Ideal for students searching for a wide range of unique courses.
Not ideal for students who do not want to be in the busy heart of Paris.
The good
- Very modern school and technologically advanced
- A wide range of unique courses.
- Small student intake.
- Perfect location for exploring all of Paris (4th arrondissement)
The bad
- Infrequent social activities
- High maximum class size.
Date of my inspection visit at Language Studies International Paris: May 15, 2024
My overall take
Language Studies International (LSI) is located in the 4th arrondissement, within walking distance of the first to the fifth arrondissements. The Seine is a mere 8-minute walk away and the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou is only one minute’s walk away.
One of the things that is great about this school is the modernity. All the classrooms are decorated and furnished to a high standard and equipped with interactive whiteboard, meaning the classes a generally more interactive than many of the other language schools in Paris.
On the other hand, their social programme is limited. Unlike some other schools, they do not offer an extravagant social programme. This may be because the student intake is small with there only being a maximum capacity of 95 students at any one time. The advantage of this, however, is that teachers and staff are more likely to build a personal relationship with the students.
Regarding the teaching and materials, teachers use a combination of methods, so they don’t give out books (so there are no course material fees). Still, they give out photocopies of different books and utilise authentic materials such as videos, podcasts and songs. The teachers use activities which are organised in a way that students can practise grammar, writing skills and conversation skills without it being dull. Homework is not common or compulsory, but if there is, it will be at most 1 hour for the whole week.
In conclusion, the students who would thrive at LSI are generally in their early 20s+ and are looking for a school where they will get hands-on experience. The ideal student is said to be serious about improving their French language skills and not just in Paris for tourism, so if you fit that category, this may be the school for you!
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Language Studies International Paris at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.4 (107 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Large Max. 16 students in Standard French course |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: Excellent Diversity. No nationality more than 10%. Top nationality: Norway |
| Learning intensity | 1 hour max of homework per week |
| Number of students | 95 adults in July 65-85 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 16 years |
| Accreditations | Quality FLE, Bildungsurlaub, Exam Centre for TEF |
| Course range | General English, General Plus, Intensive English, Intensive Plus, Afternoon course, French with History of Art, French with Cooking, 9-Day Compact course, Private Lessons, CCIP, TEF, DELF Exam Preparation |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Residence, Hostel |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 50min/lesson | 1 week: €400 3 weeks: €1200 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €105 Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €26.10 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.
“I have been here four times, and each time, I have stayed in a different apartment in a different part of Paris, but it’s always easy to get to the centre of the city, which is where the school is located. So I can see different areas but can always easily get to where the school is.“
Nathan
48 years from USA
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Daniel Quintero, School Administrator of Language Studies International Paris.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “The location is perfect in the centre of Paris. Most tourist attractions are within 20 minutes of walking or a very short metro. All our teachers are fully qualified, and most of them have been working at the school for several years, and they use a very interactive approach.”
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “Any international student that wants to learn French or improve their French skills and at the same time discover the city, this is the very best option.“
School inspection report
Classrooms
Classrooms are very large and colourful and have air-conditioning and heating, which is not common in all the language schools. Each classroom has large tables for ample working space. There are also multiple windows per classroom, allowing a lot of natural light. Lastly, every classroom is fitted with a TV for interactive teaching purposes.
Facilities
The communal kitchen/lounge area is where students are able to prepare meals or warm up food brought from home. However because the location is great student often buy meals from the surrounding area and eat it in the student lounge. There is ample seating: beanbags, high chairs and lounge chairs in this area.
Surrounding area
The school is very close to the Seine River (8 minute walk) and even closer to the Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou which is only a minute’s walk away. There are many restaurants in this area, mainly on rue Saint Martin where there are different cuisines right at your fingertips. Try out Pizza Piano and thank me later !
Social activities
LSI offer a dynamic social programme. There is a diverse social programme, from history and art lessons four times a year to French cooking classes four times a year. Some of the student’s favourites include French breakfast and wine and cheese tasting, which alternates as an activity every two months. The only downfall of the social programme is there are often only two activities per week.
Trusted student ratings of Language Studies International Paris on the web
| Total | 4.4 (107 ratings) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.4 (102 ratings) |
| Linguland | 4.2 (5 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.
