In January of this year, I impulsively committed to a one week stay in November with Camille in her home in Paimpol, France. I’d found her just googling around the internet looking for French language immersion experiences. I have struggled with French for the last 5 years with hearing and speaking the biggest challenge for me, so before throwing in the towel, I thought a 1-1 intensive immersion experience might be a good way to determine if I should continue putting my energy into learning French. Perhaps I was too old (70yo) to learn a new language? After wiring a down payment to Camille (which my bank strongly discouraged me from doing – they were concerned it was a scam!), I immediately had buyer’s remorse. Maybe this was going to be a big waste of money and energy for me and a big waste of time for her – I worried was too much a beginner to really benefit from the week.
I returned from France a few days ago… and what an amazing experience it was!!
Camille picked me up at the train station and we immediately started conversing in French. I was relieved I could understand her pretty much – she speaks very clearly and more slowly than the rapid fire French dialogue in movies and series that I’ve tried to watch. The bank was wrong, she is real!!! By the way, I wasn’t even aware of her French Today learning program, books, podcasts until I expressed concern about wiring her the balance….at which time she sent me all that information and seeing her extensive program was quite reassuring.
Arriving at her home, we were greeted by the most darling, best trained dog in the world, Vinky. Her home is extremely comfortable with beaucoup interesting artwork and I had my own “wing” of the house with a very nice, private bedroom and my own spacious bathroom. The bed was comfy, comfy and there was a TV in the room (with Netflix and Amazon!!) on which I could watch the American election results roll in. It was mid-afternoon, so we went on a walk along the coastline of Paimpol. It’s a truly beautiful region, with a lot of history (I am a WWII buff – the French Resistance was very active in this part of France during the German occupation). Then we went home and Camille made dinner. She had warned me before I arrived that she was not a chef. She lied. Big time. She made me the most delicious meals every day!
Camille is warm, empathetic, and it’s obvious she has been teaching for some time – she was able to assess my abilities very quickly and identify my greatest weakness, which is low confidence speaking – I become paralyzed trying to say something as I roll through verb tenses, word order, and appropriate vocabulary in my head. She really encouraged me to let go of that and speak even if I KNOW it is grammatically incorrect. Her approach with me was to be completely encouraging. She even told me that she was not going to correct me (which I asked her to do) unless she saw an actual pattern that needed correction. It was very effective. I learned that I really CAN communicate in French, much more than I thought. It inspired me to keep learning. She went through the French Today series with me and how to use the audio books to keep improving, and now that I am back, I have a “study plan” I feel very good about.
We took a 2 day trip by car to Mont St. Michel with her friend Jean-Loup – a truly awesome sight. And Jean Loup was so fun to talk to – he was extremely patient with me. Camille also set me up with a local tour guide to see the cliffs overlooking the sea, nearby villages, and the monuments from the British, American, and Canadian governments thanking the network of French resistance fighters who saved 135 pilots downed in France during WWII. So I had practice speaking with and hearing someone other than Camille and Jean-Loup. Camille and I walked to the town center on the open market day and I got to speak with vendors. One shopkeeper wanted to practice her English with me, so we had a short conversation, after which Camille asked me if I noticed her grammatical errors. I had NOT, which drove home her message to me to just TALK! It doesn’t have to be perfect to have a perfectly fine conversation!
So after all my misgivings, it was just the best experience. It was so easy to be in Camille’s home – she is so welcoming, laid back, and just completely engaged with you the whole time. I have renewed interest and enthusiasm for the French language. I am NOT too old!
My only regret is that I could not steal Vinky and bring him home with me!
Last week was a formidable immersion experience with Pascale at La Noria near to Béziers. We even had great autumn weather! The immersive experience itself was just as I had expected: local foods and wine experiences, together with interesting excursions and conversations with other French native speakers. Agnès was delightful to meet – the owner of the gite. Every morning, she provided us with amazing choices for the petit déjeuner including the spécialité pain of Béziers on our last morning. Geraldine cooked lunch for us every day, and entertained us with conversations in French about her daily life and her family. We were lucky with the autumnal weather and so, we enjoyed our meal each day. My partner, who does not speak French but has a basic understanding of the language, was most comfortable during these meals because he was always included in conversations, which would switch between English and French.
