You are here: Home » Language Learners » French » Holidays

Holidays

Advice

Going on holiday and travelling in the target country is a great way to provide opportunities to practise your language skills. You can use the target language from the moment you arrive at the airport until the time you leave. When planning your trip make sure that you can do some of the following in the target language:

At the airport

give your name, address and occupation to the police
state how long you intend to stay and what you are going to do
explain what you have in your case to the customs officials

In the taxi

say where you want to go
check the price

At the hotel

give your name and say that you have a reservation
ask where the restaurant is
ask what time breakfast is served

At the restaurant

ask for the menu
order a meal
order your drinks
ask for the bill

There is nothing like a trip abroad to motivate somebody to learn a language. Quite often people book a holiday abroad and then feel the need to brush up their language skills before departure. If you want to motivate one of your children to learn a language or to try harder at school, a trip abroad could act as a strong stimulus or as a reward.

One word of warning, however. If you travel as a family, or group of friends, and stick together most of the time, you'll reduce your chances of interacting with native speakers.

Some general holiday & travel links

GoAbroad.Com - online travel info and services

photos from photosfromfrance

Some general holiday & travel links:

LINGUALEARN SERVICE

Lingualearn offers a tailor-made French & Leisure Progamme. Up to 20 hours of French lessons per week plus 5 leisure activities, such as swimming, wine tasting, cycling, guided tour of La Rochelle, French film, spa/health club, shopping in local market etc. Self-catering accommodation in a 2-bedroom house in Chatelaillon Plage (near La Rochelle). Easy access by plane, fast rail link and road. Safe, sandy beach for children only 5 minutes walk from house. The price includes a good selection of guides, phrasebooks and language learning materials for the whole family, but excludes food, travel and VAT. Collection from the airport or station is available.

new French courses near La Rochelle

For further details click here

To get a quote for this French immersion programme, please complete a short online form in the first instance. Quotations are normally sent out within 72 hours.

We also run a similar programme for people looking for a property in the La Rochelle La Rochelle area of France - for details click here.

LINKS (in alphabetical order)

For a tour of France and discovery of its people, the culture its history, its political scene etc(government site)

France A map of France. It zooms in to regional maps.Click on any part to see a more detailed map of that region.

France à la Carte Official site of The French Embassy in the UK. Information includes a guide to French cultural events going on in the UK, as well as details of TV and radio programmes related to France.

French Riviera Travel Beyond the Côte d'Azur and French Riviera to Provence and the villages, valleys, mountains, history, hiking, nature and sports and current events of the Provence region.

Hotels - Paris et Environs A guide to hotels in the Paris area.

Méteo France Weather forecasts for France.

Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication Official website for the French ministry of culture and communication.

Office du Tourisme du Quartier Français On-line tourist office for France.

Pariscope Find out what's on in Paris. Areas covered include theatre, cinema, music and eating out

Paris Métro Public transport plans and timetables for Paris. The site covers buses and trams as well as the underground system.

Time Out - Paris Time Out's web guide to Paris.

Travel or live in France Click "Vivre en France". This site will give information on many topics: from legal matters to financial information, from gastronomy to accommodation.

Visit France via the government site: news, politics, francophony, useful addresses, Foreign Ministry