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Cilfa
Annecy, France

3 rue des Martyrs - 74940 Annecy - see on map
Pay less than booking at the school
What we like about the school
  • Free workshops offered.
  • Free tutoring offered on Mondays.
  • Best rated school in France
  • Excellent rating of teaching quality
    4.8
  • Excellent rating of homestay accommodation
    5.0
  • Top rated social activities
    5.0
  • On campus accommodation offered
  • On campus accommodation very close to school
  • Top rated school facilities
    4.8
  • Excellent nationality mix. No student nationality makes up more than 10% of students.
What we dislike about the school
  • An older average age per class than in other schools in the same city.

Location: Cilfa Annecy (Centre International de Langue Française d'Annecy) is located on the outskirts of the Alpine town of Annecy, in southeastern France. The school specialises in teaching French as a foreign language via various courses and cultural activities. The pleasant surroundings and medieval history make Annecy a unique backdrop for learning. The school is housed a short distance from the town centre in Annecy-le-Vieux. Attractions and sites of interest within walking distance of the school include several green spaces, eateries, cafes and links to public transport. The centre of Annecy is around a 25-minute journey via bus from the school.

Getting around: There are links to public transport close by, ensuring that local attractions such as the Annecy Old Town, the Gardens of Europe, the Castle of Annecy, and Lake Annecy, are within a 30-minute journey of the school's front doors. The closest International airports to Annecy are Geneva and Chambery.

Course selection: The course selection at Cilfa Annecy can include Summer French programmes, Academic year programmes, DELF Academic year courses and French as a Foreign Language training. Courses are available to adult students throughout the year, with some programmes specific to the summer months only.

Additional information: Annecy is well-known for the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which has been running each year since the 1960s.

French Courses

Show details of all courses
Typical content of a language course
General Language
Summer French Course 20Popular French course
For the summer, only limited places left!
20 lessons per week | 12 students (max)
Offer!from
305€290€ / week
More
Summer French Course 15
For the summer, only limited places left!
15 lessons per week | 12 students (max)
Offer!from
225€214€ / week
More
Academic Year Course 15
15 lessons per week | 12 students (max)
Offer!from
0€0€ / week
More
Academic Year Course 17
17 lessons per week | 12 students (max)
Offer!from
0€0€ / week
More
Academic Year Course 20
20 lessons per week | 12 students (max)
Offer!from
0€0€ / week
More
Exam PreparationWhy exam preparation courses are excellent for optimum progress
DELF Academic Year Course 3Recommended French course
3 lessons per week | 12 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
0€0€ / week
More

Our prices for Cilfa include

  • INCLUDED Organized activities
  • INCLUDED Internet access and use of school computers
  • INCLUDED Wireless LAN zone at school
  • INCLUDED Free certificate of course attendance
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test at first day of classes

Videos & Photos

  • Cilfa - General School Video1/3
  • Cilfa - General School Video2/3
  • Cilfa - General School Video3/3
  • Lesson in progress
    Lesson in progress1/3
  • 2/3
  • 3/3

Student opinions about Cilfa, Annecy

5.0
Overall school rating of
Cilfa, Annecy
5 authentic ratings from students who reserved with us
School
Location of the school
4.6 
Facilities
4.8 
Social activities
5.0 
Organisation
5.0 
Course
Quality of teaching
4.8 
Value for money
4.8 
Accommodation
Homestay
5.0 
Other
5.0 
Overall school rating by student age group
Students < 18 years (0 ratings)
0.0 
Students 18-30 years (2 ratings)
5.0 
Students 31-49 years (0 ratings)
0.0 
Students 50+ years (3 ratings)
5.0 
Verified reviews only, uncensored. All student opinions from students who booked a course at the school with LanguageCourse.net.
53 years
Overall rating
5.0
Liked
“There are two options available for this course: 20 hours per week with 5 hours of extracurricular activities, or 15 hours per week. I chose the 15-hour option due to financial reasons. The syllabus is equally covered in both options, with a clear beginning, middle, and end (as it is a summer course), and all skills are taught. This is an important point to note, as not all schools follow this structure. The teachers are excellent, and due to the small size of the school, there is a sense of closeness between the management, teachers, and students. I appreciate the diversity of nationality and age, which allows for an enriching exchange of experiences and culture. Lastly, the cost-benefit ratio of this course is unbeatable, and I doubt anyone could find a better option.”
Disliked
“I cannot think of any negative aspects to mention.”
Details of the review
Course: Summer French Course 15 - 4 weeks
Review date: 1. Sep. 2023 by Claudia Araujo Santos De Sant Ana
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.
23 years
Overall rating
5.0
Liked
“The passion and dedication that all those who work in teaching (and not only) in a complex language such as French, and the wide openness to students and travelers from all over the world who converge in the school and make sure that learning does not remain only during lessons.”
Insider tip: “I strongly recommend the accommodation in a family, because if you want to learn a language being together with mother tongue people and that normally uses it for all things in life, this becomes an excellent continuous training. Also I think that choosing the package with the extracurricular activities is the best choice, having fun learning is what I found in Annecy.”
Details of the review
Other comments Great spaces, great meetings and excellent advice on how to pass the DELF exam.
Course: General French Course + Activities + DELF exam preparation [Francese] - 2 weeks
Review date: 22. Jan. 2019 by Edoardo Mariani
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.
61 years
Overall rating
5.0
Liked
“Extremely organized with pedagogical competence regarding resources and teaching. The team is very welcoming and capable. I highly recommend it and will come back next time.”
Disliked
“Everything was perfect!”
Details of the review
Quality of teaching / language progress: Excellent.
Course: Academic Year Course 17 [French] - 5 weeks
Review date: 17. Jun. 2024 by AGNES Montibeller
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.
77 years
Overall rating
5.0
Liked
“The teacher, Frederic, was great! Very fun and vibrant and nice. He explains everything very well.”
Disliked
“We can correct the pronunciation a little more.”
Details of the review
Quality of teaching / language progress: Could not have been better.
Other comments Excellent school with friendly administrators.
Course: Summer French Course 20 - 2 weeks
Review date: 26. Sep. 2023 by Leigh Farrell
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.
26 years
Overall rating
5.0
Liked
“The teachers are really great!”
Disliked
“The host family is not very good.”
Details of the review
Course: Academic Year Course 20 - 8 weeks
Review date: 4. Sep. 2024 by Lingyun Xiang
Verified student who booked this course with LanguageCourse.net.

