I loved these classes and planning to enroll again soon. If you want to learn French very quickly or remember what you used to know these classes are the best!! All teachers are French, try not to speak English at all during each class rather to motivate you to try to speak in French which is the best and most efficient way. Classes are very small so you get lots of time to practice your French with the teachers and your classmates I used to be semi fluent and of course with lack of practice you forget. Within the first few sessions I felt like I can speak and understand the language pretty well. If you are passionate about the language and culture as I am you then these classes are the best to take!! read more

What a great experience I've had with The French Class! They are kind and accommodating ! If you're looking to learn French at any level this is your place. I highly recommend read more

Dominique's french courses are excellent. I've completed level 1 and I'm almost done with 2. Both online with just a few other students. I've started an additional 30 min/week private conversation to improve my comprehension and verbal skills. Really helpful. My teacher Laurene has been excellent. I highly recommend her. She'll make sure your pronunciation is correct! I'm planning on continuing after level 2 has completed read more

wonderful French lessons for all levels. The instructors are French natives and make it fun! You can start from "Bonjour" and work your way up to fluency. Oh yes, You have to work! But "qui ne risque rien ne gagne rien" i.e. Who risks nothing, gains nothing! read more

Took classes in person here pre-COVID and switched to virtual after moving out of the Bay Area. Absolutely love it and Dominique is great! I often have to change times because of work/travel and she is always accommodating. I've had a bunch of different instructors and they have all been great. So many different levels offered. Highly recommend! read more

I first took classes here around 10 years ago when they were located in Union Square. I decided to refresh my mostly forgotten languages skills late last year, and I really like their instructors and their office manager. I am almost back to the Level I was when I took my break, and would continue here in the long-term. Since I live further away from SF now, the convenience of taking online classes is very important to me. read more

With a father who lived just outside of Paris for 6 years and because I spent 7 years studying French (a loooong time ago), I felt it was time to revisit learning one of the universe's most romantic languages. I took a colleague's recommendation for what she considers the strongest French instruction in a city full of French schools, and immediately signed up for my first course at The French Class. 9 weeks later? I'm hooked, and have already started my second course after completing the first 8-week session along with a Saturday intensive review class. In short - I can't get enough! From the native French-speaking instructors, to the specially-created curriculum, to being connected with wonderful classmates who push me to be my best, I can't imagine a better experience. The classroom provides an adventure in full immersion - the instructors aim to teach only in French starting from the very beginning. It sounds overly ambitious, but soon you'll find yourself thinking in French vs. translating in English. And after an intense day at work, I actually look forward to using my brain in a completely different way during my French class. It may sound strange, but I even find it relaxing to focus so intently on just one thing! Looking forward to continuing my French language education at such an exceptional institution. À bientôt! read more

The French Class - French library and resources free for the borrow. - Language Schools Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're considering about starting French classes but thinking, "Oh, I have Duolingo, I don't need a class...", I'd recommend shutting down your app and signing up for a class. I thought my vocabulary was pretty good- I've used language learning apps, I've spoken some French with my guy, but it's nothing compared to a 2 hour class conducted all in French. I started with Level 1 and I'm glad I did. A great refresher for pronunciation and conjugation, and good for absolute beginners too. Signed up for Level 2 and definitely liking the fact that I have the same teacher and several of the same Level 1 classmates! read more

If you want to learn French, this a wonderful way to do it. Class materials are well designed, class sizes are small, instruction is non-threatening, and customer service is exceptional. Costs are very reasonable since you receive a lot of practice time with very patient instructors. Their program works exactly as it's intended enabling you to transistion gradually into more difficult courses. I highly recommend this school! read more

