Alliance Française of Lyon

I’ve always wanted to learn French but was never able, until I moved to Lyon at the end of 2016 and joined the AF Lyon. I was a student for 7 months, from beginner (A1) to Intermediate (B2), full of confidence in speaking, reading and writing in French.

The teaching is outstanding, the teachers are all great and really knowlegeable, not just about the language but also about French culture, and other interesting subjects, bringing those topics to class allowing everyone to grow on their french but also learn about French people and how they are, what they like and how they think.

The school organizes plenty of varied activities for all tastes, and the staff is also great.

The location of the school is also ideal, close to the tram, metro and Velov (bicycle service). It is 5min away from the river Rhône, which is where students usually gather after school to socialise and practice what they’ve learned.

The accomodation is OK for what I needed, practical and cheap. I stayed in Jussieu Residence where the staff was friendly and fun, and was quiet and relaxing. The room was 10m2 but had all I needed, bed, provate toilet and shower, fridge and study desk, all just 270€ with bills included, you can’t beat that! I would get on a Velov just outside the residence and take 25min, crossing the gorgeous Parc de la Tete d’Or, and by the River Rhone to get to the school.

If anyone wants to learn French, meet great people, both classmates, teachers and staff, I highly recommend you to go to Lyon (a stunniny beautiful and vibrant city) and to the Alliance Française de Lyon, you will have a great time.

I spent one of my best summers in my life in Lyon and realized my long term dream of actually speaking french.
I have been learning french for years since college. I've been really serious about it since 2013- watch french movies, go to class, listen to podcasts, etc. However, I just couldn't seem to make the break through I longed for- to be able to open my mouth and speak. I have native speaker teachers and friends but I get so tongue tied in front of them. I know the only way to start speaking is through practice but without the environment we just always ended up speaking English.
Spending a summer in France has always been my dream. To improve my french, I decided to combine pleasure and learning- one month travelling plus one month course at Alliance Francaise Lyon. It turned out to be a great plan.
At AF I had two of best teachers I've encountered in my life- Julian and Fabien. I can honestly say they are among the top 3 of all the french teachers i've ever had and i've taken many classes in 3 different countries...
AF also organized plenty of opportunities to practice and to enjoy Lyon. The classmates are very diverse and inspiring. There are also frequent after class activities- games, visits, screenings to encourage socializing among students of different levels. The students then organize activities at night, etc. I arrived tongue tied and after quickly after starting the course I was using French 24/7- with train controllers, at post office, shopping, travelling. It feels great!
AF staff are also highly friendly and helpful. You could ask for their help at anytime- Carole, Elody, Anais, David, etc. And they love to help you with french as well.

Lyon itself is a real treasure. Centrally located, it is easy to take weekend excursions by train. Weekend book fairs, concerts, farmer's market, delicious food, river view... It is a nice alternative to the hectic (and expensive) Paris.

Overall, this was one of my best summers. I do hope to have the chance to do it again next summer.

The city of Lyon is an incredible place to live, learn, work and have fun, and its Alliance Française is a perfect starting point to know the huge cultural variety it offers.

The classes are top notch, the teachers are friendly, very helpul and demanding; the groups are well thought-out and the place is a hub of international events, hobbies and recreational activities with a focus on the city itself. There's a cinema club, world food nights, links to many different organisations and posts for all kinds of events.