I had an absolutely fabulous experience with Lutece Langue. I'm a raw beginner at French (though I did do some prep work with Duolingo, Memrise, and podcasts), and also a working adult. I came to Paris for 2 weeks of classes as a way of broadening myself, to improve my ability to function in France and French-speaking countries, and as a way to meet people and make friends on my solo vacation in France. Lutece Langue was perfect in every way.
The website is well-organized, and allows you to sign up for precisely the classes and after-class field trips that you want. There is a written test that should be downloaded, completed, and emailed in, and a telephone oral exam that should be completed 2 weeks prior to commencing class. Some of my classmates neglected to complete those steps, but without significant adverse effects.
The school itself is located on the fourth floor (or 3rd floor, by European reckoning) of a building halfway between the Chatelet train station and the Pompidou Centre. There is a small elevator that is retrofitted into the stairwell, but most of the students just climb the stairs.
The school consists of about five small classrooms. There are air conditioners in several of them, but they don't generally use them, and the classes could get rather warm as we were struggling to conjugate "etre" properly.
The class size was nice and small. The largest class I was in had 8 students, the smallest was 2. The average was about 3 or 4. I have heard horror stories about other schools that are giant mills with little or no individual attention, and Lutece Langue is the opposite of that: each student gets a lot of one-on-one instruction and practice. Most of the students were Americans, but we also had Canadians, Japanese, and Russian students. Ages ranged from 24 to 78, with an even distribution along that spectrum. The reasons for coming to the school were as varied as the students: some students were going to grad school in Paris and needed French for their upcoming programs of study; some had married French people and moved there, some were on vacation and just improving themselves, like me.
The instructors were all superb: particular kudos to Marie, who is super-cheerful, and Caroline, who is patient, funny, and kind.
Lessons typically run from 9 AM to 12:15 PM, Monday to Friday, with a 15-minute break halfway through. This allows the afternoon and evening to be free for exploring the city and relaxation. There is some homework, but it is not too onerous.
Lutece Langue is a superb program, and I am already preparing my return. read more