I chose The French Class over the more established Alliance Francaise de San Francisco because 1) it is closer to downtown where I can take classes after work and 2)their class size is very small - there were only 4 people in my class In the beginner 1 class, we learned about 50 verbs, present, future, past conjugation and pronunciation - A good foundation. All of their instructors are native French speakers as well. If I had a criticism, it would be that I wish they were stricter! Especially on pronunciation. There were a few times when I felt we could have been corrected more. There's nothing more embarrassing than butchered French since it's such a pretty language! But this may very from teacher to teacher as well. Also, I wish there was more explanation on grammar rules in the workbook. Thanks to Connie P.'s review, I now know there is an Alliance Francaise in Berkeley where I live, so I will be giving them a try on my next round of classes for a better point of comparison. In any case, I would definitely recommend The French Class to beginners like myself. For fluent speakers, they have conversational groups and advance classes as well. ------- I never ended up taking a class at Allicance Francaise because of scheduling conflicts. Instead, I signed up, again with The French Class for level 2. I was the only person who signed up for this class. At other schools, they raise the prices or drop the class if there are not enough people. Not so at The French Class. I basically have private lessons right now for the same price and it's fantastic. Since it's smaller, they really tailor to the student's needs. read more

So you're marrying into a French family eh? Excellent! But wait, how do you impress the in-laws? With your perfect French grammar of course, duh! Registration is very easy, you can sign up online, or by telephone. When you pay for the first level, you are essentially paying for level 2, as they encourage you to continue. As you should. There are classes available mid-day or after work during the week or on the weekend. So there is a time that should fit everyones busy routine. Most of the staff will speak to you in French, in order to encourage your brains ability to switch into another language. Trust me, they are patient and will speak slow so you understand. The flexibility here is excellent. You can attend a class on Monday then repeat it on Thursday or Saturday without extra cost, if you need additional practice. Most class sizes are around 4-6 students, so you have ample 1:1 time with the professor, as well as ample opportunity to converse in French. There is no pressure to move forward, so if you feel you didn't quite grasp your current level, just repeat it. They want you to have a solid foundation for advancement. Since it's just up from the Powell street BART station, getting to the class is très facile (very easy). There is a small library to check-out French books and on occasion they will have a box of free books looking for a new home. I scored on the Little Prince! Special sessions for pronunciation, learning about different regions in France, as well as other intensive learning courses are offered regularly. They really want you to succeed. All of the 'extras' are shared in a brief monthly newsletter sent by email. It also includes a few brief lessons on grammar, pronunciation, phrases and positive encouragement. I am currently in level 3 and yes, the language is becoming more difficult. But with the support that I have from my professor, the newsletter and add on courses I have no doubt that I will be fluent in no time. read more

If there were more reviews, I would simply add that when you miss a class the secretary calls you the next day to let you know what you missed, ir if there is any homework assignments due for next week - This would suffice to indicate how small and dedicated this great alternative to the Alliance really is. But, since there are only 2 reviews, I'll expand a bit. Classes are very small, and they don't get canceled by a lack of students. Ever. Instead, they may shorten the length of the class if there's one or two people. This means that, with only two other students, you get to take a high quality course for an hour an a half each week at roughly the same price as the Alliance, which packs up to 8 or 10 students in each class (I know it's not their fault they're more popular, but hey), and at a much more centric and accessible location. They also offer interesting combination of courses, like Literature and Conversation, at both the intermediate AND the advanced levels. This means that you get to read and stay in touch with your French during the week, and you get to speak in French during the class while also learning tons of vocabulary and grammar. And because you have a book that's not a textbook, it makes it that much more practical and visual. As a loyal francophone, I strongly recommend you give this little joint a chance if you are serious about learning the language. The quality of the teachers and the seriousness of the place deserve it. read more

I woke up one morning and thought to myself, Jordan, you should learn a new language. After all, I love France and I always felt it was sad that I had to resort to pantomime whenever I interacted with anyone there. I am not naturally gifted when it comes to foreign languages. I took Spanish in high school and promptly forgot a great deal about grammar and tenses, but if push came to shove, I wouldn't starve to death if dumped in the middle of Mexico. I signed up to the French Class because it was small. It occupies a little building on Sutter and Powell and I can walk to it from my house. I've had three teachers (I'm on level 4) and each has been an attractive French woman - not that being an attractive woman is necessary to teach French, but I thought I should mention it for the sake of completeness. Every one of my teachers has been excellent and exceedingly patient. If you sign up for the class, you can go to as many of the classes during the week as you want, so if you want to go to the Monday class and the Saturday class because you feel like you need some more instruction on the lesson, more power to you. Miss a class? You get a free make up. The lesson book is very French. I often laugh out loud at the dialogues. So what are the negatives? Well... it is a tiny space and a few of the rooms are quite small. Because anyone can go to any class, the Saturday classes often get pretty full from people who miss the mid-week classes (it can go the other way too... several times I was either alone or with only a single other person in the class). Sometimes your classmates are a lot slower than you and slow down the class - that's not really their fault however. Anyway... if you want to learn French in a formal setting, I recommend the French Class. Sign up for the membership and get a discount. It is well worth it (two classes pays for it). You'll also get a discount if you sign up early to the next session. read more

