I’m currently a French teacher in the United States at an International Baccalaureate charter school. I participated in the stage de formation de formateurs FLE (French teacher training/workshop) in July 2016. It was a wonderful workshop led by experienced teachers on a variety of topics: techniques for teaching Francophone literature, music, and creativity in the classroom. It was great being able to collaborate with teachers from all over the world on teaching the French language. I walked away from this experience more confident not only in my French language skills, but also in my teaching skills.
I was also able to participate in the culture activities that CILFA offers in addition to the course. It was great being able to put my language skills to use in a context outside of the classroom and also discover the beautiful things that Annecy and the surrounding area has to offer. The teachers and support staff are excellent. They are experienced, patient, creative and welcoming. I will definitely return to CILFA in the future!
CILFA was an amazing immersion experience. I only attended for a short session, but after my experience I would like to return to attend the entire session. My professor and fellow students were incredibly welcoming and my language skills greatly improved. The classes were highly entertaining and I learned just as much about French culture as I did the language itself. I highly recommend this program!
CILFA came highly recommended by two friends when I was looking for a French immersion program for myself, age 58, and my daughter, age 23. She had one year of college French and I had done a year study abroad program in France a LONG time ago …..BUT we only had a 2 week vacation time! CILFA was perfect for us because they allowed us to drop in for just 2 weeks and they had 5 different levels of instruction. Both of us were in a class with just the right amount of challenge. I noticed a big digging out of my old French language skills in just two weeks. I can’t imagine how great it would be to attend an entire 11 week session! The entire organization was very professional, kind and accommodating. I highly recommend CILFA and hope to go back myself some day!
Note: If you attend for less than the entire session, make sure to brush up on what French you already know so you can hit the ground running.
Ce printemps, j’ai passé 3 mois au CILFA et je n’ai que de bons souvenirs.
Premièrement, les professeurs de l’école sont extrêmement compétents et bien que nous avancions à grande vitesse, aucun de nous ne s’est jamais senti perdu ou confus. En dehors des cours réguliers, ils nous ont offert une variété de leçons supplémentaires (comme les tutorats individuels, les classes de conversation ou les explications supplémentaires) que j’ai trouvé vraiment utiles. À la fin de la session, j’ai réussi l’examen du DELF, qui, j’en suis sûre, aurait été beaucoup plus difficile si je n’avais pas assisté aux cours de préparation au CILFA.
Un autre avantage d’étudier à Annecy est son ambiance chaleureuse. Comme les groupes au CILFA consistent d’environ 10 élèves et étant donné qu’ Annecy est une très belle petite ville aux pieds des Alpes, l’environnement est idéal pour les étudiants pour créer des liens étroits. Les nombreuses activités proposées par les professeurs chaque semaine – voyage à Lyon, pique-niques, visites de différents sites à et autour d’Annecy, etc. – ont largement contribué à ce que nous devenions pas seulement des camarades de classe mais aussi des amis. Même aujourd’hui, des mois après avoir déménagé en Hongrie, j’échange régulièrement des emails avec mes anciens camarades et aussi mes professeurs – pour moi ce n’est qu’une autre preuve de l’atmosphère amicale de l’école.
Je recommanderais le CILFA à tous ceux qui souhaitent améliorer leur français mais aussi à ceux qui veulent se sentir comme s’ils sont en vacances dans une petite ville pittoresque.
This spring I have spent 3 months at CILFA and have nothing but great memories.
First of all, the teachers at the school are extremely competent and although we were advancing at great speed, none of us ever felt lost or confused. Outside of the regular classes, we were also offered a huge variety of additional lessons (such as individual tutoring, pronunciation classes or additional grammar explanations) which I also found very helpful. At the end of the session, I have successfully passed the DELF exam, which, I am sure, would have been more difficult have I not attended the preparation classes at CILFA.
Another advantage of studying in Annecy is its warm ambience. CILFA keeping class sizes at around 10 people and Annecy being a beautiful little town by the Alps provide an ideal learning environment in which students can form close bonds. The numerous activities proposed by the teachers on a weekly basis – trip to Lyon, picnics, visits to various sights in and around Annecy, etc. – have largely contributed to us becoming not only classmates but friends. Even today, months after having moved back to Hungary, I still regularly exchange emails with my former classmates and teachers, which, to me, is just another proof of the school’s friendly atmosphere.
