Ecole des Trois Ponts Omdömen 

Très professionelle et chaleureux. J'ai passé une semaine à l'école et j'ai trouvé le niveau d'apprentissage et du support au maximum. Une ambiance acceuillante et bien structuré. La combination des classes et des visites guidées m'a énormément aidé.

This was my second time attending Ecole Trois Ponts. It was like coming home!
I can see why many people return regularly.
I stayed “off campus” this time, as all the school rooms were booked. It was only a short walk to the school where I ate meals.
The instructors were excellent and tailored classes to our learning needs.
The town itself is fairly non-touristy, so there are many opportunities to practice your French skills.
I liked the schedule of meals, classes, time off, etc. and look forward to returning again!

J’ai passé une semaine à l’ETP et, pendant ce temps, j’ai pu recharger ma motivation pour apprendre le français. Valérie est une directrice de cours perspicace, empathique et amusante. Sylvia était une excellente enseignante qui pouvait expliquer de nombreux concepts de langue que je n’avais pas bien compris. C’est le seul cours de langue que j’ai suivi où l’on obtient vraiment une immersion complète, surtout si les autres étudiants s’en tiennent à parler en français, tant en classe qu’à l’extérieur. C’est difficile, mais cela rapporte.
Les visites historiques ont été planifiées avec soin et une excellente façon d’améliorer votre français. Mon moins préféré était la visite du lac probablement parce qu’étant nord-américain, ce type de visite est très accessible. Si le budget le permet, ce serait formidable si les chambres pouvaient être climatisées. Je vais ferai de l’ETP l’un de mes lieux réguliers d’apprentissage de langue francaise.

J'ai passé une semaine très agréable au sein de cette école. Valérie et son équipe font de leur mieux pour que vous sentiez chez vous. On n'était pas nombreux cette semaine-là mais elle a créé une ambiance conviviale et confortable et avec les soins de ma prof Sylvie, j'ai arrivé à améliorer mon français!
N'hésitez pas à vous renseigner sur le site web parce que tout est très bien expliqué at Valérie et Mariella répondent vite aux questions. Si vous voulez vous mettre dans le bain total de la langue française, vous ne serez pas déçus !

I spent 3 weeks at the ecole in May and June. I had only studied French since January of this year and was a bit nervous coming. The immersion was tough at first and I was glad I learned a little before coming. If I had been a beginner beginner with no French knowledge it would have been too overwhelming. My second week was a beginner week and I would recommend starting with that. I was much more comfortable during that week.

The instruction, especially with Valerie, was excellent. I noticed my comprehension improved a lot even after one week, and the speaking exercises in class really helped my speaking. My goal was to be able to speak basic french for directions or other day to day situations, and I was able to ask for help with metro tickets in Paris and for directions after the school.

Everyone at the school was very friendly and it was wonderful meeting the staff and other students.

Une expérience formidable est la raison pour lequel je vais revenir en 2025. Les cours sont basés sur notre niveau de compétence. J’ai appris beaucoup de choses pendant les deux semaines, en rigolant, sans doute.. dans un environnement encourageant !!!!

The coursework and teachers were fantastic. There was a good balance of grammar, oral expression and verbal comprehension. There was also a very nice collegiality among the participants. I hope to return next year!

Nous sommes venu à l’ecole en famille pour des cours de français et patisserie. C’etait vraiment une très belle experience d’apprendre le francais ensemble et aussi de cuisiner ensemble. Les autres collegues à l’ecole etaient super sympas aussi. 👍👍👍

After spending a wonderful week at Ecole des Trois Ponts last year, my wife and I returned in May for two equally enjoyable weeks of instruction. The school offers focused and intimate classroom instruction, as well as an immersive experience communicating (in French, of course) with the other students in the program. The instructors are excellent, the classroom experience is fun and well-structured, and the ambiance at the school makes it easy to feel like we are in a supportive environment among friends and family.

We loved the fact that this is a residential program, with meals prepared and provided on site. Mealtimes are interesting and enjoyable, with the chef present to provide detail about the meal, and specifics on the three cheeses served each evening (name, region of origin, and method of slicing,… which is critical information for travelers to France).

In addition to the basic curriculum, students may sign up for added activities, such as French cooking or baking lessons. My wife and I both opted for intensive French, which was a one on one session with an instructor, and which we found very useful.

The school is located in the Rhone Alps very near the town of Roanne. This is a lovely region, and the school site is very close to lovely hiking trails through Parc Beaulieu and beyond.

We highly recommend Ecole des Trois Ponts for its excellent quality of education, small class size, and its wonderful atmosphere. It offers valuable insight into the nuances of the French language, but more importantly provides a window into the mysteries of French culture.

This place was a truly special and unique place. The staff and teachers were so welcoming and accommodating. The proprietress/teacher Valerie made every effort to ensure that each and every student received exactly what they came for: French instruction and camaraderie in a comfortable, nurturing environment.
I stayed in my own room on site. It was very clean and comfortable. Dining together in the kitchen was thoroughly enjoyable: good food, plenty of delicious wine, and yummy baguettes and local cheese. Breakfast and lunch were also delicious.
I participated in the cooking class held 4 afternoons with Chef Pierre. It was an absolute delight! The 6 of us in the group prepared the evening meal. Thanks to Chef Pierre's creativity and planning, the meals were always different, and quite impressive. He broke things down into manageable steps, and I believe all meals were a success! We were rewarded with a certificate at the end of class!
The teachers were all fantastic! When they arrived in the morning, it was like they brought the sunshine! Lots of smiles and good energy! My teacher, Sylvie was wonderful. She set a good tone, and provided a balance of completing structured lessons and allowing time to wander off on tangents and get to know each other better. Mostly she provided a nurturing and caring environment in which to learn. Brava Sylvie!
A special shout-out to the lovely Moroccan woman Mounia, who handled the cleaning duties. She was so sweet and always eager to get you anything you needed, with a big smile and "bien sur"!
In closing, we became a family in the short time we were there. It was such a comfortable and supportive environment in which to improve my French and make new friends. I hope to return.