I was very excited to take french class in union square. I am going to Paris to study film for my mfa and I wanted to get a little language boost. I registered for the night Intensive because I work late night into the early morning and I do so as much as humanly possible because soon I am leaving for graduate school. I am a student. I am broke. I registered early to save a few dollars. not thinking to read any sort of fine print because why on earth would I want to miss out on learning my dream language. Also tutoring programs in my imagination are student oriented. I wasn't thinking about a worst case scenario I was contacted just a couple days before the session began and asked if I would join the morning class because the night was not full enough. I immediately said something like. it's really not ideal but, very much wanting to learn i said I would do my best and at no time did I look at any sort of brochure before or after this change of plans. primarily because I had found the nice french voice who took my credit card info to be kind. it was clear quickly that not sleeping at all for the sake of french class was not Going to happen as I just finished my bfa the week before and am working constantly. at night. during that week someone could have emailed explicitly saying 'this is your only chance'. not once did I receive a warning. I was under the impression that because the french class cancelled a session they might be flexible? the policy is inflexible, no regard for human; I think it was written off as 'personal issues' as If having a night job is an illness...as if I had missed a class i signed up for early and bragged about to all my friends, prepares for with some free language app...the sweet french voice that took my payment was decidedly less friendly today. over and over 'I agreed in writing so therefor. no compromise' at the time the class was cancelled couldn't someone have 'reminded me' that there is no rescheduling...i asked clearly in an email if I could receive even just a brief 101; thirty minutes for 255 dollars? it's not like I missed a class I actually signed up for. they 'kindly' refunded my $30 for a book that I didn't sign for in the first place but are unwilling to compromise. in any way. I don't appreciate being spoken to with what I perceived to be disdain. even if it's a french accent. not everyone has the same schedule it's not a personal issue thanks any ways lady. my voice. my opinion. does not matter to them not here on yelp. or anywhere (im sure) but again, I was not asking for a refund. even a slight discount on private tutoring; I would have paid more had she been even a little bit friendly. I am practical ive been here for years. a business is surely a business, I did say I would try to make the morning work and I was disappointed in myself. I apologized. i asked for a meeting and was flat out denied. or rather made to feel stupid; supposedly the french class cannot understand English. when a customer asks for a chance to strategize about money wasted on Nothing. how is that confusing. and why couldn't the message have been delivered with respect in person when I asked to come and talk. without enough customers (as is clearly the case given the night class cancellation) one would assume that the school would want to accommodate in some small way. a student. who is doing their best. but unfortunately, the less kind voice had no positive information for me. was too judgemental or defensive to hear that I would be willing to pay up for another chance, with a slight cushion of forgiveness. a placebo in the grand scheme. just like everything else in Union square. this is only about immediate money as far as I can tell. it's a bit ironic because I am moving for a change in culture primarily. I hope this is an american version. im quite sure it is. maybe all french people will treat me like a stupid american. and maybe that stereotype is right. maybe I am one. but in any case I am sad I can't attest to anything but their intolerance of alternate schedules. READ THE FINE PRINT. wherever that is. I honestly don't know where it is but please read it. it seems that the service offered is good and I really wish I had been able to take a night intensive. I will definitely not be rescheduling with them (how difficult is it to offer 10% off the next round???) but thank you french class sooo much for my $30 non book (why not send me the freaking book, it's like now I really have nothing from this place but a bill and a revamped fear of the french and their treatment of people who don't understand the metric system. but enjoy those dollars french school....) the $30 for the book is an insult. the book should be mine for $250. perhaps someday I will start a rival business that can handle dealing with human beings in a human way. read more

