The Best French Classes in Paris (2026 Review)
Evening French classes in Paris compared on price, hours in class, group size, schedule and speaking time, with prices from each school's own website and the best class for each goal.
By Echoa editorial team · Prices checked 6 November 2026
Key takeaways
- Best for an answer to every French sentence you say, at any hour: Echoa
- Best for the lowest twelve-week price, in small groups you can join any week: Lutece Langue
- Best for the most class hours and the lowest price per hour among the twelve-week courses: Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS)
- Best for a new group every month, where you can also sit the DELF and the TEF IRN: Alliance Française de Paris
- Best for a university term on two evenings a week: ILCF, Institut Catholique de Paris
- Best for the lowest price of any school here, for a whole A1 level: Cours d'Adultes de Paris (City of Paris)
The best French classes in Paris depend on your goal. Some people need A2 for a residence card, some want a university course or an evening class with classmates, and some simply want to order at the boulangerie without the reply arriving in English.
If the goal is speaking French with confidence, a speaking course you can do at any hour is the closest fit. On Echoa you hear an English cue, build the French sentence and say it out loud, and Sam answers every sentence you say: around fifty spoken answers in a 15-minute lesson. In an evening class, the hour is shared with the rest of the group.
This guide is for working adults in Paris comparing evening French classes by price, hours in class, group size, schedule and speaking time, so you can choose one that fits your week, your budget and your goal.
How we chose the best French classes in Paris
Each school was compared on the same basis where it offers one: twelve weeks of evening group classes, so the prices can be set side by side. Two good options sell a different block, a longer term or a semester, and are shown with their own price.
| Evaluation criterion | What we evaluated |
|---|---|
| Speaking practice | How much of each hour a learner could spend speaking French: at most, the class length divided by the group size |
| Price | The total for twelve weeks, from each school's own website, and what is extra, such as registration fees and books |
| Hours in class | How many hours the twelve weeks give you, and the price per hour that works out to |
| Group size | How many people share the teacher, as each school states it |
| Schedule and level | Which evenings the course runs, when you can start, and whether beginners are taken |
| Exam support | Whether the school is also a centre for the DELF, the TCF or the TEF, so you can sit the test where you studied |
Prices were checked in November 2026 and may change with level, schedule and format; confirm the current price on each school's website before booking. Each school gets a "Best for" label as an editorial recommendation, not an overall ranking.
At a glance
Prices are for 12 weeks of evening group classes, unless the row says what else they buy. Echoa is priced by the month.
- EchoaBest for an answer to every French sentence you say, at any hourSpeaking course, on your phone or computer€39 a month · Speaking: around fifty spoken answers in 15 min, each one answered
- Lutece LangueBest for the lowest twelve-week price, in small groups you can join any weekGroup classes, groups of 3–8€890 · Speaking: at most 7–20 min an hour, by group size
- Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS)Best for the most class hours and the lowest price per hour among the twelve-week coursesGroup classes€1,200 · Speaking: group size not published
- Alliance Française de ParisBest for a new group every month, where you can also sit the DELF and the TEF IRNGroup classes, groups of up to 14€1,200 · Speaking: at most 4 min an hour
- ILCF, Institut Catholique de ParisBest for a university term on two evenings a weekGroup classes, groups of 10 to 18 (the web page says 10 to 15; the course sheet gives an average of 18)€890 a 14-week term · Speaking: at most 3–6 min an hour, by group size
- Cours d'Adultes de Paris (City of Paris)Best for the lowest price of any school here, for a whole A1 levelPublic course€300 a semester · Speaking: group size not published
Prices are rounded; each source linked below has the exact prices. Speaking for a group class is 60 minutes divided by the group size the school states, from a full class to the smallest: the most each learner could speak, before the teacher says anything.
Where to take French classes in Paris
1.Echoa: best for an answer to every French sentence you say, at any hour
- CourseSpeaking course, on your phone or computer; German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch and Italian
- Price€39 a month; first 3 lessons free. No card needed
- LessonsAbout 15 minutes, around fifty spoken answers each
- GroupJust you, with Sam answering every sentence you say
- Ideal forPeople who understand more French than they can say, and whose evenings are already spoken for
Lesson 1. By the end you say: “Bonsoir. Je voudrais une table pour deux personnes, s'il vous plaît.”
