Host families

expect to be paid at the beginning of a session unless you have already paid for accommodation through our agent in your country. You can pay your host family every week or every month.
Half-board includes: a single room, breakfast and dinner. Your family might invite you to lunch at week-ends: some do, other families prefer to keep lunch time for their own privacy. Your laundry will be done for you or you may use the washing-machine and the iron.

You will receive the address and phone number of your host family at least ten days before the beginning of your session. Some host families live in the centre of Tours, others in a residential suburb (but not far away from the school). Consequently, some participants will have to take a bus; a bus pass costs € 14 per week or € 27.30 per month (www.filbleu.fr). Some people might also find it convenient to use a bicycle to get around and about town, and back and forth from home to school. However make sure your bicycle is safely locked.

Please tell your family and friends not to call you after 9:30 pm and to avoid calling during dinner time, generally between 7:30 and 8:30 pm. Host families are carefully selected as we know it is an important part of your stay. If for any reason, you are unhappy with your accommodation, please do not hesitate to discuss the problem with us and we shall do our best to find a solution.

Your first day = a Monday

Your host family will bring you to C. L. E. which is located in the centre of Tours. If because of their work they are unable to accompany you on the first day, they will show you the way on Sunday. We will expect you between 8:45 am and 9:00 am.

First, you will have a guided visit of the area surrounding the school, then you will receive information on the programme, the activities, Tours and the region. Afterwards, you will be given a 2-hour written and oral placement test. The placement test is compulsory, students who arrive late will have to pay € 50 extra to take it.
Students arriving at the beginning of a regular or summer session will be offered a guided walking tour of the city in the afternoon from 2:00 am till 4:00 pm.

In your bag

Bring some paper, pens and pencils. If you have one, bring your Bilingual Dictionary. A French Grammar book explained in your own language will be helpful to you.
You can obtain a student card which will entitle you some local reductions in Tours (generally if you are under 26 years old). Passport sized Identity Photos will be needed for this. Likewise if you require bus passes, cinema club passes etc. more photos will be needed.

Lunch

For lunch, you can choose among the numerous restaurants and "cafés" in the medieval part of Tours, very close to the school. Most of these are in a pedestrian area and during summer you may eat outside at a terrasse. Prices: € 2.80 (and more) for a sandwich, € 7.50 and up for a main dish, € 10 and up for a full meal. If you prefer, you may buy food at a boulangerie-pâtisserie or sandwicherie, at the local covered market les Halles or a grocery store and have lunch by the river side, on the school terrace if the weather permits it or in the school entrance hall.
Visits and excursions

CLE organises regular visits to the famous Loire Valley chateaux and to other places of local interest. A half day excursion costs approximately € 45. If you prefer to discover the region more independently, we have many guide books and other information with itineraries whether you walk, ride a bicycle, use a car or the local trains.
We also organize a wine course (€ 100), a cheese course (€ 10) and a foie gras course (€10).

Telephone

For messages, give C. L. E. phone number: +33 2 47 64 06 19 but remeber that the office is closed during week-ends. Office hours are : 8:45 am to 12:15 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00pm.
Once you are in France and wish to call a number in France, dial 10 digits: it will always start with the 0 which you drop when you call from abroad.

Visa

Do you need a visa? It depends on your nationality and whether you will stay for more than 90 days. If you are not a citizen of the European Union or Switzerland, check with a French embassy or consulate for visa requirements. Allow adequate time to obtain any necessary documents. Check this website for more information.

Health Insurance

We strongly advise individuals to take out medical insurance. A health insurance policy is required by the French administration for students staying more than three months. Do not forget to bring a copy of your insurance policy. If you are a citizen of the European Union, do not forget to bring your European health insurance card.

Banks

You can change your money at the airport, the train station or the post office in Tours. Banks are closed on Mondays in Tours.
Most « ATM » machines accept cards from the major international banks (including non-European) making withdrawing cash very simple as long as you know your code.

Weather

Tours has a mild climate and it is partly for this reason that Touraine has been entitled the "Garden of France".

Temperatures

January	1 to 6.5°C	April	5 to 15°C	July	13 to 25°C	October	7.5 to 16.5°C
February	1.5 to 8°C	May	8.5 to 18.5°C	August	13 to 24°C	November	4 to 10.5°C
March	3.5 to 12°C	June	11.5 to 22°C	September	11 to 22°C	December	2 to 7°C

These are average temperatures, so before you pack your luggage, you may also find it useful to check the weather forecast for Tours on this website.