Immersion program

CAVILAM - Alliance Française

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Course description

Groups of 10 to 15 students maximum
Students join a group from the intensive programme corresponding to their level, as well as attending 14 one-to-one lessons per week (goals, duration and timetable drawn up with the Head of the French Language Department).
Theme-based language workshops promote faster progress in a specific field, with options including oral and written communications, vocabulary, grammar, culture, phonetics and preparation for the DELF/DALF/TCF tests, as well as singing and theatre in July and August.

40 language lessons per week:
18 group lessons corresponding to the student’s level
8 themed language workshops
14 one-to-one lessons

All year round:
Workshops in oral communication, written communication, grammar, vocabulary, civilization, preparation for DELF/DALF diplomas according to examination dates
On request, and for specifi c groups: specialized French language workshops (business French, French for the hotel and tourism industry, legal French, medical French…)
Programme of cultural and leisure activities

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary and Grammar

Class schedule

Course duration
1-52 weeks
Start dates
Every Monday
Classes per week
40 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 45 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday
School holidays
01 Apr 2024, 01 May 2024, 08 May 2024, 09 May 2024, 20 May 2024, 14 Jul 2024

CAVILAM - Alliance Française does not hold classes on the holiday dates above. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Class times

Morning session
08:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Lunch
12:05 PM - 01:55 PM
Afternoon session
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Break
03:35 PM - 03:45 PM
Afternoon session
03:45 PM - 05:15 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

Absolute beginner
Elementary
Pre-intermediate
Intermediate
High intermediate
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level. You may also take this test before your arrival in Vichy.

Class size

Average 12 students
Maximum 15 students

Student age

Age range 16 - 85 years old
Average 24 years old
(22 in the summer)

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school
photos

Photos

  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 1/17
  • City of Vichy 2/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 3/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 4/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 5/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 6/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 7/17
  • Student residence offered by CAVILAM - Alliance Française 8/17
  • Student residence offered by CAVILAM - Alliance Française 9/17
  • Student residence offered by CAVILAM - Alliance Française 10/17
  • Student residence offered by CAVILAM - Alliance Française 11/17
  • Student residence offered by CAVILAM - Alliance Française 12/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 13/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 14/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 15/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 16/17
  • CAVILAM - Alliance Française 17/17
reviews

Reviews

92% recommend

based on 12 reviews
5 stars
1
4 stars
10
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Challenging in a good way"

Larissa Biggers, student from USA

The teachers and staff were warm and welcoming. At the same time, we communicated only in French, which was challenging and instructive for me, Even as an older student not enrolled in the senior program, I felt right at home. The facilities were very basic and could use a facelift, but that is my only complaint.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
School location
Date of study
25 Sep 2023 - 29 Sep 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world, improve my french, and enjoy the very lovely city of Vichy."

Susan OKeefe, student from USA

Overall i had an excellent experience. Vichy is a wonderful city, easy to walk everywhere, many great restaurants, parks, etc.

The housing was great, perfect location, clean, all I needed. However an email listing what is provided and what is not would have been helpful (buy your own toilet paper, laundry soap, trash bags, cleaning supplies, etc). The housekeeping was not done early enough; i arrived on a Sunday and the room was not cleaned until the following Wednesday — a long time without clean towels. No extra trash bag was provided. Small things like this would make a big difference.

My morning instructor Claire was wonderful. Though it was near impossible to hear what other students said, and she did not often repeat it, so that time was of no value to anyone but the one person speaking. Room was noisy from the street but if we shut the windows it was too hot.

My afternoon instructor had a style that I could not adapt to. He had us playing games or speaking to each other, and I cannot learn good french from speaking with others who also don’t speak correctly. He did not teach. So, I changed, and my second teacher was terrific. Pasquale led more vibrant, listening/speaking lessons and stressed vocabulary, which was great.

I had no idea that 90% of the students would be so young, so unfortunately there were no socializing opportunities for me. Other than that, i loved my time in Vichy at Cavilam.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
31 Jul 2023 - 11 Aug 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Learned to speak French more fluently, but mostly because of the family where I stayed"

Julie Camille Cornelisse, student from Netherlands

Classes were nice, small groups, we talked a lot and did various exercises. The other students were really anti-social. They did not talk to many other students and were not very welcoming. I felt a lot alone. Luckily there were more activities organized by CAVILAM. That was nice. Overall; learned a lot, mostly because of the family that I slept, a bit pricy, but it was a good experience

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Date of study
6 Mar 2023 - 10 Mar 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"An incredible learning opportunity that accelerates your language training."

