Learn French in Tours, France

CLE French Language School:
CLE is situated in the Loire Valley in the heart of the lively old town section of Tours (in central France, approximately 150 km south-west of Paris). Founded in 1985, CLE is an independent institute for French studies. Not only being a member of the Groupement FLE (French as a foreign language), it is also the first professional organisation in France to have established a code of conduct (1999). Our courses are taught by qualified teachers, specialising in the teaching of French to foreigners. Their competence and enthusiasm will make learning a pleasure. You have one teacher in the morning and another teacher in the afternoon. The two will guide you towards your objectives.

• Small group classes (“A la carte” courses, combined courses, standard courses);
• Individual courses;
• Courses for couples;
• Courses for adolescents;
• DELF or DALF exams preparation;
• TEF exam prepration.

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. You will benefit in a big way from studying in this region where the ‘best French’ is spoken. It is here where the writers Rabelais, Ronsard, Balzac and Bergson lived. At CLE, you will rapidly feel at home. For all the courses, we guarantee a maximum of seven students in each class. Therefore, you will feel at ease and confident, and you will progress fast. Our students are motivated adults who wish to learn French for their job, their studies or their pleasure. The average age is 34. They are mainly from Europe, North America, Japan or the Gulf States. Satisfied with their education and the welcome they receive; many students come back over several years. We are even beginning to get the children of our first students. Whether you can stay for a week or several months - CLE is open all year round to respond to the diversity of your needs.

• 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.

• Apartment or studio apartment. If you prefer to be independent, we can book a studio apartment or an apartment in a residential block for you. These studios or apartments are situated in the center of Tours. They are comfortable and fully equipped with kitchen equipment and television. Most of them have telephone, and/or Internet access. Each residence has a washing machine and dryer available to you.

• Hotel or B&B in a chateau. We will make the reservation and send you the hotel address and telephone number. To make your stay more memorable, we can reserve you a room in a small private chateau. You will be treated as a house guest, in the intimacy and elegance of an exquisite residence. An 18-metre outdoor swimming pool is heated for use in good weather.

We offer various activities designed to enhance your stay:
• City visit - a program of activities is prepared each month or every two weeks in July and August. It includes visits to museums, some excursions and some food courses. Each week, we show a recent French film. Also, we give you information on cultural attractions you may enjoy: concerts, operas, art exhibitions, theatre, ballet to name but a few.

• Excursions and visits to discover the region - to help you discover the Loire Valley, we offer excursions by minibus through the Tourist Office, for a minimum of two people, and you can visit the renowned Renaissance chateaux of the Loire Valley: Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay le Rideau, Villandry and its gardens, and others.

• Wine course or food courses - we aim to give you a better understanding and knowledge of French wines as well as develop yours skills as a wine taster. Choosing, buying, storing and serving wine: dos, don’ts and other advice. In response to student demand, we offer other courses on food given by local specialists: a cheese course, a course that harmonises cheeses and wines and a foie gras course.