Recommended partner · French before you fly · California
Founded in 1927, Alliance Française de San Diego has taught French across San Diego County for almost a century, from complete beginner to proficient. Start here in the months before you leave, and your first conversation with your host family won’t be your first French.
Session dates, class times and membership checked on the school’s website on 3 November 2026.
Alliance Française de San Diego is the county’s centre for French language and culture, and our official partner school in San Diego. It’s the natural place to start if France is your next stop.
A celebration evening is planned for Saturday 16 October 2027 at the La Jolla Woman’s Club.
Network and exam centre
Your starting point depends on the French you already have and the time left before your flight.
Where to start
Days and times from the school’s Winter 2027 timetable. Most evening classes are online. Saturday classes on campus: A2.1 at 9 am, A2.3 at 10:40 am, A1.1 at 2 pm. In yellow: the place to start if you’re new to French. Class fees to confirm.
Two examples of a week in San Diego while you get ready. Your class day depends on your level.
Tuesday evening online, or Saturday morning on campus
A morning job, the Intensive course and a private lesson
Illustrative timetables. Days and times from the school’s Winter 2027 timetable, checked on 3 November 2026. Most evening classes are online; Saturday classes are on the Greenwich Drive campus.
These are the school’s regular adult classes, not an au pair course. Next to each step, we’ve picked one sentence you could really say in France, using what that class teaches.
At the boulangerie
«Bonjour ! Une baguette, s’il vous plaît.»
Hello! A baguette, please.
Start from zero. A1.1 introduces grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, and welcomes complete novices.
A school morning
«Il est huit heures, tu dois te lever !»
It’s eight o’clock, time to get up!
Family and hobbies, descriptive adjectives (A1.2).
Saturday at the market
«Mets tes chaussures, on va au marché !»
Put your shoes on, we’re going to the market!
Daily life, holidays, friendships (A1.3), with the Défi 1 book.
At the pharmacy
«Il a mal au ventre depuis ce matin.»
He’s had a sore tummy since this morning.
City life, shopping, meals, clothing. The future, advice, your first past tense. Ready for DELF A1.
Telling the parents about the day
«Cet après-midi, on a fait des crêpes et Léa a tout mangé !»
This afternoon we made crêpes and Léa ate them all!
Opinions, longer sentences, where you live, phone calls, household chores, advice and suggestions.
At the school gate
«Je pense que Léo devrait se coucher plus tôt, qu’en dites-vous ?»
I think Léo should go to bed earlier, what do you think?
Tell your story: past tenses, describing actions, recounting memorable experiences.
In a café
«Et si on prenait un café après le cours ?»
What if we had a coffee after class?
Give opinions and follow a conversation. Conversation cafés from B1+ (to confirm).
Sessions last 12 weeks, mostly at 1½ hours a week, and classes continue up to C2. Class content from the school’s Winter 2027 descriptions, checked on 3 November 2026. B1 and B2 content to confirm. The French sentences are examples written by AuPair Connect, not the school’s material.
The school hasn’t published its class fees for Winter 2027 yet, so we show what it has published, and nothing else.
Twelve weeks
Fee to confirm
12 weeks, 1½ hours a week
The school’s regular adult class. Winter 2027 fee to confirm.
Required to enrol
$79
12 months
Membership is needed to enrol. $69 for AF students, youth, senior and military; $99 for a family.
10 minutes
$20
Credited to your class
If you have some French: free online test, or a 10-minute phone test credited to your class.
One to three people
Fee to confirm
Monday to Saturday
On campus, online or at home. Fee to confirm with the school.
| Who joins | Price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $79 |
| AF student, youth, senior, military | $69 |
| Family | $99 |
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Phone placement test | $20, credited to your class |
| Winter 2027 group class | Fee to confirm |
| Private lesson | Fee to confirm |
School membership, placement-test and calendar pages, checked on 3 November 2026. Published rates may change: confirm the current amount with the school.
Here’s how 2027 could look if you start in January and land before the French school year begins in September. Your host agreement must be signed before you leave the United States.
Choose your departure: fly in June 2027, late August 2027 or January 2028. From zero, June gives you about 36 hours and A1.1–A1.2; late August about 36 hours plus private lessons; January 2028 about 54 hours and A1.1–A1.3.
Starting from zero in Winter 2027. Hours: 1½ hours a week for 12 weeks, per session. Levels covered: our estimate, one level a session (to confirm). Only the Winter and Spring 2027 dates are published. French rules: Service-Public F13348 and France-Visas.
The DELF and DALF are official diplomas from the French Ministry of Education, valid for life, and the Alliance is an official place to sit them in San Diego. The French au pair rules don’t name a specific diploma, so this is a bonus, not a requirement.
On campus
DELF A1 · A2
Exams are held in person on the Greenwich Drive campus. 2027 session dates and fees to confirm.
On campus
DELF B1 · B2
Official exam centre. Registration deadlines are strict and late registrations aren’t accepted.
On campus
DALF C1 · C2
The Alliance is also a TCF centre. Level A1.4 is built to get you ready for the DELF A1.
To prepare, take private lessons, or the PrepMyFuture online courses sold by the school, from $64. Level A1.4 is built to get you ready for the DELF A1. Check the 2027 dates and registration deadlines with the school before booking.
DELF, DALF and TCF dates and fees are set by France Éducation International; the school confirms which sessions it hosts in San Diego. Checked on 3 November 2026.
Never studied French? Skip the test and register for a Beginner A1.1 class. If you have some French, take the free online test, or the 10-minute phone placement test ($20, credited toward your class).
You need a membership to enrol: $79 for an individual, valid for 12 months. The school lists a $69 rate for AF students.
Pick your class in the school’s course selector on afsandiego.org, or write to [email protected]. Not sure? Book a trial class at least 24 hours ahead.
While you study, look for your host family in France on AuPair Connect, and say in your profile that you’ve started French.
Your membership opens more than a classroom. Long before you land, French can be part of your week in San Diego.
Photo credits:Paul Géniaux (CC0),Alliance Française de San Diego (with the school’s permission),Marcellin Auzolle (Public domain),Thomas Oboe Lee (CC BY-SA 4.0)
No. This page is for people who live in San Diego County or Southern California and are getting ready to be an au pair in France. These are the school’s regular adult classes, and you take them before you leave.
If you aren’t a citizen of a European country, you’d go as a non-European au pair. Service-Public asks for proof of basic French, or of secondary-level education or professional qualifications. Host families also have their own expectations, so talk about it with yours.
The au pair rules don’t set a CEFR level. A good target is to introduce yourself, follow the family’s daily routine and explain a simple problem. Ask your teacher which class gets you there in the time you have.
No. The decision belongs to the French consular authorities. Check the documents required on France-Visas, and ask the school whether it can give you proof of enrolment for your application.
That’s a separate step, near your host family, who must leave you time for classes. Our directory of French classes covers the main cities in France.
French rules: Service-Public F13348, checked on 3 November 2026.
Timetables, current fees and enrolment are on the Alliance Française de San Diego website.
See classes for adults ↗
