The French Room Top Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below you'll find answers to common questions about The French Room, covering a wide range of topics to help you get the most out of your French learning journey. These FAQs cover all major categories for The French Room: about, classes, events, pricing, learning experience, technical support, policies and contact

FAQs: About The French Room

What is The French Room?

The French Room is an online French language school for adults, offering live classes, a self-study platform, and cultural events designed to help you gain confidence in speaking French in real-world settings. The experience is guided personally by Ellie, ensuring a boutique and supportive environment for every learner.
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Who is it for?

The French Room is designed for adults at all levels, from complete beginners to advanced learners. Whether you want weekly classes, pure self-study, or a mix, you’re welcome here

How do I find my French Room fluency level?

You can either self-assess your fluency level using my free self-assessment course or book a free consultation with me.
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Do I need to buy any books to study at The French Room?

Yes. I teach from the Progressive series of books published by CLE.
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FAQs: About Live Classes on Zoom

What types of classes are available?

- Small group live classes (via Zoom), tailored by fluency level 1 - 6
- Private 1:1 tutoring
- Conversation sessions
- Cultural and community events (book clubs, immersion trips, workshops and cook-alongs)

How to attend live classes at The French Room?

Follow the link for your step-by-step guide to how live classes work at The French Room—class types, how long they last, and how to book or manage your sessions.
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How to book, cancel and reschedule live classes 

Follow the link for a video walk though — ‘Did I book that class?’ or ‘How do I cancel without messing anything up?’—"How do I move a class?"
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How to find your French level and the right books for your class

If you are just starting out and want to know your fluency level. This guide will help you figure out your French level and find the right course book to go with it.
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Do I have to sign up for Bonjour Brillance membership to attend a live class?

No you don't have to have a Bonjour Brilliance membership to attend live class but most students choose it.
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Will I get homework or preparation tasks for live classes?

Yes. Every group class and private coaching session comes with its own private chat where I share homework and other useful information for your class.
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What is the refund or cancellation policy for live classes/events?

Refunds or transfers for live classes can be made up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations after this window are non-refundable.

You manage this via your Booking page personal dashboard. (NB The French Room's live class bookings are managed through Bookwhen which means that they have a separate user name and password from thefrenchroom.org)

FAQs: About Bonjour Brilliance

What is Bonjour Brilliance?

Bonjour Brilliance is the self-study platform that offers structured lessons, videos, grammar guides, vocabulary builders, and interactive activities to support your progress.
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Can I succeed without joining live classes?

Absolutely. Both pathways—self-study and live classes—are designed to be effective on their own, but you can also combine them for best results

Will I get individual feedback?

Yes via optional learning reflection journals that Ellie personally reviews

Can I speak to a tutor?

Yes. You can ask unlimited questions in the school chat or via email that Ellie replies to personally.

If you opt for Bonjour Briliance + Plus you get 2 hours of personal coaching time taken in segments of 15/30 or 60 minute segments to suit your learning style and schedule.  

How much time do I need to commit?

The program is flexible—study at your own pace, whether a short daily session or longer, less frequent intervals.

You can watch Ellie's live Rendez-Vous Tutos 3 times a week if you would like help making a regular timeslot for your learning.

How do I join and catch up on RDV Tutos if I can't make the live session?

RDV Tutos are uploaded to the Bonjour Brilliance archive shortly after they are recorded.
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How do I find Tutos in Bonjour Brilliance?

Every Tuto I make is stored in either the Bonjour Brilliance archive or in a Learn French Library. You can find them in the Course Player for each of these courses.
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How do the Learn French Libraries work?

When you subscribe to Bonjour Brilliance you get access to 5 Learn French Libraries one each for grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, listening and practical scenarios. 
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What are the features of Bonjour Brilliance with free library?

Course Features

  • Self-paced online course designed for adult learners of French

  • Covers all levels from beginner to fluency

  • Interactive elements like quizzes, exercises, multimedia resources

  • Themes such as French films, listening skills, vocabulary strategies

  • Personalised support and guidance from an expert tutor

  • Flexible learning to fit busy lifestyles

Free Library Included

  • Comprehensive library with 5 sections: grammar, vocabulary, listening, pronunciation, and reading

  • Supplements the course material to aid learning

  • Completely free with any "Bonjour Brilliance" subscription

  • The free library is packed with supplementary resources across multiple skill areas and is a key value addition with the "Bonjour Brilliance" course, providing learners with a comprehensive and engaging learning experience tailored for adult French students.

Other Highlights

  • Fun and stress-free learning approach

  • Option for a 14-day free trial to test the course

  • Monthly or yearly subscription pricing plans

  • Aims to reignite passion for learning French

  • Testimonials from satisfied students praising the effective teaching methods


FAQs: About Pricing, Subscriptions and Policies

Is there a free trial?

