French language schools in Paris

There is a wide variety of French language classes offered in Paris by different types of organizations. Some, like the Alliance Française, offer a formal "school-like" environment with relatively large classes while others use more personalized interactive approaches with smaller groups of typically less than 10 students. The scope and prices of classes vary a great deal so it is necessary to think about the type of course you are looking for and how intense you want it to be. Some schools focus on the needs of companies and business professionals and tend to charge more.

An introduction to French language schools in Paris is provided by Paris Anglo including reviews of some of the more well-known institutions. There is also a directory with schools offering classes of less than 10 students and business-oriented courses listed separately. The directory however is somewhat incomplete and out of date and does not provide links to the school's websites. Click on the links above to go to the Paris Anglo website.

Other directories of French language courses in Paris can be found at Europa Pages, Languages Worldwide, Language Finder and Paris AngloInfo. Click on the links to go to the relevant pages on these sites.

Great places to listen to Jazz in Paris

Paris is a great city to listen to jazz in both large and more intimate venues. The following is a list grouped by arrondissement of the most well-known places featuring jazz with links to their websites where monthly program details can be found. Some are up-market and involve a hefty entrance fee or cover charge or require dinner but many are casual places, often inexpensive and smoke-free, that attract world-class musicians. Over the coming weeks, ParisList will post individual reviews.

"Le Duc des Lombards opens its doors at 7 p.m.; it also serves respectable food for dinner. To “promote, celebrate and democratize” all jazz forms, Le Duc des Lombards has formed an association with two nearby clubs, Le Sunset/Le Sunside and Le Baiser Salé. They organize special “soirées de jazz” in which admission to all three clubs costs 20 euros. Sunset, a basement venue focusing on electric jazz, has surprisingly good sound, despite its white-tiled walls; Sunside on the ground floor, which is largely devoted to acoustic jazz, feels cozier. Upstairs from the bar and terrace at Le Baiser Salé is a comfortable space that features varied musical styles, from afro jazz to fusion. New Morning is a jazz and world-music club that was Chet Baker’s favorite Paris jazz venue, and the last place he played before he died. The big and beautifully restored Salle Pleyel concert hall at 252, rue du Faubourg St.-Honoré (www.sallepleyel.fr), has perhaps the best acoustics in town. This is where the pianist Keith Jarrett plays when he comes to town." [ELAINE SCIOLINO, New York Times, March 25, 2009]

1st
Franc Pinot. 1 quai de Bourbon, 1e. 01 46 33 60 64
Le Baiser Salé. 58 rue des Lombards, 1e. 01 42 33 37 71
Au Duc des Lombards. 42 rue des Lombards, 1e. 01 42 33 22 88
Le Sunset / Le Sunside, 60 rue des Lombards, 1e. 01 40 26 46 60 (Sunset), 01 40 26 21 25 (Sunside)

4th
Les 7 Lézards. 10 rue des Rosiers, 4e. 01 48 87 08 97 [Closed in 2008!]

5th
Les Trois Maillets. 56 rue Galande, 5e. 01 43 54 00 79
Le Caveau de la Huchette. 5 rue de la Huchette, 5e. 1 43 26 65 05
Le Petit Journal Saint Michel. 71 blvd Saint Michel, 5e. 01 43 26 28 59

6th

Jazz Café Chez Papa. 3 rue Saint-Benoit, 6e. 01 42 86 99 63
The Swan Bar. 165 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 6e. 01 44 27 05 84
Alliance Jazz Club. 7-11 rue Saint-Benoit, 6e. 01 42 61 53 53
Le Bilboquet. 13 rue Saint-Benoit, 6e. 01 45 48 81 84
L'Arbuci. 25 rue de Buci, 6e. 01 44 32 16 00
La Balle au Bond. Péniche, 3 quai Malaquais, 6e. 01 40 51 87 06
Paris-Prague Jazz Club. 18 rue Bonaparte, 6e. 01 53 73 00 22
Café Universel. 267 rue de Saint-Jacques, 6e. 01 43 25 74 20


9th-17th

Elysée Montmartre. 71 blvd de Rochechouart, 9e. Paris. 01 44 92 45 49
New Morning. 7 rue des Petites Ecuries, 10e. 01 45 23 56 39, 01 45 23 51 41 (program)
Cafe bar Au Chat Noir. 76 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 11e. 01 48 06 98 22
Jazz Ô Zèbre. Zèbre de Belleville, 63 blvd de Belleville, 11e. 01 43 55 55 55
Cithea Bar. 114 rue Oberkampf, 11e. 01 47 00 00 32
Le Petit Journal Montparnasse. 13 rue du Commandant Mouchotte, 14e. 01 43 21 56 70
Le Jazz Club Lionel Hampton. Hotel Meridien, 81 blvd Gouvion Saint Cyr, 17e. 01 40 68 30 42