Echoa is a speaking course on your phone or computer, in German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch and Italian. Each lesson takes about 15 minutes: you hear an English cue, build the French sentence and say it aloud, and Sam answers what you actually said. There is no group, so every answer in the lesson is yours. Call it your speaking bootcamp. Say things you were never taught: sentences you build yourself from the pieces you have learnt. Real conversations in 20 hours. A2 in weeks, not years. The lessons teach Metropolitan French, as spoken in France.
The French course runs from a restaurant first, then meeting people, making plans, saying what happened, sorting things out and having friends round, which brings you to A2. Where the course takes you, from lesson 1 to lesson 40:
- Lesson 1: Bonsoir. Je voudrais une table pour deux personnes, s'il vous plaît.
- Lesson 4: Pardon, je ne comprends pas. Vous pouvez répéter plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?
- Lesson 40: Non. Quand j'étais petit, j'habitais à Londres.
Pros
- Each lesson gets you giving around fifty spoken answers in about 15 minutes, and each one gets a reply.
- Any time of day, so it fits round office hours, the Métro or a late shift.
- €39 a month for every language course, so three months cost less than the €890–1,200 the schools here charge for twelve weeks of evening classes. The first 3 lessons are free.
Cons
- No classroom and no classmates; nobody notices if you skip a week.
- No certificate; for a permit or citizenship, learners sit the recognised exam, whichever way they learnt.
2.Lutece Langue: best for the lowest twelve-week price, in small groups you can join any week
- CourseEvening extensive course, 3 hours a week, 12 weeks
- Price€890, about 35 hours in class
- WhenTwo evenings a week, 19:15–20:45 (Mon & Wed or Tue & Thu, by level); join any week
- Group3–8
- Ideal forLearners who want a teacher's attention and to join a group any week
Priced by the week: 12 × €74 at the 9-weeks-or-more rate. Complete beginners must ask for start dates. Ask whether a registration fee applies.
Lutece Langue runs an evening extensive course. Two evenings a week, 19:15–20:45 (Mon & Wed or Tue & Thu, by level); join any week. Twelve weeks give 35 hours for about €890, in small classes of 3–8. You pay by the week.
Pros
- The lowest twelve-week price among the schools here, and the smallest group any of the twelve-week courses states.
- No term to wait for: start next week rather than next semester.
Cons
- The fewest hours of the twelve-week courses, at about €25 an hour, among the highest rates here.
- Complete beginners have to ask for start dates; ask too whether a registration fee applies.
3.Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS): best for the most class hours and the lowest price per hour among the twelve-week courses
- CourseSemester evening course, general French (S05), 12 weeks
- Price€1,200, about 70 hours in class
- WhenThree evenings a week (Mon, Tue, Thu), 19:00–21:00, 12 weeks; next priced start 25 January 2027
- Ideal forLearners who can give three evenings a week to plenty of class time
Plus a €100 annual registration fee. The school says its evening courses do not complete a whole level; the next session with a price runs from 25 January 2027.
The Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne runs its general French evening course for 12 weeks: 70 hours for €1,200. Three evenings a week (Mon, Tue, Thu), 19:00–21:00, 12 weeks; next priced start 25 January 2027.
Pros
- The most class hours of the twelve-week courses, and the lowest price per hour among them, at about €17.
- A fixed timetable on the same three evenings every week.
Cons
- The Sorbonne's CCFS says its evening courses do not complete a whole level; its daytime semester courses can, in 12 weeks. Extra: €100 annual registration fee; a 30% deposit secures the place.
- Three evenings a week is a lot to keep free, and the school does not publish its class size.
4.Alliance Française de Paris: best for a new group every month, where you can also sit the DELF and the TEF IRN
- CourseIn-person hybrid course, Mon and Wed 17:00–19:00, three 4-week sessions
- Price€1,200, about 50 hours in class
- WhenA1 and A2: Monday and Wednesday, 17:00–19:00, plus 2 hours of online self-study a week; a new session each month
- Groupup to 14
- Ideal forLearners with some French already who can be in class by five and want an exam centre on hand
Priced per 4-week session; 12 weeks is three sessions at €405, the one session priced when checked (23 Nov–18 Dec). Classes end at 7 pm and the school tags them as afternoon classes. Aimed at non-beginners; a placement test sets the group. Textbook and workbook extra.
