• the school
• adult programmes
• accommodation
• leisure
• about lyon
• flights and airports
• student visa information

the school

Located on a peninsula surrounded by two rivers in the centre of Lyon, ESL Lyon’s facilities are inside a beautiful 19th-century building on the banks of the Rhone in the midst of the cultural and festive offerings of the city’s downtown core. The school features 8 spacious, bright classrooms. With its high ceilings, each of these classrooms proudly boasts its own fireplace. The facilities are equipped with wifi service so that you can access your e-mail and surf the web free of charge; furthermore, a number of fixed computer stations are available. As the school is located just a few steps away from Lyon’s largest city square, the Place Bellecour, right after class you can head over to the district’s many cafes and restaurants, which serve as the favourite meeting spots of Lyon’s many students. Lyon’s most popular pedestrian shopping zones are located in the immediate vicinity of the school. And if you want to travel around the city, a metro station and a bus stop are just 5 minutes on foot from the school.

Facilities of ESL Lyon:
• 8 classrooms
• Free WiFi
• Maximum number of students 90

Adult programmes

Standard Course:
The General French course is a standard course that will enable you to build solid foundations in all the main aspects of the French language while keeping a large part of the day free for extra-curricular activities.

Facts:
Weeks: 1 - 52
Class Max: 12
Lessons per week: 20
Lesson time: 45 minutes
Levels: Beginner to advanced
Start Dates: Every Monday, *except complete beginners, start at certain dates only

Intensive Course
In choosing the Intensive French course, you will be taking the opportunity to progress more rapidly in learning French thanks to 5 extra lessons per week focussing on oral communication. You will still have plenty of free time for extra-curricular activities.

Facts:
Weeks: 1 - 52
Class Max: 12
Lessons per week: 25
Lesson time: 45 minutes
Levels: Elementary to advanced
Start Dates: Every Monday

Super Intensive Course
The Super Intensive module of 30 lessons per week allows for rapid progress. With six lessons per day, you will quickly reach the goals that you set for yourself. The sixth lesson of the day focuses on written skills.

Facts:
Weeks: 1 - 52
Class Max: 12
Lessons per week: 30
Lesson time: 45 minutes
Levels: Elementary to advanced
Start Dates: Every Monday

Private course
Private lessons focus on the specific needs and objectives of participants. After receiving your completed questionnaire, we will determine the themes and methods for

Facts:
Weeks: Intensity and duration of the course according to your goals
Class Max: 1
Lessons per week: Intensity and duration of the course according to your goals
Lesson time: 60 minutes
Levels: Elementary to advanced
Available: all year round, except July and August

DELF (Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française B1, B2)
Our three DELF exam preparation modules of 4, 6 or 8 weeks prepare you to sit the DELF examination, which is organised at the regional examination centres during the last week of your course. Please keep in mind the enrolment deadline of 2-3 months before the exam.
TCF Standard course + 5 TCF Lessons Test de Connaissance du Français.

Facts:
Course duration: 4, 6 or 8 weeks
Class Max: 8
Lessons per week: 25 (Standard course + 5 DELF Lessons)
Lesson time: 45 minutes
Levels: Elementary to upper intermediate
Exam dates: 4 per year

TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français)
Our TCF exam preparation modules of 2, 4 or 6 weeks allow you to prepare for the TCF examination, which you can sit directly at our schools each last Thursday of the month. The enrolment deadline is one month before the exam. The enrolment fees for the obligatory part of the exam are included in the course price.

Facts:
Course duration: 2, 4 or 6 weeks
Class Max: 8
Lessons per week: 25 (Standard course + 5 TCF Lessons)
Lesson time: 45 minutes
Levels: Elementary to advanced
Exam dates: one each month of the year*

French + Wines
3 afternoons per week
Lyon is located beneath two internationally recognized viticultural regions: the Bourgogne and the Vallée du Rhône areas. ESL benefits from that, to offer you an introduction to oenology in addition to your French course. Together with a professional sommelier, you will familiarize with the flavours of red and white wines from these vineyards, visit Lyon’s wine cellars and discover the secrets of how to make a good wine. Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé !

