Language Programs in Paris, France

I chose the ILCF to study French because of its outstanding professors, the qualifications it offers, and its location in a neighborhood I highly recommend to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in Parisian life. All my professors were always committed to helping me reach my full potential and provided me with the tools I needed to adapt and thrive in my life in France.

My name is Viktoriia, I’m 19 years old, and I’m from Ukraine. I studied at the ILCF for two semesters, and I absolutely loved the experience. The professors were incredibly kind and helped me improve so much. Thanks to them, I now speak with much more confidence. I also made amazing friends from all over the world. I’m truly grateful to the ILCF—it helped me take a big step toward my dream of attending university in France.

What I particularly appreciate about ICP is the quality of the teaching. Thanks to the carefully prepared methods of each professor, my French level has improved significantly over the past two years. Additionally, ICP is a place where you can make wonderful friends, regardless of age, background, or nationality—you never feel isolated!

A Truly Enriching Stay I spent two wonderful weeks with Georgiana as part of her immersion program in the charming town of Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse — an experience I’ll never forget. A Thoughtful and Welcoming Approach Georgiana understands exactly what makes immersion so effective. Her teaching combines structure and warmth, and what truly sets this experience apart is how naturally her whole family gets involved, making you feel like a true guest — not just a student. Living the Language, Every Day From tailored, engaging French lessons to cultural outings and everyday conversations, everything happened in French. Whether we were exploring the region or sharing meals, I was constantly learning — and enjoying myself in the process. Comfort, Care, and Connection My private apartment was quiet, cozy, and ideal for relaxing after full and stimulating days. The whole atmosphere was warm and generous — I felt completely at home. Real, Lasting Progress After just two weeks, I noticed real progress — not only in my French skills but also in my confidence and ease in navigating French life and culture. Merci, Georgiana! This was more than just a language course — it was an inspiring and human experience. Thank you, Georgiana, for your generosity and passion!

I arrived at Georgiana’s place with limited capacity to string a sentence together in French despite attending many weekly classes with Alliance Français. I had a reasonable understanding of how to write and read basic sentences in the present and past composite tenses but had no confidence to speak in French. My oral comprehension was also very poor. On my last evening after just six formal lessons, I was able to communicate in French over diner. The transformation was amazing. Georgiana is a great teacher. She is patient and throughout the lessons and the informal activities she gently corrected my pronunciation so that I could be understood. Her family was very welcoming and the self contained accommodation private and comfortable with a lovely view over the garden.

J’ai eu le plaisir de suivre le cours de Français des affaires à l’automne dernier, et j’en garde un très bon souvenir. Notre professeur, Monsieur Fesquet, était toujours respectueux et attentif. Il partageait avec nous non seulement des connaissances du language professionnel, mais aussi des éléments de la vie quotidienne en France, ce qui rendait le cours vivant et enrichissant. J’ai apprécié les exposés : ils demandaient du temps, mais permettaient d’explorer des sujets actuels et culturels, tout en améliorant l’expression orale. J’ai également trouvé très utile l’apprentissage de la rédaction de lettres formelles, un aspect essentiel de la communication en France, souvent négligé dans d’autres cours. Le cours m’a permis d’élargir mon vocabulaire et de revoir des points importants de grammaire. De plus, nous avions un groupe d’étudiants formidable, avec une ambiance bienveillante dans laquelle je me suis sentie très à l’aise. Seul point à noter : le niveau annoncé à l’inscription était B1, mais en réalité, le contenu correspond plutôt à un niveau C1. Cela peut être un défi pour certains, surtout au début.

