Do I have to be American in order to join the American Club of Lyon?
The American Club of Lyon welcomes people of all nationalities, provided they are proficient in English and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Is a US Citizen
- Has resided a minimum of 1 year in the United States
- Is the spouse or recognized partner of a US citizen
- Is or was (or has a spouse who is or was) employed by a US corporation or organization headquartered in the United States or a US government agency for a minimum of 2 years
- Is the parent of a child born in the United States or of US nationality
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The club’s member base is a diverse mix of people from around the world who are interested in maintaining cultural ties with the U.S.
For more information about membership, please visit our Membership page.
I do not meet the requirements, but I love American culture and want to speak English. Can I still join?
If a prospective member does not meet the requirements to be an Active Member but shows knowledge of and interest in American culture, it may be possible to join the club as an Associate Member.
Associate Members must speak fluent English and be sponsored by an Active Member. The admission of Associate Members shall only be effective after validation by the Executive Board which shall check that the above-mentioned admission criteria are fulfilled. The admission of new Associate Members must not bring the total number of Associate Members to more than 10% of the total number of members.
For more information about Associate Membership, visit our Membership page.
If your primary reason for wanting to join is to speak English, there are many English conversational groups available on meetup.com, including the American Club of Lyon’s Coffee Chat. We encourage you to seek out the groups on meetup.com to meet other people passionate about American culture and practicing English.
What are my membership fees being used for?
Your membership dues for the year go solely towards the funding of the club’s events and any administrative fees required to run the ACL. The club is solely run by its member volunteers who do not receive any salary or payment for their contributions.
I am interested in joining your Tuesday Coffee Chat. Do I need to sign up or register?
There is no need to RSVP for Coffee Chat. American Club members and non-members are all welcome, and each week there is a wide range of people who show up — men, women, young, old, Americans, French, and others. Just show up to the current Coffee Chat location (check the Coffee Chat webpage or the ACL Facebook page for the most up-to-date information) Tuesday morning between 9:30 and 11:30 and find the diverse group speaking English.
Can I bring my kids to Happy Hour or a wine tasting?
Most Happy Hours or other evening events are intended for adults. While ACL’s children are a really special group that bring lots of laughs and smiles, sometimes Happy Hours are happier without them. If possible please leave them at home (with a caretaker of course!) unless the event specifically mentions kids are welcome.
Can I bring my pets to an event?
Please leave your pets at home. Pets are wonderful, but not all members or venues are pet friendly. If pets are permitted, the event invitation will so specify.
I am looking for an English speaking nanny or babysitter. Can you please help?
We suggest that you post a “help wanted” ad with the various Lyon-based English speaking Facebook groups or use an agency to help with your search.
I do not live in Lyon, but I am thinking about moving to Lyon from the U.S. In which neighborhood should I live? What area has a large concentration of expats in it?
Any move, whether it is to a new city 60 miles away or a new country, is very unique to each family or individual. Some people adapt better than others, and it may depend how open one is to the new environment. American expats are spread across Lyon city proper as well as in the suburbs. The choice of neighborhood suited for you will depend on what you and your family are looking for in terms of lifestyle, comfort, budget, access to schools, etc…
The best option for deciding where you would like to live and whether Lyon is suited for you would be to come visit the city, if possible, and make appointments to visit the various international schools (if applicable). Once you have time to walk around the city or visit its suburbs, you will have a better sense of whether it is a place you could imagine yourselves.
The American Club of Lyon has an option of joining the club as a non-resident member which would give you access to our private Facebook group and newsletters. In our Facebook group, you could also post any questions and ask about other people’s experiences.
In general, Americans and American families who are part of the club have enjoyed their residence in France. There are many aspects of French life that require adjustment, and the transition into French life will differ for each individual. There are many wonderful aspects of living in France, in Europe, and in Lyon in particular, that each person can personalize in their journey living in a new culture and a new country.
I do not live in Lyon, but I am thinking about moving to Lyon from the U.S. with my family. How are the schools in Lyon?
There are several international schools here, and depending on the age of your children, you will have various options to choose from. Here is a list of some of the more popular international schools in Lyon.