After my substantial breakfast each day, Pascale and I would settle in for 3 hours of wide-ranging conversations in French – it was the time of the USA elections – so quite a few discussions were had
on that topic! Pascale would then make notes about points of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary for me each day, and set homework around these areas of weakness. I appreciated being
able to follow up our daily lessons with homework based on these specific areas of need, to refine my B1 level. Each day, we would work through grammar exercises and corrections, as well as discuss
French idiomatic phrases. Pascale is a very engaging teacher with a broad knowledge of teaching Anglophone students both in USA and in her native France.
On our free afternoons, my partner and I walked along la voie verte in both directions. In one direction, we walked through vineyards displaying gorgeous autumn colours towards the little village of Maureilhan, birthplace of several noted Frenchmen. In the other direction, we passed through similar landscapes to Cazouls-les-Béziers, the closest village for shopping. Pascale took us to visit the magnificent Cistercian Abbaye de Fontfroide near Narbonne, founded in 1093 which is privately owned and has been beautifully restored by the Fayet family. We enjoyed a wine tasting here, and purchased a bottle to share with Pascale and Geraldine at lunch. On our last day, we had a tour of Pascale’s home town of Béziers, the oldest city in France! The cathedral is a wonderful piece of Gothic and Roman architecture and we had a guided tour in French with the local cathedral volunteer guide. We visited the engineering feat known as Les 9 Écluses de Fonseranes – November is a little late in the canal boating season so we could not see the locks in action, but it is still an amazing sight.
My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with Pascale. All in all, we experienced an authentic immersive experience in everyday conversations and French life, and my French knowledge and practice continues to improve.
I had a wonderful time during my stay at Soline’s gite. Soline and her husband Jerome were very welcoming hosts. They cooked some delicious lunches and the gite was so cosy and comfortable that I wanted to stay much longer.
Soline was a very patient teacher and so easy to get on with. Studying French with Soline was completely different to classes I’ve taken before. Each morning we spoke in French and it was practical, real, and useful. I feel much more confident in speaking and listening in French thanks to her. The lessons were hands on, good fun and tailored to my needs.
I also really enjoyed the excursions with her, discovering this amazing region of France. She is very knowledgeable about the region and it is fascinating. We spoke French during these excursions, which helped me even more. I would love to come back and do more.
I highly recommend this immersion program. It was a memory of a lifetime for me.
Thank you Soline.
Yvonne
From the get-go, Camille puts you at ease with her warm welcome, contagious smile, and generous spirit. I would summarize my stay as full of joie de vivre, outings, and truly superb learning with practice speaking and listening in French, all perfectly tailored to my level and needs.
It helps that Camille’s home is artistic, comfortable, and charming, and that one eats beautifully prepared, healthy meals. Really, one week did not feel like enough!
Camille explains well how the time and lessons are organized, but is also adaptable and spontaneous. Her command of how best to teach at any level and individualize learning is stunning, even genius.
During my week, I found there were many surprises (all fantastique) starting with gorgeous Indian Summer weather that lasted the whole time I was there, to one after another of visits and pique-niques to majestic, even magical places. We even went swimming (more than once), it was that beautiful! Being a fan of the outdoors, I found Camille very willing to adapt our lessons so that we could take advantage of the weather and visit historic sites and places of extraordinary beauty.
I was able to sample some cultural events, as well, such as the weekly market, and a local « gustation » of wine, whiskey (made in Paimpol!), together with cheeses and oysters. Fortunately, the timing and weather were also ideal for attending a Garden Festival, where many artisans and plant specialists sold their products. Quelle chance! I found a number of special gifts, all made in France.
A week with Francophones and lessons has helped me better comprehend native speakers, and communicate with more ease and confidence. In addition, Camille’s encouragement and recommendations for continuing on my own are logical, invaluable, and inspiring.
That said, I adored exploring Bretagne with Camille and her friends, but there is so much more to see and do, so I’ll be back, Camille!