Wonderful. The quality of the classes are really super. I took from Level 1 to Level 4. The flexibility of being able to attend any class they offer that week is really good for busy schedules. The class is most productive when people do their homework. This is not a easy process, but The French Class instructors make the process something I looked forward to. I went to France for 3 weeks and although I only had to use French once, it was extremely helpful and I felt confident. Wonderful. Highly recommend if you're serious. My teachers were amazing! Please support this small business. I hope to return. Thank you. read more

I've been taking classes off and on here for about a year and a half. The classes are small and by the end of each one all the students seem to be friends, I've learned some french, made some very nice acquaintances and really enjoy the atmosphere and dynamics created in these classes. Plus every few weeks there is some wine cheese and sausage to snack on after class on Saturdays. All in all, I wouldn't change a thing about The French Class. read more

I was VERY intimidated by starting a new language (I literally showed up day one knowing nothing but "bonjour"....which I was pronouncing wrong) After shaking my nerves off after a couple classes and getting familiar with the consistent class structure, I really look forward to my class each week. You work very hard during class time and learn a LOT in each lesson. Although the speed of the class is fast, the content is manageable. As long as you do you're homework and spend a little time studying throughout the week, you will be very surprised at how quickly you progress! I typically study the past week's lesson during my work commute and spend a few lunches reviewing, and it really pays off in class. I've met some wonderful friends in class, and it's a very positive and friendly environment. You really feel a "were all in it together" vibe. Professeur Halidi is tres magnifique, and oh-so patient. She wants us to keep trying, make mistakes and be active in class. She is also very encouraging and celebrates our small learning victories. I'm totally hooked, and can't wait to start level 2. I HIGHLY recommend signing up for Levels 1+2 together to get the discount... you definitly won't want to stop. I've been taking level 1 for 6 weeks now, and I just confidentially wrote my first email in french. TRES BIEN! read more

I have been studying here for about a year and a half. Friendly teachers, flexible scheduling, and overall fun! read more

The French Class is a wonderful treasure! I am now in the middle of my third class (5/6 transitional) and have learned so much. Every teacher I have had has been wonderful, but I must say that my current teacher, Veronique, is exceptional. She is so patient, kind and fun. This is a very loving and warm learning environment. I also want to thank Annie. She coordinates everything so very well. The flexible class times are wonderful! read more

An absolutely horrid experience. The director is a very hostile woman. At first I was amused by her personal insults, but wheN she refused to give me the course materials that I had paid for , her nastiness just got worse. The lady has personal problems She really appears to have issues with men. , and I suspect that she would behave in a more professional way with women, younger women, attractive women read more

A wonderful class and curriculum that immerses you in the language and fosters a love of it. I've been taking the class for eight months now, I'm in Level 4. The classes are fun and engaging and really increased my understanding of grammar. I enjoy taking the class with other beginners and don't feel intimidated trying to speak French. Highly recommended! read more

Took a beginning French class with the then-fiance-now-hubby before our honeymoon to Paris. I can't tell you how much it helped. Don't get me wrong, I barely spoke any French the entire time I was in France, however, when I did I had it DOWN and I felt really comfortable navigating signage, instructions, websites, and menus in French. I could even understand directions (simple ones) from people on the street. Michel doesn't teach many classes and he comes off a little coldly at the first lesson, but he's a softy on the inside, is French, and studies linguistics. The other students were great and ran the entire gamut of abilities. If SF weren't so far away from where we live now, I would without a doubt go back for more French Class!!! read more

I took a little break from French classes after a couple of years at L'Alliance Francaise so I was quite surprised at my first advanced conversation class at The French Class. The class sizes are small (2-3 students), the rates are reasonable, the location is great, and my current teacher Maelle is fantastic. The receptionist is warm and friendly and they seem quite intent on making the overall experience a positive one for the students. I highly recommend it. read more

