“We attended a 2 week Vecsi Intensive Pre Leaving Cert Course in August 2019, in Biarritz, staying with different host families. We were placed a couple of minutes walk away from each other and shared the bedroom with some very nice Spanish girls who were also with Vecsi. There were 13 on our course, divided into 2 classes. The lessons in the morning were of a very high standard but we found our French improving every day. In the afternoon we visited different places around Biarritz and St. Jean de Luz. Biarritz is a lovely small city, easy to get around and situated by the beach. We surfed one afternoon which was a lot of fun. Our French has improved a lot, especially our oral. It was a great course and we loved the experience.”
Kate & Caoimhe, Co Dublin
“Last year, I participated in the VECSI Summer Programme for the second time. I repeated the same Intensive Course, which really helped to improve my French grammar. I really enjoyed it! I stayed with the same French family as last time, who have been so kind and welcoming to me on both stays. I have already booked again with VECSI to do the Intensive Pre-Leaving course this coming summer. I would definitely recommend VECSI!”
Peig Delaney , St Mary’s, Secondary School
“Last year I went on the VECSI TY Programme, where spent five weeks in Biarritz. Going to school in the French Lycée gave me the chance to improve my aural skills, and I made some great friends. My host family were so kind. Living with them really helped improve my spoken French. I can’t wait to go back to Biarritz this summer to do the VECSI Intensive PreLeaving Cert Course and spend another three weeks with them! I can recommend VECSI!”
Michaela MacCarthy, Institite of Education, Leeson St., Dublin 2
“My 4 week stay in Biarritz with Vecsi was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. The intensive course for the first week was very beneficial and I really enjoyed going to the lycée. The host family were extremely kind and caring. My French really improved and I now find it much easier to speak and understand. Biarritz was a lovely town and I really liked everything about my stay there.”
Sophie Boylan – Loreto College St. Stephen’s Green.
“I go to school in St Marys in New Ross and I recently completed the TY program with VECSI. I stayed for 7 weeks in Biarritz France. I went on the VECSI programme with my friend and we were with different host families, but were only a 2 minute walk apart in related households. I attended a language school for the first week for intensive French classes which were extremely helpful. I then attended a lycée for 5 weeks and had one week holidays at the end of the course. The family that I stayed with were extremely nice and welcoming. I had a curfew until 9 pm weekdays and 10 pm on weekends which allowed time for activities after school. I think this programme really improved my French, especially listening comprehension, and I feel more much more confident speaking French now.”
Aoife Nolan
“My teachers were excellent, family were so very kind! I adored my one week of surfing as I love sport. It was a great experience, I loved French family life, my French has improved so much I would really recommend it!”
Anne-Marie O’Driscoll, Sutton Park School, Dublin
“Thanks to VECSI intensive course, my grammar has much improved, I now find it so much easier to understand spoken French. I really liked my French host family, food was delicious – without a doubt I can recommend this VECSI séjour to my friends.
Sarah Yates, Newtown School, Waterford
“I had a great time, loved my family, learned lots of French – feel much more confident!”
David Lynch, Colaiste an Spioraid Naomh, Cork
“My French has greatly improved, especially my listening comprehension. My host family were really kind. Biarritz is a great location, which I would recommend to my friends. I also went on the VECSI Transition Year Programme to Bordeaux last year and it was a fantastic experience.”
Daniel Mallon, St Michaels College, Ailesbury Road, Dublin