Speak French in the relaxed setting of Provence!

Here at Franci Discendum, we want to do everything we can, to help you, not only learn the French language, but to also learn more about our wonderful country and culture too.

Of course, we cover some of this in our classes, but we have also developed a programme of activities to enable you to really get to know more about our beautiful area and some of its history and customs too.

We have developed these activities with the help of local people, who are passionate about the area and their work and they will help you to learn more about the region and its traditions, whilst all the time helping you to develop you language skills and learn new vocabulary. These activities have been carefully structured and your teacher will accompany you to help you to converse in French and get the most from the event.

Our little corner of Provence is the land of light, home to world-famous lavender fields, with formidable castles, wonderful Roman remains, and picturesque ancient villages to explore…

Patrimoine 5

Our unique landscape has the mountains of Mont Ventoux, Mourre Nègre,  & plateau de Ganagobie… and the deep gorges of Verdon, Oppedette, & Véroncles …. We have lakes, a beautiful Cedar forest, the rocky and herb-scented Garrigue and the wide valley of the Durance that runs to the sea, a short distance away… It is an especially fascinating landscape with a rich geological and natural history.

During the activities you will have the chance not only to learn about a different aspect of our local life, but to practice your French as well.

Perhaps you will be at one of the villages, learning and talking about its history, finding out about the ancient Counts of Provence that lived in the chateau, or talking about the village’s links with famous artists that have both painted there and left their mark too.

Provence is renowned for its wonderful foods and the local markets are packed with local produce from early season strawberries to the juicy red tomatoes and golden apricots of summer and piles of mushrooms and nuts in the autumn. We will give you the opportunity to practice your French whilst tasting local products and also cooking some of the produce with your teacher.

It’s all good fun and you’ll learn lots of French jokes too!

Produits locaux, marché en Provence

With your class, you will have an opportunity (if you wish) to visit some of our most beautiful villages and landmarks around the Apt region, learning more about the area and its rich history from even before Roman times.

You may choose to take a walk in the Luberon Natural Park, finding out about its flora, fauna and natural history; or  visit one of our local goat farms, discovering more about the animals and this important local industry.

Then there is of course summer, when our fields turn purple with lavender and you may wish to find out more about it during a visit to a local distillery; or even explore an old mill that was famous for its olive oil production.

Marché en Provence 2

We may just visit a local boulangerie to discover its pastries or chocolate-making secrets; or head to one of the many vineyards where we can find out about the local wine production and taste some of their vintages with a viticulurist or finally get to know more about the famed and much sought after black truffles with a truffle grower.

Learn in French about the botanical plants

We feel very strongly that a big part of learning a language is learning how people, who speak that language, live and think. Speaking  with them in a workshop or during a walk, is a wonderfully relaxed way to learn, helping you progress more quickly and enabling you to share beautiful moments away from a traditional classroom environment.

Activities like this are a great way to help you extend your French vocabulary into new and interesting areas from botanical plants & wildlife, to mediterranean cookery, literature and the arts and so much more! You will not only have a better understanding of Provence, but will have so much more to talk about too!