French Courses - How do government language programs work?

yes if you google learning french in lyon you could find many places who offer but i don't think the goverment would help pay... they didnt for my self and ive been here for years. i learned the best with my fiance who helped me...

go on the internet and click on
Francais interactiv
completely free and interacts thru Housten and Lyon universities
Exceptional course with homework to make sure you understand the individual courses .Study at your own pace. .......

Hey. I have some friends who are married to Frenchmen/women (me I'm PACSed) and they had some integration/cultural type classes through the OFII, then some language classes with Alliance Française...I think that's how it went. When you go to the OFII, I'm sure they will point you in the right direction :-)

hi peter

I agree with jayde

Immigrants in France undergo the process of OFII and we will have 90H free french lesson plus 2 seminars to integrate ourselves in France.

All are free.. Going through OFII is I believe necessary for immigrants.

Probably because ofii is for immigrants.. Especially for non eu people

Wow thanks that's helps a lot.

Yeah, the French lessons are free and arranged through OFII. They will test your level and ascertain if you need 90h or more. I came with zero French and was allocated the max of 180h over 2 months, at the Alliance Francaise. If I am not wrong, where you go for classes depends on where you stay. I didn't get a choice but my teachers at AF were fab!
Good luck

Hello! I arrived here in Lyon last month and submitted my documents to OFFII during the week that I arrived. However, I still not have received any reply from them. Is this normal? How long did it take you before you were able to start your classes?

I've been told it can take a few months. I haven't arrived yet, but the office told me that after I submit my paperwork it can take a few months.

Yes that's what I  heard too. Anyway thank you!

Hello ms.krystiemae :-)
How are you? The info you shared was so great. I have few questions, the OFII will settle everything for your free french lessons and the school too?

Merci beaucoup :-)

Hi Rachel

Yeah you'll receive a letter from them a few weeks after you send them the documents. Basically asking you to go down to OFII for a medical check up and they will check your French proficiency, give you more information etc. They will be able to help you with any queries you have.

As for the school, I believe it depends on where you live.

All the best!

Hello I'm new to Lyon (3 months) and I wanted to ask if I am reading this correctly...

The French government will give 180 hours of free French lessons to non-EU members? I'm American, taking French classes L'Université Catholique and it was a couple thousand euros for the year. Can you confirm this for me? I would be very interested in this. I have not had my OFII medical appointment yet, haven't heard from them in a couple months but I expect it any day. Earlier in the thread, someone mentioned getting married to a French citizen, does this only apply in that case?

Thanks,
Ryan

So far miss yell in this thread, had finished her course with ofii! Congrats! On to the next level!

To: rjc

OFII varies in every location, their rules in number of hours for french lessons, etc..  and it is a matter of luck to have great formateurs (it is free after all so dont expect a complete and rigorous formation like what ur having right now. )

We, missyell, rachel and maybe krystiemae, had this OFII because we are all married to French "dudes" hehe and also for allllllll refugees. So I'm not sure if they process Americans, hope they do

Hi Rjc

I know they offer to other categories of newcomers, e.g. spouses of non-French who had relocated here for work. But I'm quite sure they only offer the sponsored courses to people who came with zero or very low level of French. But you can always ask OFII, there could be changes since 2015.

Enjoy France

Thanks for the information! I would say I have an "intermediate" level and improving but there's still difficulties with unexpected questions, limited vocabulary, and with oral comprehension. I will definitely look into it!

Ryan

hello
"There's no such thing as government language programs for everyone."
yes there is...
french governement cant impose foreign spouse to learn french to get long term visa and not providing french lesson (for "rapprochement familial for exemple")

you have many ways to follow french courses...public, free or not, and private.
for a low fee or free depending on...the city hall, they provide courses in different subjects, languages is one of, also french, they could also give you informations about associations teaching french or schools.
then there are many private ones, but i m not familiar with Lyon

a good way, is also to find people eager to learn english in associations, or forums, give and take, u teach them english, they teach you french

Hello! I'm new to this arena (American woman recently married to a Frenchman), but from what I understand, the OFII government-sponsored French lessons are only for non-EU members who have a long-stay visa, be it for school, marriage or visitor.

That said, back when I was just on a 3-month short-term visitor visa, I went to the centre social (community center) in my area, and they signed me up for a very, very , bare-bones basic French course that met for 2 hours once a week. Honestly, for that little bit of class time, I was better off studying on my own, but for those who want even the tiniest bit of direction, it's better than nothing.

Hi,

Does anyone has the email address for the OFII or a link to the page to register for lessons?

Thanks,
Hannah