If you want to live like a local in gorgeous Brittany with a delightful friend/teacher/guide, all while improving your fluency in French, contact Florence now and hope that she has availability! She welcomed my friend Ann and me as treasured guests and more than achieved her intent of giving us the best possible French immersion homestay experience at her exquisite Breton home. Florence is a talented teacher, gracious host, tour guide extraordinaire and is so kind, patient, and fun to be with. Our private gite accommodation was roomy and lovely with modern kitchen/bathroom(s), and views overlooking the countryside.All of our home-cooked meals with Florence (and in the evenings, also with husband, Dawson, their son, Luca, and also a cousin one night) were incredible and made with locally sourced ingredients, including vegetables from their garden and eggs from their chickens. These meals were also accompanied by fun French conversation with her and her supportive family. Also under Florence’s tutelage, we learned how to make galettes and crepes (and flan), and Dawson oversaw our cooking them. To expertly flip them as he does is a goal, but thankfully simply folding them over was also an option!
We started our days with breakfast and conversation with Florence. Then we sat together at the table in her sunny office/classroom upstairs, with their sweet dog, Maia, lying down nearby, and had our organized morning lessons and exercises. Florence expertly tailored our lessons to include exactly what we wanted to cover and helped us each to move forward in our comprehension and spoken French. But ALL times with Florence were learning opportunities. She would discreetly write on a small pad during our meals and adventures and would re-visit her notes later and let us know where we needed to make corrections. She would also occasionally gently correct us at the time. At the end of our amazing week, I understood French conversation better and was more confident in speaking it.
For our three excursions, we loved seeing and learning about the ancient, mystical stones at Carnac; exploring by ferry the Golfe de Morbihan (with 42 islands!), and by foot, the magical Ile-aux-Moines with its beautiful harbors and streets lined by quaint, flower-adorned homes; and, finally, wandering in historic, picturesque Vannes including buying fresh fruit and vegetables at the market and enjoying “moules frites” at an outdoor café on the harbor.
We were also kindly invited to visit Florence’s charming parents who live across the “valley” from them. Her talented mother gave us a tour of her exquisite garden and cut stunning flowers for us along the way for bouquets to take “home.” Then her gracious father insisted that we stay for an aperitif which we enjoyed with them and Dawson, too. On another afternoon, Florence asked me to join her in walking Maia in the beautiful countryside and through the small village where her grandparents lived, meeting neighbors and friends along the way.
Ann and I had two afternoons/evenings “on our own.” On the first evening, we had a relaxing dinner at our gite after stocking up at the local supermarket under Florence’s guidance. On the other night, we had a delicious meal at a charming, beamed-ceiling restaurant in the neighboring town of Saint-Jean-Brevelay where we were also entertained by local villagers doing expert karaoke. Florence dropped us off, and Dawson kindly retrieved us.
And, finally, getting to Florence’s home is so easy. Vannes is a direct 2hr30min TGV ride from Paris. Florence picked us up at the station on Sunday, and drove us to her home. She and Dawson drove us back to the station the next Saturday. After such a fun, fabulous, and informative week where we learned about and experienced French culture in Brittany as well as improving our working knowledge of the French language, we didn’t want to leave. Merci mille fois to Florence and her gracious family for everything! LAURA
Flo,
Thank you for all you did for Laura and me during our stay earlier this month. Really, it could not have been better—it was both fun and a great learning experience for both of us. We particularly appreciated all you did to accommodate our several special requests, from arranging a wonderful garden tour to a briefing on France’s government to learning to cook galettes, crepes and even galettes des rois. You and Dawson were such gracious hosts and made us feel welcome every day in your lovely home; I meant it when I said to let us know if you visit Texas as we’d enjoy seeing both of you again.
From creating grammar lessons specially directed to our numerous weaknesses to keeping a running note on vocabulary during casual conversation, you used every minute to best effect, helping us to be a great deal more comfortable in French. The combination of an excellent French teacher and an engaging tour guide is hard to beat! We loved seeing Vannes and the Gulf of Morbihan especially, and your own knowledge and love of the area made everything more fun.
