(Translated) Over the last three months, I've been perfecting my French at the International Swiss School Paris. After nine weeks of classes, my language skills and my way of expressing myself are much better than they were at the beginning. As I've already spent three months at another language school, I can compare the Swiss School with other options.
This school has many unique features that allow language students (in my opinion, especially those who already have a certain basic level and can converse in French) to absorb the French language and culture in a way that is not possible elsewhere. This is particularly important for the DALF exams, because as well as correct language, cultural understanding and linguistic finesse also determine success or failure.
In my opinion, the Swiss School stands out from its competitors in the following respects:
1. Courses divided by theme: each course is dedicated to a specific theme or discipline (such as vocabulary, listening comprehension or grammar). This is more effective for learning progress than a mixed course and it also gives you the feeling each day that you know exactly what you've learnt during the day (great for morale :) ).
2. change teachers: you have several teachers every week. This is a big advantage, especially for long stays! Different personalities and teaching styles make it impossible to get bored, which, in my experience, is very likely in other language schools.
3. ‘Homework: Hard as it may be to believe, not all language schools have homework to correct. That's why I include them in my list. The positive effect is self-evident and even if you don't do it on time, nobody at the Swiss School will hold it against you. So don't be afraid! You can also ask teachers for worksheets at any time if you want to work on a subject at home.
4. Atmosphere: the small size of the language school and the incredibly friendly and well-trained team create a family atmosphere in which you don't have to be afraid of making mistakes. It also makes it very easy to feel at home in the Paris metropolis. The mix of serious work and hearty laughter at the Swiss School is something special!
5. Location: this is not a unique selling point (there are also other language schools in Paris located in larger areas). However, I would like to stress that the school is located in a wonderfully lively and authentic part of Paris. The public transport links are also excellent. Even within walking distance, you can access almost everything that's going on in Paris. Don't be fooled by the supposedly great distance between the school and the ‘tourist centre’ on the city map -> the centre of Paris is much smaller than you might think and the school is very central! The proximity of the Gare du Nord and the Gare de l'Est also makes the 10th arrondissement a ‘station district’. As a native of Frankfurt, this made me think before I arrived. But there's absolutely no reason to worry here. On the contrary: it's very convenient for those travelling to and from Germany!
In short: come to the Swiss School; you won't be disappointed! (March 2024)