French immersion works
Developed over 20 years, our approach to French teaching creates a truly immersive experience that is shown to improve learning and confidence.
Our French immersion programmes at La Grand' Ferme are suitable for all French learners from beginners to GCSE level. Our approach immerses your students in the language so that they only hear, see and use French throughout their trip, while exploring the attractions and highlights of this historic area. Our dedicated French-native animateurs will be your guides and activity leaders, accompanying your group throughout their stay. To create an immersive experience for your group, all on-site activities, cultural excursions, language lessons, mealtimes and evening entertainment are be carried out in French.
The French residential at La Grand'Ferme has been tested and refined to create a memorable and immersive experience which is shown to improve pupils' language confidence and understanding. But this is a school trip, and so it is also designed to be fun, create lasting memories, foster new friendships, deliver new experiences and grow confidence.
We'll design an itinerary to meet the age, interests and French level of your learners. All programmes offer a packed week of guided day trips where students can explore Normandy’s famous historical sites such as Mont St Michel, visit its natural landmarks, and experience our local culture. All activities are conducted in French to create a truly immersive language experience and provide a real-life context to their French learning. Groups can also enjoy some onsite activities such as French bread-making.
Learning doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Our animateurs will also deliver a fun-packed evening programme, in French, to keep your group occupied. Favourite evening activities include circus skills, treasure hunt, French quiz night and French movie night.
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Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 08:15am | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | |
| 09:15am–12:00pm |
French market mission |
Morning exploring Mont Saint-Michel with your animateur |
Postcard writing French bread making |
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial | |
| 12:30pm | Packed lunch | Packed lunch | Lunch |
Lunch at Colleville-sur-Mer |
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| 14:15–17:00pm | Arrive | Tour of local goat's cheese farm |
Guided bay walk including 'quick sand' experience in the afternoon |
Avranches French town trail |
Transfer to port for ferry crossing |
| 17:00-18:00pm | Journalling | Journalling | Journalling | ||
| 18:00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |
| 19:30–21:00pm | Tour | Swimming or French quiz (depending on season) | Circus skills lesson in French | French fancy dress soirée |
All meals are eaten French-style, to encourage children to try something new, with menus and instructions in French.
Our sixth form programme is designed to prepare your students for exams through an interesting mix of cultural visits, French language activities and French soirées—we can even include mock oral exams. The aim is to give your students maximum opportunity to practise their French with native speakers, creating a truly immersive and authentic French language experience. There is a focus on oral French and in order to ensure students speak and think in French, we enforce a no-English-speaking rule. As a result, our programme has become a popular and integral part of many schools’ A level French course.
The programme will challenge your students to debate current affairs, social and environmental topics and students are encouraged to ask questions, exchange ideas, converse, and even think, in French. We have taken our groups to local lycées, les mairies, regional hospitals, the law courts, the university of Caen, radio stations and even a homeless centre to give students exposure to a wide-range of people and topics. On these visits students have the opportunity to conduct questionnaires or ask specific questions applicable to their presentation work. Students can use their phones to record interviews, which they can then study later in more detail.
We’ve found that intensity is the key to success, particularly for Sixth form students, which is why activities are instructed in small groups to ensure each student receives individual attention. During the day our French animateurs will lead onsite activities in French and if you wish, we will even invite a local figure, from farmers to politicians, to speak at dinner.
Popular onsite group activities include archery, assault course, canoeing, fencing, climbing, bread making, orienteering and initiative exercises.
Oh, and the students have a great time too! In the evening, we have a number of popular options to suit your sixth form group, such as a cheese & wine soirée on the first evening to meet and mix with the animateurs, bowling and pizza evening, cinema and creperie, French fancy dress disco and sports tournament.
The most cost-effective option for sixth form groups is to travel with other year groups from their school. However, we are able to accommodate sixth form-only groups of 10 or more on a self-drive basis. Alternatively, contact us about other transport options for small groups.
“For eight years now I have run various trips to Normandy. Initially I would take up to 90 Year 7 students for a week in July and I remember fondly my first visit, and how impressed I was with all aspects of La Grand Ferme and its fantastic staff team.
Every Easter I have continued to take Sixth Form students to the La Grand Ferme, and it remains an incredibly popular and integral part of the course. Students have undertaken visits to local lycées, les mairies, regional hospitals, the law courts, the university of Caen, radio stations and homeless centres. Whilst at these places they have had the opportunity to conduct questionnaires or ask specific questions applicable to their presentation work.
I have always set aside the last day of the trip for a full blown mock oral examination. With the help of the animateurs it is possible to devote anything up to an hour with individual candidates. Students would prepare for the exam just as they would for the oral proper, be examined for 15 minutes and then receive up to 45 minutes individual feedback.
When we return after each successive trip I am constantly surprised how every aspect of my students’ understanding has improved – their confidence in oral work, their projects, their exam results. It is this level of proficiency in extending students’ performance which brings me back year after year.”
Conn Anson-O’Connell, Head of MFL, King Henry VIII
French immersion works
Developed over 20 years, our approach to French teaching creates a truly immersive experience that is shown to improve learning and confidence.
We’re here for you
Our local managers are on hand 24/7 to look after the individual needs of your group and deliver the best experience every time you visit.
Schools return to us year after year
Our French language residentials offer the highest quality instruction and care which is why 8 out of 10 school groups return each year.
Animateurs are “like having another teacher on the trip”
All school group activities are led by our own French-native animateurs who are skilled at encouraging even the most reticent learner to use their French.
Authentic French experiences
As part of the local community, with ties across the region, we offer an authentic French cultural experience during your group's stay.
A French programme to suit your learning objectives
Looking for onsite adventure activities? The chance to experience authentic local culture? Or an escorted tour of Normandy's rich history and landmarks? We have a French trip to suit.