I would recommend CILFA to anyone wishing to improve their French but also wanting to feel like they are having a vacation in a picturesque little town.
When I first moved to France, I was extremely frustrated and embarrassed to speak French to fluent French speakers. I knew this had to change.
I began to attend CILFA where my teacher Frederic made the classroom a comfortable place to connect with other students while learning French.
My confidence and ability to speak French grew incredibly and now I am working in a bilingual job back in Canada. I couldn’t have done this without CILFA.
CILFA offered me EXACTLY what I was looking for in a language school. I had never taken French when I began my course, so I was thrilled to be writing and speaking in French in just three short months. My teacher was excellent in every way: organized, punctual, considerate, interested and engaging. The students in my class represented nine different countries, making conversations, in French, on cultural stereotypes and challenges exciting. CILFA offered regular activities outside of the classroom with the aim of helping students engage in the community and with each other, all of which were well planned and great fun. In short, I can’t wait to return in the Fall for the next level of French. Thank you, CILFA!
If you are serious about improving your ability to speak, comprehend, and write French, I highly recommend CILFA. The location is gorgeous, but it’s the small class sizes, professionally-trained teachers, friendly atmosphere and affordability that makes CILFA especially attractive. The coursework is challenging (expect lots of homework), practical and fun with an emphasis on grammar and la vie quotidienne. I lived with a wonderful host family and immersed myself completely in the language and culture. Le CILFA est vraiment formidable !
I truly cannot recommend CILFA highly enough. All of the staff are incredible; very professional, helpful, passionate and enthusiastic. They cater to all levels of French language learners from beginners to advanced and all of the courses are intensive. My own French level improved tenfold during my 3 month tenure at CILFA. The class was varied, interesting and the course books provided were very good.
Anyone who is serious about improving their French language skills should consider studying at CILFA.
When I first moved to Annecy, I asked around for a French school and CILFA’s name kept coming out. I went to visit the center and had the opportunity to see it and got to meet the staff members and students. They were all very warm and informative. I was first enrolled for 6 weeks. I loved the fact that I was in a small class size where I felt that it was customized to my needs. The teachers and their teaching methods were exceptional and always dynamic. I realized that I had improved my French tremendously so I decided to re-enroll for the summer term. To put the cherry on the Pie: I loved the atmosphere and interactions with my fellow classmates and teachers plus I participated in their 10th annual CILFA-Cyclette, a 4-day bike-touring event where we got to explore the French Alps, it’s culture and gastronomy all while practicing French. CILFA isn’t only the perfect place to learn French but also a place to socialize and discover French culture.
Cuando recién me mude a Annecy, le pregunté a la gente por una escuela de Francés y me respondían que se llamaba CILFA. Fui a visitar la escuela y tuve la oportunidad de ver el centro y pude conocer al personal y a los estudiantes. Todos fueron muy amables e informativos. Primero me había inscrito por 6 semanas. Me encanto’ el el hecho de que el tamaño de la clase fuera pequeño lo cual vino bien para mis necesidades. Los maestros y sus metodologías fueron excepcionales y dinámicos. Me di cuenta de que había mejorado tremendamente mi Francés así que decidí de volver a reinscribirme a la sesión del verano. Para ponerle la cereza al pastel: Me encanto’ el ambiente y las interacciones con los estudiantes y profesores mas mi participación en la 10ma edición de la CILFA-Cycletta, un evento de 4 días de viaje en bicicleta en el cual visitamos los Alpes Franceses, su cultura y gastronomía mientras poniendo en practica el Francés. CILFA no solamente es el sitio perfecto para aprender Francés sino que también un lugar para socializarse y descubrir la cultura Francesa.
Le CILFA était une expérience exceptionnelle, elle m’a permis de m’immerger dans la culture et la langue françaises. En participant au programme du CILFA, j’ai eu la chance de rencontrer des personnes de pays et de milieux différents. Apprendre à parler en français familier avec mes amis et professeurs, aller à la montagne et à la plage, faire du parapente, sortir le soir et profiter de la vie nocturne française, manger de la glace artisanale — ce sont seulement quelques-unes des raisons pour lesquelles j’ai adoré le programme au CILFA.