Finding your level at L'Institut de française, Villefranche-sur-mère

In this series of 5 blog pages (this is the third of 5) I try to describe objectively what the school offers and some things that perhaps only previous students can share with prospective students. 

I’m neither endorsing nor discouraging anyone from attending the Institut. This is not a site for the school. If interested, please search for their current website address on the Internet. (It’s easy to find). 

How does the school determine what level you’ll be in?

Whatever your background in speaking French, whatever level you have previously attained, this school uses its own methods to assign students to an appropriate class level.

The first day of class (and only the first instruction day of each month) all élèves (students) are given a series of short tests. These tests assess your ear for the language, your comprehension both orally and written, and your ability to speak French and express yourself in it. The last day of class you are given the same test (to evaluate your progress).

I’ll use myself as an example. Having taken this test six times, I can tell you that each time I’ve figured out some of the errors I made the last time (and made new ones unwittingly). Despite that, each time I’ve taken the test I’ve improved on all dimensions (as quantified on a graph). I have improved each time on all parameters. Frankly, I’m never aware that I’ve improved at all and have always been quite nervous about the oral test.

No Previous French?

If you enter the school as a débutante, a plus for you will be that you aren’t already embedded with grammar and vocabulary that’s out of date. On the other hand, you will need to acquire a useful vocabulary quickly.

Acquiring vocabulary is the easiest part of learning the language (assuming one works at it). My guess is that it may be a slow start but advancement to higher levels is probably easier and faster than for those who begin their French studies elsewhere.

At the end of the month there is a short school ceremony complete with champagne. Those completing the month receive certificates of attendance. There are also those who are given special acknowledgement for their exceptional progress in a short time—these are usually people who progress from debutante to intermediate or higher quickly.

Advanced Level

Since I wasn't an advanced student in this program, I may be less qualified in writing about it. It seems the bulk of the students are at intermediate levels. The school has many fewer advanced students and usually fewer débutantes than intermediates. However, during the course of a day there is the opportunity to speak with everyone in French.

Oral French doesn’t use that many tenses (as compared to the written French) so that’s not the challenge at this school. Usually, advanced students speak consistently with a decent accent (not perfect) and have mastered enough French to express themselves easily. Most advanced students have lived in France or another French speaking country at some point in their lives. 

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