I paid in full for five private French lessons at The French Class. I've attended two and liked the instructor and the lessons. I've always been punctual and look forward to the class. I came down with fever and strep throat this morning and had to cancel today's lesson. They will not let me reschedule even though I am ill. I find that most unfair. I was going to continue with buying another package of lessons from them before this. However I am having second thoughts doing business with The French Class after I paid $300 in full for 5 lessons and they refused to honor one session due to illness, I urge the public to be very careful doing business with The French Class! They are inflexible, unfair and shortsighted. They just lost future business from me. I was only informed by Annie at The French Class that I can skype when I called in. That is not an option as I just took antibiotics and codeine cough meds which makes one drowsy. I was feeling very ill when I was told on the phone that this is my only option. I called back later when I felt more lucid to discuss my options of a make up session. Then I was told by Annie that there aren't any other options unless I would pay for another session. I was so shocked and disappointed that I just said ok and rang off. I did Not hang up and I had such a bad sore throat I couldn't talk further. Now after my post, I got this info that I do have options. Why couldn't they just call me personally and explain that it's a misunderstanding and I would have been fine. I've had a retail business for over 20 years and I know a little about treating your customer fairly. I also have taught high school and know how to treat students with respect. I like Laurence my teacher at the French School and I had planned to enroll in more classes but I was so shocked to be so abruptly dismissed for a missed class due to illness. I also was trying to be considerate and not go to class and spread my cold germs to the office. All I want is to make up the class I missed so I am open to all options other than Skype. I can come in tmr Friday at 3 or any other day They can accommodate me. I'm hoping that The French Class will have the grace to do this. Felice Roe read more

I took the French Level I class. I thought it was a great introduction to French, and I thought the instructor, Dorothée, was amazing!

I took a level 2 French Class here and my father fell ill while I was there. He later died. I had asked for a credit for another class due to the extraordinary circumstances and they begrudgingly gave me a credit. After my father died I knew I would be in Montana, where he had lived for the forseeable future and asked that to make it right between us for the $200 plus I paid for a class I could not take, that they translate a 1 page letter. They refused. Said it was not in keeping with their policy. It was dismaying at best. After putting in a claim to small claims court they finally agreed to translate the letter but given the strife I had suffered from the loss of my father and their insistence on their policy I let it all go. I am out $200 plus dollars. If you want to learn grammar they are good but be very aware that if you are struck by anything tragic you are out your money. This has been very sad and dismaying. I wish they would do something kind given I am not able to take advantage of their class and am out my money. They finally came around to offering to translate a letter but it was only after I was insistent on taking them to small claims court. Needless to say this is not the way to do business in my humble opinion. read more

I had my first class today and so far I'm impressed. Learning a new language is difficult, but instructor made us all feel very comfortable. Class size is small. The prices are reasonable and you don't get gouged on books. There are classes on everyday but Sunday and if you miss your assigned class you can sit in on another day's as long as there is space. read more

Absolutely loved my classes online. From the head of the school to the office personnel and including my teacher, they were always professional and personable. My teacher was originally from Paris and was a delight to work with. I learned more about the culture and the French education system too. I much prefer these Skype classes versus the Alliance Francaise classes offered nearby. The classes were geared towards my weaknesses and capabilities and I could help design my "need to knows" for future travel. I hope to continue taking classes during the wintertime and look forward to doing so. I would highly recommend them especially for an online Skype class. read more

This is a great French school if you're thinking of doing individual tutoring. I took individual classes over Skype with The French Class and I really liked the teachers I worked with, they responded to my exact needs and requests as a student, and they have competitive prices with other French schools in the area. They are also the only French tutors I found who offered 30 minutes vs. 1 hour classes (30 minutes was much more useful for me, and cost effective since I took double the classes). Would wholeheartedly recommend! read more

I've taken both group classes and private lessons from folks at the French Class, and have always been impressed by the quality of the instructors. After Levels 1 and 2, I took a successful trip to France where I spoke French most of the time. An awesome place with dedicated, friendly people. read more

I'm not naturally gifted when it comes to learning languages, but I speak Spanish somewhat fluently but only because I was a Peace Corps volunteer for three years in Latin America. I spent the last three years learning French on my own via Fluenz, the computer program which I must say is excellent. But I wanted to increase my confidence in speaking when I travel to France. I have only taken two classes thus far at The French Class and my experiences have been unbelievable. Everyone there is extremely patient and genuinely nice. They speak French all the time which I love hearing because this helps me to understand how French should be spoken. The classes are non-intimidating and everyone feels very comfortable to make mistakes, which I do quite often. I used to feel terrible trying to speak because I hate making mistakes especially when speaking French because it is such a beautiful language. I made a joke at today's class saying that the French must hate us because we Americans naturally butcher their language when we speak it. Yet, my teacher, Elodie, creates an atmosphere where people are encouraged to talk and she is always upbeat and patient and corrects our mistakes, without judgment. The book and the exercises are very well put together with very clear explanations. I'm so looking forward to taking more classes in the next couple of years to get to the advanced level of French. read more

