Student's comments

Elizabeth EVANS American
21/06/2010
I am very much liking my time here. My French Family is just so perfect for me, I could not ask for better.
My hostess told me that I am part of their very small family now, and I am thankful.
I feel that this is an experience that will influence my lifetime.

 

Lara SCHANZER US
10/03/2010
The IFALPES program offers students a chance to be completely submerged in the French Language. Classes are composed of four-hour blocks the subjects ranging from grammar, conversation, and oral comprehension. The staff is excellent. The teachers at IFALPES are there to help you and support you throughout your studies; they are wonderful resources. The program is formulated around your needs and capabilities, and to some extent the students will play a role in forming the outline of the class. IFALPES is in actuality a part if the private university IPAC where French students specialize in economics, engineering as well as multiple other subjects. Because classes are held in the same building one is able to communicate with French students and partake in school and student sponsored activities. This becomes your most favorable resource for making acquaintances and truly delving into the language, as one will find within the French language three different levels ranging from the familiar to the bourgeois. The most difficult part of living abroad for me has been making friends with the citizens of the country, thus the access to student activities allows you to take part in the social life of the French youth. The IFALPES program is an excellent choice for study abroad students, who can only attain a basic level of French in their country. If you are serious about becoming fluent in the French language IFALPES can set you in the right direction.

 

Karen Bogaert Belgian
29/01/2010
My trip to Chambery was in one word incredible. It was even more than that. Before I left for my trip of 4 and a half months, I had some doubts. Would the school help me improve my French, was my host family going to be nice, did I choose the right school, etc. But my doubts were unnecessary. From the moment I arrived at school for the first time, I knew I made the right choice.

Everyone was exceptionally friendly. My host family was also incredibly nice, and well-chosen. In the several months I stayed in Chambery, I met people who I will stay in touch with for probably the rest of my life.

The school has an awful lot to do with the fact that this was a trip that I’ll never forget. The teachers aren’t only there to teach you French, they are there to help you, whenever you have a problem (weather that problem was about your French or anything else, it didn’t matter). They are always standing in front of the class with such an enthusiasm, that it’s hard not to love to go to school every day. This encourages you to work hard and because of this, you speak French before you know it.

Every weekend, the school organizes excursions. These excursions go from skiing in the winter to hiking in the summer.

I really loved it all, and I’m sorry that it’s over. This was a journey I’ll never forget. I can’t even put in words how awesome it was.
Thank you so much IFalpes!!!

 

Caitlin Poling American
31/12/2009
My time at Ifalpes in Chambery was truly amazing. Not only did I learn about the French language and culture through my classes and host family, but I also learned more about the world from my fellow students who hailed from all over the world. In addition, our trips to the UN in Geneva, Mont Blanc, and Grenoble were interesting and informative.

My study abroad program at Ifalpes expanded my horizons and my worldview. I returned home after my stay in Chambery a more outgoing and independent individual with a far better comprehension of French than I had before. I am so glad that I chose to study at IFAlpes Chambery.

 

R.A. Mathias Malmgren Sweden
I studied a couple of weeks at Ifalpes in Chambéry and the only thing I regret is that I couldn't stay for a much longer period.

The first thing which strokes me when I arrived in Chambéry was that everyone I met was so nice, friendly and welcoming. This picturesque little town located in a beautiful mountain environment and with its friendly inhabitants makes studying here a really pleasant experience.

So if you want to gain new language skills in a friendly atmosphere and in a lovely environment which also gives you the opportunity to make many new international friends I really can recommend Ifalpes and Chambéry!

 

Margarita KOUZNÉTSOVA Professeur de Français à Moscou
J’ai passé à Annecy le temps merveilleux. J’ai beaucoup vu et j’ai beaucoup appris.

 

John Beckett South African
28/08/2009
I was pleasantly surprised by the dedication and interest shown by the teachers. Although the system followed was not what I was used to from a very structured university background, my French level progressed fast and within a short space of time I was able to have meaningful conversations with other native French speakers.

