EF Paris

I was quite nervous walking into the EF Paris school, but any previous apprehensions I had quickly faded away upon stepping through the door. I was Immediately greeted with a big smile and an enthusiastic "Bonjour!" by a staff member who seemed to love her job a bit too much. After a brief placement test and a walk through the school we, the new students, were given a little tour of the neighborhood where the school is located. The tour culminated on the roof of the famous Galleries Lafayette, one of the largest and nicest shopping centers in Paris, so we could see a view over the city. Even after doing a lot of research and reading/watching all of the reviews I could find, I was still pleasantly surprised with EF Paris.

The school itself is very modern and chic, and it has lots of areas outside of the classroom for students to interact and practice their french. The classrooms themselves are on the smaller side, seating only about 15 students, but this makes for a better learning environment and connection with the teachers. Speaking of the teachers, they are all very passionate about teaching French and making sure you use your new found language skills as much as possible. You can also expect to develope personal relationships with your teachers. For example, I went and watched one of my teachers perform in his improve troup on a Sunday afternoon. Not only was it another way to get out and explore Paris, but it was also great French comprehension practice.

The EF staff does a good job placing students into classes that will challenge them, and my placement felt right from the start. But if you do feel as if you are placed in the wrong class, it is not difficult to switch. You can expect to speak and learn a lot of French in your time here, and if you put in the work, you should expect to leave with a much better understanding of both the French language and culture.

-Oliver Welch