Learn French on an immersion stay in Provence

I spent an unforgettable week in Provence learning French with a very small group and came home feeling more confident speaking French than I thought possible, with an understanding of some of the grammar rules that had flummoxed me and just a little bit more in love with sun-drenched Aix-en-Provence where we were based.

What’s it like to do an immersion stay

SL Immersion are experts in language teaching and have run immersion stays in France for many years. I was determined to get my French to a new level (I’m A2 but almost B1), and the small group immersion in Aix-en-Provence really appealed. First, we met via online lessons (included) to get us used to speaking out loud in front of each other – there’s no point in being shy on this course, you have to dive in! We spoke about where we live – all in different countries – our daily lives, what we liked about France etc. By the time we all arrived in Aix on a Sunday afternoon – we felt like we already knew each other. In fact, I bumped into one of the other students in the hotel lobby, we recognised each other just started talking as if we were old friends and agreed to meet up and go to a concert in the town before meeting for aperitifs with the other students and with Celtina Massardo who runs SL Immersion.

With just four (maximum 8) of us in a classroom based at our fabulous boutique hotel just off the Cours Mirabeau, and Beatrice, a patient and lovely French teacher coaching us daily – mornings in the classroom, over long relaxing lunches, and on afternoon excursions, plus a little bit of homework – the pace was perfect. It was challenging at times which was to be expected, after all we wouldn’t be there if our French was already that good! But it was never overwhelming.

Morning lessons consisted of pronunciation drills, fun interactive exercises, grammar, and gaining confidence in speaking French. Beatrice had time for each of us individually, but we found that we bonded as a group right from the start – meeting each other from the online lessons, being in a new place and far away from distractions, being there for the same purpose – to improve our French, we had so much in common that we didn’t feel like strangers but friends. Having been to Aix several times, I was more than happy to share my top tips, the best cafés, the best place for aperitifs, the best museums – the others were all first timers to Aix but, Aix lures you in – once is never enough in this fascinating and cultural city.

And culture played a big part in our learning, excursions were in French – we visited the spot where Cezanne was most inspired to paint – gazing at Mont Victoire, learned to take the bus, had a superb wine tasting lunch, went to the fabulous market on Cours Mirabeau, discovered the city, listening to French as it’s really spoken (not like an app!), and practicing for ourselves. When your environment constantly reinforces the language, your brain adapts rapidly and no switching back to English means faster progression. Each activity whether it’s in class, at the market or a museum, or playing pétanque is an opportunity. We practiced conjugating verbs on the go, picked up idioms in conversation, heard authentic accents – this type of cumulative practice builds ‘muscle memory’ far beyond conventional lessons, and back home I found myself remembering some of the grammar rules I’d struggled with before.

Each day we had lunch in a different restaurant, hand-picked for authenticity and deliciousness. Again, an opportunity to speak in French – we were very encouraged to speak only French to each other as much as possible.  Beatrice is kind, patient and has a great sense of humour which made learning more fun.

 Learn French on an immersion stay in Provence

With no everyday distractions, your brain switches to “French mode” faster.  Hearing, speaking, and thinking in French all day accelerates your learning more than weeks of classes at home. I could feel it happening for myself and for the others, gaining confidence and understanding as we learned. And we shared the triumphs together and helped each other with homework, with words if one couldn’t remember and overall, with encouragement. The camaraderie keeps you motivated and makes it all the more fun.

In the evenings, we had free time, and quickly decided that Place Richelme was a great place to practice ordering a glass of rosé before dinner! By the end of the week, we set up a WhatsApp group to stay in touch and keep each other motivated to continue learning French.

Five days may sound short, but when your immersion deepens so quickly, the results can be so profound. By the end of the week, I felt the difference, it felt normal to hear French spoken and to speak in French. Living the language makes it feel natural.

I’ll actually be going back to Aix to do another course – I need to speak French for my job, and because I live in France (I write in English all day long so don’t get too much of a chance to practice my French), and this is without a doubt one of the most fun, fulfilling and successful ways to learn French.

Find out more and join the course at: slimmersion-france.com/aixenprovence

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