SOUFFLE
Groupement Professionnel Souffle
À propos SOUFFLE
SOUFFLE (Groupement Professionnel Souffle) is an association authorized to inspect the quality of schools teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE) in France and Switzerland. Founded in 1990, SOUFFLE was the first organization to implement a Quality Charter and inspection system for French language teaching centers, establishing itself as a pioneer in quality assurance for French language education.
The association serves as a professional group that brings together select French language schools committed to maintaining high standards of education and service. SOUFFLE member schools undergo regular inspections to guarantee they continue to provide high-quality language instruction, qualified teaching staff, and appropriate facilities and services for international students.
SOUFFLE's primary mission is to preserve and develop the quality of training programs and services offered by French language schools while ensuring transparent information is provided to prospective students. The organization aims to foster a culture of quality among its member institutions and promote excellence in French language education.
Currently, SOUFFLE comprises 10 member schools located throughout France and Switzerland, offering French language courses for adults, juniors, and school groups. These schools are situated in various locations including Paris, the French Riviera, Avignon, Lyon, Montpellier, and Montreux, providing students with diverse options for language immersion experiences.
Conditions d'adhésion
To become and remain a SOUFFLE member, schools must adhere to strict quality standards across several key areas:
### 1. Transparent and Complete Information
- Provide students with clear and truthful descriptions of the services available at the school
- Clearly communicate terms and conditions and procedures of the organization
- Provide complete information about registration conditions, cancellation policies, and administrative details for staying in France
- Offer detailed information about training programs including objectives, pedagogy, duration, schedule, levels, group composition, teaching teams, and costs
- Communicate health and safety regulations of the school
### 2. Quality Teaching
- Employ qualified and experienced teachers in teaching French as a foreign language
- Maintain suitable premises and equipment for language instruction
- Assign trainees to appropriate levels after proper evaluation
- Comply with all educational commitments
- Implement a system for evaluating student achievements
- Issue certificates at the end of each program
### 3. Student Reception and Support
- Provide information on student reception procedures
- Ensure reception under the best possible conditions
- Offer supervision in compliance with regulations (especially for minors)
- Provide assistance in case of difficulty
- Offer administrative support throughout the student's stay
### 4. Quality Accommodation
- Select and control all accommodations offered to students
- Transmit accommodation details to students before arrival
- Clearly specify accommodation terms including prices, services, reservation, cancellation, payment, and dispute management
### 5. Cultural and Social Activities
- Ensure students always feel welcome at the school
- Provide information regarding the local surroundings of the school
- Offer a number of after-class cultural activities
- Clearly indicate whether activities are free or paid
### 6. Compliance and Accreditation
- Comply with current safety and hygiene regulations
- Maintain one or more additional labels and accreditations, such as Label Qualité FLE, EAQUALS, Qualiopi, AVDEP, or CSN
- Undergo regular inspections by SOUFFLE to ensure continued compliance with quality standards
### 7. Student Satisfaction
- Collect and monitor student satisfaction data
- Maintain a system for addressing suggestions, claims, and complaints
Member schools are assessed through regular inspections that evaluate all aspects of their operations, including administrative procedures, teaching quality, facilities, and student services.
Procédure de réclamation et d'arbitrage
SOUFFLE has established a clear procedure for handling disputes between students and member schools:
- Initial Resolution Attempt: Students with grievances are first encouraged to resolve the issue directly with the school in question.
- SOUFFLE Arbitration: If the dispute cannot be resolved between the student and the school directly, a student can call upon a team at SOUFFLE to arbitrate between the parties.
- Professional Group Intervention: The professional group (SOUFFLE) can be contacted at any time by a student, partner, or external service provider if a dispute arises with a FLE center that is a member of SOUFFLE.
- Ongoing Monitoring: As part of its quality assurance process, SOUFFLE evaluates each school's complaint handling procedures during regular inspections.
This multi-level approach ensures that students have recourse if they encounter problems during their language learning experience at a SOUFFLE member school.
Informations générales
Year of Foundation: 1990
Total Number of Members: 10
Geographic Focus: France and Switzerland
Organisation Type: Professional Association
Coordonnées
Souffle (Groupement Professionnel Souffle)
Website: www.souffle-fle.com
Former website: www.souffle.asso.fr