French + Cooking
3 afternoons per week
Lyon is the French capital of gastronomy – and this for centuries. In the kitchen of chef Sylvain’s restaurant, provided with an apron and following the master’s advices, you will participate in the preparation of a typical local dish, which you will then enjoy over a glass of good wine and together with your fellow colleagues. During this culinary experience, you will also have the opportunity to discover the numerous markets running along the Saône, meet marketers who will introduce you to the specific vocabulary of their field, or yet enjoy the delicious works of a local pastry chef. Bon appétit, chers gourmets!

50+ Programme
Available in May and September
This programme is designed for students over 50 years of age, who wish to improve their French language skills while being immersed in a French-speaking culture and region. Classes comprise an average of 6 students, with a guarantee of a maximum of 8 students. Lessons are based mainly on French communication skills for travel and tourism, complemented by grammar and written expression. Our teachers are aware of the specific needs and requirements of students over 50 years of age. Classes are therefore adapted to allow students to approach learning the French language in an optimal manner, closely linked to the culture of the country.

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Accomodation:

Host Family
Staying with a host family offers another dimension of language learning that takes place naturally when you are not even thinking-about it during mealtime conversation or a “movie” night or while playing a board game. Homestays with host families are an excellent opportunity to soak up the local culture as you discover the way of living, expressions and the daily life of native speakers. We are very well acquainted with all of our host families, and each family has satisfied our quality criteria.

Students’ apartments
The students’ apartments are located in the heart of the city within walking distance of the school, business centres, restaurants, bars, cinemas and public transports. This accommodation is intended for students who wish to make socialising a priority while enjoying a high degree of independence. Very comfortable single and double rooms are available. All apartments feature a television set, a fully equipped kitchen, a washing machine, a free Internet connection as well as WiFi access.

Hotels and hostels
ESL has negotiated special rates in a variety of hotels and boarding houses that reflect a range of categories. These establishments, located near the course centres, fill up relatively quickly during the summer months. If you are interested in this type of accommodation or would like to make your own hotel arrangements, please contact us directly.

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Leisure

If you want to make the most of your free time, Lyon is the ideal city for you: shops, cinemas, exhibitions, concerts, sports centres, bars, restaurants, discos… just as many opportunities for you to go out with friends, to go for walks, or to “live it up”. This rich diversity means that there is something for every taste and every budget. Those who love old stone structures will rejoice at the chance to explore Roman Lugdunum’s two thousand years of history, and lovers of fine dining will be spoilt for choice. The hinterlands and countryside around Lyon deserve enough time to go hiking or biking or to taste the latest vintages of Beaujolais wines. The city’s closeness to the Mediterranean, to Paris or to Geneva make Lyon a preferred starting point for grand excursions.

Some events to keep in mind:

About Lyon

Flights and Airports

ESL is located 30 Min. from Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport.

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Student visa information

Do you need a visa?
The procedure of the received visa request depends on the student’s nationality and on the duration of the stay. To know the correct proceed, it is important to examine if a visa is necessary or not; for that you consult the State Department.

Procedure to attain the visa
- Fill out the questionnaire for a « short stay » visa
- Prepare your files and the following documents :

• Recent passport-sized photograph
• Valid travel document (valid for at least three months longer than the visa applied for)
• Ticket for the entire outward and return journey (at the time of the application's presentation, only documentary evidence of the reservation is required)
• Documentary evidence of training course pursued: certificate of pre-registration or registration at a private or public educational establishment, or at a vocational training or continuous training establishment, certificate of receipt of grant/scholarship, certificate of participation in a European Union training programme, standard letter from the DDTEFP (Departmental Employment and Vocational Training Directorate) in the case of a stage d'information (work shadowing scheme), or traineeship/placement agreement between the firm and the training establishment*
• Documentary evidence of accommodation in France: attestation d'accueil (official proof of residence or projected residence), hotel reservation, title deeds or rental agreement, or any documentary evidence of ownership or rental of accommodation* Documentary evidence of means of support for the duration of the stay: currency, international bank card, traveller's cheques or certificate of receipt of a grant stating its duration and amount
• Assistance agreement covering medical and repatriation expenses, where appropriate

*You receive these confirmations from the ESL, after the regulation of teaching and accommodation costs. Then take up contact with the embassy of your country in France.

The treatment of the visa request lasts normally 2 to 15 days.

Remarks
The visa request « short stay » must be placed with the French embassy in the student’s country.
The extension of the visa « short stay » its not possible in France, for this the student has to go back to his country.

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