Jessica Wadsworth, student from Canada

I attended CAVILAM in Vichy, France during September/October 2022. The school is quite centrally located in the small town and the facilities are quite good. My only complaint was the cleanliness of the bathrooms. Especially in light of COVID-19, the facility needs more cleaners on site. There is often no soap in the bathrooms etc.

The teachers were all excellent. I have three main teachers in the course of the month I was there. Class each morning (grammar, vocabulary, ready and writing), workshop in the afternoon (speaking, listening, responding to questions etc) and then a one-on-one session three times a week for 90 minutes. This offered an intensive immersion program and really helped accelerate my learning. I know that I experienced a rapid increase in my ability to comprehend french spoken at normal speeds. My vocabulary improved a lot as well but I need more time to become fluent in speaking.

I stayed in the Vichy Residences near the river. I really enjoyed that experience. Each evening I went for a walk around the lake which was the perfect way to relax after a long day. The laundry facilities and lounge areas were also excellent.

In conclusion, I will be looking to return to CAVILAM in Vichy sometime in the Spring. I hope to stay for at least eight weeks.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
12 Sep 2022 - 7 Oct 2022
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Satisfactory but won’t be recommending it to friends"

Suzanne Dempsey, student from Ireland

The accommodation arranged by the school in Vichy was excellent.
Both of my teachers were very good and put in a lot of effort.
The classroom facilities were average but cramped.

The class was large up to 14 people of mixed abilities and so quite slow moving. Most students were in the school for long periods of time and so had a different focus.

The exam at the start to find one’s level was terrible. It was not explained properly what was wanted/needed & it was difficult to understand what was appropriate in terms of an answer. Perhaps it was easier for young people used of doing these sort of exams using multi choice questions but I felt I was put at a lower level than I was able for. I asked to move up a level but was not allowed / accommodated.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
Social activities
School location
Housing
Date of study
12 Sep 2022 - 16 Sep 2022
Would you recommend this school?
No
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"A friendly, inclusive and professional institution with excellent teachers."

Jane Murphy, student from Australia

I think that Cavilam is a professional, very well run institution with excellent teachers and very good resources for the students. It is friendly, inclusive with a wonderful cultural and social programme run by enthusiastic staff. I had some excellent and dedicated teachers, especially Tatiana (class lessons), and Julie Rousseau and Frédérique (for my private lessons).

Accommodation-wise, i very much liked Residence Vichy which is clean, modern and secure with great facilities, including a laundry. I felt that, for me, the first accommodation that I was allocated at Residence Lutetia was not of the standard that I would expect - although i think that a younger person would find it comfortable.

I learnt a great deal of French conversation, grammar and useful vocabulary in my private lessons with which I was very happy - Julie and Frédérique are excellent teachers. I found, however, that - other than with Tatiana - the group classes did not place enough emphasis on the learning of grammar and on correct pronunciation. It may be the accepted technique to teach through an emphasis on conversation but, in my classes, the students would have benefited more from a different approach. In summary, I did not find many of the group classes as helpful as they could have been.

Overall, however, I would return to Cavilam which, as I say, is an excellent educational institution - but, for me, I would prefer - and would benefit more - just to enroll in private lessons and perhaps the afternoon ateliers - not the morning group classes. I think that this option should be available for prospective students.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
2 weeks
Date of study
7 Oct 2019 - 25 Oct 2019
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"It was intensive and difficult, yet productive."

Han Nguyen, student from USA

The least helpful course was my atelier, but this may be because I was not in the proper level and it was a bit disorganized. Housing, activities, location, and teachers were on par. Although, courses seemed to be very focused on DELF, which took away a bit from the overall learning experience.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
4 weeks
Date of study
10 Jun 2019 - 12 Jul 2019
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"This was a phenomenal immersion experience of French culture and language"

Scott Nelson, student from USA

The educational program is absolutely fantastic in every way. The teachers were excellent, the staff friendly and helpful, and the facilities were great. This is a big program especially in the summer and they are good at evaluating and placing students in their appropriate level. There is flexibility depending on what the student wants or needs to learn and the amount of time they have to spend there. One of the key factors that sets this program apart from most other language immersion experiences is the town of Vichy - it is a relatively small typical French town and when you go to the boulangerie and ask for pain au chocolat in a bad accent, the boulanger is unlikely to answer you back in english as always happens in Paris and larger cities. There are not a ton of distractions there but everything you need to have an enjoyable cultural experience is available. The parks and river are beautiful and there are great places to go walking, running and get outdoor exercise. My home stay experience was phenomenal. Every meal was spent talking with my "famile de coeur" and this helped my French as much or more than being in class all day. My only regret is not understanding better the organization of the morning classes, afternoon workshops and private instruction for the "immersion program". I wanted an intense program and experience with speaking and comprehension thus was placed in an afternoon "atelier" for speaking and comprehension. The 3 hr morning class was also mostly speech and comprehension and overall I had very little grammar review. The 14 private classes were great, but given the intensity of the other classes and the homestay I did not have enough time alone to study and take full advantage of the private instruction. In the future I would sign up for "intense" or the "super intense" choices.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Date of study
9 Oct 2017 - 13 Oct 2017
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"It was educational and entertaining."

