Ideal for students who are looking for a holistic and engaging approach to language learning.
Not ideal for students who want consistency in the group size of their class.
The good
- One of the most affordable schools in Nice.
- They offer a variety of unique courses for different age groups.
- Located in a safe and quiet residential area.
The bad
- Smaller classrooms on average (in comparison to the other language schools in Nice)
- Unfavourable cancellation policies where there are not enough students for a class.
- No limit for the number of students they can accept, so there can be a lot of students at any one time.
Date of my inspection visit at International House Nice: May 28, 2024
My overall take
International House (IH) is a great school for students looking for a school right in the heart of Nice. The school building is shared with an independent college, and because of that, students can communicate with many different students from various study backgrounds.
IH offers a comprehensive and immersive language programme in both French and English. The teachers are very well trained, and despite the size of the classes, they ensure that all the students receive individual attention. As for extracurricular activities that the school provides, the students, when they arrive, have a guided tour of Nice by a teacher in French to let students practise their listening and speaking; every last Friday, an “Aperitif” is held where all classes/students meet to speak together (practise with other students from other levels).
The school is very modern, and they utilise technology in every class: laptops, tablets, video projectors, TVs, and even an IH app that they assign homework on. Additionally, teachers use textbooks, which have digital materials and certain other materials depending on the needs and level of the class and whatever objective they are trying to achieve in their lessons.
IH provides students with a holistic and engaging approach to language learning. They offer courses for young adults and mature individuals. There is a diverse range of courses for students with varied interests and from different backgrounds. I wouldn’t necessarily say there is an ideal student, but the age largely trends below 25, which is the ideal age range for this school.
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International House Nice at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.2 (109 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average Max. 15 students in General French course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Good Diversity No nationality more than 19% Top nationality: German |
| Learning intensity | Each lesson is finished with 15-20 minutes of optional homework based on something helpful to practice i.e. grammar |
| Number of students | 300 adults + 20-30 juniors in July 200 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 16 years (15 in exceptional circumstances) |
| Accreditations | Qualiopi, IH World Organisation |
| Course range | General French Course, Combination Course, French + Art de Vivre, French + Découverte, French + Experience French and France (Activities), Conversation Course, Family Programme, Online Conversation Course, Online General French Course, Online Private Course, Private Course, University Preparation – UNI, DELF/DALF Preparation Course – PREP, French + Gourmet, OFII – Immigrant Integration Language course, Europass Teachers Training Programme |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Student Residence, Hotel Partnership |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €279 3 weeks: €747 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €60 Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €17.90 per 60 minute tuition |
My tour of the school & video review
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Fairouz Mekhnache, Deputy Director of International House Nice.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
Fairouz Mekhnache: “We have very experienced teachers here who really understand the needs of our students.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student who would enjoy and benefit from their time here?”
Fairouz Mekhnache: “Our school is well suited for all kinds of audiences, young audiences and mature audiences. We provide a nice, holistic, engaging experience for our students.“
School inspection report
Classrooms
The classrooms range in size, all the classrooms are modern and some even have balcony access.
Facilities
There is no real communal area, but there is a vending machine and coffee machine accessible to all students and teachers.
Surrounding area
The school is within short walking distance of Jean-Médecin, Galeries Lafayette Nice Masséna and Promenade des Anglais. There are a few cafes in the immediate surroundings, one of which I highly recommend, DØM, for its delicious sandwiches and mouthwatering pastries.
Social activities
At first glance, it is harder to tell which days activities are organised for, unlike many other schools that advertise the activities according to the days of the week. But besides that, there are many unique activities, including many pub options, which I haven’t seen promoted as much in other school social programmes. This activity programme is very suited to students who not only want cultural activities but also want to experience the Nice nightlife.
Trusted student ratings of International House Nice on the web
| Total | 4.2 (109 ratings) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.2 (107 ratings) |
| Boa Lingua | 3.0 (2 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.
