Opportunities to learn French in Paris are endless. With courses for all levels, there is nowhere better to advance your skills and connect with the culture that shaped the language of Molière. To help you live the dream, here is a list of the 10 best French language schools in Paris for international students.
List of 10 best schools to Learn French in Paris
- EF Paris
- Alliance Française de Paris
- Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises (ILCF)
- Language Studies International (LSI): Paris
- Lutèce Langue
- Accord French Language School
- Bayswater Paris
- French As You Like It
- Home Language International
- L’atelier 9
EF Paris
EF (Education First) is one of the biggest language-learning companies in the world, and they operate a busy academy in the 9th arrondissement, right in the heart of the French capital.
They deliver expert teaching appropriate to your level and courses covering all the bases, from 4-week intensive learning to full diplomas with internationally recognized certification.
Learning French in Paris with EF is the complete package, with accommodation, meals, and varied social activities to help ease you into Parisian life. Fees are calculated based on your specific requirements.
EF has been in the teaching game since 1965. You can’t go wrong if you want to learn French in Paris, meet students with the same goals, and remove the complications of studying abroad.
Address: 7 Av. de Provence, 75009 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 55 33 13 55
Website: EF Paris
Alliance Française de Paris
Alliance Française is a prestigious language teaching institution that has promoted the French language since 1883.
Paris was where it all started, and their campus near the Pompidou Center is a welcoming space for international students.
Accommodation, social activities, and meals are available to simplify taking the plunge and make you feel at home.
Enroll in courses of various intensity or work towards accredited qualifications with skilled tutors teaching 8,000 students annually.
Courses are relatively expensive; in return, you can learn French in Paris with one of the oldest language schools in France.
Address: 101 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 42 84 90 00
Website: Alliance Française de Paris
Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises (ILCF)
The Institute of French Language and Culture has worked with international learners for 65+ years.
Courses are taught at the private Catholic University of Paris, in the vibrant and chic Saint-Germain-des-Pres quartier.
Open to complete beginners and all proficiencies on the gold standard Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), they offer a wide choice of price points, course length, and teaching hours (evenings and weekends included).
The ILCF is a compelling destination to learn French in Paris, especially if you’ve ever pictured yourself studying on the Left Bank, the historic home of French intellectualism.
Address: 21, rue d’Assas, 75270 PARIS Cedex 06
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 44 39 52 68
Website: ILCF Paris
Language Studies International (LSI): Paris
The fully accredited LSI started teaching in Lille in 1973, earning a glowing reputation for a broad range of studies targeting all stages of language learning.
Their Parisian school is based in the exciting La Marais neighborhood, delivering courses from one week upwards, private tuition, and evening classes that’ll have you conjugating verbs and impressing the locals in no time.
Students from 123 nationalities have used LSI to learn French in Paris, and the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. With low entry prices (€190 upwards), homestay accommodation, and professional qualifications (DELF – Diplômes En Langue Française) available, they offer a comprehensive package.
Address: 23 Rue du Renard, Paris, 75004
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 42 60 53 70
Website: LSI Paris
Lutèce Langue
Lutèce Langue takes its name from the Roman name for Paris (Lutetia) and is a Parisian school through and through.
With short, intensive courses for complete beginners, this renowned teaching establishment in the same arrondissement as the Eiffel Tower is a prime option if you want to squeeze learning French in Paris into a vacation.
Their strength is the small classes (3-8 students), which can really help you power through. Private tuition is available if one-to-one study works best for you. Their E-learning platform encourages students to continue learning in their free time, if such a thing exists when visiting Paris.
Their tuition is broad, covering speaking, writing, and French-only teaching. Course fees are moderate, especially for the 15-hour weekly intensive courses (€270). And reviews are glowing.
Address: 6 Rue las Cases, 75007 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 73 70 17 69
Website: Lutèce Paris
Accord French Language School
The Accord French Language School sits in the shadow of la Dame de fer (The Iron Lady, AKA the Eiffel Tower) and taught people who want to learn French in Paris for over 35 years.
Courses range from intensive to afternoon workshops focusing on oral skills, grammar, and even the culture of France.
One of the smaller institutes on the list, you can expect an intimate approach to learning stamped with the FLE (Français Langue Etrangère – French as a foreign language) mark, which accredits high-quality language teaching. Fees are tempting too, with semi-intensive courses from €160 weekly.
Address: 3bis rue Jean-Pierre Bloch, 75015 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 553 352 33
Website: Accord Languages
Bayswater Paris
Bayswater Paris (Formerly Eurocentres) celebrates its 50th birthday in 2023. They know their oignons and often headline recommendations on where to learn French in Paris.
Sitting in the vibrant Latin Quarter, the city’s oldest neighborhood and home to the prestigious Sorbonne University, it’s a dream location to soak up Parisian culture as you finesse your language skills.
Bayswater is a language school for every need. If you need professional qualifications, accommodation, or competitively priced and flexible courses (from €225 per week), you’ll find it all at their small yet well-equipped campus.
Address: 13 Pass. Dauphine, 75006 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 40 46 72 00
Website: Bayswater Paris
French As You Like It
French As You Like It lives up to its marketing slogan with tailored courses for every stage of learning.
From private to small group tuition (6-7 students max), this bijou school operates seven days a week and emphasizes course flexibility. Ideal if you want to mix learning with discovering more of France. However, that flexibility is reflected in comparatively high course fees (€50-60 per lesson).
Courses center on oral skills to give beginner and intermediate learners the confidence to hit the streets and shops of Paris and put their learning into practice.
Address: 23 Rue du Petit Musc, 75004 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 85 09 90 14
Website: French As You Like It
Home Language International
Home Language International (HLI) offers a unique proposition if you want to learn French in Paris. They house students with language teachers, giving you one-to-one teaching exclusively for you.
Fees are high (€1,360+) but include accommodation, meals, and an immersive experience with a Parisian family. Most importantly, learners get private lessons with teachers passionate about their vocation.
You’ll have to book early to make this work, as places are limited. But laser-focused learning and rare insights into French society might justify the cost and effort.
Telephone: +44 (0) 207 467 6510 (office based in London)
Website: Home Language International France
L’atelier 9
L’atelier 9 translates to “Workshop 9” and references the number of students in their classes. They encourage interaction by forgoing textbooks and sitting students around one table for debates, presentations, and other collaborative teaching methods.
The most intensive course is 80 hours per month. While semi-intensive and evening classes give you more time to deploy your new-found knowledge around the city.
Prices are balanced (€675 upwards for a 4-week semi-intensive course), and reviews sing the praises of motivated teachers making tangible progress with students who have set their heart on learning French in Paris.
Address: 34 Rue de Trévise, 75009 Paris
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 42 46 70 21
Website: L’atelier 9
Conclusion
Having picked our 10 standout places to learn French in the French capital, now it’s time to book your plane ticket and go! If you are interested in getting official qualification for French proficiency, check out our article covering the DELF-DALF French exams.