Hello,

I just recently moved to the area and would like to improve my French. However, I find a huge variety of language schools etc. and don't know which one is good/recommendable...

Furthermore, I'd like to know if there are any good private teachers/ tandem groups etc. in this area.

Any advice is appreciated

Way back in the mid-1980's I took an Assimil course in Lausanne. Wessex Academy was also a good school for me, on rue du Bourg.

I took lessons at Ecole Migros in Nyon for 1.5 yrs. Look for Giselle! She is fantastic - patient and always trying to make the lesson interesting.

I'm signing up in the coming weeks, myself

Get a french boyfriend. Job done

vote for Ecole Club Migro Balexert (if you're in Genève). Service is not really good, but teacher/teaching method is perfect

For private tutor, the Bell Switzerland offers private tuition, the cost of which is set at CHF 95.- per hour, with travel charges of CHF 10.- per lesson (if taken outside of their premises) and a one off charge of CHF 90.- for registration and material per student

Find some friendly local people to speak with you in French

There are a bunch of options around you, depends how much you want to spend. My main filter was speed, I needed something fast. Migros seemed over all too slow, but the B2 classes in GE are actually fab, so it depends on a teacher. I found a super fast prof at UniPop Geneva (grammar) and supplemented all the missing conversation with language exchange activities and intensive summer courses. It's all low costs but efficient, since you mix and match all sorts of methods. I only invest in the actual exams and do all the quality hunt myself to keep the cost low, since I am a language teacher so know the ropes, but overall, people I know were happy with Migros Nyon (2 friends), not too fast, fit their family life. Lausanne offers similar activities, cheap (I think it is free) summer conversation through EPFL, cheap UniPop and people organize language exchange there too, just look around.

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The AIWC (American International Womens' Club) in Lausanne has a French conversation group for beginners. Maybe the clubs in Geneva and Nyon have the same?

If you can choose, get a french-speaking Swiss boyfriend....


Honestly, it is the best way (cheapest too).

But he has to speak fluent English....

Imagine that he tries to tell you something in an approximative English and that you don't understand it ....

Hi,

I have been reading all over the EF about learning French. Maybe not really related to Geneva or Vaud, but podcasts might help too. I kept finding podcasts (Pimsleur, or other subscriptions some of which can be found on Itunes), listening and repeating them.

I arrived 3 months ago and still I am not confident in speaking. So I am planning to take a course in this Unipop that MusicChick mentioned before. At this point, can I ask which professor you found MusicChick? And do you have any idea about the Conversation classes in Unipop or would you recommend a particular type of French class?

Thanks for the topic and for the comments.

Bonjour,

Just bumping this thread to know if anyone has had recent ( this year/ summer/fall 2011) experience with a good french meeting group on GVA - I know they exist, I just want to hear experiences - positive of negative - and to see how to best approach these clubs... hmm, I guess I am just looking for recommendations in order to minimize that chance of an awkward situation the first time I show up.

Thanks in advance for any responses.
LM

Yep - that is the way I learnt (English). A good school and teacher really helps, but when the chips are down - you just have to get on with it (oh and try to keep away from expats and expat Forums until you've 'cracked' it.
In Ye olde days, we were catapulted and fully immersed- the internet makes this very difficult. Bonne chance.
Bertrand is right, making friends with a few locals is best- but it's hard to find some who are not trying to practise their English on you.

This was noted somewhere else on this forum because its how I learned about this school but Agora is excellent. The school is located in Lausanne.

I recently found out about this: http://www.upcge.ch/

While in Spain, I learnt Spanish (and made a lot of friends!) thanks to meeting people through the website, Conversation Exchange. There's quite a detailed search function to find people similar to you in age, interest etc.