Ideal for students who want to mix with native French students.
Not ideal for students looking for a school that strictly follows a textbook.
The good
- Amazing facilities (multiple communal lounges, a courtyard and rooftop terrace).
- Access to networking with French creative writing students .
- Great range of courses.
The bad
- Change over between incoming students and graduating students can be quite hectic.
Date of my inspection visit at Les ateliers FL Paris: May 16, 2024
My overall take
Les ateliers FL Paris can be found in the Batignolles district, an excellent location for exploring all of Paris. The school building is extremely large, with five different floors, but students from the French creative writing school also use a few of the floors. The positive of this is that students from Les ateliers FL often can interact with native French speakers during activities/events and during their break times.
Despite the large intake, the one thing they focus on at this school above everything is giving all the students a personalised experience. The students I spoke to emphasised how comfortable and family the school had become to them. This is not usually the case in large schools. They also praised the classes and how well the teachers catered the lessons to the student’s individual needs; this includes skills students are struggling with and class trips when the weather permits. On the other hand, there is no textbook that they strictly follow, so if you are a student who wants a school where the teachers strictly follow the structure of one textbook, you should reconsider studying here.
What stood out to me was the number of awards won for being France’s best French language school. They have won the Star Awards 5 times in 2006, 2007, 2018, 2019 and 2020), which is quite impressive if I do say so myself.
If you are looking for a dynamic and personable school with a large student population and a proven track record of being one of the best language schools in Paris (and France), then this is the perfect school for you.
Book Les ateliers FL Paris with exclusive discount
Les ateliers FL Paris at a glance
| Rating of former students | 4.4 (80 ratings) |
| Class size | Lingo Traveller rating: Average/Very Large Max. 14 students in Standard French course (morning) Max. 18 students in Standard French course (afternoon) |
| Diversity of nationalities | Lingo Traveller rating: N/A Top nationality: All nationalities are equal |
| Learning intensity | Au pair – 2 hours of homework a week All other courses 1 hour + homework per week but it depends on the student’s level and class |
| Number of students | 400 adults in July 200 adults in January |
| Minimum student age | 7 years specific junior course 17 years adult course |
| Accreditations | Label Qualité FLE, IALC, FLE.FR, ALTO, FIPF, CCIP, ATOUT France, Campus France, Detadock, CSN, Bildungsurlaub |
| Course range | Standard French Programme, Super Intensive Programme,Long-Term Super Intensive Programme, Long-Term Standard Programme, One-to-One Lessons, Two-to-One Lessons, French + Job, French + Internship, French + Fashion, French + DELF/DALF Exam Preparation, French + Cooking, Teacher Training Programme, French for Au Pairs |
| Accommodation types | Homestay, Residence, Apart’hotel |
| Price | |
| Standard Group course 20 lessons/week: 45min/lesson | 1 week: €370 3 weeks: €1110 |
| Additional fees | Inscription fee: €80 Course material fee: none |
| Price level – Standard Group course (based on 3 weeks incl. all fees) | €26.40 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.
“The teachers are really nice and chill, so it’s not a tense atmosphere. But they really cater to everyone’s interests, they keep everyone engaged, and you feel at home and comfortable with them.“
Ezra
24 years from Canada
“Here has been great; it has become like my family. The people at the front desk know about me and interact every time I walk into the room. My professors are intentional and ask about our lives, and they care.“
Raylin
29 years from USA
Questions to school director
Excerpts below from my conversation with Sylvie Sinnonio, General Manager of Les ateliers FL.
Me: “What sets your school apart from others in the city?“
School: “Even though we are a big school, we still provide personalised follow-ups to all our students. We also have another company [in our building]…who run writing workshops for French people. We propose activities and events to mix both French and other Les ateliers FL students so they can practice their French and increase their network.“
Me: “Is there a particular type of student for whom your school is especially suitable?
School: “Mostly adults, 20+. This is more attractive for them because of the experiences we give them.”
School inspection report
Classrooms
Classrooms are generally very spacious, airy and modern. They are all furnished with large tables and have smart TVs in every classroom.
Facilities
There is a sizeable library on the ground floor, an enormous student lounge and courtyard, and a rooftop lounge and terrace. Unlike any other school, I have seen, silent isolation booths are available for students who want to take a time out during their day, perfect for escaping to in moments of anxiety or stress.
Surrounding area
Les ateliers FL can be found in the middle of the 8th/9th arrondissements of Paris. The prominent landmarks in close proximity are the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann and several theatres. As usual, many eateries, restaurants and shops are close to the school, and the local “Europe” metro stop is only a 3-minute walk away.
Social activities
There is a mix of cultural activities and fun activities. The only downside is that the activities could be more creative (you could easily do the excursions independently), and there are usually only two visits per week.
Trusted student ratings of Les ateliers FL Paris on the web
| Total | 4.4 (80 ratings) |
|---|---|
| LanguageCourse.net | 4.4 (46 ratings) |
| Linguland | 4.4 (34 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 Les ateliers FL Paris
9, rue de Saint-Pétersbourg 75008 Paris, France
Les ateliers FL Paris – Reviews & Exclusive Discounts at LanguageCourse.net »
