Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Studying french in Kigali

Country forums / Africa / Rwanda

Hi there,

My girlfriend and I are going to Kigali and we would like to study french while we are there (1-2 months). Does anyone know of any regular and afordable short courses or any reputable french tutors? We would prefer to go through an agency or university.
Apparently its quite easy and cheap in Uganda, however we would prefer to do it in a french speaking country.
Would it be easy to find affordable accomodation in Kigali?

Thanks,
micah

Don't tell Mr Kagame that you think of Rwanda as a French speaking country. English and Kinyarwanda are now the only official languages. Of course French is still spoken but the official policy is to push English rather than French. Can't help re finding a teacher though - sorry.

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I would recommend Bukavu in DRC. There is Alliance Francaise and definitely more French than in Kigali.

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Rwanda joined the Commonwealth this year. English is the language of choice in Kigali and compulsory in schools.

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Try to pop in Ecole Belge - Belgian School (off Avenue de la Paix, downtown Kigali). It is for kids, but I think they should be able to advise you in finding a private tutor, as some of their teachers might have interest ......

In reality, more than 80% of the population in Rwanda (Gisenyi area excepted) speak neither French nor English, but only Kinyarwanda.

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