Reviews of French in Normandy, Rouen, France

Total number of reviews: 32

NOTE: All reviews are authentic. Only students who booked their course through us can publish evaluations here, and only after the end of their programme. These evaluations then are not manipulated in any way, neither by us nor by the school, and can be trusted as honest opinions about personal experiences with the school.

Average Rating

Based on 32 reviews of former students of French in Normandy

Accommodation
Overall rating French in Normandy, Rouen, France	4.5
City	4.4
Organisation	4.6
Facilities	4.0
Social activities	4.4
Quality of teaching	4.6
Value for money	4.3
Homestay	4.6
Shared Flat (apartment)	4.0
Other	---

Back to profile of French in Normandy, Rouen

Individual Reviews

French in Normandy

24. Sep. 2024

1. Sophie (77 years)

101.Course: Intensive Group Course - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Meeting others. The helpfulness and friendliness of the ladies and gentlemen at the reception.

Negative aspects

Playing roles. Talking to students who were hard to understand. I would have preferred conversations with French speakers. In some classrooms, it was difficult to see the electronic board, which I didn't like anyway.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Follow every lesson

Other comments

Distance of some teachers from students.

City/place

Nice pleasant city to go to. Surrounding Seine also very nice.

Quality of teaching / language progress

I didn't like being divided into groups.

23. Sep. 2024

2. Ine (76 years)

102.Course: Intensive Group Course - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Nice teachers. Nice that you could buy coffee and pastries/bread.

Negative aspects

Spaces a bit small and poorly fitting chairs.

City/place

I could not judge nightlife and public transport as I did not use them.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Very nice with all the students.

17. Sep. 2024

3. Rebekka (56 years)

103.Course: 3 w Intensive Group Course + 2w semi intensive - 5 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Very competent teachers. They teach in a very varied way and are very motivated. You learn a lot. The people at reception were very welcoming and helpful.

Negative aspects

Only the location of the school is not so great, otherwise there is nothing to complain about.

5. Sep. 2024

4. Kirsten (51 years)

104.Course: Intensive Group Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Very relaxed, friendly and competent staff, always ready to help. I really liked the different teaching methods, lots of playful elements.

Negative aspects

It was just quite warm, but it was summer after all

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

The school's city tour was really great!

Other comments

We'll be back next year

City/place

Very worth seeing and recommendable!

Quality of teaching / language progress

Gladly again!

27. Aug. 2024

5. Paolo (23 years)

105.Course: Semi-Intensive Group Course [Francese] - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

The hospitality, kindness and availability.

Negative aspects

The classrooms were windowless, so dark and with little air circulation.The professors were competent, but they gave little feedback, so it was not clear whether mistakes were being made or not.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Staying with a family is a great opportunity and added value.

City/place

Rouen is a beautiful city, rich in culture and history. It is also in a great location for visiting various tourist spots in Normandy (unfortunately Mont Saint Michel is too far away). It is really worth a visit.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Great for having free time in the afternoon to be able to visit or rest.

26. Aug. 2024

6. Simon (59 years)

106.Course: Dedicated DELF / DALF Preparation - 5 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

Good teachers, good support and the afternoon activities with clubs were good.

Negative aspects

I would have liked to see the school organize excursions on Saturdays or Sundays as well, which I understand they did in previous years.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Good school to prepare for DELF/DALF exam.

Other comments

Good school and good quality and friendly people.

City/place

Nice city to study. I did miss a quality cinema or arthouse cinema. All the cinemas that were there had mostly popular American-style films, but no arthouse films.

Quality of teaching / language progress

DALF preparation was good and thorough. Good guidance.

Accommodation

Good stay and nice host family. It was also nice that there were other students in the second half of the stay, this also allowed me to practice more French.

19. Aug. 2024

7. Viola (54 years)

107.Course: Intensive Group Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Good and motivated teachers, pleasant learning atmosphere, varied lessons

5. Jul. 2024

8. Jacqueline (67 years)

108.Course: Combi Course: 15 Group + 5 Individual [Frans] - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

Very nice staff, from reception to teachers. People are very cordial. I felt very welcome.

Negative aspects

The classrooms are not large. Sometimes it can get very hot.

Other comments

Think carefully about whether a family is really best for you.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Very good!

