Doing a 6-week stay in Paris with a language intensive. Any advice from anyone who’s done something similar?

Hi everyone!

This September, I’m doing a six-week home exchange in Paris and planning to use the opportunity to level up my French. I’ll be enrolling in a language school while working remotely from the U.S., and I’d love advice from anyone who’s done something similar, especially around managing energy, maximizing progress, and balancing work with immersion. The cost of classes will be a bit of a splurge for me, so I really want to make the most of it.

My situation:

  • Current level: High A2 / early B1
  • Goals: Build speaking confidence, improve conversational fluency and listening comprehension. I'd love to reach B2, but my main aim is to feel more comfortable having real conversations.
  • Course options:
    • Semi-intensive: 2 hrs/day (5 days/week for 4 weeks)
    • Intensive: 4 hrs/day (5 days/week for 4 weeks)

Since I’m based in the U.S., I’ll be working afternoons/evenings. My job is flexible and I can structure my schedule day-to-day, so I plan to take classes in the mornings (either 9–11am or 9am–1pm, depending on which course I choose).

I’ve really been enjoying the process of learning French and want to take full advantage of being surrounded by the language and culture. I’m leaning toward the intensive course, but I’m trying to be realistic about burnout, especially while juggling remote work. The last thing I want is to burn out and lose my enjoyment of the process.

If you’ve done a similar setup (studying abroad while working remotely) or have experience with semi- vs. intensive language classes, I’d love to hear:

  • Which class format helped you most?
  • Do you think four hours of class per day might be too much—time that could be better spent exploring, socializing, or practicing informally? Or on the flip side, is two hours not quite enough to make real progress in a four week timeframe?
  • How did you structure your days to stay energized and engaged?
  • Any general tips for maximizing immersion and connection while living in a city like Paris?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice or insight!

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