School Policies

The school follows non-discrimination practices with respect to race, creed, nationality, and sexual orientation.

Teachers
       All of our teachers are native French speakers.

Classes
       Small classes of 5 to 8 are on-going. New students may join at any time; their fee is pro-rated to the number of classes remaining in the session. New classes may begin at any time. Private instruction and translation are available.

Tuition
       Tuition is based on $16.00 per hour of instruction. Payment for the entire session must be made, by check or cash, on the first day of class.

Rates for private lessons start at $50.00 per hour. They are available in increments of 5 or more lessons at a time.

Cancellation
       A minimum of five people is required to constitute a class. Classes that do not have sufficient enrollment are subject to cancellation. An existing class of 3 or 4 may be allowed to continue if the students agree to share the cost of the one or two missing students. Tuition would be based on $20 (per person) per hour for a class of four, $27 per hour for a class of three, $40 for a class of two.

Discounts
       After the first class, a 10% discount will be given on the additional class(es) taken during the same session. If the classes do not cost the same, the discount applies to the class with the lower tuition. There are no discounts on private lessons.

Refunds
       Due to our non-profit status and obligations to our instructors, no refunds can be made after the end of the first week of class.

Registration
       A tax-deductible annual membership fee of $30 is required for all students. Students must preregister in advance in order to hold a space in a class. This is especially important for those who will not be present at the beginning of the session.

A 10% surcharge will be added to tuition not paid by the end of the first week of class.

All students are required to be members of the Alliance Française de Berkeley. Tuition costs do not include the membership ($30) or books. Membership is tax-deductible.

If a student takes two courses during the same session, a 10% discount will apply to the lesser priced course.

Classes of five or more persons will pay tuition at the regular rate of $16/hr. In classes of 3-4 persons, the rate per hour will rise in proportion to the number of students enrolled. Classes of 2 people will pay the private tuition rate of $40/hr each.

All classes, except where otherwise indicated, are for adults only (age 18 and over).

Classes run the whole length of the session (8 weeks) unless otherwise indicated.

In general, discounts and refunds are not given for missed classes.

Payment, including membership and books (if any), must be made in full at the first class session by check or cash. (We cannot accept credit cards). Please note that bounced checks will result in a fee of $25.

To reserve a place in a class, please call or email at the number or address below.

Withdrawal
       All cancellations must be received in writing in the form of an email or letter (postmark establishing the date of the request). Please state the course code, the number of classes attended, and the reason for the cancellation. Refunds will be processed within 3 weeks, according to the following policy:

         Refunds for credit card payments will be charged a $10 processing fee.

       Cancellation notified in writing before the end of the first week of the session (before Friday, 5 pm):    Students will be refunded the cost of the course minus $16 per class-hour attended.

       Cancellation notified in writing during the second week of the session (before the 2nd Friday, 5 pm):    Students will be refunded half the cost of the course.

       Cancellation notified in writing after the second week of class (after the 2nd Friday, 5 pm):    No refunds will be given.

Office number with message: 510-548-7481

E-mail: afberkeley@sbcglobal.net

       The school does not discriminate with regard to race, creed, nationality and sexual orientation.