building. It even has a 15th century cellar. From your classroom window, you can admire the Charlemagne tower, one of the town’s oldest monuments. You will study in one of the nine spacious, comfortable classrooms, and during the summer months you can relax on our rooftop terrace. A warm, multicultural atmosphere will encourage your participation in all aspects of the school’s life.
To complement your French Course, you can also access at no cost:
- several libraries where you can find magazines, novels, reference books, books in basic French, self-correcting grammar and vocabulary exercises, etc.
- cassettes or CDs to improve your understanding of spoken French and your pronunciation.
- a video-room where you can watch numerous films or documentaries about France.
- CD-ROMs to consolidate your learning.
- computer terminals so that you can access the internet and your e-mails,.
- Internet access and wireless Internet connection throughout the school.
Please click on the following tabs for more information:
CLE French Courses in Tours:
Minimum enrollment age: 18 (average age 39). Maximum number of students per class: 7 (average of 4 during winter months, 6 during summer months). Minimum enrollment: 1 week. Each lesson is 45 minutes long. Prices include school enrollment fee and all class materials.
The following French Course options are offered at CLE:
Intensive French Course – 7 students max. per class – 26 French lessons per week (each lesson is 45 minutes long). All French levels from Beginner to Advanced. (complete beginners must pay special attention to the starting dates listed below!)
Combined Intensive French Course – Combination of Intensive French Course (see above) PLUS 4 Private French lessons per week. 7 students max. per class in group portion of program. 30 French lessons per week: 26 small group French lessons (each lesson is 45 minutes long), PLUS 4 one-to-one French lessons per week. All French levels from Beginner to Advanced. (complete beginners must pay special attention to the starting dates listed below!)
Private French Course (One-to-One French Lessons): Start any Monday of the year.
15 French lessons per week, 20 French lessons per week, 25 French lessons per week.
French Courses in Tours, France – Prices 2021 and 2022:
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 | Per week | Two weeks | Three weeks | Four weeks | Six weeks | Twelve weeks | Extra weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intensive French Course | -- | $1,155 | $1,592 | $1,969 | $2,878 | $5,263 | $450 |
| Combined Intensive French Course | $930 | $1,726 | $2,455 | $3,124 | -- | -- | $740 |
| One-to-One French Lessons: 15 lessons/week | $1,498 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $1,416 |
| One-to-One French Lessons: 20 lessons/week | $1,959 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $1,888 |
| One-to-One French Lessons: 25 lessons/week | $2,473 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $2,358 |
Prices include school enrollment fee and all class materials.
2021/2022 Starting Dates: Important: complete beginners and elementary levels (less than A2) may only start only on the following dates: 3 October 2022. French Courses for ALL other levels from high Elementary (A2) to Advanced may start any Monday. Long Term 12 week course starts on 3 January / 4 April / 4 July / 3 October 2022.
Holidays 2021: The school is closed between 18 December 2021 and 2 January 2022.
Holidays 2022: No classes will be held on the following holidays: 18 April, 26 May, 14 July, 15 August. The school is closed between 17 December 2022 and 1 January 2023.
CLE Accommodations
Host Families: The ideal way to discover France and its people is to live with a local family and to share its way of life. Even if your French is limited, chatting at the family dinner table remains one of the best ways of improving your comprehension and vocabulary. Also, you discover the French mentality and of course, the famous French cuisine. We know that a host family plays a very important role in making your stay a success. Consequently, we very carefully select families to ensure that you have a warm welcome. We regularly visit our host-families and it is their warm and caring nature which helps to contribute to the good reputation of CLE. Most families live in residential areas near the center of town and close to the school. Host families will meet students free of charge at the train station upon arrival on Sunday. Accommodations are offered with “Standard” host families offering private rooms and half-board (2 meals per day: breakfast and dinner), or “Premium” host families which also offer a private bathroom in addition to a private room and half-board.
IMPORTANT: payment for accommodations is done directly to the host family upon arrival! The school’s USD 70.00 accommodation placement fee will be included with the course invoice.
For those students that prefer more independence, the school suggests booking local apartments or hotels directly.
CLE Accommodations Prices 2021 and 2022:
| Housing Description | One week | Two weeks | Three weeks | Four weeks | Extra week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host Family Standard: (Private room, half board): | 240 Euros | 480 Euros | 720 Euros | 950 Euros | 240 Euros |
| Host Family Premium: (Private room, private bathroom, half board): | 310 Euros | 620 Euros | 930 Euros | 1240 Euros | 310 Euros |
Payment for accommodations must be done directly to the host family upon arrival
Important: A USD 75.00 placement fee applies to all types of accommodations made by the school. This fee will be included in your course invoice.
Hotels also available upon request. Prices vary depending on size and location. (Additional USD 75 placement fee applies)
CLE French Language School – Activities
In addition to their French Courses, CLE also offers a varied cultural program. A tour is provided for students arriving at the beginning of a regular session, including a free guided tour of the city, its monuments and historical restorations. In addition, CLE organizes weekly visits to the famous chateaux of the Loire Valley: Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, etc. Other visits include Chinon, where Joan of Arc recognized the future king of France, Charles VII, the Abbey of Fontevraud, as well as the homes of Ronsard, Balzac, and Leonardo da Vinci. There will be opportunities to taste the famous wines of Vouvray, Montlouis, Bourgueil and Chinon in local cellars. Visits are also organized to Versailles, Mont-Saint-Michel, Chartes Cathedral and La Rochelle. (Excursions, sports and evenings out are not included in the course fees.)
PLEASE NOTE: All prices subject to change due to fluctuating currency rates.
Comments from former students:
“With very little advance notice, this service allowed me to plan an intense and successful French Course, being immersed in a language that otherwise I hear once a week. The homestay kept me exercising my new vocabulary and allowed me to see and hear my daily progress.”
Carol Drummond
Writer
“This French Course was without a doubt a highlight of my life – need I say more?”
Mary Dooley
French Teacher