Brits in France, how do you learn the language?

[PizPizPiz]

We're moving to France soon and dh needs French lessons to improve. He's very uncomfortable in big groups so I think private or semi-private lessons would suit him better. We would be in Northern France, close to Lille. Any tips?

If he already has French and just needs to improve it/get used to using it, I should imagine he could manage just going about his day to day business. As long as he doesn't mix with other Brits initially it should be pretty much automatic. You're French, right? Could you not take him around to visit family and friends where he might have the opportunity to practise speaking in a non-competitive environment?

When I was in France I got landed in a tiny town in the middle of Burgundy where no one spoke English so had to speak French or be homeless and I picked things up very quickly. I did have uni level French admittedly, but I wasn't used to speaking it and lacked confidence. What helped me was being invited to people's houses for dinner and conversing over a glass or two of wine. I also got very fat from too many dinners, but that's another story!

I'm probably not very helpful, sorry! It was just an idea.

There is Berlitz in Lille and they offer private language lessons but not sure they teach French.

As Brangelina says, the best way is to spend as much time with French people as possible. That's how I got fluent. In Burgundy as well!

Lille has lots of students of English so you may be able to find someone interested in an exchange system where your DH meets regularly with someone learning English and one time they always speak French and the next time they always speak English.

Whereabouts exactly are you moving to PizPizPiz? I'm near St Omer, about an hour from Lille.

Thanks OtherSide, that's exactly what we're looking for. They do teach French. I know hubby could do without, he speaks and understands quite well already, but he's so shy it's really just to build up his confidence.
DH will be working in Belgium so we'll stay between Lille and the border. We'd like to find a place to rent in Marcq en Baroeul.

Good luck with the househunting and move!