Ideal for students who want a small school, with a family atmosphere.
Not ideal for students looking for a school that strictly follows a textbook.
The good
- Modern building.
- Great range of courses.
- Great location (7 minutes from Place de la Comédie).
The bad
- The teachers change often weekly, which affects the “atmosphere” of the classes.
- Your class schedule changes weekly (from AM to PM and vice versa).
Date of my inspection visit at Accent Français Montpellier: May 21, 2024
My overall take
Accent Français Montpellier is in the heart of Montpellier, a 7-minute walk from Place de la Comédie and within walking distance of the city’s prominent landmarks. Additionally, the school is only around the corner from a street filled with food options and a three-minute walk from the tram that takes you to the nearest beach.
Many schools say they aim to give students a personalised experience, but this is one of the few schools where I experienced this personally. The school director, Stéphanie Checa, was so warm and inviting that I felt at home. I even started considering Accent Français as a potential language school for myself. This is saying something, coming from an unbiased 3rd party, but the students also raved about how comfortable and at home they felt at this school. Unsurprisingly, they have won awards for being a Superstar French Language school five years in a row.
The classes were also described as not boring with the interactive teaching methods used by the teachers. The typical day at Accent Français includes becoming actors in class, learning from authentic documents amongst so much more. This method makes the learning very efficient and practical for everyday life.
Outside of class, there are several academic workshops for the continued practice of French. On Monday, a pedagogical seminar, free workshops every Thursday (between January and June) where teachers teach on a topic of their choice, Wednesday and Thursday is also the popular language conversation club, where students meet with each other and locals, and finally, Friday, an activity exchange evening where students mingle with other students for board games, wine tasting, etc.
If you are looking for a small school with a family atmosphere at an affordable price in Montpellier, this would be the perfect school for you. Although all ages are welcome, the typical age range at this school is between 18-26, and these students are usually more long-term.
Book Accent Français Montpellier with exclusive discount
Accent Français Montpellier at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.2 (176 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Small Max. 12 students in Standard French course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Excellent diversity No nationality more than 12% Top nationality: German |
| Learning intensity | Dependant on the teacher but ranges between 1-2 hours of homework per week. Sometimes longer if the teachers set them projects |
| Number of students | 180 adults + 50 juniors in July 90 adults + 10 juniors in January |
| Minimum student age | 16 years (15 years in exceptional cases) |
| Accreditations | Groupement FLE, IALC, Label Qualite FLE |
| Course range | Standard French Course, Intensive Course, Summer Course, Combined Course, Super Intensive Course, Junior All-Inclusive Summer Package (16 to 18 years old), Junior French Standard (16 to 18 years old), Intensive Gap Year/Semester, Standard Gap Year/Semester, French + Internship, French for University, Professional French, French + DELF/DALF preparation, French + Exam Preparation, French for Teachers – Individual Coaching |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Student Residence, Apart’hotel |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 24 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €260 3 weeks: €780 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €80 Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €15.90 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Student voices
Unfiltered comments from random students I met at the school and asked about their experience.
“Every teacher, manager and student are all friends. The atmosphere is so friendly here and you don’t feel alone.”
Nina
19 years from Iran
“I don’t feel too far from my home; people here work and study and teach in a way that makes you forget you are not in your home country any more.”
Hafez
19 years from Iran
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Stéphanie Checa, School Director of Accent Français Montpellier.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “The student size of the school is really important for us so we can know every student by their name, and we can really offer them this personalised experience and follow up with a high standard quality [of teaching].”
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “It really depends on the season. I would say during the low season, would be a long-term student going to university (18-26 years old) or adult students with a more senior profile (50+). In the peak season, that would be teenagers who are getting ready for their end-of-school exams or getting a diploma in French.“
School inspection report
Classrooms
There are 12 classrooms split between 2 buildings (8 in building 1, 4 in building 2). Classrooms are all roughly the same size, and even though not every classroom has windows, the glass walls/door allow a lot of light into the classroom. Every classroom is modernly furnished with large tables and smart TVs.
Facilities
There is no large lounge or dedicated cafeteria in either building, but the are small seating areas spread across the two buildings as well as a mini lounge in the main building.
Surrounding area
A 7-minute walk from Place de la Comédie and within walking distance of the city’s prominent landmarks. Additionally, Rue de Verdun is right by the school with several eateries, at many of which Accent Français students receive a discount.
Social activities
There is a mix of cultural excursions and academic activities. The social programme is also really great because it provides options for multiple activities that can be done in one day. So students can attend these activities as part of the school-organised group or individually with their friends.
Trusted student ratings of Accent Français Montpellier on the web
| Total | 4.2 (176 ratings) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.2 (176 ratings) |
Ratings as of June 28, 2024
Why no Google or Facebook ratings? Schools may have requested Facebook, Google or Trustpilot reviews only from those students that previously gave positive after-course evaluations. I only trust ratings from independent booking platforms/agencies, that allow exclusively clients who booked via their platform to rate the schools. I have checked each of these sites above and they have no disproportional number of positive vs negative reviews.
Location of Accent Français Montpellier
2, Rue Jules Ferry, Gares, Centre, Montpellier, Hérault, Occitania, 34064, France
Accent Français Montpellier – Reviews & Exclusive Discounts at LanguageCourse.net »
