I second the motion for Wessex Academy.

I recommend the Institut Fazel. It's right in Lausanne Center, at top of Rue de Bourg at the Pont Bessieres. Having taken high school classes, college classes, post-graduate classes, Rosetta Stone, etc., I can honestly say it is one of the best language experiences I have had. Class times are scheduled essentially on-demand alone or with others, and the prices are a sliding scale depending on the number of students participating. Contact info is listed in the post above.

thank you very much for the info.. it really was helpful

I'm at Ecole Agora - having lessons daily (3 hours/ day) and feel like I'm making progress! It's been 3 months, and we are preparing for Delf A2 (started from the very begining!). Any queries/ questions - just ask! It's a family-run business, and they are really friendly and seem to care!

Some very good information here, thanks to the posters who have shared their experiences. I read with interest about schools such as Agora, Fazel etc. in Lausanne. Can anyone recommend similar schools in or around Nyon or even Geneva? Cost and quality will be the major concerns for me. Many thanks in advance.

I registered for ecole agora the beginner lvl (A1). The course should start from last monday. And i was sick. I will be able to join tomorrow, but i've missed 3 days course or 9 hrs lesson. Is it still possible to catch up? or is it better to join next month? I haven't paid.

I went to Ecole Agora today to register for a course. I didn't come across the recco on EF but through a colleague of my husbands'.
I have studied French in college and also before moving to Switzerland, so my grammar and basic knowledge of writing and grammar are not bad. However, the speaking is an entirely different matter. I fumble and forget everything I know when it comes to speaking French.....learning a new language should be fun, not intimidate the learner, and teachers should be patient and have a sense of humor....even at the risk of stating the obvious.

At Ecole Agora, my husband and I met with the director/propreitor of the school...what a horrific, unpleasent experience! He was rude, arrogant, not willing to spend any time with us to explain the teaching method....and quite frankly didn't give a damm whether we signed up or not!! Just an incredible jerk!!! When I tried to uderstand what level I would fit into and explained I have studied French before, he proceeded to ridicule the fact that I didn't *speak* even after studying it and the teachers I had must have been incompetent!
I was literally shaking when I walked out of there. I understand that there is no dearth of students wanting to learn French, integrate to life here....but how does one condone this kind of attitude?? Appaling....

I have taught English to students in the US and to me this was a reality check to what students experience when faced with teachers like him.

A common decency is lacking in this place. Stay away!


Feeling disillusioned, I came home and got on EF. I came across this thread. I called Wessex Academy based on the reccos here and will be joining their intensive course from Mon. They were pleasent, cheerful on the phone and helpful. Thank you everyone on this post for all the info shared. I am also doing Rosetta Stone online self study course for French and that's fun and interactive too. . I will let you know how things go at Wessex. Have a good week and weekend! Cheers!

Hi all,

I'm not too sure on the forum's policy on promoting one's own business, but I have set up a website specifically to help to bring together students and teachers. For students it is a cost/risk free venture, and hopefully will let you meet a teacher you get on well with.

If you are interested, feel free to have a read of this thread ( Find a Teacher - www.findateacher.ch ) or visit the site in my signatures.

Apologies mods if this oversteps advertising bounds.

Cheers,
StirB

I second Institut Fazel. Our international company use them for new employees.

Cheers

Sean

maybe this:
http://languagelinks.ch/home.html

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