Why choose the Institut de Touraine?

Would you like to learn French for work, study or pleasure in a renowned school in France? Prepare for a qualification such as the DELF or DALF? Immerse yourself in a vibrant city near Paris? In an outstanding setting at the heart of the famous Loire Valley region, the Institut de Touraine offers year-round French classes and training for teachers of French as a foreign language (FLE).

A school with a long history and an international reputation

Since its creation in 1912, over 250,000 students from around the world have chosen the Institut de Touraine to learn and discover French language and culture. The institution is proud to hold the "Qualité français langue étrangère" certification, which is internationally recognized. This provides a guarantee to the Institute’s students of the quality of the welcome, administrative services, premises, teachers and courses. Academic excellence is also assured through the institution’s membership of the Groupement FLE, as well as its agreement with the University of Tours. At the end of their course, more than 3 in 4 students say they have made “very good” or “excellent” progress in their level of French. 

Recognized teaching expertise in French as a foreign language (FLE)

With 20 specialist teachers in French as a foreign language, the courses at the Institut de Touraine comply with the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. As trainers of FLE teachers both in France and abroad, the teaching staff are involved in developing French language textbooks. The Institute is also an official examination center for the Diploma in French Language Studies (DELF), Diploma in Advanced French Language Studies (DALF C1), the French Knowledge Test TEF) and the Diploma in Professional French (DFP).

Personalized teaching and support

From one week to a year, the institution’s French classes are adapted to the needs, level and objectives of each learner. The aim is to provide appropriate and high-quality training. By offering a variety of class formats each student benefits from a personalized learning journey: cultural workshops, DELF and DALF exam preparation, volunteering activity, individual lessons, phonetics classes… In the afternoons the teachers are available to help you with your learning, particularly in the media library and with educational workshops, but also with extra-curricular activities: volunteer work, sports, applying to further education, etc.

An immersive cultural and linguistic experience

Visits to chateaus, cooking classes, wine tastings, games… A wide range of activities take place throughout the year to enable you to really get to know France. Through its network of 150 host families, the Institut de Touraine offers accommodation for students and encourages social exchanges after class. The opportunity to practice the language in context and meet French people. As a student of the Institute you will explore French culture but also many others. Every year, around 80 nationalities come together in the 30 classrooms of a beautiful 19th century mansion.

Tours: a safe student city only 1 hour from Paris

With more than 30,000 students, Tours is a lively and sociable university city with a variety of sporting and cultural activities. Located in a 19th century building in the city center, the Institut de Touraine is 200 meters from the historical quarter and its numerous bars, cafés, shops and restaurants. The city is at the heart of the famous region of the chateaus of the Loire, which were once home to kings of France, Joan of Arc, Leonardo da Vinci, and writers such as Balzac, Ronsard or Rabelais. Situated in the center of France, Tours is only one hour from Paris by train and less than two hours from Charles de Gaulle airport. Accommodation costs are around half those in Paris. Out of over 700 students questioned, 98% judge Tours to be a nice city, and around 4 in 5 believe it is easy to meet French people.