Yes, there is a 14-day free trial for Bonjour Brilliance. You get full access to the self-study resources during the trial and can cancel at anytime.

There are no free trials for live classes, however you can meet Ellie for a free consultation before joining. You can also pay as you go one class at a time for as long as you want.

Are there any free courses available?

Yes. There is a free self-assessment course that will help you find out your French Room fluency level and give you a free taster of how independent study at The French Room works.

How much does the subscription cost?

Bonjour Briliance costs £19.99 per month if you pay-as-you-go. You get 2 months free if you buy an annual subscription which costs £199.00 per year.

Can I cancel or pause my subscription?

Yes you can do this at anytime by going to My Account>Account.

You can also cancel one subscription and change to another one. 

For example, you can switch from pay-as-you-go to an annual membership or vice versa.

You can also switch between Bonjour Brilliance and Bonjour Brilliance +Plus on a monthly basis if you wish. 

What does the subscription include?

Full access to the online course materials, free attendance to the live Rendez-Vous Tutos, unlimited email or chat support and the Learn French libraries.

If you choose Bonjour Brilliance +Plus you also get 2 hours of private coaching included which you can take as 15/30 or 60 minute sessions.

If you buy an annual subscription to Bonjour Brilliance + Plus you can take your 24 hours of private coaching as and when you wish across the 12 months. i.e if you wanted to use 5 hours a week you could until your credits run out!

How much do live zoom classes cost?

Small Group Classes cost £19.50 per 1.5 hr session, if you pay-as-you-go
Private Coaching costs £60.00 per hour, if you pay-as-you-go

Class Passes Offer Discounts  
£165 for 10 Group Classes
£550 for 10 Private Coaching Sessions

£480 for 30 Group Classes
£1550 for 30 Private Coaching Sessions

Class Passes can be used flexibly across 12 to 18 months. Check the pass duration on purchase.

NB Passes are not transferable or refundable once purchased.

How much do cultural and other events cost?

Cultural events are individually priced.

Some are payable such as Book Club and Immersive trips.

Others are free (with the invitation to donate to our chosen charity Crisis). These include live conversation and cook-alongs in French.

FAQs: About Support and Progress

What if I miss a class or a few days of study?

You can catch up through recorded resources and class chats. The platform is designed to let you learn at your own pace without falling behind or feeling pressured.

Equally, if you want to power ahead you can do that too!

Are there reminders or nudges to help me stay on track?

Iphone App users can set personal learning reminders for learning times. You may also choose to align your learning schedule with “Rendez-Vous Tutos” three times a week.

Ellie also sends out regular emails about the latest Bonjour Brilliance themes and Tutos to keep you in the know.

If you subscribe to Bonjour Brilliance +Plus, you can schedule regular coaching sessions with Ellie in segments of 15/30 or 60 minutes which will help you keep on track.

How do Rendez-Vous Tutos (RDV) keep us on track?

The Rendez-Vous Tutos get their name from the fact that they are like an appointment which is a good way to keep on track.
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Can I ask questions or reach out for help?

Yes—Ellie responds personally to all messages. Support is available via email and chat during office hours. Monday - Friday 9am - 8:30pm (GMT) - BST in the summer daylight saving period.

FAQs: Access and Technical

Can I use The French Room on my phone or tablet?

Yes, The French Room is accessible via website and app (iPhone app available), making it easy to study anytime, anywhere. The App has several extra features such as learning reminders, direct access into the school chat and the ability to download Tutos and watch them offline.

The French Room is also fully optimised for mobile viewing without the App so can be viewed on Android phones.

Do I need to install software for live classes?

Live sessions are held on Zoom. You may need to download Zoom for the best experience, but you can also join from your browser.

FAQs: About Your Account Privacy and Guarantees

How do I access or update my personal data?

Log in to your account at any time to view or amend your data and adjust preferences. Go to My Account > Account to make changes.

Is my data safe?

The French Room takes data security seriously and employs suitable measures to protect user information. You can view the full privacy policy here >

Are there age restrictions?

The French Room is a language school for adults. The minimum age to join a live class is 18.

However, learners who are 16+ are free to subscribe to Bonjour Brilliance for independent study but not for private coaching.

How does the 60 day money back guarantee work?

The 60 day "Feel the shift" guarantee backs up my promise to you that the Bonjour Brilliance self-study program will shift your French skill. 
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FAQS: About Getting in Touch

How can I contact The French Room?

- Email: ellielouis@gmail.com 
- Phone: +44 (0)7795346253
- Website chat : Available for messages
- Booking page: Booking consultations
Business hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00–20:30 GMT
Got another question that’s not answered here?**
Please get in touch directly—Ellie is happy to help, and no question is too small or too big
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