Learn French in Montpellier
Around 10 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast of southern France lies the charming university city of Montpellier with its population of just over 400,000. Every fourth citizen here is a student, which says a lot about the city: it is young, lively, international and dynamic. The perfect place for an exciting language study trip to France.
Which language school in Montpellier to choose?
Deciding which language school in Montpellier you would like to learn French at is no easy task. The range of courses offered by the various language schools is very individual and extensive. To find the right language school in Montpellier, you should consider a few factors in advance.
Only the right language course will develop and expand your French skills in the desired and hoped-for way. Optimal learning success is only possible if you choose a French course that meets and supports you at your learning level. We at Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch have therefore developed a freeLanguage placement testwhich determines your French level. This allows you to book the right course level for your language study trip to Montpellier.
Some schools are more specialized for beginners, others are more for advanced students. This can be found in the detailed course information of the individual schools. Various language schools in Montpellier offer preparation courses for French diplomas such as the DELF (Diplôme d'Etudes de langue française) or the DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française).
All language schools in Montpellier offer very different courses. In addition to half-day courses, most schools offer intensive courses with up to 35 lessons per week. Some language centers also offer supplementary individual lessons. You can really step on the gas and benefit from these private lessons. Of course, you can also decide to book individual lessons only. The only disadvantage of this is that you won't have a social environment and will therefore certainly spend more time alone during your language study trip. So if social contacts are very important to you, you should opt for a group course, which you can still supplement with individual private lessons.
Specialized courses such as business French can also be booked at individual schools. These courses are aimed at business people who want to improve their industry-specific French. The most common French courses of this type are aimed at employees in the fields of tourism, finance or business.
Some language schools organize voluntary excursions and activities for their students.
The next important point to think about is the location of the language school in Montpellier. Although most language schools are located downtown, there are some course centers that are a little outside the city center. If you are planning a short language study trip to Montpellier, you should give preference to a central location to avoid long commutes. After all, you don't want to spend your precious time in this beautiful city on buses or streetcars, you want to see as much of the city as possible. A school in the center of Montpellier allows you to go sightseeing, shopping and exploring the city on foot. However, if you can't stand the hustle and bustle of a big city and would like to stay in Montpellier for longer, you can also find renowned French schools on the outskirts of the city. Here, everyday life is less hectic and you quickly get to know your neighbors. Here you can say hello to each other in the café and soon find yourself in the middle of small talk with the locals - which also has a very positive effect on your progress in French. You can find precise information about the location of language course providers in Montpellier on Google Maps, for example.
In addition to the above criteria, the timetables of the schools are also important when looking for the right language school. What time do lessons start in the morning, how many lessons are offered per day and how long do these lessons last? How big are the classes and what is the nationality mix? What is the infrastructure of the language school like? How expensive are the French courses? You should definitely compare these important points before making a final decision on a school.
OurTestimonialsthat we have received from former language students in France. These experience reports contain important information and tips! Also search online for reviews of language schools in Montpellier. You can find these via Google or Facebook, for example.
Further helpful information and input for a language study trip to Montpellier can also be found in ourLanguage travel guide.
What accommodation in Montpellier?
Most language schools and language travel agencies also offer to arrange accommodation in Montpellier, if desired.
If you want to fully immerse yourself in French culture and language, you should choose accommodation in a private home on site. Many language students take advantage of this offer. The connection to a local family makes the language study trip to Montpellier more intensive and living with a French family certainly has a very positive effect on learning success. The host families are also very happy to provide students with tips and insider information about the city and possible activities. Single or double rooms can be booked with a host family and, for a small surcharge, breakfast or, if desired, half or full board is included. Two weeks with a host family in a single room with breakfast costs around 350 francs.
You can also rent a room in a student hall of residence, a residence or a shared flat during your language study trip to Montpellier. The costs for this amount to around 330 francs for two weeks, meals are not included.
If you need a place to retreat to, you can also book a furnished apartment or rent a private room in a residence. However, apartments are often only available for minimum bookings of several weeks or months and are therefore mainly suitable for longer language stays in Montpellier - unless the language school or language travel provider arranges them for short stays. The rent for a small apartment in Montpellier costs from around 450 francs for two weeks.
The location of your accommodation in Montpellier is also an important consideration. If you have decided to live with a host family during your language study trip, the language school will allocate your accommodation itself and will only give you the exact address when you arrive. The schools guarantee maximum travel times between the school and your home (usually 20 to 45 minutes). Montpellier is very manageable, but commuting during your language study trip is time-consuming and expensive. If you book your accommodation yourself, it should ideally be very close to your language school and can be reached on foot or by bike. Find out about the transport connections between home and school, excursion destinations, shopping facilities, the beach and the city center and calculate the ticket prices for public transport. If you are only staying in Montpellier for a short time, you should avoid long journeys. Higher rental costs in a better location should therefore possibly be accepted for a short language stay.
