Learning French

Knowledge of French is essential for you to integrate well. We recommend that non-French speaking scientists learn the language as soon as possible, ideally before they arrive in France. Your ability to speak French will enable you to make contacts more easily, to integrate quicker and to better understand your new environment.

Courses can be offered to PhD students and foreign researchers in your host institution.
Contact the languages department (students) or training department (employees).

There are many solutions on offer in Lyon and Saint-Etienne to learn French. Here are a few tips to help you.

• List and contact details of schools teaching French in Lyon
• Alliance Française de Lyon: A partnership between the Alliance Française network and the EURAXESS France network offers you a 10% discount on tuition fees at the Alliance Française de Lyon. This discount also applies to your family if they have come with you (for those above 16 years of age).

To benefit from this discount, you must be registered on the EURAXESS France database.

More information about this partnership on the FnaK website.

• Coup de Pouce Université: this voluntary association offers French lessons for foreign students including PhD students. Annual fee of €100 per year for PhD students. 
   
• Fil (Facilitating Insertion through Language): evening or day classes, throughout the year, except school holidays, in 5 different locations. You can enroll all year long. Fee: from €30 per year. 

• Le KoToPo: KoToPo is an association that offers friendly, free language exchanges between native speakers of other languages and French language speakers each night of the week. Each night is dedicated to one or more languages (Monday: English, Tuesday: Spanish, Wednesday: Japanese, Thursday: Portuguese/German or Italian/Chinese, etc.). A great way to share your language while learning French.
   
• Le Polyglot Club: organizes free language exchange evenings.
   
• Lyon's municipal libraries also offer regular conversation cafés in French. For more information: Events in Lyon's municipal librairies: select "Cercle et conversation"

• The CILEC (International Center for Language and Civilization): offers French lessons. Contact them via their website for a quote. 

• Le Remue Méninge: a community café in the heart of Saint-Etienne offering free activities and French conversation workshops.
   
• The Polyglot Club: organizes free language exchange evenings.

• FUN MOOC: The platform currently has 4 MOOCs developed by the Alliance française to learn or improve your French
  
  
  • MOOC: Living in France A1 beginner
    Available until 12/31/2023
     
  • MOOC: Living in France A2 elementary
    Available until 12/31/2023
     
  • MOOC: Living in France B1 intermediate
    Available until 12/31/2023
     
  • MOOC: Living in France A2-B1
    Available until 12/31/2023
     
• Duolingo: a language learning website offering free French lessons, in particular for those who speak English.
   
• Italki: an online language learning platform for private lessons with native speakers.
   
• Comme une française TV: On her YouTube channel, Géraldine explains different aspects of life in France (cultural, linguistic, etc.), in English. An excellent resource for learning about French culture and a few words of vocabulary.
   
• The digital resources of the Municipal Library of Saint Etienne: those who are members of the Lyon municipal library have free access to online interactive French lessons.
  
  
• Bonjour de France: an online magazine for learning French. 
   
• Conversation Exchange: this website puts you in touch, free of charge, with French speakers who want to learn your language. This website offers face-to-face, chat/webcam or email exchanges. 

Spiky app

Link to download.
Free application project for foreigners arriving in France, and students in particular.

Living in France: this Campus France section offers a number of tips and videos on gastronomy, traveling, French regions, French language and culture, cultural norms, leisure activities (sport and culture), climate and safety.