Leaving Cert Prep Biarritz
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Dates
2nd of June - 24th July 2025
Lesson Duration
45 Minutes
Age
16+
Lessons
25 per week
Class size
Avg 12
Accommodation
French Host
At A Glance
This course is ideal for independent, motivated Transition Year and 5th-year students who wish to fast track their fluency in French and boost their language skills before the Leaving Certificate.
- 13 general French lessons + 12 Leaving Cert preparation classes
- Half Board accommodation with French Host – Twin Room
- Comprehensive social & activity program
- Return airport transfers from Biarritz Airport/Train Station
- Graded certificate upon completion
Fees: 2 weeks €1,990 / 3 weeks €2,790 / 4 weeks €3560
Option to upgrade from 3 general activities + 1 surf session to 4 surf sessions for a supplement fee of €190 per week.
more infoSchool
Our partner school in Biarritz is housed in a beautiful location, centrally located. Students have access to recently refurbished classrooms and social spaces between lessons including a living room and a relaxation area. The coastal resort of Biarritz is one of France’s most stylish destinations. The city is known for its eclectic mix of surfer hangouts and glamorous sea-side cafes, all of which contribute to the colourful atmosphere. Biarritz is also known for having some of the best waves in the world, making it the perfect city to combine a language trip with a surfing holiday.
Course
The course has 13 French classes per week plus an additional 12 Leaving Cert focused classes in small groups covering past papers, essay planning, oral conversation, listening comprehension, vocabulary and grammar, exam preparation techniques and also gives you the chance to practice for the French Oral under exam conditions and supervised by native French teachers who know the Leaving Cert exam. Teachers use past exam papers, topics for the French Oral are prepared with the students, and homework is given and corrected. All teachers are fully qualified and experienced in preparing students for the Leaving Certificate and you can attend the course for 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
Accommodation
Staying with a French Host is one of the best ways to improve your French and get to know and experience the French way of life at first hand. To fully immerse you in the language, our partner school arranges accommodation with carefully selected French hosts who are located either within walking distance or a short bus or tram journey from the school (max 25 minutes). The hosts are inspected and visited regularly by the school’s Accommodation Officer and are personally known to the school. Students are accommodated in twin rooms on a half-board basis. Breakfast and dinner are enjoyed with the host. For lunch, there are a variety of cafés and crêperies near the school to get a pizza or salad for lunch. Or simply get a baguette and drink and have lunch on the beach and soak up the sun! The host may sometimes have another student of a different nationality staying with them who also attends the school.
Activities
After lessons students can apply what they’ve learned in class to a range of social and cultural activities, and excursions to nearby locations including Bayonne and San Sebastian. Students will have the chance to enjoy a weekly surf session on the “Cote des Basques” Beach. The beach has a wide variety of waves for all levels. Fully qualified instructors from our partner surf school will always be present during these sessions, with wetsuits and boards provided. The activities include four activities/excursions per week. There is the option to upgrade from 3 general activities + 1 surf session to 4 surf sessions at a supplement fee of €190 per week.
FEES
Fees: 2 weeks €1,990 / 3 weeks €2,790 / 4 weeks €3560
What is included:
- 13 general French lessons per week Monday to Friday.
- 12 Leaving Cert preparation lessons.
- All Course materials.
- Half board French host accommodation (shared room).
- Pre-departure information and support.
- Afternoon activities and excursions.
- Return Airport transfers from Biarritz Airport
- Graded certificate upon completion.
Not Included:
- Flights.
- Travel Insurance.
- Registration fee of €95
- Extra night €45
a sample week
| Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09.00-10.45 | General French | General French | General French | General French | General French | |
| 10.45-11:15 | Break | Break | Break | Break | Break | Relax! |
| 11.15-13.00 | LC Prep | LC Prep | LC Prep | LC Prep | LC Prep | Enjoy! |
| 13.00-14.00 | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Explore! |
| 14.00-16.00 | Visit Biarritz by train | Surf lesson | Free time | City of the Ocean | Excursion | |
| 16.00-18.00 | Free time | Free time | Free time | Free time | Free time |
FAQs
Students are requested to arrive on Sunday and depart on Saturday. Students are also requested to arrive between 10 am and 8 pm, where possible. Flights to Biarritz from Dublin only run on Sundays – so students on this course usually fly back the day after the course ends, which incurs an extra night stay supplement fee of €45. For more information contact our office 00 353 121 433 14 or through our Contact Us page.
You will be met on arrival by your French host and by a school representative and brought straight to your accommodation. Please be sure to email at least 2 weeks prior to departure to confirm your flight details. You will see your name on a board as you come through arrivals. We will also give you an emergency telephone number for the school which you should call in the event that your flight is delayed.
Depending on where your French host is situated, the school can be within walking distance or a short bus or tram journey from the school (max 25 minutes). You will be shown to your school on the first morning and the school can help you source a weekly transport pass if needed.
Unfortunately Special dietary requirements cannot be catered for this particular course. Please get in contact withe office and we can advise alternative courses which would be suitable.
You will complete a level test online before you start your course and will be placed in a class with other students of the same level. Your level will be monitored during the course and if you feel your class is too easy or too difficult then you should speak with your teacher or let us know and the Director of Studies will see if it’s possible to move you to a different class. Everyone at the school is very approachable and once you let someone know they will make sure that the move is as quick and smooth as possible for you.
Your accommodation includes breakfast and evening meal with your French host. For lunch, there are loads of cafés and crêperies near the school to get a pizza or salad for lunch. Or simply get a baguette and drink and have lunch on the beach and soak up the sun!
Your accommodation details are confirmed as soon as we receive them from our partner school. This is usually 1-2 weeks prior to departure but can sometimes be much sooner. At the same time, you will also receive our pre-departure information with all your school details and emergency contact numbers for your stay.
You can book online. Once the form is complete all you need to do to secure your booking is to pay a deposit of €200. It usually takes 1-2 days before your booking is confirmed and the final balance is due 4 weeks prior to departure. You can pay either by card, bank transfer or cheque.
As we are not a travel agency, we don’t book flights. However, we can advise on which flights would be suitable so please email or give us a call and we would be happy to talk you through it. Please note, do not book flights until your enrolment has been confirmed by Tribe Study Abroad.
Students who are minors (under 18) are required to have a signed parental permission form if they wish to go out in the evenings. Parents must indicate a curfew time. For more information contact our office at 00 353 121 433 14 or through our Contact Us page.
Please refer to our Terms of Business for further information on our cancellation policy.
The accommodation is based on twin room sharing all you have to do is specify who you would like to share with at the time of booking. Students who travel on their own are usually accommodated with another student of similar age and gender.
As this is a Leaving Cert Preparation course, some homework will be given. It may include preparing some vocabulary for the next day or a written piece from the past papers. The homework is there to help consolidate what you have learned that day in the classroom and the course is for motivated students who wish to do well in the Leaving Cert. However, don’t worry! There will be plenty of time for relaxation and meeting up with new friends.
Absolutely! Here at Tribe Study Abroad, we love to see what our students get up to and their recommendations! We encourage our students to share their experience with us by writing a blog and sending some pictures. Refer to our collection of blogs on the site.
Yes of course, there is the option to upgrade from 3 general activities + 1 surf session to 4 surf sessions at a supplement fee of €190 per week. Biarritz is well known for its incredible waves and is an ideal location to take up a new hobby!