L'École Française Chicago

Fantastic experience: I have not been to this school myself but I can tell you this is the place to go if you need patience, compassion and understanding while learning French. My mom fell while crossing the street and one of the teachers did not hesitate to come outside to check on her, bring her in and grab the first aid kit to help her with her injured forehead. That is the type of teacher that I'd want while doing the task of learning a new beautiful language and culture. He offered my friends and I water while we waited for my mom and we got to talking to another sweet teacher. The first teacher also let my mom take her time to clean up and did not rush us at all. He was genuinely worried. More than ever right now we need to come together with love and I felt that here. Thank you to this school, I am forever grateful.

Fantastic experience: L'École Française Chicago is a fantastic place to learn French, and I can't recommend it enough!! The two teachers I have had- Daphné and Justine- are wonderful, patient, and kind. Each class has the perfect mixture of studying grammar/vocab and practicing conversation. Thank you for helping me prepare for my master's degree in France!!

Fantastic experience: This is the best school to learn French in Chicago!! The ambiance is truly welcoming and the structure of the class is very clear! I’ve been a student now for almost 2 years and plan to continue going for as many years until I hopefully become fluent hahaha. I look forward to my class every week!!! Highly recommend for those who want to learn French, but also learn about the French culture, debate, and even more. The teachers are wonderful and the classes really are so personal with not too many students.

Negative experience: I totally don’t recommend this place. Less patience!! Didn’t really helpful!!! Never pick up the phone!!! I try to call. They never answer the phone no matter when you call. They want just text only! I hate text because sometimes it’s hard to communicate right! This is would be my first time with France language. Everything was totally new for me. Of course I’m worried and nervous that I wouldn’t be able to understand. I just want to reach out to them and ask what should I prepare before class start or should I reading some books or should I have to purchase something to get ready. At least know how the class look like. But the person who text to me just less patience and try to bring up the policy that they won’t tell anything before 24 hours of class. Didn’t check my information that I already registered class about a month ago. They don’t try to understand and have enough patience to explain rather than type the frustrated answers and show their anger judging me and kick me out by give me refund. How they can teach people? Don’t understand why this place so heartless and helpless. The only thing that I can think is they just need your money. They don’t even care what you will get if you take class with them. Very disappointed!!!!

Fantastic experience: L'École Française Chicago is an exceptional place for anyone looking to learn French! Erwan and Daphne are truly outstanding teachers. Their passion for the language and culture shines through in every class, making the learning experience both engaging and enjoyable. Erwan's explanations are clear and insightful, while Daphne's enthusiasm makes every lesson fun and interactive. One of the best aspects is the convenience of online classes. Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can easily join the sessions from anywhere, which is perfect for busy schedules. The classes are well-structured, allowing you to progress at a comfortable pace while still challenging you. Meeting new people in class adds to the fun, creating a lively and supportive community. With the skills and confidence gained at L'École Française, you'll be ready to immerse yourself in the culture of France or any French-speaking country with ease. I highly recommend this school for anyone looking to master French and enjoy the journey!

Fantastic experience: I can’t say enough good things about léf! They have a great program that you can take from home if you would like, but it is very fun being in the class with other students. Daphné and Erwan are always so welcoming and keep the atmosphere light and enjoyable.

Fantastic experience: Amazing teachers & students, great topics at intermediate and advanced levels, school well located in the city, all at a resonable rate. Gilles

Fantastic experience: I’ve been attending LEF for about a year now and have had nothing but the most positive and incredible experience. Daphne and Erwan are some of the kindest, patient, and knowledgeable individuals you’ll ever encounter! The classes are well structured and do a great job of building your understanding of French consecutively thru the courses. With both in person and online options it’s very easy to learning with a busy schedule. If you’re looking for an amazing experience to learn the French language and culture look no further than LEF!

Fantastic experience: Erwan is a terrific teacher, and has mastered a hybrid aspect of teaching a group both in person and online at the same time. Everyone participates, the materials are thoughtfully selected and interesting. The facility on Belmont is very comfortable. I would highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Great intro class. Erwan is an excellent teacher, and he is a native speaker, so you hear the proper accent.

Fantastic experience: Erwan is the best French teacher I have ever had. His patience is priceless and his energy is contagious.

Fantastic experience: I have been attending LEF for 2 1/5 years. Erwan is hands down the best foreign language teacher I have ever had. I didn't know any French when I started and can now speak and read in French. My goal is to become fluent and I'm certain I will get there if I continue to put in the work at LEF.

