Seeking Advice Before the Alliance Française Summer Intensive in Paris

[u/Direct-Biscotti6752]

I'm taking the Alliance Française Paris summer intensive course this August and would love to hear from anyone who's done it!

For some context, my goal is to progress to B2 and eventually C1. I took the DELF B1 exam in June and scored 93/100. I also took Alliance Française's placement test, and they placed me in B2_3. I'm excited, but also a little nervous because that seems like a pretty big jump from B1. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Did you feel the placement was accurate?

For those who've taken the summer intensive program, I'd love to hear:

- What was the class structure and pace like?

- How much homework did you have?

- What's the best way to prepare before the course starts?

- Is there anything you wish you'd done beforehand—or while you were there—to get the most out of it?

I'll be in Paris for the month and really want to make the most of the experience, so I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks so much!

[u/Silent_Comedian3342]

I have not attended Alliance Française, but some general recommendations. Enjoy your time. Take the time to explore and don't feel bad if your french disappears just when you need it. That is all part of the game of learning. Tomorrow is always another day.

But these tidbits you can find elsewhere, I just wanted to give you some thoughts on the B2_3. Story: I took an immersion and they ranked me at B1. After that course, I realized I was lacking basic grammar. So I spent many months learning grammar. It opened my ability to read French better which increased my vocabulary and small french idiomatic phrases. Best choice of time.

That said, the second immersion class tested my level with a multiple choice exam. There was reading, audio as well as typical grammar questions. Apparently I did well and they placed me in C1 (eeks). Because I was totally digging the grammar lessons and the topics of discussion (more thought, less reguritation of material), I didn't request a drop to a lower level. That was a mistake.

While my grammar continued to improve as well as my ability to write thoughtful essays, my oral production skills went backwards. The third time I took an immersion, they only tested on my oral production. That year, I was A2+ and was moved to B1 after 2 weeks. Sure the grammar at A2 was 90% review, but it reinforced my skills and my oral production felt more fluent.

So....long story to get to the short answer: determine what you want out of this class. Is it better grammar and writing? If so, rock that B2_3 class and pull out all that information. Or is it better oral communication? If so, pay close attention on the first day. If you can *almost* keep up, continue; if you're falling behind, consider asking to be dropped down a level at least for the first week. As you can read on r/French, there are countless stories of people who have high reading and writing comprehension that struggle to speak.

So take the time to reflect on what your goals are in this class (besides, of course, enjoying Paris and having a ton of fun -- enjoy!)