Ratings of Cilfa compared to ratings of all schools in France

 Cilfa AnnecyAverage of all other schools in France
Overall school rating5.04.3
Location of the school4.64.7
Facilities4.83.8
Social activities5.03.7
Organisation5.04.3
Quality of teaching4.84.4
Value for money4.84.1
Homestay5.04.2
Shared flat5.04.1

Cilfa

Accreditations and Quality seals
FLE
French teacher qualifications
100% hold a university degree
100% hold a recognised language teaching qualification
Languages spoken by school staff (cannot be guaranteed by school)
Student gender mix
50% male / 50% female
Offer for returning students
You will be refunded/waived the school's administration fee if you already attended previously a course at Cilfa and you book here.
Year of school foundation
1998
The school is an official exam center
The following language examinations can be taken directly at the school:

General school facilities

  • Microwave for student use

  • Cafeteria

  • Drink vending machine

  • Snack vending machine

  • Computer lab

  • Library

  • Daily press

  • Movie rental

  • Free after-class access to language learning software

  • Lounge

  • Student support desk

  • Free water dispenser

  • Free parking

  • Free WIFI

  • Non-smoking (all indoor areas, but not all outdoor areas of school)

  • Smoking zones (outdoors)

  • Classroom equipment

    • TV in all classrooms

    • Heating in all classrooms

    • Ample natural light in all classrooms

    • Number of classrooms: 5
    • Number of public PC workstations: 6

    Facilities for disabled students

    • Disabled car park

    • Wheelchair access to classroom

Student Age / Nationality

Top student nationalities
Student Nationality Percentage of students
England 10%
Vietnam 8%
Italy 4%
Germany 4%
Thailand 4%
Korea 2%
Netherlands 2%
Israel 2%
Turkey 2%
USA 2%
Other nationalities 60%
Age of students
  Percentage of students
1-18 years 0.99009900990099%
18-24 years 40.594059405941%
25-34 years 28.712871287129%
35-50 years 26.732673267327%
>50 years 2.970297029703%
The average age outside summer is 2 years higher than in summer.
Average number of students
In summer: 50
Throughout the year: 40
Minimum age of students
18 years
Average number of levels
Adult courses In summer: 5
Adult courses Throughout the year: 4
Junior courses In summer: 5
Junior courses Throughout the year: 4
Average age of students
In summer: 32 years
Throughout the year: 34 years
Read our recommendations for students in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Information for all courses offered by Cilfa

Lesson duration
60 minutes
School's administrative fee
10.00 €
Course material
Generally course material is distributed free to students but has to be returned to the school at end of course.
Days without class
In 2025 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2025, 21 Apr 2025, 01 May 2025, 08 May 2025, 29 May 2025, 09 Jun 2025, 14 Jul 2025, 15 Aug 2025, 01 Nov 2025, 11 Nov 2025, 25 Dec 2025.
If a bank holiday falls on a weekday there is no refund nor are missed lessons recuperated. This is the case for the majority of language schools.
Level test
A test to assess your exact language level takes place at the school on the first day of the course.
Lessons needed per French language level
Level (CEFR) LESSONS needed per level WEEKS needed
(20 lessons per week)
A1 Beginner A1 to A2 80 4
A2 Elementary A2 to B1 160 8
B1 Intermediate B1 to B2 180 9
B2 Higher Intermediate B2 to C1 200 10
C1 Advanced C1 to C2 220 11
C2 Proficiency
Data above gives some guidance. For more details consult our page How long does it take to learn a language or reach a specific level.

