Group Class Policies

A valid one-year (12 months) Membership with the Alliance Française of San Diego is required to register for a Group class.  Membership benefits include borrowing privileges with our large multimedia library and our online library, Culturethèque, as well as discounts to certain events and free access to other events.

Please note that memberships are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Tuition for group classes does not include membership fees, or books and materials.

Tuition and fees must be paid in full at time of registration. For installment plans, please contact education@afsandiego.org
Check our general policies for more information about payments.

Enrollment: Registrations are accepted in the order received until the class is declared full.

If you need to cancel your registration for a language group class, the following policies apply. Notification must be sent in writing to education@afsandiego.org.

More than three weeks (21 days) before the session starts: you may choose between:

• a voucher equal to the full registration fee; or
  
• a refund equal to 100% of the registration fee, minus a $75 refund processing fee.
  

Between 7 days and 21 days before the session: you will receive a voucher equal to the full amount paid, valid for another AFSD class or event.

Within 7 days of the session start date: Cancellations made less than 7 days before the session begins are not eligible for a refund. A voucher may be offered at AFSD's discretion.

Exceptional Circumstances

Cancellation due to incapacity, illness, or accident, including illness related to or exposure to COVID-19, may qualify for a prorated refund upon presentation of supporting documentation from a health-care practitioner.

Each request will be reviewed individually.

We do our best to ensure a positive experience. If a class's coursework is unexpectedly too difficult or easy for you, you may request a transfer in writing to education@afsandiego.org to another group class with available space within the evening of the first day of class.

The following conditions apply to the transfer:

• Same price: The transfer will be made at no additional cost.
  
• Higher price: You will pay the difference between the amount already paid and the tuition of the new class.
  
• Lower price: The difference will be issued as a credit, valid for one year from the date of issue.
  

If a transfer is not possible, you may cancel your registration and choose between:

• a voucher equal to the initial amount paid, minus a $25 administrative fee and the cost of the first class, which will be charged at the applicable private-lesson rate; or
  
• a refund of the initial amount paid, minus a $75 administrative fee and the cost of the first class, which will be charged at the applicable private-lesson rate.
  

This satisfaction guarantee applies only to a student's first time taking that particular level of group class.

Online Classes

If you are unable to attend an online class, you may contact your teacher before the class begins to request that the session be recorded. When possible, the recording will allow you to catch up on the missed lesson.

In-Person Group Classes

If you miss an in-person group class, you may make it up by attending another group class of the same level, subject to availability.

• Students may take up to two make-up classes per session.
• Missed group classes cannot be converted into credit, refunds, or private lessons.
• Make-up classes are subject to availability and must be arranged in advance.
• Once a make-up class and date have been confirmed, attendance is expected. If you do not attend the confirmed make-up class, the make-up will be considered used and cannot be rescheduled, refunded, or credited.

Traveling During the Session

If you are enrolled in an in-person class but will be traveling for a week, we may be able to accommodate you in the online version of your class for that week, provided there is space available.

Please contact us a few days in advance so we can coordinate with the teacher and confirm availability.

Medical Reasons & Extended Illness

If you miss a class for a medical reason, you may provide supporting documentation from a health-care practitioner. AFSD will do its best to offer a make-up class, subject to availability.

In the case of an extended illness, AFSD will assess the situation individually and work with you to find a suitable solution.

Questions or Make-Up Requests

For all questions regarding missed classes, make-ups, or prorated enrollment, please contact:

education@afsandiego.org

If you already know that you will miss one or more classes before registering for a session, you may contact us in writing to education@afsandiego.org, to request a prorated price. Prorated enrollment is considered case by case and is subject to space being available in the class.

If you enroll after the first week of the session, our website will prorate the price based on the number of classes that have already taken place.

If the prorated price does not apply automatically, please contact our front desk before completing payment so we can apply it manually.

Prorated pricing cannot be combined with other discounts or promotional offers.

Please note that AFSD does not offer credit or refunds for missed classes after registration, except where a specific exception as outlined above.

The Alliance Française of San Diego reserves the right to cancel courses, adjust curriculum or change teachers at any time during a session.
Courses are typically cancelled due to insufficient enrollment (minimum of 3 students) or unavailability of an instructor. If your course is cancelled, you will be notified by e-mail and given the option to transfer, receive a credit, or be fully refunded.

If AFSD cancels a course, students will be notified by email and may choose to:

• transfer to another available course;
  
• receive an AFSD credit; or
  
• receive a full refund.

A minimum of three enrollments is required to fully open a class. If this quota is not met, students already enrolled in the class will receive these options.

• 2 students: We will offer to keep the class open as a semi-private lesson. The tuition remains the same, and the length of the class is reduced. This is not required, and you can choose to have a credit or refund instead.
• 1 student: The class is cancelled, and we will offer a transfer, credit or refund. 

Families with three or more children enrolled simultaneously in AFSD language classes are eligible for a 10% sibling discount.

This discount does not apply to private lessons, cooking classes, art classes, or other thematic classes.

Please contact us at education@afsandiego.org to receive the discount.

The price of the placement test is $20. This amount will be deducted from the cost of a group class when you register at Alliance Française de San Diego.

When you have completed the test, our team will communicate a code that will be valid on your registration of group classes for the upcoming school year.

The placement test $20 coupon does not apply to trial classes, art classes or private classes.

Trial classes are non-refundable and non-transferable and must be used within 30 days of purchase.

Each student may take a maximum of two trial classes per school year (September through August).

Trial classes must be for different classes, meaning a different level and/or theme.

Trial classes are not available for:

• private classes;
  
• thematic classes, including art and cooking; or
  
• camps.
  

Once a trial class and date have been confirmed, attendance is expected. If you are absent, the trial class will be considered used and cannot be rescheduled or refunded.

In the case of a medical reason, supporting documentation from a health-care practitioner may be provided, and AFSD will do its best to offer a rescheduled trial class, subject to availability.

Applying a Trial Class Toward a Full Session

If you decide to enroll in the full session after your trial class, the trial class will be recalculated at the regular hourly rate and credited toward your session tuition.

You will be charged only the remaining balance, so the total amount paid is equivalent to the tuition paid by students who enroll in the full session without taking a trial class.

To enroll in a full session after a trial class, students must have a valid AFSD membership. A membership must be purchased if one is not already active.

Thematic classes, including cooking and art classes, are non-refundable.

Cancellations at least 7 days before the class: you will receive a voucher equal to the class fee.

Cancellations less than 7 days before the class: not eligible for a voucher, except in cases of illness or accident supported by appropriate documentation.

AFSD reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a thematic class if enrollment is insufficient or circumstances prevent the event from taking place. Participants will be notified by email as soon as possible. If AFSD cancels the class, participants will receive either a refund or voucher.