Student Zone : FAQs

1. What are the attractions of the area?
The Languedoc-Roussillon has one of the richest historical legacies of all the regions of France, as evidenced by its many monuments and its architectural heritage: Carcassone, the Pont-au-Gard, Nîmes, the Canal du Midi, Aigues-Mortes…

 

From the Camargue to the Corbières, its natural landscapes are exceptionally varied: Mediterranean coast and beaches, the Causses plateaus (Larzac), the Cévennes mountain range, the vineyard plains and the garrigue scrublands.

 

The Mediterranean Languedoc has also produced some of the most important names in French literature, such as Alphonse Daudet and Paul Valéry, as well as some of the great creators of the chanson française, such as Charles Trénet, Georges Brassens, and Bobby Lapointe.

 

 

2. What are the attractions of the city?
Montpellier has a wide variety of attractions including the Arc de Triomph next to the Parc de Peyrou, the Opera house, Place de la Comedie, the Botanical Gardens, Saint-Pierre Cathedral and Place St-Anne but to name a few. The entire city and local network of villages is literally brimming with attractions and places to visit. And if that wasn’t enough, just 6 kilometers from the city centre is the beach.

 

 

3. Is the school well located?
The Institut Européen de Français is located in the heart of the city, in a pedestrian quarter served by all the public transport networks (bus and tramway), and is also accessible by car (parking areas: Justice, Préfecture, Comédie and Gambetta).

 

 

4. How old is the school?
The Institut Européen de Français is the result of a merger between IMEF (founded in 1983) and Odyssea (founded in 2001) language schools which took place in 2005.

 

5. What is the exact number of students per class ?
The maximum number is 12. But the average is 7 per class.

 

 

6. Does the program include cultural activities ?
A program of cultural activities is offered throughout the year.

 

 

7. Do the fees include the educational materials ?
Program fees cover all educational materials.

 

 

8. Do the participants have the possibility to study at the school, even outside of classroom time ?
Students have free access to the Centre de Ressources Pédagogiques (educational resource center) where they can work independently. There is also free access to the Internet through Wi-Fi which can be accessed throughout the school.

 

 

9. If I arrive early can you organise extra accommodation for me ?
Yes. For students who arrive before their course starts additional nights, depending on availability, can be booked through our student accommodation department. If you require supplementary accommodation please contact us as soon as you can.

 

 

10. How do I get from the airport to the city centre ?
You have various options from the airport. You can take the shuttle bus, which takes approximately 15 minutes for 5 Euros, or a taxi which is approximately 20 Euros. For more information please click here.

 

 

11. How do I get from the train station to the school ?
The school is very close to the train station and is no more than a 10-12 minute walk. You will find a map on our website by clicking here.

 

 

12. How do I get from the ApartHotel to the school ?
The CITEA is not too far from the city centre and is accessible by walking in 25 minutes. There is also a tram outside the residence, tram stop Moularès, which will bring you to the city centre after which the school is a short walk away. For more information on how to get to the school please click here.

 

 

13. Is anything open on a Sunday as this is the day I arrive ?
Although things are changing here in France, largely speaking most shops are closed on a Sunday with the exceptions of bakeries, some markets and some restaurants. If you need to buy food, for example on a Sunday, you can visit the market at Les Figuerolles which is a Arabic market and is open for most of the day. Although restaurants are open on a Sunday they are limited and do close or stop serving between lunch and dinner.

 

 

14. What times to the trams stop ?
The tram service runs until midnight to 1am depending on what part of the line you are on and which day. You can consult the exact times at each stop or by checking the tram timetable provided in your student pack.

 

However, if you area ‘night owl’ and plan go to one of Montpelliers clubs, the city runs a bus service, L’Amigo, which runs from many of the nightclubs to the center of town. This service runs from midnight until 5am from Thursday to Saturday.