Fantastic experience: I have been a student at L'ecole Francaise since Jan 2021. I took french in high school but it has been a while since I have used the language. The refresher courses are awesome and were a great way for me to pick up where I had left off. The teachers (Daphne and Erwan) are amazing and the methods are very effective in terms of learning new vocab and being able to speak french! The classes are always super fun and challenging at the same time! 5 Stars!

Fantastic experience: L'École Française has been an incredible experience and I am so happy that I signed up here! I have been taking classes for 6 months and plan to continue doing so. The price to value ratio cannot be beat. Daphne is a fantastic teacher and the course work, group work, homework, and themes are all relevant. Even after 6 months, I feel I could travel and communicate in French quite a bit. My classmates are all of different ages, yet the learning environment is conducive for all. Can't say enough positive things about L'Éole Française Chicago!

Fantastic experience: I have taken French courses at a number of schools and I can say that L'Ecole Francaise Chicago is the one that I enjoy the best. I like the schools approach to teaching French. No books but handouts are provided regarding various subjects. Very interactive, informal and a great learning environment. Don't miss out on taking classes at LEF Chicago!

Fantastic experience: I am a 13 year old and I can say that L’ecole françase is the best language school. I have been in 2 courses with them and I have learned everything I need to learn to go to France and enjoy my time there. This is one of the top schools in Chicago.

Fantastic experience: L’ecole français is one of the best language schools I’ve ever worked with, and the adapted to COVID so well. Great use of Communicative Language Teaching, relevant homework, and good price. Daphne is a phenomenal teacher!

Fantastic experience: L’Ecole Francais has been a wonderful school of French language, culture and friendships. I thank our school for immersing myself and others the past few years. Too professors with tremendous passion to inspire and teach their students. Thank you l’Ecole Française!

Fantastic experience: I cannot recommend LEF enough! I took a couple of courses a few years ago, and just returned in early 2020 and wish I hadn’t let so much time pass between. Erwan is top notch, offering an organized yet fun curriculum focusing on every aspect of French language and culture. He keeps every class fun, engaging and humorous. I love reflecting back at the end of every session and seeing how much I progressed. I look forward to class each week, each class is tons of fun and full of diverse content!

Fantastic experience: I have been taking classes with Erwan at L'Ecole Francaise from Level 7 to Level 17, and they are an absolute pleasure in my life. The classes are fun and low stress (I often bring a bottle of wine to share in evening classes -- helps loosen the tongue!), and I have made lasting friendships as a result of taking these classes, with a very wide range of people. But most importantly, my French has improved a LOT since beginning with L'Ecole Francais. I work in Paris each January, and so improving my French is more than just a hobby -- it has an important and practical application in my life. Through these classes I've been able to communicate more efficiently, and also more conversationally. I strongly recommend L'Ecole Francais, whether you are a beginner getting started, or fluent but want to keep in practice (and keep up to date with French news, literature, and culture!).

Fantastic experience: I have been taking classes with LEF for about 3 years now and absolutely love it. The classes are focused on communication and getting students to speaking ability as soon as possible. The classes are kept small, 10 people or less generally, and so everyone has a chance to participate. They have also transitioned very well to Zoom as a platform during the pandemic and I do not feel that I am missing out on anything not having in person classes. The class times are very workable with my schedule. I thoroughly recommend LEF as the best French language school in Chicago!

Fantastic experience: For several years, I’ve enjoyed challenging and inspiring classes at L’École Français. Most of my courses have been led by the very engaging Erwan but other teachers have been great too. The school offers a comfortable environment in which to learn French in a fun way. French class is always a highlight of my week. Erwan really encourages a love of French culture as well as the language so you’ll be learning as much about French pop music and politics as you will plus-que-parfait. It’s a tough language to learn so I really appreciate the non-intimidating methods used here and the camaraderie of my classmates. Je recommande fortement L'École Français!

Fantastic experience: I've been taking classes at LEF for almost three years now, and I highly recommend it! In that time I went from zero French at all to able to communicate confidently while traveling in France and read novels in French with minimal use of Google translate. I love that the classes have a really social atmosphere, which is both fun and helpful for language learning, because it makes it so much less awkward to practice speaking and making mistakes. The level of difficulty/effort required is also perfect—there's class once a week plus a couple of hours worth of homework, and while it definitely helps to be prepared, you can still get a lot of class out if you haven't had time to finish the homework that week. LEF also transitioned really well to Zoom when the pandemic started! The structure and quality of the class haven't changed at all since going online.