Accommodation

I've discovered that I don't really like living with people. My host family was very nice. The meals were extremely tasty and very well prepared. But I found it stressful to always have to speak French. I didn't experience enough relaxation because of that. I also preferred to be closer to the center of Rouen.

18. Jun. 2024

9. Zlatica (73 years) United States
109.Course: Intensive Group Course - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Studio in Residence "Comfort"

Positive aspects of school

Excellent teachers, modern equipment.

Negative aspects

1. Too many students in a class. 2. Including a long-distance Zoom student in classes is distracting and the projector used to accommodate them reflects a strong light on the screen you need to look at. Bad for people with sensitive eyes.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Read the small print. The school does not remind you that there are a lot of online exercises and podcasts available to students.

Other comments

The school does not offer organized weekend excursions or evening events. A student travelling alone would do better choosing to stay with a family to have company in the evening and on weekends.

City/place

Beautiful city. During long summer days when it does not get dark before 10:30 PM, there is not much to do except sit in a bar or restaurant since most things close early.

Quality of teaching / language progress

The intensive course is very well organized with sufficient breaks between sessions. Not many places to eat around the school so you need to bring your own lunch or rely on one or two bakeries.

Accommodation

Very small room, not suitable for spending any free time in it.

3. Jun. 2024

10. Mirta Beatriz (75 years)

110.Course: Intensive Group Course (1 semana) + 50+ Course (2 semanas) - 3 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Executive Homestay

Positive aspects of school

Everything mentioned with 4 or 5 ☆. All the staff always very attentive and predisposed to provide the best attention. The best teacher, in every way, was Alex.

Negative aspects

My first week was practically lost in terms of my learning, since the course was aimed at young university students with a higher language level than mine and with activities accordingly. I think they should have put me in a lower level. The teacher spoke very fast and I could not understand anything. Her response to my comment was “I speak like this”. The +50 course was very good, especially the second week, since the group went from 13 to 6 students. A pleasant atmosphere of camaraderie was generated. Due to the hyper-communicative system of the school, grammar is only done in the form of an explanation, an exercise and ...make do with the online practices. As a negative note I noticed a certain anti-German spirit (partly understandable, but they should hide it), in the case of comments out of place of a teacher addressed to a German student directly and I did not find the movie “THE NAME”, very funny for me, but if I had been German it was to get up and leave.

City/place

I wanted to know it for its medieval historical attractions of Rouen and surroundings and those of the nineteenth and twentieth century. I was not disappointed. The ugly weather was already foreseen. It's like this.

Quality of teaching / language progress

I have already made them.

Accommodation

Excellent is an understatement. My room on the first floor was impeccable, as was the bathroom. Cleanliness 10*. Unbeatable meals, delicious and super abundant. Fresh salads, delicious dishes, cheeses, and assorted desserts with fresh fruits. And both hosts, absolutely cordial and attentive. However, access to the kitchen is forbidden. Reasonable, it is just a comment, not a criticism.

15. Apr. 2024

11. Ellen (54 years)

111.Course: Semi-Intensive Group Course [Französisch] - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

---

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

All employees are very friendly and accommodating. They find a solution for every enquiry. The course content is well organised and follows a clear structure. The teachers are competent and the methods are varied.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Pay attention to the placement according to your language level. It is no problem to change.

City/place

I had a positive first impression of Rouen. Without huge building sites, with sunshine and higher temperatures, the impression would have been even more positive.

Quality of teaching / language progress

The ideal option for me. It gave me enough time to explore the surrounding area.

Accommodation

My host mum was simply wonderful. Cheerful, open-minded, helpful and natural. We had a pleasant time together.

3. Apr. 2024

12. Susanne (58 years)

112.Course: Intensive Group Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

---

Quality of teaching / language progress

---

Accommodation

Studio in Residence "Comfort"

Positive aspects of school

Very personal, open to all requests, weekly entry possible

Negative aspects

The fact that entry is possible on a weekly basis means that groups are quite inhomogeneous in the afternoon, also in terms of knowledge.

Other comments

Good organisation, they care

City/place

Worth it

Quality of teaching / language progress

Good, suitable for me in terms of the number of hours

Accommodation

Not new, clean and functional, so okay

2. Oct. 2023

13. Andrea (61 years)

113.Course: 50+ Course - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

My 50+ group was awesome! There was total harmony. With our excursions together and our lessons until lunchtime, we forged a community that I'm sure we will all remember for a long time. Reggy at reception, is the good soul of the school. All the teachers are professional and made the lessons (including grammar) interesting.

