I highly recommend Parlons en Provence for improving French conversational skills and experiencing the cuisine and culture of Provence in a country setting.

Magali Viven, a native French speaker and teacher, and her husband, Colin Ward, a Brit who speaks fluent French, run this unique enterprise in their home near Avignon.

The cost includes meals prepared by Viven (an excellent cook who serves mostly organic foods from local farmers' markets), escorted outings to nearby villages and vineyards of the Luberon.

Everyone is convivial, making even a novice speaker feel comfortable and capable.

Mary M. Rodocker, Palo Alto
Sunday December 14th 2003
'Follow the Reader'
San Francisco Chronicle

School is probably too formal and forbidding a description to describe Parlons en Provence, where there is a maximum of six participants at any one time for the one or two-week courses. Magali Viven, who is from nearby Apt, does the teaching and the cooking, her British-born husband Colin Ward does the administration and the day-to-day running of the school.

French is spoken throughout the day, in class and at mealtimes, which is certainly one of the most valuable aspects of the experience. Almost as valuable is Magali's firm but friendly teaching methods. And encouragingly, you do get a real sense that your individual progress in her native tongue is something that Magali cares passionately about.

But whether it is playing boules or learning to cook a Provencal dish the language is always French and this really is the strength of Parlons en Provence; you are getting immersion without any real hardship, or indeed a huge effort, and because you are so relaxed your mind is more open to learning.

So, did it work for me? Well yes. In the carefully constructed course, where Magali gave us useful notes, reading material and (gentle) tests I felt I learnt a great deal, even if some of what I learnt was the extent of what I did not know. But this has simply encouraged me to do more study on my own and I plan to return for another week in a few months' time. And if for the week or two of your stay you find yourself speaking French and nothing but French as you most certainly will - at first haltingly but with growing fluency as the days go by - well then you really can agree that Parlons en France really does equate with 'parlons en France'.

Terry Kelleher
Sunday August 22nd 2004
© Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/

Colin Derwick stayed at Parlons en Provence, a family-run centre, 20 minutes south of Avignon. Colin explains: 'I was at about GCSE standard and found the course improved my ability to understand French in a social and friendly atmosphere. The tuition itself was very clear and, because it was a small class, individual problems could be addressed. Speaking continuously in French allowed valuable practice. I enjoyed taking part in the visits to Provençal villages and all the other organised activities'.

Jane Bayliss writing for Living France
July 2005
http://www.livingfrance.com

The name of the week-long program that we attended is Parlons en Provence. I discovered it through an internet search. It is residential and is probably unique in that it is so small and quite relaxed in atmosphere. The program is run by a wry, helpful French woman named Magali, and she is supported by her wonderful English husband, Colin, and her parents, who visit and help engage in activities with the students. 

The emphasis of the teaching is on conversational French, and in the intermediate course we ran through some of the fundamentals of futur prochaine, l'imparfait, pronunciation etc. Magali gauged the class based upon where we all stood.

One of the values of the Parlons program was that it highlighted for me the kinds of details that I will now have to go back and study if I really want to be more literate. On the other hand, the general experiences that I had in speaking with people these past two weeks--even in negotiating complicated issues with Air France service people--suggested that I HAVE been making progress.

Date: 08/22/2005