Want to improve your French, or just simply curious about this marvellous city? Keep reading! After visiting Montpellier in 2019, I fell in love with the architectural metropolis. Filled with statuesque architecture, and charming alley-ways, Montpellier is an architectural haven, as well as being a great student city to explore, whilst advancing your French.
Why I did it
Having completed the physical aspect of my Gold DofE, I was searching for something to tick the residential box. Being a languages student and having a passion for travel, I decided to combine the two by searching for a course I could undertake abroad, thus bettering my French whilst helping to complete my DofE.
I stumbled across the ILA languages course online and discovered that they qualified as the residential course I needed. So, I persuaded a friend to join me and we ventured to Montpellier that summer.
About the course:
My residential course only had to be a weeklong, so I booked the ‘Summer Intensive Course’ (30 lessons altogether) which upon the last day, presents you with a certificate stating that you have either completed your A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, or C2 qualification. You are asked to do an online Test prior to arrival in order to determine you current Standard and help assign you the correct group.
The day commenced at around 8:30am and finished at around 17:00pm, including a lengthy lunch break in-between. The morning lessons were Oral and grammar orientated, while the afternoon centred more around Audio-visual/ Comprehension work. This mix helped me get the most out of the teaching, as it wasn't purely specified to one aspect of language.
It simultaneously very professional but relaxed. All the teachers were native speakers, so only addressed you in French. There was a wide range of nationalities in the classes as the course are very international. I was the only English speaker in a class full of Spanish, German, Dutch and Chinese, which meant I was forced to speak French, as It was the only form of communicating with each other, being the only language we had in common!
Where we stayed
Madame Vacances Residence Les Consuls de la Mer
455 Avenue du Professeur Etienne Antonelli, 34070 Montpellier, France
Less than a minute’s walk from the nearest tram’s stop, we stayed in ‘Madame Vacances Residence Les Consuls de la Mer’, a three-star hotel just a stone’s throw from Montpellier’s charming city centre. Equipped with a rooftop pool, mini fridge, dishwasher, and air conditioning, this hotel was organised by ILA, and was very conveniently situated.
Transport
The journey to the Language school took around 10 Minutes door-to-door. There are several different buildings, located just a few streets away from each other, each filled with classrooms. The buildings were beautifully French with traditional stone, big wooden doors, and Parisian balconies. Everyone travels by tram in Montpellier, which is very efficient and cheap. You will find near-to-no cars in the main centre, which is rather refreshing as there is no traffic.
Bars, restaurants and shops
Montpellier is riddled with bars and restaurants. The school is located right in amongst everything, so there are plenty of places to explore on your coffee and lunch breaks.
The ‘Place de la Comédie’ houses a multitude of traditional French bistros. You can’t seem to book at most places, meaning if it's busy, you may have to wait and have a drink before you can be seated.
A plethora of stalls and shops exist to satisfy a sweet tooth. ‘Yoghurt Factory’ served the best frozen yoghurt in my eyes, with an abundance of sweet and fruity toppings. As well as this, there were plenty of gelato and crêpe stands within proximity of the school.
Montpellier is also well-known for its rife shopping scene. In addition to universal brands such as 'Uniqlo' and 'Zara', there are tonnes of lovely independent boutiques, meaning plenty of places to splash some cash.
Architectural Beauty
Montpellier is founded on some of the most beautiful architecture I have come into contact with on my travels, so far. Each of the buildings are made of a beautiful yellow stone, dressed in rustic shutters, encompassing huge old windows. Walking through these old streets is truly a beautiful sight.
Promenade du Peyrou
This is a long and wide promenade with water either side. At the end of it lies the 'Chateau D'Eau', the most beautiful stone structure founded on columns, which sits on a bed of water.
Place de la Comédie
This is the main old square. Surrounded by old buildings and restaurants and located just adjacent to the language school, this is where I spent the majority of my breaks, whether it be grabbing a bite or merely admiring the architecture.
Porte de Peyrou
Nicknamed Montpellier's own 'Arch de Triumph', this is a beautiful, similar structure situated at the entrance to the Promenade.
Beaches
Montpellier is located relatively near the beach, the closet being 'Plage Carnon' (easily reachable by tram - Line 3 to Perols Etang de L'Or, followed by an easy walk). There are some other beautiful beaches surrounding Montpellier, including:
Plage de L'Espiguette
Plage de la Grande Conque
Plage de la Plagette
Plage du Petit Travers
Plage de Maguelone
Pernila X
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