Vicky :
My friend Barbara and I just spent a week with Éliane in the immersion program. It was a dream come true. For me, being in France, staying with a French family, being able to ask questions about culture as well as vocabulary and grammar–that’s exactly what I wanted. Éliane is a wonderful hostess. Her husband and daughter are also charming and friendly. And Éliane is also an excellent cook! She prepared delicious food which was also very French.We went together to Limousis Caves and it was fascinating. Even though I didn’t understand everything the guide said, I understood enough, and Éliane was there to clarify. It was a beautiful place to visit. I like to see natural beauty. We also went to the vineyard of Château de Pennautier (the Lorgeril family) for a visit and tasting. It was a pleasant excursion. We loved the wine and the conversation with the guide.Barbara and I visited Carcassonne twice. Once to the city center, but it was a Monday and there wasn’t much open. On Friday, we went to the medieval city. Our days visiting Carcassonne were lovely. We had rented a car and it was quite easy to get around (thanks to Google Maps) and to find parking.Because Barbara is a pilot, she and I went to the Musée Aeroscopia in Toulouse as well, about an hour’s drive away. It was worth the visit. We could go inside airplanes and learn of French aviation history. That night, we had reservations at a Michelin-starred restaurant, “PY-r”. It was a true gastronomic experience.There was a small supermarket near us. We walked there for fresh vegetables. There was also a boulangerie where we bought baguettes. We also took a few walks in Pezens. It was peaceful to be in the countryside and see vineyards and fields of other crops (wheat?) and a small river or stream. We also walked through an old cemetery–very interesting how families are buried together in a plot.Our accommodations were perfect. We each had our own room. We shared a bathroom but the toilet was in a separate area from the sink and shower so it worked well. The small kitchenette was good for our needs. We preferred to eat bread, cheese, pâté, tomatoes and wine on the terrace for dinner. We were in heaven. Really.Éliane is a good teacher. She is practical and helpful. She is also insightful. She knew what we had to work on and she knew the common mistakes of American English speakers. I had studied in France as a student (oo la la, that was too many years ago! ) and I had kept up with my French as best I could, but I forgot a lot of vocabulary and especially grammar. I make a lot of mistakes. My goal is for people to understand me, even if I prefer to speak perfectly like a Frenchwoman! I am a perfectionist and it was difficult for me to realize how bad my French had become. But it was good for me to keep talking anyway. I learned a lot. I am trying to put all this into practice. I was intrigued to learn how many of his students return each year or so. Maybe I can do that too?–Vicky Dobbs, Texas, USA
Barbara :
Avec une chère amie, j’ai passé une semaine en programme d’immersion chez Éliane et sa famille. Tout était vraiment sympa ! La maison est bien adaptée : nous avions le rez-de-chaussée entier pour nous, avec deux chambres, une petite kitchenette, et une jolie véranda qui donne sur la piscine. Les leçons de français chaque matin étaient très agréables : ni trop facile ni trop difficile. Éliane s’est très bien adaptée à notre niveau de français. Elle nous a beaucoup aidées à mieux comprendre quelques points de grammaire, et elle nous a donné de bons exercices pour les pratiquer. Les repas qu’elle nous a préparés étaient vraiment délicieux. Nous avons fait deux excursions avec Éliane (un tour de la grotte de Limousis, et une dégustation de vins) qui étaient très agréables et intéressantes. Les trois après-midi où nous n’avions pas d’excursions avec elle, nous en avons profité pour visiter quelques endroits dans la région. Tout s’est très bien passé !
Je te remercie ! 😊
Barbara