Leisure activities

Examples of leisure activities organized by the school

Adults - Free activities

Ciné-gouter : Speaking about a french movie
 Cuisines du monde : Sharing dishes from all over the world
* Picnic near the lake

Adults - Paid activities

La Cilfacyclette : A cycling tour of the « Bauges » by the cycle tracks in 4 days (EUR 150)

Activities included in the package 20h/week:
 A guided tour of Annecy
“Café voyages” : presentations and discussions about travelling
 A presentation of various Savoyard cheeses and wines followed by a tasting
Mountain hike on foot or with snowshoes
 A meal to discover French gastronomy or a meal to discover regional specialities
Practice playing a typically French game : la pétanque
 A visit to a castle, the Bell Museum or the Alpine Lake Observatory
A film in a cinema followed by a debate in a café
 Cook and taste a French recipe
Cruise on Lake Annecy to get a sense of the surroundings mountains and villages
 A visit to a farm where “reblochon” (cheese from Savoie) is made
“Café actualités” : to examine some of the differences between the French and the foreign press
 Entertainment or exhibition according to the town’s cultural programme
A bicycle tour along Lake Annecy with discussion of cycling in France and abroad
 A visit to a natural site in Annecy’s surroundings
Video about leisure activities at Cilfa Annecy
activity possibledistance from school
Ballet3 km
Baseball2 km
Basketball2 km
Cooking2 km
Dancing2 km
Diving2 km
Football (soccer)3 km
Golf10 km
Horse riding5 km
Ice Hockey3 km
Mountainbiking17 km
Music2 km
Rugby3 km
Sailing2 km
Skiing17 km
Squash5 km
Swimming3 km
Table Tennis2 km
Tennis1 km
Volleyball2 km
Windsurfing2 km
Yoga2 km

Accommodation

Show details of all accommodations
Tip: Type of accommodation. What is best for you?
Bernard Chevron Residence Most Popular Accommodation
In high demand!
5.0
2 ratings
Single room, No meals
Shared bathroom
from
108 €/ week
Show more
Homestay
5.0
1 rating
Single room, Breakfast & 1 meal
Shared bathroom
from
210 €/ week
Show more
Homestay
5.0
1 rating
Single room, Breakfast
Shared bathroom
from
160 €/ week
Show more
Jean Monnet Residence
This accommodation tends to sell out quickly!
Single room, No meals
Private bathroom
from
155 €/ week
Show more
Marquisats Residence
Single room, No meals
Private bathroom
from
122 €/ week
Show more

Map  

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FAQ about Cilfa, Annecy

  • “Yes, OID code: E10105963.”
    Veronica Romualdi, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - May 09, 2025
  • “Yes, OID code: E10105963.”
    Veronica Romualdi, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - May 09, 2025
  • “This course lasts a minimum of 1 week and a maximum of 4 weeks. Start dates: 01 Jul 2024, 08 Jul 2024, 15 Jul 2024, 22 Jul 2024, 05 Aug 2024, 12 Aug 2024, 19 Aug 2024, 26 Aug 2024, 02 Sep 2024, 09 Sep 2024, 16 Sep 2024. ”
    Madly Simba, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - Jun 18, 2024
  • “Most of our schools in Annecy don´t have French teachers who speak Russian, but in general they always manage to communicate with students, even very beginners. That's part of the job. If there are problems with communication, there may sometimes be a few Russian-speaking students at the school who can help with translation if needed!”
    Maksym Sterpul, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - Mar 14, 2023

PDF brochure / price list of CilfaView or Send them to your email

Brochure
Brochure
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Terms of Cilfa

First day of course
Written and oral level test is performed. Students should arrive at 9:00
Payment methods accepted for payments made directly to the school
Visa - logoMastercard - logoBank Transfer - logo
Legal name/parent company
Tax registration ID: VAT exemption / CGI art.261-7-

Visa Documents

Nationals from Italy do not require a visa for travelling to France and attending a language course.
Check visa requirements for nationals from other countries.
Nationals from countries that require a visa will receive documents from the school, related to booking confirmation, which is required for the visa application.
Full payment of all fees required before school dispatches documents required for visa application
No
Express shipment fee (via courier)
1 €
Free shipment via regular mail
Yes
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Annecy
Annecy city attractiveness rated by our students:
4.6 
More information about Annecy including climate data and events on our Annecy page with a list of all 6 French schools in Annecy.
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