With over 300 days of sunshine a year and a prime location on the shore of the Mediterranean, halfway between Spain and Italy, it’s small wonder Montpellier is the fastest growing city in France with a bustling student population.
The city is one of the few major cities in France not founded by the Romans, and one of a handful in Southern France without a Greek background. Montpellier began life in the 10th century as people began moving inland from nearby Maguelone to better avoid pirate attacks. It quickly grew in prominence as a trading center due to its prime location and religious tolerance.
In more recent history, Montpellier saw a huge increase in population in the 1960s when French settlers in Algeria were repatriated when Algeria decolonized from France. Since then the city saw numerous redevelopment projects, such as the famous Antigone District.
The city now enjoys a large student population and is packed with restaurants and bars. For those of you looking for a more cultural experience, be sure to visit the Place de la Comedie, the Musee Fabre, and the Jardin des plantes de Montpellier that, founded in 1593, is the oldest botanical garden in France.
The School
The campus is located in the center of Montpellier and offers a helpful teaching resource center, easy access to shops and cafes and comfortable classroom space as well as free Internet access. There will also be opportunities to participate in cultural excursions such as wine tastings or cooking classes.
The course is very intensive and requires a strong commitment by the student. One can expect to be in class for about 5-6 hours a day, plus time spent in practice teaching (usually 6 hours during the course), along with a few hours of work at home each evening.
Housing
Housing options include home stays with local families (450-575/month), studio apartments (500+/month), and shared apartments (300+/month). All home stay families are carefully screened. Home stays include breakfast and dinner daily. Housing options and pricing are dependent upon availability and season at the time of your course.
Transportation
Monpellier is serviced by Montpellier—Mediterranee Airport, just southeast of the city, and Saint-Roch railway station, which provides highspeed TGV access to the city. Once in the city, take advantage of Montpellier’s tramway network, Transports de l’agglomeration de Montpellier (TaM). In addition to the trams, TaM also operates a bike rental service throughout Montpellier, Velomagg, which comprises 1200 bikes at 50 stations.
Climate
Montpellier enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers.
Tuition Includes
Tuition Includes:
Tuition DOES NOT Include:
Course fee
Job placement assistance
Pre-enrollment and departure advice
Assistance finding housing
Course materials
Accommodation and meals
Personal expenses
Travel to and from the course
Visa, if needed
Airport pickup
Medical insurance (TEFL Institute can recommend medical insurance)
The campus is located in the center of Montpellier and offers a helpful teaching resource center, easy access to shops and cafes and comfortable classroom space as well as free Internet access. There will also be opportunities to participate in cultural excursions such as wine tastings or cooking classes.