The Alliance Française de Paris runs an in-person hybrid course. A1 and A2: Monday and Wednesday, 17:00–19:00, plus 2 hours of online self-study a week; a new session each month. Taught at A1 and A2, but not for complete beginners: a placement test sets the group. Twelve weeks is three sessions, about 50 hours in class for about €1,200, in classes of up to 14 students. The school is also a centre for the DELF, the DALF and the TEF IRN.
Pros
- A new group every month and a placement test to put you in the right one.
- The DELF and the TEF IRN can be sat at the same address when you are ready.
Cons
- Classes end at 7 pm, early for most office hours, and complete beginners are not taken.
- Groups of up to 14, about €25 an hour in class, and the textbook and workbook are extra.
5.ILCF, Institut Catholique de Paris: best for a university term on two evenings a week
- CourseEvening classes, one 14-week term (Tue and Thu)
- Price€890 a 14-week term
- WhenTuesday and Thursday evenings, 18:00–20:00; terms run September to January and February to June
- Group10 to 18 (the web page says 10 to 15; the course sheet gives an average of 18)
- Ideal forLearners who want a university term, two evenings a week, at a lower price per hour than the twelve-week courses
A 14-week term, not 12 weeks. Placement test required; applicants need a secondary-school diploma.
The ILCF at the Institut Catholique de Paris teaches evening French in terms of 14 weeks: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 18:00–20:00; terms run September to January and February to June. One term is 55 hours for €890, in classes of 10 to 15 students, the school says; its course sheet gives an average of 18. It sells a term, not a twelve-week block, so it is not set beside the twelve-week prices above.
Pros
- A university course on two evenings a week, at about €16 an hour in class.
- A placement test starts you at the right level.
Cons
- You need a secondary-school diploma to apply, and a term starts only twice a year.
- Classes of 10 to 15 students, the school says, and its course sheet gives an average of 18, so the hour is shared many ways.
6.Cours d'Adultes de Paris (City of Paris): best for the lowest price of any school here, for a whole A1 level
- CourseFLE 120 hours, A1, one semester
- Price€300 a semester
- WhenEvenings across Paris in person; distance groups may meet in the evening, at lunchtime or on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; semester 2 runs 22 February–28 June 2027 (registration 5–25 January 2027)
- Ideal forLearners on a tight budget who can register in January for a February start
A whole A1 in one semester for €300, not a 12-week block. Open to adults whether or not they live in Paris, subject to places; registration for the second semester runs 5–25 January 2027. Half rate (€150) for people on RSA, ASS or AAH. The brochure lists this course as in person or at a distance, so not every group meets in a school.
The City of Paris runs adult courses across the city, and its French course covers A1 in 120 hours over a semester for €300. City of Paris adult courses are open to anyone over 18, Parisian or not, within the places available; fees run from €50 to €350. It sells a semester, not a twelve-week block, so it is not set beside the twelve-week prices above.
Pros
- The lowest price of any school here, for a whole A1 level.
- Half rate for RSA, ASS or AAH recipients.
Cons
- One registration window a semester, and places are limited. Evenings across Paris in person; distance groups may meet in the evening, at lunchtime or on Wednesday and Saturday mornings; semester 2 runs 22 February–28 June 2027 (registration 5–25 January 2027).
- The brochure does not give days, times or group size, and distance groups may meet at lunchtime or on weekend mornings, so ask before you register.
Online vs. in-person French classes in Paris: which should you choose?
A speaking course online suits people who want to say as much French as possible, at times they choose. An evening class in person suits people who want a fixed routine, a teacher in the room and classmates.
| Factor | Speaking course online (Echoa) | Evening group class |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Any time, on your phone or computer | Fixed evenings, two or three a week; the Alliance Française also runs a virtual classroom on Monday and Wednesday evenings |
| Individual attention | Sam, Echoa's AI teacher, answers every sentence you say | Shared with a group: 3–8 at Lutece Langue, up to 14 at the Alliance Française |
| Speaking time | Every answer in the lesson is yours | At most the hour divided by the group size |
| Feedback | An answer to what you actually said, every time | From the teacher, when your turn comes |
| Cost | €39 a month, first 3 lessons free | About €890–1,200 for twelve weeks, fees and books often extra |
| Social side | Just you | Classmates every week |
| Commute | None | Across Paris on the Métro, every class |
- Choose a speaking course online if you understand more French than you can say, or your evenings are already spoken for.