Firstly, it must be said that Professor Fesquet, who led the course, is an outstanding tutor. Never once, when I made mistakes, did he fail to encourage and he was ever positive. Encouragement is of vital importance: nobody wants or needs to be told he or she is an idiot! My broad perception of the course (Business French) was that the content was 80% basic French Grammar. It seemed to me that the business aspect depended, less on the teaching and more on the individual student's acumen and research and their ability to manipulate Microsoft's Power Point. In which my colleagues acumen far exceeded my own; all colleagues provided beautiful presentations while mine were pedestrian. This was offset by my linguistic ability (scoring 19 points out of 20 in the final examination) while my colleagues were less adept. If I have a point to make, I think that the course should concentrate, to a greater extent, on the business aspect: say 50 grammar/50 business. It would, for example have been positive to encounter real, live, French business people and to debate with them. All in all, an excellent experience for which I'm eternally grateful.

I recently spent a five day french immersion week at the home of Georgiana Maes Onesim. It was a wonderful experience and I improved my french language knowledge quite a bit for such a short time. She was able to quickly adjust her teaching style to my particular needs as I was not a typical french learner. Moreover her family is an additional joy to pass time with and her cooking is excellent! Her home is easily accessed from Paris by train in less than an hour and quite close to Versailles. Many reasons to choose her immersion program if you are looking to improve your french language skills.

Excellent Teaching Tailored to Individual Needs Georgiana is an excellent teacher who tailors her lessons to the language study needs of her students. She is professional and very patient. I spent an enjoyable and productive week with her in her lovely home. My focus was on verb tenses, and we worked on those, while placing them in the context of subjects I am interested in, such as art and film. Comfortable and Private Accommodations The accommodations are very comfortable, quiet, and private, with a separate entrance. Delicious Meals and Warm Hospitality I had lunch and dinner with Georgiana each day, joined from time to time by her charming husband and delightful twins. The meals were delicious, and I appreciated the focus on fresh, local, and organic (bio) ingredients. Excursions and Cultural Exploration Our excursions to châteaux and museums in the beautiful Chevreuse Valley region were interesting and fun, and our continuing conversations helped me feel more and more confident in my ability to speak French. Highly Recommended Immersion Experience I can recommend an immersion stay with Georgiana without any hesitation. She is an exceptional teacher.

A Rich and Immersive Experience I had the most enriching experience with Georgiana for my French Immersion Homestay. Initial Concerns and Supportive Teaching At first, I was a bit worried because my French is really basic, and I was only spending six days for this experience. However, Georgiana is a very experienced and patient teacher, and she tailored the lessons to my abilities and my goal of improving my speaking skills. Her methods are rigorous and creative, making the lessons interesting and dynamic. A Caring Family and Enriching Conversations Moreover, the whole family was genuinely interested in helping me improve my French, and we had wonderful conversations during meals and activities we shared together. Delicious and Thoughtful Cuisine Speaking of which, the food at Georgiana’s is sensational, always prepared with fresh ingredients and with care and attention that you can taste! Comfortable and Welcoming Accommodation The accommodation is superb: a private and spacious studio with a kitchen and bathroom separate from the bedroom, and access to a beautiful garden. A Desire to Return and Continue Improving I returned home inspired to continue improving my French and to do another (longer!) immersion with Georgiana and her lovely family in the near future.

An Enriching Immersion Experience I am pleased to write a review about my immersion experience with Georgiana’s family in August 2023. I had a wonderful stay! Continuing French Studies with Delight I am a beginner of French (A1/A2 I started with the Alliance Française 2 years ago) and I was delighted to continue my studies with Georgiana. Plus, we had wonderful adventures at the farmers market and on a farm. Exploring Rural Life near Paris Her house is in a rural area on the outskirts of Paris, where she lives with her husband and her two twins. I had a great time visiting them and practicing my French. It was advanced because they only speak to me in French, but this was wonderful because I was able to improve! Healthy Culinary Delights Plus, Georgiana cooks very healthy food. I was able to restart a great diet with her when I stayed. She limits sugar, salt, and alcohol in her cooking and this was an extremely healthy experience for me (coming from the United States). Homestay Recommendation I highly recommend her homestay! I am almost 40 years old and this was a wonderful experience for me. Of note, if you have a more restrictive diet or prefer foods with more salt and sugar, this homestay may be more difficult at first for someone who might be older and more established in their dietary habits (no daily croissants or wine!), but really great for your overall health. Comfortable Accommodations My private bedroom/kitchen/bathroom was new and very clean. I can’t recommend them enough and hope to return for a second stay next summer! Thanks to Georgiana for her kindness and wonderful instruction.

