Escape to the sun-kissed shores of Nice this summer! While the Riviera is famed for its winter charm, the summer months bring a whole new level of excitement and vibrancy to this stunning coastal city.

Whether you’re looking to soak up the culture, hit the beach, or improve your French at alpha.b language school, we’ve got you covered with our top 5 summer activities.

Let’s dive in!

1. Promenade des Anglais: Sun, Sea, and Scenic Walks

Start your summer with a leisurely stroll, a morning jog, or an evening run along the legendary Promenade des Anglais.

Or, rent a bike and explore the full 7 km of this picturesque route.

Bask in the Mediterranean sun as you glide past historic Belle Epoque architecture and the sparkling sea.

This iconic promenade, created by and named after the English aristocrats of the 19th century, offers the perfect backdrop for your French summer tales.

This addition highlights the versatility of the Promenade des Anglais as an ideal location for both relaxation and physical activities, enhancing the appeal of the area for visitors and language learners alike.

2. Old Town Treasures and French Language Flavors

Wander through the vibrant streets of Vieux Nice, where the soul of the city comes alive with bustling markets and lively cafes.

Immerse yourself in a relaxed, multicultural atmosphere among historic pastel-colored buildings and Italian-influenced architecture.

Dive into the local culture with a tasty treat like socca or a refreshing gelato, and use your French skills to chat with friendly shopkeepers and locals—a practice session you can’t get in the classroom!

3. Picnic at the Colline du Château

Escape the bustling city streets and climb up to the Colline du Château for a scenic picnic with panoramic views over Nice.

This verdant oasis offers a tranquil setting where you can enjoy a relaxed meal of local specialties while practicing your French with friends or locals.

Not only is it a great way to soak up the sun and enjoy the outdoors, but it’s also a perfect spot to dive into informal French conversation in a breathtaking environment.

4. Beach Bliss and Language Lessons

What’s better than learning French just minutes away from some of Nice’s most beautiful beaches?

After your morning lessons at alpha.b, head to the beach for some sunbathing, swimming, or even more chatting in French with locals and fellow students.

Nice’s beaches stretch along the stunning Baie des Anges, famous for its mesmerizing turquoise waters that glimmer under the sun.

The coastline spans several kilometers, offering a variety of beaches from the pebbled shores of Plage Publique de Nice to the private sands of Castel Plage.

Each spot provides a unique setting to relax and absorb the French Riviera’s vibrant atmosphere. It’s the perfect blend of relaxation and immersion.

5. Festivals and Fun: Live Music and More

Experience the pulse of Nice with its array of summer festivals and live concerts.

The city comes alive with cultural celebrations and music that resonate through its streets and along its shores.

Dive into the Nice Jazz Festival, one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world, which brings together international artists in a festive atmosphere at Place Masséna and the Théâtre de Verdure.

For a unique blend of genres, the Crossover Festival showcases a mix of electronic, rock, and pop music, appealing to a wide audience with its innovative and dynamic line-ups.

Each festival not only provides entertainment but also a cultural immersion that enhances your understanding of the French language and lifestyle.

Why Study French in Nice?

At alpha.b, your French learning extends beyond the classroom walls.

Our courses are designed to be engaging and immersive, integrating these wonderful activities to enhance both your language skills and your enjoyment of the French Riviera.

A Summer Like No Other

Join us in Nice this summer for an unforgettable blend of education and vacation.

Learn French, enjoy local cuisine, explore cultural treasures, and make new friends under the Mediterranean sun.

Nice is waiting to add a splash of French elegance to your summer adventure!

Are you a fan of series and want to use your Netflix subscription to improve your French?

In this article we will talk about 5 series that are filmed in France and that you can watch in French.

We start with the most famous American series in Paris:

1. Emily in Paris

We had already done an article on this series here but since then 2 new seasons are available including season 3 which has just been released!

Sypnosis: Emily, a twenty-something American from the Midwest, moves to Paris after receiving a job offer in marketing. Her new challenge is to bring an American perspective to a struggling French agency.

Season 1 was very Paris and Champagne focused but in season 2, Emily took us to the French Riviera and even had lunch on a famous beach in St Jean Cap Ferrat: Paloma Beach (even though they made it look like she was in St Tropez: we know the truth ;-))

And if you wish to come to the French Riviera to study French this summer, click here to book your stay. 

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But what we like best about Emily is her French of course 😉

2. Marianne

A big change of style for the second French series to watch in 2023: it is the horror series Marianne.

This series is not new but it is really a must-see if you want to have thrills in French!