 

Martin Broneske Germany
31/07/2009
IFALPES est une école très bien où particulièrement les professeurs sont époustouflants car ils pouvaient transmettre le sujet aux étudiants naturellement et de manière facile à comprendre. Il me plaisait beaucoup d’améliorer l’accent à l’expression oral ainsi que les excursions extrascolaires bien organisées.

J’ai apprécié mon voyage à l’IFALPES car j’ai rencontré beaucoup de personnes qui finalement sont devenues mes amis. En plus je voudrais remercier toutes les personnes qui m’ont rendu le séjour en France possible et aussi qui m’ont aidé à améliorer mon niveau de français. -Merci beaucoup IFALPES-

 

Elena KOTLIAR, Professeur de Français, Yaroslavl. Russe
17/07/2009
J’ai assisté pour la première fois à ce stage pédagogique-linguistique. J’ai eu la chance de découvrir encore une région de France, coin merveilleux, la Haute-Savoie avec ses villes et villages pittoresques, avec ses châteaux mystérieux, avec ses montagnes et bien sûr, le Mont-Blanc, si impressionnant et inoubliable.

J’ai eu la possibilité de nager non seulement dans le plus pur lac de la France, le lac Annecy, mais aussi de me plonger dans la langue française. J’ai vu tant de stagiaires d’âges différents venus des pays différents, mais qui étaient unis par un seul amour – l’amour du français. J’ai chargé ma valise de matériaux de civilisation et des documents pédagogiques et didactiques que nos professeurs nous avaient préparés. Merci à toutes et а tous pour ces deux semaines de bonheur. À la prochaine, j’espère : j’ai jeté une pièce de monnaie dans le lac !

 

Irina BARINOVA, Professeur de Français, Moscou. Russe
17/07/2009
Comment, c’est déjà le 19 juillet ?! Est-ce possible ? Notre séjour à Annecy a si vite passé ! Et oui... Le stage à l’IFALPES a été tellement bien organisé et si rempli qu’on n’a pas vu le temps fuir. Outre les conférences et l’observation des classes, on nous a proposé la visite dans une librairie où on nous a présenté de nouvelles méthodes et des livres. Quant aux sorties, tout a été organisé d’une manière impeccable. On ne pourra jamais oublier Annecy et son lac, les châteaux de Monrottier et de Menthon, les gorges du Fier (il nous a fallu beaucoup de courage pour monter au-dessus des abîmes), le Col de Forclaz (avec des personnes sans peur qui pratiquent la parapente), Chamonix et Mont-Blanc (le souvenir de l’Aiguille du Midi, de la Mer des Glaces, des sentiers qu’on a parcourus en battant le record en vitesse de la descente, restera toujours dans notre mémoire), Genève et le musée de l’ONU, les feux d’artifice du 14 juillet... C’est vraiment inoubliable ! Et pour voir tout ça, pour comprendre, allez à Annecy !

 