J’ai été très satisfait des CCFS grâce à leurs enseignants compétents et à leurs responsables dotés d’une excellente communication. C’est un établissement qui valorise ses étudiants et où l’on peut suivre aussi bien les cours semestriels que les cours d’été sans aucune hésitation. Je leur adresse tous mes remerciements.

Homestay Experience with Georgiana and Her Family Georgiana and her family did everything they could to make our 15-year-old son’s 1-week homestay a special experience. High-Quality Language Teaching The quality of language teaching was high, with a personalized and productive approach that even included some homework. Educational Immersive Experience The immersive experience around the great meals was educational, as was the experience of being able to participate in family life (for example, reading to the family’s lovely children at bedtime). Cultural Outings and Social Gatherings Georgiana organized interesting cultural outings and memorable social gatherings with family members to provide fun interactions with children of similar ages. Communication and Updates She kept us informed of how the week was going with emails, photos, and videos. Recommendation We highly recommend a stay with Georgiana and believe we definitely made the right decision in enrolling our son in her program.

A Warm Family Welcome I spent a lovely week with Georgiana and her beautiful family. I even had the chance to spend time with her brother and his family, which was a real joy. A Passionate Teacher Georgiana is a dedicated teacher who constantly challenged me with French, pushing me to improve every day. Even her children contributed to my French immersion, making the experience feel more natural and engaging. Cultural Exchange We shared so much about our respective countries’ everyday lives. It was a true cultural exchange, enriching on both sides. A Garden Full of Wonders Georgiana’s garden is filled with vibrant flowers and useful herbs, and she eagerly shared her knowledge about them with me. Divine Home Cooking Her cooking is absolutely divine. I not only learned French but also discovered the art of delicious, home-cooked meals. Exploring Saint Remy Saint Remy is a charming small town, perfect for solo walks, and I found it easy to navigate. Highly Recommended I highly recommend this experience. Thank you, Georgiana!

A Memorable Stay in St Remy les Chevreuse I spent a lovely 2 weeks at St Remy les Chevreuse with Georgiana and her family in January 2024. Convenient Location and Excellent Connections A lovely location just south of Versailles at the end of the RER so excellent connections to Paris, CDG airport, and Gare du Nord. Quality Grammar Lessons with Georgiana Excellent grammar lessons in the morning with Georgiana, former Sorbonne and speaks 4 languages, and activities in the afternoon. Anticipation for Future Visits Can’t wait to go again.

Georgiana is an excellent teacher who tailors her lessons to the language study needs of her students. She is professional and very patient. I spent an enjoyable and productive week with her in her lovely home. My focus was on verb tenses, and we worked on those, while placing them in the context of subjects I am interested in such as art and film. The accommodations are very comfortable, quiet and private, with a separate entrance. I had lunch and dinner with Georgiana each day, joined from time to time by her charming husband and delightful twins. The meals were delicious, and I appreciated the focus on fresh, local and organic (bio) ingredients. Our excursions to châteaux and museums in the beautiful Chevreuse Valley région were interesting and fun, and our continuing conversations helped me feel more and more confident in my ability to speak French. Je peux recommander un séjour en immersion chez Georgiana sans aucune hésitation. Elle est une prof exceptionnelle.

Everything was great during this week at my teacher’s house. The instructing program was very interesting!!! I also enjoyed walking in the town, the parcs around and reaching the heart of Paris easily. I learned a lot on the language but also culturally and humanly. As I shared my meals with my teachers family, I could continue progressing talking with the children and learn expressions as well.

