Teaching and education at L' Etoile

The teachers

The teachers, native French speakers, are graduates of French Universities with the equivalent of Masters degrees in French as a foreign language (FLE). They teach all classes in French.


Method of teaching

Teachers at L'Etoile use a communicative method of teaching based on active participation from the students. Teachers use recent FLE manuals as well as newspapers, audio documents, magazines, movies, songs and any support that could make learning French lively, enjoyable and efficient. Students won't have to buy any books while they're at l'Etoile.


The students have homework to do each day, which the teachers correct on a personal and individual basis and return to the students the next day. These exercises are made to develop written competency. There are various topics and types of homework meant to ensure that at the end of the courses the students will have an equivalent level of oral and written French and be prepared to live in France, use French language at work or prepare entry exams to universities.


When they arrive, students will have to take a test, to make sure, that are perfectly placed and study at the right level. This test is free and can be taken every Monday morning at 11:00 am. It is followed by a meeting with a teacher to validate the results.

Placement of the students depends on the level obtained with the test. Courses take place in the morning (from 9:00 am to 11:00 am or from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm) or in the afternoon (from 1:00 pm to 03:00 pm and from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm).

The students have a study hall at their disposal as well as a library and free access to the video library and a free access to internet .  They also have magazines and newspapers at their disposal. The school is equipped with food and drink machines and with free access computers. Students can alson use the school internet connection with their laptop.


Courses

- General French courses  

Courses are held from Monday to Friday, 2 hours a day. Courses include vocabulary, conversational French, phonetics, oral and written work etc.

The final level of achievements depends, of course, of the starting level, the length of the session and the diligence and motivation of the students. The following is only indicative information.

Program summary for a 3 month session:

• Beginner: This course is designed to be a practical approach to the French language. You will quickly improve your oral and written comprehension of the French language, as well as your knowledge of French grammar, syntax and vocabulary. The goal of this course is to learn basic conversational French.
  
  
• Elementary : This course is intended for students who already have some basis in French. You will be refreshing your basics and working on conjugation and more vocabulary. The goal is to be able to express your opinions, tastes etc.
  
  
• Intermediate 1 and 2  : Deepening the basics. You will learn to master advanced conjugation: pluperfect, conditional and subjunctive and advanced conversational French. Goal: Become autonomous and use advanced conversational French.
  
  
• Avanced 1 et 2 : Perfecting grammar and conjugation. Goal : Master written and oral French, be able to express yourself in any situation
  
  
• Perfecting : You already know grammar and conjugation but need to clear up some particular points.

- Specialized French (tourism, medical, business, etc.)
Upon request, courses can be organized at any time during the year for a group or individuals.

- 2 Intensive Summer Sessions
L'Etoile proposes intensive summer sessions during July and August. Classes are from Monday to Friday . These sessions are available to all students, from beginner to perfecting levels. More information here.