Negative aspects

Everything was great, but I personally would have liked it better if we had had our teacher from the first week for the whole time. There is a change of teacher every week. Surely that has its advantages?

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Baking macaroons, Monet's gardens ...

Other comments

Absolutely recommended

City/place

A city with a great historical background! Beautiful, grand and with many great museums, monuments, restaurants, bars, etc.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Very good

28. Sep. 2023

14. Gillian (63 years) Spain
114.Course: 50+ Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

Very well organised, friendly staff. An excellent group of students all wanting the same from the course.

Negative aspects

The classroom was divided into two groups of tables and sometimes the teacher was nearer one group than the other and it was difficult to hear. Some of the students had their backs to each other.

Accommodation

Hervé and Michelle were warm and welcoming.

22. Aug. 2023

15. Anna (35 years)

115.Course: Intensive Group Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

The focus is very much on conversation and active use of the language. Most of the assignments are done in small groups, so you get to talk a lot. In my course, great care was also taken to ensure that the teams do not speak the same mother tongue, so that you definitely speak French with each other.

Negative aspects

For me, the grammar exercises were a little too short and I would have appreciated it if there had been written exercises now and then that each person did on his/her own.

City/place

Absolutely recommended! The city is quite small, but there is still a lot to see and everything is within easy walking distance.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Top!

31. May. 2023

16. Angelika (64 years)

116.Course: 50+ Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

The teacher was very good and handled the very different levels well. For me, as a beginner, I benefited from this. The service staff were very nice and helpful.

Negative aspects

The level of the students was very varied. I think all 50+ were just stuffed into one class. The classroom was small and the course quite full with 13 people. Group work in the small room, was hardly possible. If it is really warm, I would not want to have to sit in that room with 13 people. Despite the nice teacher, I would not book this school again.

City/place

A lively city.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Very nice group, very nice and competent teacher

11. Apr. 2023

17. Jordan (23 years) United Kingdom
117.Course: Intensive Group Course - 12 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

Kind and helpful teachers who are all enthusiastic to teach French and speak with all students; confidence in speaking French with others improved after my time in the school, and I appreciate the language more.

Negative aspects

The school occasionally became a bit loud when whole classes of schoolchildren arrived.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Be sure to apply for the DELF/DALF language proficiency exam a couple of months in advance due to high demand; the teachers at the school will be sure to prepare you for it.

City/place

Pleasant location, with important historical landmarks which are well-kept, but locals are rather careless about cleaning up after their pets.

Accommodation

Hesitancy of host family to provide that which was specified in the contract (daily breakfast, lunch on Saturdays), bedroom very cold during winter due to non-functioning heat in all student bedrooms.

24. Jan. 2023

18. Alejandra (60 years) Italy
118.Course: Intensive Group Course - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

I liked everything. Had a wonderful time there.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Had wonderful teachers! My favourite was Emily.

20. Jun. 2022

19. Susanne (32 years)

119.Course: Intensive Group Course - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

---

Quality of teaching / language progress

---

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

The teachers there are very friendly, all the time, they answer every single question, and they are very knowledgeable when a question is asked. They are well-balanced and do a lot of activities in class, it never gets boring and you are challenged with everything you possibly can. You also get an insight into the regional studies and culture of France if you want.

Negative aspects

There were a lot of guests in the homestay. Six guests in total! And of very different ages. I needed some time to get used to that. It was a challenge, at least for me, and it bothered me that the two young people didn't get enough attention, and they were resented for not liking the foreign food that much. I think that sometimes the guests and hosts were careless and a bit rude towards me, but that's just a small point. It was not that bad.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Walking along the Seine on the Quai on a Sunday

Other comments

The toilets were not always clean, unsuitable toilet brushes, etc., lack of toilet paper in the communal toilet...

City/place

Rouen is interesting. It offers good shopping opportunities for almost every budget, but I can't really say for sure. In any case, the gastronomic options are very diverse. As someone interested in history, it was a pity that the Office de Tourisme didn't have a single guidebook or guide in German, English or French about the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Rouen. There was only a cathedral guide in Dutch and in Italian. I was there several times at the Office de Tourisme. The cleanliness on the trains and in Rouen has improved. It was very clean in the station, unlike in 2014.