Immersive French Experience in April 2024 I spent two weeks doing a French immersion program with Georgiana in April 2024. I had just retired to France and the two weeks of classwork, conversation, meals, and activities in French were the perfect introduction to ‘jumpstart’ my French language education. Ideal Living Situation The living situation was ideal. The apartment has a private entrance, a fully equipped kitchen, bath, and a spacious bedroom. It was an easy walk to a nearby park (that has a lake and outdoor body weight exercise equipment), the railway station, and the various shops in the town. Full Board Option I chose the option to have full board and was provided the basics to make breakfast myself. I had lunch with Georgiana and sometimes her husband, and dinner with the entire family. I really enjoyed the healthy food and having to understand and speak French outside of the morning class sessions. Effective Morning Classes The 3 hours of class each morning went by very fast and were full of the knowledge I needed to build the foundation for understanding and speaking French. Georgiana understood my poor French, corrected me in an easy-going way, and helped build my confidence to make myself understood. Also, she spoke in a way that allowed me to understand her even though French was new to me. During meals, both she and her husband conversed and corrected me and best of all, along with their children, made me feel very comfortable and part of the family. Active Afternoon Activities Outside of the class, I prefer ‘active’ activities and Georgiana and I biked places, hiked places, and played ping-pong outdoors – all additional opportunities to converse and improve. Highly Recommended Immersion Program. I cannot imagine a better immersion program than Georgiana’s.

Fantastic premises in a "boutique" school near the Eiffel Tower, with air conditioning in all the classrooms, great teachers and very helpful and friendly staff, and the PM2 intensive afternoon course was really great ! This PM2 course of 20h/week combines 5 afternoon lessons + one hour coaching per day, which means the course is well structured. The 5 afternoon lessons include 3 afternoon classes dedicated to ‘Written French & Grammar’ and 2 afternoon classes dedicated to ‘Oral Communication/ French Culture and Civilisation’. During that course we were invited to practise our French through the use of authentic material (newspapers of the day, for example) and to learn related idiomatic expressions in various contexts. During the 2 oral communication classes the emphasis is on improving confidence in speaking and listening in French in a range of everyday situations. Subjects covered in class include topical vocabulary and language, study of grammatical structures, pronunciation and listening skills, social skills, cultural awareness, reading and writing skills, conversational French. The course allowed me to enjoy Paris during each morning and each evening, after the coaching hour. A GREAT experience !

The desire to study abroad was something I expressed since first starting college, but the reality of my experience is still surreal. I had wanted to study in Paris ever since my first trip there in 2013 and it finally came to fruition this past summer. I had always known that I didn’t want to spend an entire semester away from my university, and since I have been taking French since middle school, I knew I wanted the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the language and culture of France. IES Abroad Paris Summer was the perfect opportunity for me to immerse myself in a new city and dive headfirst into a native French environment and it was, by far, one of the best experiences of my college career. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived in Paris at the end of May—what my host family would be like, who I’d meet, what I’d discover about the city—but I had a wonderful experience. IES Abroad took care of everything and the staff was friendly and approachable, as well as willing to lend a helping hand to any cultural acclimation, health, or well-being issues we might have had during the duration of the program. In terms of academics, the professors were great. I learned a lot from inside the classroom, but I learned even more from the course-related excursions I attended, which allowed me to see more areas and neighborhoods of the city than I would have seen on my own. My French language and comprehension skills were challenged daily, as I communicated with my host family, my professors, and the people in shops and restaurants. I expanded my vocabulary and grasp of the French language in a way that I could not have done sitting in a classroom in the United States, far from native French speakers. I was able to view firsthand how life operates in a major European city, and how different the culture is in France versus the United States. I walked along ancient streets every day, lost myself in the history of the city, ate all the baguettes my heart desired, and met some people who made my experience as amazing as it was. I came to Paris not knowing a single soul beforehand, but I left with the memories of meeting amazing new friends and a wonderful family.