The language schools will be happy to give you further tips and information.
Where to party in Montpellier?
During your language study trip to Montpellier, you will discover that the city has so much to offer and somehow always has something to celebrate. Festivals of all kinds are held in the city almost all year round.
As the otherwise rather expensive city is teeming with students, there is no shortage of locations for those on a tighter budget. For now, we would like to introduce you to the best bars for night owls:
- La Barbote: The bar is also a brewery - taste the best quality beers and enjoy delicious snacks.
- Barberousse: The popular pirate bar serves the best rum and is also very popular with locals.
- Au petit nice: On hot summer evenings, this bar with its large terrace is the place where hip people toast with the finest cocktails.
- Times Café: Wine connoisseurs can enjoy the best top wines from all over France and selected tapas here.
- Australian Bar: Every Monday evening there is a student party here, but the bar is also a popular place for young people to party on all other days!
- Gazette Café: What was originally a Peugeot garage has become a trendy bar with great live music.
- Shakespeare: Locals love this address, so this is an insider tip for party people on a language trip!
If you want to dance the night away during your language study trip to Montpellier, you're sure to have fun in the following clubs:
- Institut Club (Techno and House)
- La Dune (Mix)
- Dieze Warehouse (deep house, techno, tech house, underground and concerts)
- Le Huit (Electric)
- Heat Club (Mix)
What to experience in Montpellier
You should definitely visit the following sights during your language study trip to Montpellier:
Place de la Comédie: This is the hub of the city, where people meet and in the hot summer months the restaurants, cafés and bars that flank the square seem to be busy around the clock.
- The Gothic cathedral of Saint Pierre.
- Promenade Royale du Peyrou: The beautiful green area surrounds the famous statue of Louis XIV.
- Château de la Mogére: A beautiful park surrounds the magnificent little castle with original 18th century furnishings.
- Antigone: Magnificent green spaces invite you to relax in this modern district.
For art lovers, a visit to the Musée Fabre and the Musée Atger is a must. Those interested in history should definitely visit the Musée du vieux Montpellier and the Musée de l'Histoire de Montpellier. The Musée Languedocien exhibits archaeological finds from the region.
Montpellier offers numerous opportunities for shopping. Numerous stores are located in the traffic-free zone on Rue de la Loge. Shopping centers such as the Polygone on Place du Polygone or the Régional Odysseum on Place de Lisbonne also offer shopping enthusiasts the opportunity to stroll around. The city also regularly organizes numerous markets of all kinds.
If you are planning a longer language study trip to Montpellier, you may want to plan a longer excursion at the weekend. The city is a great starting point for short trips to the ancient city of Nîmes or the small island of Maguelone.
In the summer months, the huge Carnon beach is a popular destination for sunbathing and swimming or for a boat trip on the Rhône. Palavas-les-Flots is also a popular seaside resort near Montpellier.
Transportation options in Montpellier
During your language study trip to Montpellier, you'll find that you can do everything in the city center on foot. The many pedestrian zones slow down life in this large city.
The best way to get around is by bike. Both for errands within the city and for trips to the surrounding region or the beach, the bicycle is very popular with locals and tourists alike. Bicycles can be rented at the Velo Magg centers or bought at the flea market at a reasonable price.
Public transportation in Montpellier consists of a tram network and buses. The streetcar runs from early morning until midnight, the buses only run until 9.00 pm.
The fares are the same for bus and streetcar and amount to around CHF 1.80 per single ticket. A 10-trip ticket costs around 11 francs and a weekly ticket around 20 francs. Tickets can be bought from the ticket machines at the stops or from the driver, but you should always have the necessary change to hand.
What you can afford in Montpellier
If you book a standard language course with 20 lessons (half-day course) during your language study trip, this costs around 950 francs for two weeks with accommodation in a host family in a double room with breakfast. Prices can double depending on the accommodation. If you book a more intensive course or even individual lessons, the costs increase accordingly. In addition to the fixed costs, there are leisure activities, transportation costs, flights, meals, going out and much more.
It is clear that Montpellier is a typical southern French city and therefore not cheap. Nevertheless, the fact that many students live here means that you can live well here even on a smaller budget. Provided you know where and how. It should also be noted that the cost of living in Montpellier is still much lower than in other Mediterranean cities in France.
So if you would like to book a French language study trip to the south of France, you will certainly be happy in the Mediterranean city of Montpellier.
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