Chantelle Punch, student from UK

My language teacher was very enthusiastic, funny and very knowledgeable about other languages and cultures which was good because there was a lot of different cultures and nationalities in the class. The building was nice.

I did not like the cuisine sold in the canteen. I went once and never went back.

Apart from that, everything was great. The excursion I went on was very enjoyable.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
11 Jul 2016 - 15 Jul 2016
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"I learned the French language quite well, although the level could have been a bit higher, as the students' level was very diversified. The communication was the best thing I had at CAVILAM."

Maria Christina Siqueira de Souza Campos, student from Brazil

As I wrote before, the class was very diversified, and so the teacher had to attend to all students' difficulties. The teacher I had every morning was very good (Sophie Gouby), but in the afternoons there were good and not so good teachers. The problem was not about their knowledge about the French language, but their little knowledge about History and Social Sciences. As we had in the afternoon ateliers on different subjects, it requires a good general knowledge that was not always enough.

I can say the same thing about the activities promoted every Wednesdays and Saturdays. The first guide I had (going to Moulins) does not have enough knowledge about what he was explaining. But he second one was very good.

The ambiance is very good, the distributed material also. Toilet's are not enough, and there is not enough indication about their location.
The food we had at the canteen was awful, and everyone complained about it. Even the family where I have stayed at during those three weeks said the same. Nevertheless, the fact that I had delicious dinners at their home compensated the horrible lunch.
The comradeship among the students was very agreeable, and I could form good friendships there.

In conclusion, I must say that the family that received me was very, very friendly, their meals were wonderful and the best thing, they invited me to a ballet, a theater play and took me several times to cafés and local pastry shops. Their house is very comfortable and I had a nice time with them.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
2 weeks
Date of study
11 Jan 2016 - 29 Jan 2016
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Educational"

Liza Morozova, student from UK

I only stayed a week, but it was amazing meeting new people of different cultures. This made the lessons particularly enjoyable and interesting. The teachers were engaging and I progressed a lot in my five days at Cavilam due to everything being in French (even when you didn't understand a word- they would explain it to you in French!). The facilities were well equipped.

The activities organized by the school were interesting and allowed me to engage fully with French culture: tasting sessions, movie nights and trips to nearby attractions such as Clémant Ferrand.

There are plenty of cafes around the school where you can eat lunch (food in the canteen was not good!), which was lovely.

I also thoroughly enjoyed staying with a host family, who helped me settle in quickly and plunge myself into the French culture!

Vichy is a lovely spot, with parks, a cinema and plenty of shops and cafes. It is a historic and architecturally interesting town. I loved it!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Date of study
26 Oct 2015 - 30 Oct 2015
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"It was nice and helpfull"

Karina Oleynik, student from Russia

Everything at Cavilam is nice and ... moderate :) Nice though small classes, nice teachers, constant activities (from dancing to excursions, some sports, free and payable) - you can always choose what you want. If you really plan to study french - the place is very good. The city is so small and everything is so calm here and boring that you have nothing to do but to study language. Some teachers are very slow, but if you progress you can change the group every week - I did it 3 times for the period. But for that you have to study at home as well - not just in classes, and you have to be pro-active. Your teacher will not push you to learn. My apartment was very small (8-10 sq.m in total) and moderate but clean and within 4 min walk to the Cavilam - I really loved it.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
29 Jul 2013 - 23 Aug 2013
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
housing

Housing

CAVILAM - Alliance Française offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast and dinner

S$ 290
weekly
Age range: 16 - 85 years old
Location: Vichy and Suburbs
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (12 meals per week)
Facilities: Laundry and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by other
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 07:00 PM
Check-out: Saturday, before 10:00 AM
S$ 290
From the time you register, the accommodation office at CAVILAM - Alliance française makes every effort to make your stay in Vichy as enjoyable as possible.
Arrival in Vichy
. You will be personally greeted at the Vichy train station.
. If you arrive at the Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon or Paris airports, we can provide for your transport to Vichy upon request.