Lovely, positive language classes taught by native speakers from France. In two 8 week sessions my French has dramatically improved. Super friendly and positive, encouraging atmosphere. read more

I took one 8 week,2.5 hour per week class, at the intermediate level and then signed up for another 8 week class ,at the next level. The first class had 5-6 students , and was pretty good, as a review. The next session had no fewer than 9 students, at various levels of competence, and taught me almost nothing. It seems that there is a lesson plan to be gotten through , at all costs, no matter how many questions the students may have. I felt that certain material had to be covered each week, no matter what. There was little time for explanations and grammar is not really taught. maybe that is their method, but I found it unhelpful. Perhaps , if you want points of grammar explained , it is necessary to take a private lesson. That is fine , but truthfully the group classes were a waste for me. read more

I have been taking classes from the French Class for about 3 months now. My husband is from France, and last night we were out with his friends and they were so blown away by not only how much I could speak, but also by how well I spoke it (in only 3 months!). I realized then that I should at the very least share what a positive experience I have had so far on Yelp. The classes are very small, and there is a real sense of community. The teachers are wonderful and they provide a safe environment where I feel comfortable taking "risks" when speaking in class. I have tried a lot of things to learn languages over the years from Rosetta Stone to college courses, however this is the first program that has worked for me. I highly recommend this school and this program. read more

Excellent school for learning french!! I had taken some french classes in Paris, but it was always kind of a hit or miss. These classes are far by superior. I took from Beginning Level 1 and am in the middle of Level 2. I plan to continue as long as I can. They teach from workbooks they created and they are formulated perfectly, with much thought. I feel as if I have finally learned the basics properly and am slowly getting used to the verbs. I really love the teachers; both Lola and Laurence have their own way of teaching, and their own strong points. I think the key is to attend more than one class. It helps to soak it in and because they have different techniques and there's different students, it isn't boring. With this school, you are allowed to attend as many classes as you want within a week, versus other schools where you pay for one class per week and cannot attend any others. Being able to attend more than one class is gold!! I cannot stress this enough. It helps to cement the material into my head! They also allow you 2 make ups (one on one sessions, 30 min) per term and I've had to use it once. It helps immensely, because I am not one who studies well on my own. Finally, I hope they add Laurence for at least 1 class in Level 3 and beyond, because I'll be sad if she's not teaching our group again! Also, all the staff I've encountered here are very friendly. read more

This is my second time having Dominique Bremond translate documents for me. She is courteous, professional, accurate and fast -- a true problem solver! I had tried to have documents translated from French to English in France, and the price was easily twice as much and half as fast. If you are looking for a translator, look no further! read more

Many thanks to Dominique and Annie for their superb service! I was in need of translation services and I had found Dominique on the French Consulate's website as a certified translator. She responded promptly (the first reply out of 10 translation quote requests) and with a very reasonable price. And to add to her magnificent professionalism, she completed my translations within 4 days! Thanks also to Annie for being so welcoming and attentive to my needs when I came to pick up the official documents! I highly recommend both Annie and Dominique!!! I am ever grateful. read more

My work schedule makes it impossible for me to take classes during the week, and I was thrilled to see that The French Class offers Saturday courses and is geared toward working people. I have been very impressed with the quality of teaching, and as a result the quality of learning, that Dominique creates here. The classes are small (4-8 people), the approach is immersive, and the teachers are all native speakers. French grammar is not the simplest subject to study and the teachers make it accessible and fun. I am not a naturally outgoing person but the classroom climate is not at all intimidating, and everyone gets plenty of time for speaking. I began courses unsure of how long I would stick with it but I'm now going on two years of study with no plans to stop. This is a great school and a great little community as well. I can't recommend The French Class highly enough. C'est super! read more