Lesleyann Lingane Australia
22/04/2009
Bonjour! My name is Lesleyann Lingane - an Australian and a retired journalist. In 2008 I spent two three-month courses at Ifalpes in Chambery fulfilling a long-held ambition to study French while living in France. The courses were interesting and informative, the teachers well-read, intelligent, interested in their students, full of fun, and very French (i.e. thin, bien sur, and very chic).You take a test at the start of your course, so you can be placed in a class appropriate to your level of French. Then as the course continues you graduate to a higher level. You can choose intensive courses (32 hours a week) or semi-intensive (20 hours), which was my choice because I didn’t want to put pressure on myself. You can also study for any length of time from a week to a year. My oral and written French improved dramatically during the courses, so much so that after years of being afraid to talk to French people, I was able to converse quite confidently with les Chamberiens.In addition to tuition the school offers a wide variety of outings to nearby cities such as Lyon, Geneva, Turin and Monte Carlo, visits to wineries, fromageries, museums, snowfields and mountains. You can also join the small extra-curricular conversation groups which help with your oral performance. To study French language, society and culture in a restored chateau like the Chateau de Boigne was a dream come true for me, and to live in the medieval town of Chambery added immeasurably to the delightful experience. I should mention that I was 65 at the time and never felt at a disadvantage in the classes because among the students there was always a wide range of nationalities and ages. However, if you are of a similar age, have retired and wish to study at Ifalpes, I would recommend that you enrol with a friend/spouse/partner with whom you can study or talk to about aspects of the course. I came with my husband who speaks Franglais and doesn’t enjoy classes so he worked on a book he is writing while I was at school. I was able to educate him about many things I learnt at school and he became as much as a Francophile as I am. You may also feel more comfortable in social situations and outings with the other students if there is someone of your own age there to relate to – though you will find the young students friendly and accepting; many said to me that they admired what I was doing. And I was so far from home! So if I can do it, you can too. Bonne chance! Many of the excursions are conducted by the inimitable Jean-Charles (“On y go!”), who gives you the benefit of his long experience and familiarity with the various destinations. And if you have any problems at all – with visas, medical, dental, social or anything to do with bureaucracy - the staff, especially Rachel, are extremely helpful.

 

Imboden Eleonora Suisse
25/08/2008
J’aimerais bien remercier l’école IFALPES à Chambéry pour mon séjour linguistique qui s’est très bien déroulé. J’ai appris beaucoup de choses grâce au travail sérieux de vos professeurs. L’ambiance pendant le cours m’a beaucoup plu, je me suis senti à l’aise et cela m’a donné envie d’apprendre le français. J’étais aussi très contente avec le travail du secrétariat. Vos secrétaires, Rachel et Clare, étaient très gentilles et toujours prêtes à m’aider. Grâce aux activités et excursions proposés par Jean-Charles j’ai reçu la possibilité de mieux connaître la France et surtout la région de Savoie. Je voudrais aussi vous dire merci beaucoup de me donner la possibilité de faire un stage dans le secrétariat d’IFALPES à Annecy pendant l’été 2008.

 

Miwon SEO South Corean
01/12/2007
IFALPES, Chambéry, is the perfect school is you wanna make friends from all over the world, enjoy the landscape and accomplish all you wish to.
I am extremelly thankfull for the help given by the team.
I declare Chambéry my second place of birth! Good muck and welcome to Chambéry!

 

L.Wallace (UK)
14/09/2007
I attended one of your courses in Chambery this summer, and just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The host family (the lady I stayed with) was very pleasant and welcoming. The courses had variety, and the class sizes ensured that we were all of a similar level, I was particularly pleased with this as I have had problems in the past due to being put with students who were more or less advanced. The excursions were also fun and provided an opportunity to meet the other students from different groups. Jean-Charles and all the staff obviously work very hard, and actually appear to care about the students, as at some schools they are only interested in the revenue. I felt that my French improved greatly during this course, and would definitely recommend it to others, overall it provided very good value for money, and prices are very reasonable.
Thank you

 

Meredith Harrison American
29/06/2007
I feel I was exposed to much of the French culture because the school offered excursions as well a freedom for the students to explore on their own.

 

Tania Murray Nouvelle Zélande
01/06/2007
IFALPES c’est super, les profs fantastiques et enthousiastes

 

Chris Young American
01/06/2007
There is no best part for me. It is the complete experience: school, friends, excursions and host family, not to mention just living here.

 

Paula C.S.M de OLIVEIRA Brésil
02/02/2007
J'ai été admise à l’université pour l’année prochaine, et je voudrais remercier toute l’équipe à IFALPES pour son aide, son temps et surtout pour sa patience. Sans vous je pense que je ne serais pas arrivée si loin.
Je voudrais remercier particulièrement les professeurs pour les corrections en temps record, pour les notes et les améliorations qu’elles ont reportées sur mes documents.

Je remercie l’équipe administrative pour leur disponibilité et "JC" pour les moments de distraction et pour son érudition en matière d'histoire ; sa culture m'a fait aimer Chambéry et la France.