I can heartily recommend a week with you to anyone interested in gaining fluency in French. Again, so many thanks! ANN
Thank you, Pascale, your French Immersion Program offered much more than I had expected! It was not only a fruitful learning experience but also an unforgettable vacation.
- French Lessons
I had a specific professional objective to learn French, and Pascale tailored the lessons perfectly. To make the most of the immersion program, the lessons focused more on conversation, including role plays. The topics were relevant to the area of my profession, and her curiosity and questions encouraged me to talk. Grammar was also covered, mainly as homework, and we reviewed it together, focusing on the areas of my weak points. I learned incredibly a lot in five days, and now I am reviewing the materials to consolidate the learning.
- Accommodation
La Noria is a lovely and cozy place to stay. Breakfast was a daily delight to start a day, over conversation in French, with homemade jam and sweets prepared by Agnès. Géraldine cooked a variety of tasty dishes for lunch and joined us to have it over the casual and relaxed conversation. Also, I would not forget the warmest welcome of Togo, the sweet puppy!
- Excursions
One of two excursions with Pascale was walking in a hilly forest, along a well-maintained walking trail, where I enjoyed a view over the greenery countryside, as I had requested an activity in nature. There was a horse-riding base within walking distance from La Noria! I enjoyed horse riding with an instructor in the middle of the vineyards, although I was a total beginner. Another excursion was a tour of Béziers, Pascale’s hometown. We took a tourist tram that went through the narrow path in the old quarter up to the famous Canal du Midi. We closed the tour with the best tarte tatin in the town!
I did a one week immersion with Delphine. It was a great experience and Delphine is a very good teacher.
I went on two all day excursions. The first was to Cauterets and hiking in the Pyrenees National Park. The scenery was amazing! The other all day excursion was to Bayonne and Biarritz. Bayonne is a pretty town and in Biarritz we went on a long walk along the ocean – beautiful!
I also really liked the city of Pau. There are many restaurants – two of which I tried and were very good. There are also numerous shops that sell local unique handcrafted items. In addition, Pau is a great place to practice your French. When I went into shops and asked a question, the sales person responded in French unlike more touristy places in France where they switch to English when they hear your accent.
I wish I had done a second week with Delphine. I would highly recommend this experience!
A Wonderful Week with Delphine in Pau
Wow! I just wrapped up an incredible week with Delphine in Pau, and I feel compelled to share my experience immediately on my train back to Paris. This is my third French language immersion program this year, and while all have been great, Delphine stands out as exceptional.
As someone married to a native French speaker, I’ve been dedicated to improving my French this year to feel more comfortable communicating with my husband and his family. After a week with Delphine, I can confidently say that my proficiency and confidence speaking have significantly improved.
What impressed me most about Delphine was her attention to detail. She took the time to assess my French level and to understand my goals for the week. It was evident that she carefully planned each day’s lessons, focusing on my primary aim: enhancing my conversational skills. We engaged in countless hours of dialogue, and thanks to her guidance, I’m now incorporating French pronouns into my speech with newfound ease—something I’m incredibly proud of. (This was a big goal of mine – getting over my discomfort using French pronouns.)
Prior to this, I had stayed in a small village and the countryside for my immersions, but Pau was my first experience in a town—and it has been my favorite. I stayed in a charming, modern studio just two floors above Delphine’s apartment. This was by far the nicest accommodation I’ve had, with a spacious layout, a very comfortable bed, and a large, modern bathroom. I appreciated having a dishwasher in the kitchen (a must for anyone who dislikes washing dishes!). Plus, the cost of the stay is very affordable compared to other French language immersions.
Delphine’s building is conveniently located just a 15-minute stroll from the city center, making it easy to explore. I loved being able to walk to dinner or enjoy a wine bar in town. I especially recommend Pau’s Cafe for coffee and the restaurants Resto Dit Vin and La Papilles Insolite (especially if you share my passion for wine). Not needing a car rental was a bonus; I navigated the town easily on foot, and public transport options like buses or Uber were also available.
Breakfast and lunch were included in my stay, and on my last night, Delphine prepared a lovely dinner that we shared together.