Fantastic experience: I have been taking classes at L'École Française for several years now and it has really brought back my passion for the language. It is not your stereotypical French course - it is laid back, fun, engaging, and they make sure everyone is involved and enjoying themselves. I attended a trial lesson with Erwan and Daphne and they both made me feel so welcomed that I knew I couldn't go anywhere else. I am pushed in new ways with each section. I learn new things and never feel discouraged, which is easy when it comes to language learning. I ask a lot of questions (I mean a lot) and I don't ever feel like it's a problem (well hopefully!). Erwan truly enjoys teaching and answering all of our questions! Thanks for helping me get back into French again, LEF!

Fantastic experience: The best french school in Chicago!

Fantastic experience: I've been taking classes at LEF for three years now, and they are so wonderful! I love my lessons and the teachers. My French has really improved; I'm so happy with my decision to study here.

Fantastic experience: I’ve been taking advanced conversational French classes here for almost two years- lessons are always engaging, fun, and very educational/informative. Definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: I have been attending French classes at L’École Française for the past 3 years and have had the most wonderful experience. Having studied languages at other schools, I find Erwan to be the best language teacher I have ever had. Classes are engaging and practical — classes center around themes of travel, life, and culture and conversational fluency is the main focus. The school itself fosters an amazing sense of community and I have made wonderful friends through my classes. I have had a very positive and encouraging experience and recommend L’École Française to anyone interested in the French language and culture.

Fantastic experience: Perfect place to learn French. Classes are super-interesting and the teachers make learning fun and non-threatening. Erwan is the best teacher I've ever had in HS or college!

Fantastic experience: I've been taking classes here for almost 4 years. Every level is a new challenge but they're always fun and full of lessons that build on each other and get us to explore new aspects of the language and culture. After 2.5 years I felt confident enough to go to Paris for a week by myself and got around very well! Erwan is an excellent instructor and while I can't wait for in-person classes to come back, he keeps the Zoom classes very engaging and makes sure everyone participates. Highly recommend!!

Fantastic experience: One word to describe my experience-fantastique ! I am a new student at L'École Française. Each week, I so look forward to my group lesson! The lesson material is excellent. I really enjoy the fact that there is a lot of opportunity to practice conversations in class. Additionally, the grammar explanations are excellent and very easy to follow as a new learner. The professors make the classes fun while providing formidable feedback to all students. Thank you for the wonderful experience as I return to my adventure to learn more French! I highly recommend L'Ecole for all levels of French learners.

Fantastic experience: I've had a wonderful experience at L'Ecole Francaise! I recently completed my second course and will absolutely be signing up for a third. I've had Erwan for both courses, and he is a great teacher. He encourages participation among students, making sure that everyone is speaking and practicing. Since the class sizes are small, there are plenty of opportunities to engage, ask questions, and get to know your fellow students. I began taking classes as someone who already knew some French but wanted to continue to learn and refine my skills, and it's been a great place for that. I highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: I've taken 2 sessions so far at L'ecole Francaise and will soon start the third. Starting as a complete beginner in French, these classes have made my learning experience absolutely incredible! Previous to taking classes at LEF, I tried practicing on my own using resources like Duolingo and others, which gave me a nice start but are note 100% accurate and not nearly as educational as an actual class (duh). The instructors at LEF are all SO friendly and extremely helpful - if you are struggling to understand something or have any questions they are always there and willing to help you. Because they are all native french speakers, they teach you things that are very useful and can correct pronunciation, etc. NOT TO MENTION.... the pricing is very competitive with other french schools in the city. Honestly, I genuinely enjoy coming to class every week and wouldn't recommend any other place.

Fantastic experience: I just finished my first course at L'École Française and I already registered for the next one! This is not a big school where you will feel like another number. Here, you get to know your group and your teacher, and you learn more than just the language. Classes include a lot of cultural information and are taught in a fun but efficient way. There is no book to follow, they have developed their own teaching tools and papers, which work really well! I've attended other French schools in the past and I'm happy to say this one is my absolute favorite!

Fantastic experience: I've been taking classes at LEF for several years and absolutely love it! Erwan is wonderful and I really enjoy all of the classes and other students. Great, affordable place to improve your French!

Negative experience: Very unprofessional.

Fantastic experience: Started a year ago, now at level 5, can speak and read short stories in French. Very excited before each class, always great experience and good time.

Fantastic experience: The best french school in Chicago! Been going for years. Started at level 1. Now level 11. Can speak and understand french well enough to travel.