Offering your child a language stay means giving them the chance to grow, open up to the world, and live a rewarding experience. Lili Juliette, 15 years old, joined our Cannes Essentiel program in summer 2023. Her mother shared her impressions of this unforgettable time on the French Riviera.
Between French classes, sunny activities, and new friendships, discover her inspiring story.
Our teenage daughter took part in the Centre International d’Antibes summer camp in 2023 for two weeks, and we were thrilled with the experience — so much so that she’s going back for another two weeks in 2025!
In July 2023, it was her first time being away from home for so long, and she felt a bit homesick during the first few days, judging by how often she messaged us. But with all the exciting activities and the many students from around the world, it’s no surprise that her messages became less frequent and were replaced with happy photos.
Among her favorite activities: tree climbing, countless beach trips, visiting Antibes and the water park, sailing (twice), and an evening fireworks show. Okay, the last one was a coincidence — her stay overlapped with a local festival — but Cannes is full of surprises like that!
She also really appreciated the on-site team, who were both kind and energetic (the “animators”). Besides the scheduled activities, she loved having free time to enjoy the excellent sports and leisure facilities with her new friends: ping-pong, soccer, and of course, the pool on campus.
In terms of friendships, she’s still in touch with several teens she met there. In fact, the following year, she attended another language camp with some of those friends, in a different French city. That experience made us appreciate the Centre International d’Antibes even more — especially their email communication and attention to detail. Our daughter also liked that the activities were mandatory: it helped the teens bond and build strong group cohesion. The second camp was more flexible, but that also made it feel more scattered and even a bit lonely at times.
We should also mention that Cannes is a beautiful city that feels very safe — something she especially noticed compared to her second camp in another city.
To balance this very positive review, we’ll mention a small issue upon arrival: she couldn’t lock her wardrobe, which stressed her out the first night as she couldn’t store her things securely. But as soon as she reported it the next morning, the staff quickly fixed it.
Finally, as parents, we had another goal: that she improve her French. And here too — mission accomplished. The biggest benefit of this stay was her increased confidence in speaking, the courage to use the vocabulary she knew — a real breakthrough in language learning! Today, French is one of her strongest subjects, and with this next trip planned, we have no doubt: she’ll soon reach level B1. A true success!
With its exceptional setting between the sea and palm trees, its dedicated staff, and well-organized activities, the Cannes Essentiel program offers far more than just a language stay. It’s a true human, cultural, and educational experience that helps teens grow, make lasting friendships, and build confidence in French.
Like Lili Juliette, a British teen, many young students return home with unforgettable memories. Whether for the quality of the teaching, the variety of activities, or the friendly atmosphere, Cannes Essentiel is the ideal choice for learning French in France while enjoying a summer on the Côte d’Azur.
