Language schools in Switzerland, France and other French-speaking countries offer very different training models and course types, which can vary greatly in terms of focus and intensity. Almost all schools offer conventional French courses, the so-called standard courses, in which you usually acquire the knowledge set out in the curriculum with a weekly workload of 20 lessons of 45 minutes each at language schools abroad. Intensive courses can also be attended at most language schools, which comprise around 30 lessons per week.

Most language schools offer you different types of courses to choose from. These are usually intensive courses or compact courses, standard courses, diploma courses and semi-intensive courses. At almost every French school, you can choose between individual lessons, group or small group lessons, and often a combination of these options. Standard courses and intensive courses do not necessarily differ in the size of the group, but they do differ in the intensity with which they take place. Standard courses usually take place once a week, often for one to two hours at lunchtime or in the evening during the week. In many places, intensive courses take place three to five days a week with 4 to 6 hours of lessons per day. This also means that the duration of such a course is usually shorter, as you can learn the same content in a much shorter time than in a conventional standard course. For people who want to learn a language quickly and intensively and have the time to do so, this is an ideal alternative to a language course at a French school abroad or in French-speaking Switzerland, although it does require a high level of motivation and willingness to learn.

It is advisable to contact a number of language schools for German courses to find out what they offer. This will allow you to make better comparisons and find the right course for you. Our guides will also certainly help you. In the guide "Education and training in languages" (see navigation point "Education help" above) you will find a comprehensive list of the individual course types, from standard courses to individual lessons, their advantages and disadvantages as well as other possible language diplomas. For German courses in Switzerland, but also abroad, you should also read the guide "How to choose the right course provider" (see navigation point "Education help" above).

Which French course suits you best also depends on how much time you want to invest per week (intensive course / standard course), how quickly you want to learn French (intensive course / language stay) and which group size suits you best (individual lessons / small group / group). The type of learning also plays an important role (online courses), as do your motivation and your budget. You can find out more about the individual course options you can choose from in the "Language training and continuing education, further training" guide (see navigation point "Education help" above).

Once you have decided on an option, you should start looking for a language school that is not too far away from your workplace or home and that you can easily reach. However, as with most other selection criteria, you need to know for yourself what you can and want to commit to in terms of time and content. To make your search easier, you can use our proximity search, which you can find by clicking on a French course type in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Once you have selected a few language schools, simply have the relevant documents sent to you by email or post and compare them carefully. Pay attention to group size, duration and number of lessons, teaching materials and included costs, certificates and exams, the qualifications and native languages of the language teachers and the school's infrastructure. Further important selection criteria for the right French course can be found in our guide "How to choose the right education provider" (see navigation point "Educational support" above).

French courses are offered by many language schools in Switzerland and abroad, so it's not always easy to choose the right school and the right course from all those on offer. To make your search for French courses easier, we have written a guide that goes into detail on the subject of choosing a school. You can find it in the navigation bar under the heading "Education help" above and you can download it free of charge. Here are some tips on how to search for French courses:

• Select a course type (Standard / Intensive / Language trip /...) and click on it
• Use the map on the right next to the providers to find schools near you
• Select some interesting providers and ask them to send you free and non-binding documents about French courses
• Compare the offers carefully and pay attention to the following points, among others:
• Proximity to your home / workplace
• Connection, parking spaces
• Course offers
• Days and times of the courses
• Course duration
• Number and duration of lessons per course and week
• Course materials and teaching methods
• Contents and course objectives
• Degrees and examinations
• Admission requirements and target group
• Costs and inclusive services
• Group size
• Placement tests

You can take French language courses at many language schools throughout Switzerland. Depending on the course you choose, lessons can take place once or several times a week for six months or longer. In the case of company courses, this continuing education, further training can vary greatly in terms of content, structure and time budget. Everything is possible, from a one-day crash course to a two-year course.

The different types of courses at language schools in France differ mainly in their intensity and focus. Standard courses are the most conventional courses, which offer clearly defined learning structures for beginners and advanced learners alike, in order to improve language skills step by step, usually one evening a week, with the help of selected teaching materials. Intensive courses are also quite similar in terms of content and structure, except that they take place more frequently or last longer. In an intensive French language course, for example, you are usually not only at the language school for two hours a week, but for two evenings or three to four hours at a time. In this way, you learn much more in a relatively short period of time than in a standard course and therefore achieve your learning goal more quickly.

In most cases, French courses are characterized as standard courses in which you usually learn French once a week for one to two hours. You are divided into groups according to ability, from A1 French for beginners to C2 for near-native speakers. In this way, you learn with people of the same level and can work together to achieve your learning goals. The size of the learning group depends very much on the French school in question. For this course, as for all other courses, there is often the option of small groups consisting of three to six students, which ensures faster and more effective learning. Intensive French courses are another type of course that differs from a standard course mainly in the number of lessons per week. Both models are aimed at all interested parties and take place on predetermined dates. Depending on the language school, either in a limited time frame with a fixed start and end date or as a floating model in which new students can join at any time and a new group composition prevails on an ongoing basis. One-to-one French lessons are of course also possible and are particularly suitable for fast, intensive French learning for beginners or advanced learners. This course model is particularly suitable for business people, as it allows them to decide exactly what they want to learn and at what speed. This is also possible in company seminars, where the course content is not tailored to each individual, but to the company's learning objectives.