How to choose between un French courses in group or individual lessons to learn French in France? Which program is the most suitable?

In this article, we want to help you compare two types of courses. Firstly group French courses and secondly individual French courses. These are two different approaches to learning, each with their advantages and disadvantages.

Group or individual French courses? strengths and weaknesses cFrench bear in group

First, let's look at group classes.

There are several advantages for a group French course :

Dynamism and exchange

Indeed, learning French in group classes allows for exchanges and interaction. It also allows for more convivial activities to learn and practice French. It is also a good way to learn from the mistakes and questions of other participants.

The price 

The second advantage is the price. Because group courses are cheaper. The teacher shares his or her time and energy among several participants. This makes it possible to share the price of the course.

But be careful not to be integrated into a group with
too many participants. Otherwise the teacher will not have the time or opportunity to
get everyone involved and the value for money will be negative.

A Lyon Bleu for example, we offer group courses
of 12 people maximum.

A wider range of programs

This is another advantage of learning French in group classes. There are more course formulas. Therefore you can choose to have more or less lessons per week, more or less weeks of classes. You may be able to sometimes, as is the case at Lyon Bleu to be able to combine programmes over the duration of the planned stay.

In fact our school offers 3 programs of group courses: semi-intensive, standard and intensive. There is also a Semester French course to learn French over a long period of time.

> Learn more about General Intensive French Group programs at Lyon Bleu International

Learning French in a group course has little to no cost. inconveniences. They are mainly related to having to share the time and the teacher with other participants:

The teacher must follow a program

First of all, in a quality French school, teachers must follow a program for their class. They are free to animate their class with the teaching material provided by the school but they cannot personalize it for each participant.

Indeed, the content of the French course is related to the level of the group and not to the individual needs of each participant. There is thus a homogeneity in the language level but perhaps not in the individual needs.

We must share and accept the collective

Finally, learning French in France integrated in a group with participants of different nationalities is an intercultural richness. But it sometimes means that the ways of learning and participating are different. The class thus becomes a collective, like a small team, which has to play sometimes together, sometimes individually. So the teacher is there to manage everyone's energies.

Last but not least: the schedules are also fixed, to allow a stable organization for the groups in place. So there is no flexibility of schedules.

Group or individual French courses? advantages and disadvantages of the individual French course

Learning French in France in one-to-one lessons has several advantages:

A fully customized program

First of all, the program of the individual course is tailor-made for the student.

Studying French with a fully customized program is a real asset. The one-to-one course is designed based on the student's needs, in grammar, vocabulary, development of written or oral skills, etc.

A Lyon Bleuwe send out a questionnaire to students who have chosen an individual French courseto get to know them better, to know their needs and objectives. We also use the results of the written and oral test to establish a first program. This individual French program is also worked on with the student who can make specific requests to his teacher who then adapts the program.

Flexible working hours

This is another great advantage of learning French in one-to-one courses: in contrast to group courses, it is possible to adapt the timetable of the one-to-one courses to the needs of the customer/student, according to his or her time availability.

Thus a quality French school will have a pedagogical team to take the time to exchange with the students enrolled in individual classes. The aim will be to work on a course schedule compatible with the student's professional or personal life.

The same applies to the frequency of French classes. It is possible to organize very intensive or, on the contrary, very extensive schedules, integrating break periods for holidays or business trips.

Continuous adaptation

Finally, it is possible to adapt the program at any time. Because the student doesn't share his time and his teacher with anyone else.

This in fact allows a continuous dialogue between teacher and student. The program can be reviewed and changed if necessary.

The teacher will also be able to adapt to the energy and the
personality of his student, much more than he can do in the course of
group.

The disadvantages are few.

The price 

Yes, that's the major drawback: the catch. But customization, flexibility, it comes at a cost. Having an individual teacher/coach does not have the same price as in a group course.

This is also true in other areas such as sport, isn't it?

Therefore, a larger budget for a course must be allocated
Individual courses as well as group courses.

A Lyon BleuWe offer different packages of one-to-one courses, general French or professional French. We have made the choice to make cheaper prices if the volume of courses purchased is important.

> see the prices of Lyon Bleu International

Lack of contact with other students

Finally, some students who choose to learn French in France in individual classes may have less contact with other students.

Some people do not especially seek contact with other people during a French course.

But for others it is important, either because they want to make new friends or because they like the stimulating atmosphere that often exists among participants who learn together in a group.

So, does this little analysis help you to choose the most adapted course formula to learn French in France?

Group or individual French courses ? combined French courses: the ideal solution!

Still can't decide?

In this article, Lyon Bleu wants to offer a solution to those who can't or won't choose.

Indeed why choose if you can have both, i.e. group courses combined with individual courses.

Indeed, our experience of more than 20 years has enabled us to see that it is often very profitable to combine the advantages of both course formulas.

We have therefore created combinations with our group French course formulas (semi-intensive, standard and intensive) with 5 or 10 individual lessons per week in addition to the group course.

>See the combined French course formulas of Lyon Bleu International

It is a very popular formula and students see all the benefits of both formulas for learning French.

This allows for faster progress and to have the
dynamism of the group course with the personalization of the individual course.

In conclusion, no problem, only solutions. Group or individual French courses, or combined courses? Don't hesitate any longer and choose the French course that suits you best. The important thing is to come and learn French in France for an authentic and fun experience.

Learning French in France: how to choose the right French language program?

To contact Lyon Bleu International

Lyon Bleu International guarantees you quality courses and services.

Our school Lyon Bleu International is part of two important associations in the world of languages, IALC Grouping Fle.

Lyon Bleu International is Fle Quality Label with the maximum 15 possible stars and member of Campus France