- Choose an evening class if you learn best with a fixed time, a teacher in front of you and a room full of people in the same position.
Many learners do both: the class for structure and company, and a speaking course on the evenings in between. If you are weighing up a French app instead, Babbel vs Duolingo for French compares the two side by side.
Which French class in Paris is best for you?
- Choose Echoa if you want to practise speaking French every day, at any hour, for €39 a month.
- Choose Lutece Langue if you want a small group and to start in any week.
- Choose the Sorbonne's CCFS if you can give three evenings a week and want the most class time for the money among the twelve-week courses.
- Choose the Alliance Française de Paris if you have some French already, can be in class by five, and want to sit the DELF or the TEF IRN at the same place.
- Choose the ILCF if you want a university term on two evenings a week.
- Choose the City of Paris adult courses if you want a whole A1 in class for the lowest price, and can register in January.
If a residence card is the reason, read what the DELF asks before you book.
Learning a different language in another city? The same comparison covers German courses in Zurich, Spanish classes in Madrid, Portuguese classes in Lisbon, Dutch courses in Amsterdam and Italian classes in Rome.
Ready to speak French with confidence in Paris?
French. Accelerated. Lesson 1 takes about 15 minutes and ends with you booking a table for two, out loud, in French: Bonsoir. Je voudrais une table pour deux personnes, s'il vous plaît. The first 3 lessons are free. No card needed.
FAQ
How much do French classes in Paris cost?
Twelve weeks of evening group classes cost about €890–1,200 at the schools above, for about 35–70 hours in class, which works out at about €17 to €25 an hour. The City of Paris adult course is €300 for a semester. Echoa is €39 a month for every language course, with the first 3 lessons free. Private tutors charge about €26–31 an hour on average on Preply. City of Paris adult courses charge half (€150 instead of €300 for the 120-hour A1) to people on RSA, ASS or AAH; newcomers who sign the republican integration contract (CIR) and test below A2 can be prescribed 600 hours of OFII French training.
What French do I need for a residence card or citizenship?
A first multi-year residence card needs A2 French and a first resident card needs B1; naturalisation needs B2, spoken and written. Since 1 January 2026 a civic exam is required for a first multi-year card, a resident card and naturalisation; renewals are not affected. Echoa's French course is speaking practice from lesson 1 up to A2.
Where can I sit the DELF, TCF or TEF in Paris?
The Alliance Française de Paris is a centre for the DELF, DALF and TEF IRN, and the CCFS for the TCF TP. DELF A2 €190, DELF B1 €230, DELF B2 €280, DALF C1 or C2 €290 at the Alliance Française de Paris, and €205 for the TEF IRN (integration, residence and nationality) on computer at the Alliance Française de Paris. TCF TP at the CCFS: €110 on computer, €150 with the written test, €170 with the speaking test, €210 for the full exam.
Can I take an evening French class online?
Yes. The Alliance Française de Paris runs a hybrid evening course in a virtual classroom (A1 and A2: Monday and Wednesday, 19:00–21:00, live online) for €395 every four weeks, with 16 hours of live class.
How we compared
This page is published by Echoa, one of the options compared. Every price comes from the source linked for it below, the provider’s own website unless named otherwise, on the date shown. The page is drafted with AI from those sources, then checked against them before it is published. Prices are compared on one basis, 12 weeks of evening group classes; Echoa is priced by the month, and any other option priced differently says on its card what its price buys. Options under “also checked” were looked at too and are not compared here, because they are priced on another basis or weren’t picked. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne (CCFS), checked 2026-11-06
- Lutece Langue, checked 2026-11-06
- Alliance Française de Paris, checked 2026-11-06
- ILCF, Institut Catholique de Paris, checked 2026-11-06
- Cours d'Adultes de Paris (City of Paris), checked 2026-11-06
Also checked, not picked here: Alliance Française de Paris (virtual classroom), Berlitz Paris.
Other sources: preply.com, scap.paris.fr, alliancefr.org, ccfs-sorbonne.fr, service-public.gouv.fr, paris.fr.
Related reading: learn French with Echoa · the DELF exam · Babbel vs Duolingo for French · French classes in Lyon