Share day to day life in a French family with an individual room– the best way to discover the French way of life and improve your language skills! (laundry service, bed linen and towels provided)

Host family accommodation allows the student to learn about French culture through immersion and
make rapid progress in language acquisition.
We work with about 350 host-families in Vichy and its suburbs. All of our host-families are carefully selected and visited every year.
If the families live outside of Vichy, they must take care of their transfer everyday from the house to the school and back.
apartment

Studio for 1 person

S$ 337
weekly
Age range: 18 - 85 years old
Location: In the city center of Vichy
Housing type: Private apartment
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 05:00 PM
Check-out: Saturday, before 10:00 AM
S$ 337
From the time you register, the accommodation office at CAVILAM - Alliance française makes every effort to make your stay in Vichy as enjoyable as possible.
Arrival in Vichy
. You will be personally greeted at the Vichy train station.
. If you arrive at the Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon or Paris airports, we can provide for your transport to Vichy upon request.
Housing
We offer a range of options to suit each student’s needs:

Opt for independence + ! Accommodation in a single or double studio flat: bed linen and crockery provided but no towels, private kitchen and bathroom, private TV, (optional: laundry)

The studio flats are located in the city center 5 to 15 minutes maximum walking distance from the school.

For information and to complete the 2021 rates, for long-term stays (over 3 or 4 months), students can get a special monthly rate between 380 € and 500 €

Studio for 2 people

S$ 374
weekly
Age range: 18 - 85 years old
Location: In the city center of Vichy
Housing type: Shared apartment
Room type: 2-person shared room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 04:00 PM
Check-out: Saturday, before 09:00 AM
S$ 374
From the time you register, the accommodation office at CAVILAM - Alliance française makes every effort to make your stay in Vichy as enjoyable as possible.
Arrival in Vichy
. You will be personally greeted at the Vichy train station.
. If you arrive at the Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon or Paris airports, we can provide for your transport to Vichy upon request.
Housing
We offer a range of options to suit each student’s needs:

Opt for independence + ! Accommodation in a single or double studio flat: bed linen and crockery provided but no towels, private kitchen and bathroom, private TV, (optional: laundry)

The studio flats are located in the city center 5 to 15 minutes maximum walking distance from the school.
Most of our residences provide Internet connection within their facilities.

"Le 86", Premium residence at CAVILAM, for 1 person

S$ 777
weekly
Age range: 18 - 85 years old
Location: In the city center of Vichy
Housing type: Private apartment
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, free internet, tV room, air conditioning, heating, other, and soundproofing
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 07:00 PM
Check-out: Saturday, before 10:00 AM
S$ 777
Choose the quality, proximity and comfort of our new residence!
Ideally located in front of the main building and 5 minutes walk from the city center, our residence “Le 86” welcomes you in a contemporary setting with tasteful decoration.
The 23 large studios with an area of 30m2 meet the highest standards and requirements. Numerous relaxation areas complete the services.

Premium appart’hotel style accommodation for single or double stays.

Included in the price:
Air conditioner
Soundproofing
Security (separate entry beeps)
Furnished and equipped kitchenette (microwave, hob, coffee machine, refrigerator, extractor, crockery and kitchen utensils)
Spacious private bathroom with walk-in shower and wc with hand shower
Flat screen TV and WiFi connection
Hospitality products (shower gel, soap, shampoo)
Bed sheets and large bath towels, quality bedding
Linen change and cleaning service once a week
Common outdoor terrace
Housing accessible for people with reduced mobility

In addition (on request):
Secure parking accessible 24/7
Laundry room (washing machine and dryer) accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

"Le 86", Premium residence at CAVILAM, for 2 people

S$ 880
weekly
Age range: 18 - 85 years old
Location: In the city center of Vichy
Housing type: Private apartment
Room type: 2-person shared room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, free internet, tV room, air conditioning, heating, other, and soundproofing
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 07:00 PM
Check-out: Saturday, before 10:00 AM
S$ 880
Choose the quality, proximity and comfort of our new residence!
Ideally located in front of the main building and 5 minutes walk from the city center, our residence “Le 86” welcomes you in a contemporary setting with tasteful decoration.
The 23 large studios with an area of 30m2 meet the highest standards and requirements. Numerous relaxation areas complete the services.

Premium appart’hotel style accommodation for single or double stays.

Included in the price:
Air conditioner
Soundproofing
Security (separate entry beeps)
Furnished and equipped kitchenette (microwave, hob, coffee machine, refrigerator, extractor, crockery and kitchen utensils)
Spacious private bathroom with walk-in shower and wc with hand shower
Flat screen TV and WiFi connection
Hospitality products (shower gel, soap, shampoo)
Bed sheets and large bath towels, quality bedding
Linen change and cleaning service once a week
Common outdoor terrace
Housing accessible for people with reduced mobility

In addition (on request):
Secure parking accessible 24/7
Laundry room (washing machine and dryer) accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you. If you wish to receive your paperwork by express mail, you will be charged 90 € when you register.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Vichy based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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questions

Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from CAVILAM - Alliance Française staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

Ask a question
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