The actors are exceptional and play to perfection.

The series was filmed in Brittany, an opportunity to discover this beautiful region of France.

Synopsis: Emma, an acerbic young novelist, discovers that the monstrous characters she has created in her series of horrific novels are actually coming to life. The malevolent spirit named Marianne drives her back to her hometown to confront the demons of the past that drove her to write.

Unfortunately this series has not been renewed and there are only 8 episodes.

We let you discover the trailer:

3. Disparu à jamais

Everyone knows Harlan Coben, the master of suspense and best-selling novels! Many series inspired by his books have been filmed in recent years, one of which was filmed in Nice!

It is the series « Disappeared forever » which keeps us in suspense until the end!

Synopsis: One night, Guillaume hears a bang. On his way out, he runs into his brother Fred who is running away from a man with a gun, and then discovers the lifeless body of his neighbour Sonia with whom he had been dating. Ten years later, he is in a relationship with Judith and buries his mother who died of cancer.

4. Lupin

The main actor in this series is Omar Sy, the hero of the film « Intouchables », which all French students have seen at least five times in their lives 😉

It takes place in the heart of Paris and is inspired by another hero: Arsène Lupin.

Synopsis: 25 years ago, the life of young Assane Diop is turned upside down when his father dies after being accused of a crime he did not commit. Today, Assane is inspired by his hero, Arsène Lupin – Gentleman Burglar, to avenge him…

A third season is coming in 2023! A chance to catch up on the other 2 if you haven’t seen them yet 😉

5. Révolution

A beautiful series with incredible aesthetics that tells an alternative version of the French Revolutionary period.

Synopsis: In a rewriting of history, a mysterious disease strikes 18th century France, triggering a brutal clash between aristocrats and rebels.

You only have to see the introductory scene of this series to understand how much attention has been put into the graphics and the precision of the image.

And this sentence of Napoleon: « History is a series of lies on which we agree ».

Unfortunately this series has not been renewed and there will be no season 2.

Have you seen any of these series? If so, which one? Did you like it?

You want to come and learn French in our language school in Nice?

You already know which course you want to follow, the activities you want to do but you don’t know how to choose your accommodation or where to live?

Your accommodation advisor Camille will be there to help you, advise you and find you the ideal accommodation or family according to your requirements.

Do I have to book my accommodation in Nice with alpha.b?

Alpha.b has its own in-house accommodation service which will help you choose your accommodation during your language study stay.

We offer different types of accommodation for living in Nice.

Our most popular option is host family accommodation. 

In this option, you are accommodated in a single or double room with a French family.

You have breakfast and dinner with the family. You are responsible for your own lunch, which you can buy in the bakeries or supermarkets around the school.

If you are young and between 16 and 24 years old, a double room may be a good option to meet a student of another nationality and share their daily life.

Otherwise the single room option is still available but you should book early to ensure you have space.

All our host families are located in Nice, at a maximum of 30 minutes from the school by public transport (bus, tramway)

If you have a special diet, please read our article here.

Our formula: French host 

If you do not wish to share meals with your family, you can opt for this formula without meals but still living with a French host.

This option is ideal if you have a special diet and prefer to prepare your own food.

The kitchen of your host is open to you and you can cook your breakfast and dinner there.

Residences or hotels to stay in Nice

We also work with 3*** and 4**** hotels and luxury or student residences.

If you want to book in a residence, we advise you to do it quickly because the accommodation in Nice is very quickly full during July and August.

What if I want to book my own accommodation in Nice?

You can book your accommodation yourself via the classic booking sites.

To help you, you should know that our French language school is located in the centre of Nice, just off Avenue Jean Médecin.

For your accommodation you can choose the old town area which is very lively and central.

Or the Masséna district, the Promenade des Anglais or the Port district which is very accessible by tram (5min).

One piece of advice for your accommodation in Nice: book as soon as possible because families, residences and hotels are full very quickly in high season.

If you have any questions about your choice of accommodation,  our options, the location, do not hesitate to contact us on housing@alpha-b.fr

Nouvelle année, nouveaux objectifs.

Et si votre objectif 2022 était d’améliorer votre français ?

Que votre niveau soit actuellement très bas ou alors intermédiaire il y a de nombreuses façons d’améliorer la langue.

Conseil n°1 : Mettre votre téléphone et tous vos réseaux sociaux dans la langue que vous voulez améliorer.

Pourquoi ?
Parce que le téléphone est clairement l’objet que vous utilisez le plus chaque jour et de le mettre dans la langue que vous souhaitez apprendre vous permet de vous mettre en immersion sans effort.