Quality of teaching / language progress

Too many ecological topics

30. May. 2022

20. Luis (72 years) United States
120.Course: Semi Intensive = 1wk starting on May 16 // 50+ Course = 1wk starting on May 23 - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money
---

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

---

Facilities (library, classrooms)

---

Social activities

---

Quality of teaching / language progress

---

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

In general, the environment and organization.

City/place

Good

Accommodation

Exceptionally good, the hosts did everything possible to make me feel as in my home.

18. Oct. 2021

21. Birte (56 years) Denmark
121.Course: Combi Course: 15 Group + 5 Individual - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money
---

Detailed review

City/place

---

School organization

---

Facilities (library, classrooms)

---

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

---

Positive aspects of school

Good teachers, friendly people and structured and focused teaching

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

The classroom teaching is divided in a good way with one and a half hours of teaching and a break of half an hour. There was a good mix of conversation, group work. Personally, I do not think a group should be more than 2-3 people. Some students are not very motivated or just afflicted with ADHD or really introverted and it is difficult to work with them. But it's not the school's fault

City/place

Beautiful historic town

14. May. 2019

22. Jane (68 years) United States
122.Course: Semi Intensive Group Class [French] - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

It was an excellent school. I really enjoyed my instructor Christine Tang. She is so positive, inclusive, bright & happy. You can’t not enjoy her as a teacher. All of the administrators were helpful, personal & positive. I really enjoyed my time there. It is a special memory for me.

4. Jul. 2018

23. Gordana (48 years) Croatia
123.Course: Semi intensive course - 15 lessons/week - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay - Standard

Positive aspects of school

THE TEACHERS WERE REALLY GOOD.

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

THE SCHOOL IS SMALL AND FAR FROM THE CITY CENTER. MOST CLASSROOMS HAVE NO WINDOWS.

Other comments

GOOD SMALL SCHOOL, GREAT TEACHERS, GREAT HOMESTAY FAMILY, MS. FILIBERT OLIVIA IS JUST PERFECT.

Response from school

Thank you Gordana but you have not seen all the work we did in the school putting in big skylights in the classrooms…. Come back and see. Also we have 4/14 rooms That accommodate 12 students, one small room for one to one and the other 9 can all take 20/25 students which as our maximum is 12 that leaves lots of space

12. Apr. 2017

24. Bertina Wing Tsung (26 years) Hong Kong
124.Course: Intensive Group Classes - 8 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Teachers were helpful and taught well. Great way to learn French as they would encourage you to use only French.

28. May. 2016

25. Wendy (55 years) United Kingdom
125.Course: Semi Intensive Group Class - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Everyone was so friendly

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

I found it difficult to locate at first as I was staying on the other side of the river. make sure you know where to go before your first class!

20. Aug. 2014

26. Finola (17 years) United Kingdom
126.Course: Intensive Group Classes - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

The different themes of lessons

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Make sure you speak up if you're feeling completely stuck in your class so you can change. Also, don't panic about the test!

Other comments

Lots of great people of different nationalities, wonderful to meet different people.

6. May. 2014

27. Emily (31 years) France
127.Course: Semi Intensive Group Class - 1 week

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Positive aspects of school

Friendly, encouraging teachers

Other comments

This course is not set up for intensive week learning. It is for people wanting to do 3-4 months and the people doing less just sit in on their lessons which was a little disappointing given the cost and that I was only there for a week.

13. Aug. 2013

28. Cornelia (49 years) Austria
128.Course: Semi Intensive Group Class - 2 weeks

Overall rating

Value for money

Detailed review

City/place

School organization

Facilities (library, classrooms)

Social activities

Quality of teaching / language progress

Accommodation

Homestay

Positive aspects of school

Friendly atmosphere, competent teachers

Insider tips about what future students should not miss

Hire a bike!

Other comments

Most classrooms are without direct daylight and quite small

Response from school

Thank you Cornelia, but you have not seen all the work we did in the school putting in big skylights in the classrooms…. Come back and see. Also we have 4/14 rooms that accommodate 12 students, one small room for one to one and the other 9 can all take 20/25 students which as our maximum is 12 that leaves lots of space