Learn French in Normandy: AFSF’s Immersive Language and Culture Trip 

Combine French language lessons with cultural discovery on an immersive trip to Normandy. From the medieval streets of Rouen to Monet’s gardens at Giverny and the iconic abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, AFSF’s French immersion programme offers an unforgettable way to learn French in France.

It’s one thing to visit France and practice speaking French at the local bakery by asking for a baguette. But real learning of the language is holding a conversation with a French chef, a local artist and historians who want to discuss Mont Saint Michel or Monet’s garden in Giverny. The Alliance Française of San Francisco (AFSF) is offering a French Immersion trip to Normandy at the end of September where language, culture, art and history will be discussed in French with English language support where needed.  

The first 5 days of the 8-day trip start with French classes where vocabulary, verb tenses and appropriate topics will be reviewed. All levels of French proficiency are welcome as local Alliance Française de Normandie instructors will work with each member to make sure they are learning the language in a helpful, pleasurable way. The afternoon events will be tours of historical places in Rouen and Caen that inspire on many levels. The immersion trip and its events will be hosted and managed by Cindy Beziat, AFSF Community and Events Manager. 

The trip is from September 27 to October 4, 2026 and is open to anyone interested in improving their French. It includes 6 nights in Rouen and one night in Caen. Breakfast is included at the hotels, while lunch and evening apéritifs and dinner are not included but will be shared with the group. Also not included are typical expenses like airfare, transportation and personal items.  

The first day eases participants in with a morning French class from 8am to 1pm, followed by a guided tour of Rouen. The Norman capital of France and great port on the river Seine has held historical significance since the Roman era. Its old town unfolds through medieval, half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, past the Vieux-Marché where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake and beneath the Gothic façade of Notre-Dame cathedral, which Monet captured in a celebrated series of paintings.  

French lessons continue on the second morning before a pastry workshop with a local chef – a delicious introduction to French baking and cooking vocabulary. The third afternoon takes the group to Giverny to see Monet’s house. This year marks 100 years since the Impressionist master’s death and is the perfect opportunity to stroll through the beautiful gardens and past the lily ponds that inspired his most famous paintings. The fourth day brings a painting initiation workshop with a local visual artist where, perhaps inspired by the previous day’s visit, you can try, however humbly to replicate Monet’s brushstrokes. After the last French lessons on the fifth day, the trip then moves to Caen and the afternoon is dedicated to a visit to Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey. The trip closes on a note of Remembrance with a morning visit to the Caen Memorial Museum and the afternoon spent at the American Cemetery in Colleville-Sur-Mer.  

All members of the trip will then be dropped at the Caen train station to return to the airport for home. Anyone can extend their visit on their own, of course. 

More information about the Immersion Trip to Rouen can be found on the AFSF website or from online information calls scheduled for June 30 and July 8. It is open to anyone interested in learning or improving their French and will be a great way to upgrade language skills while discovering a beautiful and historical part of Normandy.  

Lead photo credit : Rouen © Shutterstock