Where to Learn to Speak French in San Francisco

The City College of San Francisco offers courses in beginning, intermediate and conversational French. Some course times and dates have been slashed for this upcoming year due to California state budget problems but most are still intact. All French courses offered at City College are for credit only, and generally run about three units each at $20 per unit, so the classes are usually $60 each per semester. However, if you made a low income in the previous year, you may qualify for the California Board of Governors Waiver which covers all tuition for the academic year for as many classes as you would like to take. Applying for the tuition waiver involves filling out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and is determined by the financial aid office during the processing of the FAFSA.

The Alliance Francaise San Francisco is the largest private school for French lessons in the city. The Alliance offers language classes at Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels, as well as various cultural classes. Specialized classes are also available, including private lessons, corporate language programs, test prep courses for tests like the AP, and twenty minute phone lessons for those unable to attend in person. Tuition is a bit pricey at $365.00 to $395.00 per three hour class, and the accelerated and "French in Four Weeks" classes jump to $550.00 to $700.00 per session.You can take a placement test at their website (http://www.afsf.com/school.php) at no charge.

A smaller alternative to the Alliance Francaise is The French Class near Union Square in downtown. Aside from the various classes for which tuition is charged, they offer a free session every Friday between 12:00 and 12:45 for anyone to stop by and brush up on their skills or get a feel for the school. Language courses range from Beginner to Advanced.

One resource that should definitely not be overlooked is the San Francisco Public Library. As you would imagine, they have plenty of books, as well as lessons on tape, video, CD and DVD. However, one resource that even a lot of locals do not know about is that you can get free access to the Rosetta Stone language software if you either hold a library card, or a virtual "e-card" available to anyone who is a California resident.

Finally, there are a number of private tutors who offer reasonable rates for one-on-one sessions and small classes. Keep an eye on craigslist.org's "Tutors & Lessons" section for postings.