De plus, le fait de mettre votre téléphone en français va vous faire apprendre de nouveaux mots et vous permettre d’utiliser le français tout au long de la journée.

Conseil n°2 : Écrivez en français dès que vous pouvez.

Votre liste de courses, votre to-do list, vos rêves, vos objectifs pour la semaine, bref, dès que vous devez écrire, optez pour la langue française.

Puis vérifier que c’est écrit correctement à l’aide d’un traducteur performant.

Conseil n°3 : Trouver un groupe de discussion une ou deux fois par semaine.

Aujourd’hui il est assez facile de trouver des personnes pour discuter dans une langue étrangère.
Et c’est aussi très à la mode.
C’est un très bon moyen de se plonger dans le bain de la langue une à deux fois par semaine.
Par exemple, si vous êtes à Nice, il y a le Café des Langues qui propose des rencontres plusieurs fois par semaine. Il vous suffit de regarder l’agenda sur le site web.

Sinon, si vous n’êtes pas à Nice, notre école alpha.b propose deux fois par semaine les lundis et mercredis de 17h à 19h un cours de français en tout petit groupe pour parler la langue et s’améliorer dans une ambiance sympathique. Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus.

Conseil n°4 : Lisez à haute voix dès que vous pouvez.

Vous avez un bon livre en français ou vous lisez les informations françaises ou juste un article de blog ?
C’est important de lire à haute voix pour pratiquer votre oral et votre prononciation.
Si vous avez des doutes sur la prononciation, n’hésitez pas à regarder nos vidéos spéciales phonétique pour vous entraîner ou à vous inscrire à notre Free French Classroom dans laquelle vous allez trouver beaucoup de vidéos et d’exercices pour vous entrainer.

Conseil n°5 : Partez en immersion dans le pays aussi longtemps que vous pouvez.

On ne le dit jamais assez mais le meilleur moyen de progresser rapidement dans une langue est de vivre en immersion dans le pays. Si vous décidez de venir à Nice, à alpha.b par exemple, vous aurez des cours tous les matins et les après-midis si vous le souhaitez et vous vivrez dans une famille française. Le meilleur moyen pour apprendre de nouvelles expressions, de nouveaux mots, des points de grammaire et surtout de pratiquer votre français.

Vous pouvez déjà réserver votre séjour pour vos prochaines vacances, de Février, de Printemps ou d’été.

N’hésitez pas à nous contacter sur office@alpha-b.fr pour toutes informations.

Nous espérons que ces astuces vont vous aider à progresser en français rapidement !

Today we meet again for a new beginner’s course on the phonetic alphabet and the phonetic symbols of French.

Even if you are not a beginner, this video can help you pronounce the French alphabet correctly or revise.

If you wish to study French in a French language school in Nice during a language stay, don’t hesitate to discover our French courses from beginner to advanced level by clicking here.

Today our teacher Priscilla talks to you about the French alphabet.

The phonetic symbols of French.

Observe and listen.

I speak French.

The vowel sounds:

A comme table, femme, théâtre

E comme le, deux, cheveux, euro

É comme les, poupée, parler, parlez

È comme fenêtre, mère, terre, neige, cubaine

EU : coeur, beurre, club

O comme chocolat, chaud, château

Ô comme école, poste, maximum

U comme vous, coûter, football

U comme une, lune, Russie, j’ai eu

I comme lire, style, naïve

ON comme non et nom

EN comme France, enfant, ambulance

IN comme vingt, timbre, sympathique, chien

UN comme lundi, un, parfum

W comme Louis, oiseau, bonsoir

J comme fille, soleil, payer, lion

UI comme huit, nuit, cuisiner

Consonant sounds :

B comme banane, liberté, brave

S comme cigarette, soupe, poisson, leçon, attention, ils sont

D comme dentiste, grande, addition

F comme France, difficile, photographe

G comme girafe, rouge, soja

Ch comme chine, architecte, shampoing

L comme leçon, allumer

M comme maison, pomme

N comme Nice, année

P comme Paris, apporter

K comme carte, accident, orchestre, kilo, taxi

G comme gare, guitare, examen, second

R comme rousse, terre

T comme table, attaque, théâtre, grand ami

V comme voiture, neuf ans, neuf heures, wagon

Z comme poison, cousin, Zoulou, exemple, ils ont, les amis

GN comme signature, montagne

ING comme camping et shopping

Learn French with alpha.b in Nice, all year round for all levels. Ask for a quote here.