L’école était un expérience unique pour moi, comme Américaine qui n’a pas l’opportunité à parler beaucoup Français. Les profs extraordinaires, la cuisine délicieuse, mes gentilles collègues- tout était merveilleux! J’étais très satisfait avec la semaine à l’école des Trois Ponts.

I loved everything about this school. The classes are small and, both weeks I was there, the students were supportive and great fun to learn with and spend time with. The staff are all exceptional and make it easy to feel at home, while soaking in not only as much French language as possible but learning about French culture, taking beautiful countryside hikes, and feasting on delicious cuisine and wine. The teaching is superb (Camille and Valérie, the Director, are so gifted). The teaching is tailored to meet you where you are and help you quickly improve your French. I can't wait to return!

As there was a large disparity between my wife and I in terms of our knowledge of French, the school placed us accordingly with excellent teachers. The lesson plans were well-organized at the advanced level. As with most other language programs in France, the focus was on conversation with review of grammatical specifics as needed. Since the school is smaller and more intimate than other schools I have attended in France, our class consisted of a total of 6 students. The class sizes generally range from 4-6 students I believe.
My wife did have a private instructor at the beginner level which was fortuitous.
Certain sessions will accommodate beginners but as with most full immersion French schools, it is much better to arrive with basic proficiency as French is spoken almost exclusively at the school. There are afternoon cooking classes for those who wish to participate, cultural tours as well as added private and semi-private language classes. A well-balanced schedule which allows the student to customize their experience. It was my impression that most students spend from 1 - 2 weeks at the school.
The food & wine was excellent. They have a dedicated chef on staff who prepares both lunch and dinner. Traditional breakfast awaits each morning before class as well.
Accommodations at the school were more than adequate and enhanced the intimate feeling of the school. After having traveled throughout France for the past 40 years, I had never visited Lyon and the surrounding region. I was impressed with both and strongly suggest spending several days exploring the area. Roanne is not generally thought of as a tourist destination, but the town is extremely pleasant and has a shopping district within walking distance. There are also nice walking paths that start within a 5-minute walk from the school.
The famous Troisgros three-star Relais et Chateaux restaurant is only a 10-minute drive located in Ouches for those in need of a gastronomique experience which is possibly one of the best in France. I highly recommend this wonderful school.
Steve Kaiser

I just spent three weeks at Ecole des Trois Ponts - my third visit to the school. As before, I felt very much at home and really enjoyed my time there. In addition to the classes, I signed up for the countryside walks and Wednesday afternoon excursions which allowed me to visit parks and villages that I would not have been able to see on my own. On arrival, a student's knowledge of the language is evaluated and it is so beneficial to be in a class with others on the same level. I also took very helpful one-on-one lessons with a teacher. Probably the best part of the experience is the camaraderie with the other students and the team at the school. Valérie has a real talent for hiring only the best and for making every student feel welcome. I look forward to my next visit to Ecole des Trois Ponts.

This is a wonderful place! What makes the school so special is the community it fosters amongst its students. The groups are small, meals are shared around the kitchen table, and, even if you came alone, you’ll go through the French immersion experience with friends.

I think this was the eighth time I have been to this french language school. And I am not the only person who keeps returning - again and again. I coincided with a student from New York a couple of times and now we deliberately organise our visits together, so you not only improve your french but you make long lasting friendships.
The school is great - small, friendly, and as challenging as you want it to be. Each year when I arrive it feels like coming home. You can choose from a range of different options for learning French alongside hillwalking, cooking or historical visits and you can customise the teaching to suit you with group or individual lessons or even lessons à deux as we did last week.
I strongly recommend this language school but it is becoming increasingly successful so don’t wait too long to book.

École des Trois Ponts is a little gem in a beautiful part of France. The perfect place to go to learn or improve on your French skills, have fun and pick up on some tips from a French Chef too!

This was my third visit to Écoles des 3 pont. Valérie and her team create a very warm and encouraging environment for learning French. The teachers are all expert at teaching at the students level.
The setting is very comfortable and intimate. During my 2 week stay, we were only 3 or 4 students per teacher. Plenty of opportunity to practice French.

The physical setting is also very comfortable and homey. We enjoyed meals at a large communal table prepared by our house chef. Each evening included a tour of the world of French cheeses.
It felt like my home away from home-in France.

J'ai choisi cette école d'immersion car un environnement immersif nous aide à écouter, absorber, réfléchir et parler plus facilement.
Je n'ai pas été déçu, bien au contraire.
Tout d'abord, la belle maison date du XIXème siècle. La propriétaire et l'équipe sont très accueillants, ils s'occupent du moindre détail et la nourriture était super excellente.
J'ai suivi le cours de pâtisserie qui était merveilleux, enrichissant et délicieux !

I chose this immersion school because an immersive environment helps us listen, absorb, think and speak more easily. I was not disappointed on the contrary.
First of all, the beautiful house dates from the 19th century. The owner and team are very welcoming, they take care of every detail and the food was so excellent.
I took the baking class which was wonderful, enriching and delicious!

Merci à Valérie et à toute l'équipe de m'avoir offert une semaine extraordinaire pleine de cours, de convivialité, et de randonnées dans de magnifiques paysages autour de Riorges. Vous m'avez aidé à réactiver le français avec tous mes sens !