Delphine also offers a variety of excursions and guided visits, and I particularly enjoyed our trip to the Brocantes, which was a unique experience. She is an excellent guide.
She kindly offered to pick me up upon my arrival, but I arrived with my in-laws who dropped me off. Delphine graciously invited them in for coffee before they left, and she even drove me to the train station today. I felt a pang of sadness as I left as I truly had a memorable week.
If you’re considering a stay with Delphine, don’t hesitate—book immediately! You won’t regret it.
If you’d like to discuss my experience in Pau further, feel free to ask Delphine for my contact information. I would be happy to speak with you. I highly, highly recommend her!
Melania
A stay with Camille, is like having a good friend in France, who just happens to be an extraordinary teacher and a wonderful cook, travel guide and hostess!
My friend Christina and I presented somewhat of a challenge, as we are at different language levels, but Camille managed our lessons and conversations beautifully so that we both came away with improved language skills and confidence in our spoken French.
Camille has a special knack for identifying areas that need work, which gives great focus to her lessons. And studying with her is a pleasure – she is kind and encouraging, and very focused on practical, spoken French that you can put to immediate use.
I enjoyed working with her “À Moi Paris” learning method and have continued using the audio books and study guides since I’ve been home.
Camille’s home is lovely, and our bedrooms were very comfortable and private. Her house is in the charming village of Paimpol, just a few blocks from beautiful areas to hike and take dips in the sea!
Camille arranged for several tours for us with excellent local tour guides who introduced us to the beauty and history of this magical corner of Bretagne.
A highlight was our special excursion to St. Malo, Dinan and Mont-Saint-Michel, where we all spent the night and enjoyed a memorable dinner at La Mère Poulard!
Camille is a fabulous cook, although she constantly claims not to be! She whipped up delicious composed salads for lunch and prepared excellent dinners, including an extraordinary coq au vin one evening! We were lucky enough to be invited to dine with her friends on several occasions and had fun practicing our French in these social settings, our courage lubricated with wonderful French wines!
Our week with Camille flew by and was beyond anything we could have hoped for in a French immersion homestay!
Never having had any formal training in French, I decided a number of years ago as I neared retirement that I needed and wanted the challenge of learning a second language. My learning since then has been pretty random, relying primarily on internet sources, such as intermediate French podcasts, youTube videos, etc. Since I was going to be in France this fall, cycling in the Pyrenees, I felt compelled to find someone who could help me make sense of what I knew.
What luck to find Pierre! As other students have mentioned, Pierre and I had lots of opportunities to organically discuss culture, family, politics, the region over Pierre’s excellent breakfasts, lunches, or on our afternoon hikes. I so enjoyed this, and felt that these interactions and conversations gave me some confidence to speak. But, back to our sheep:) the three hours daily of grammar and phonetics filled my greatest need and began to give me that foundation in the language that I was lacking. Pierre is an excellent teacher, patient, and organized. I keep reviewing my notes not wanting to lose what he shared with me.
Pierre’s accommodations are comfortable and quiet, with just the right amount of privacy while retaining the sense of immersion. The village is very special, labyrinthine narrow medieval streets, small but so much to discover.
Our outings included a day with Pierre’s fun and energetic young daughter exploring the villages of Bages and Peyriac-de-Mer on the étangs at the edge of the Mediterranean, a long afternoon of vineyards and capitelles around La Livinières, and two days of hikes in canyons and to some of the remarkable châteaux of the Cathares. These were active and educational outings, perfect for me.
I learned a lot from Pierre, and felt that I was on a good trajectory to learn more but alas the week ended, and I regretted that I couldn’t stay longer. I will not hesitate to return if I find the opportunity.
Having always loved learning French but never making progress quickly, I have hugely enjoyed an intensive week of French immersion with Pascale. I have benefitted enormously from the one-on-one tutoring through the whole gamut of grammar, pronunciation and conversation with Pascale. Pascale has a wide range of experience in teaching French, a high degree of sensitivity to different learning styles, and infinite patience. The whole experience at La Noria was just excellent! Franchement, j’ai passé une semaine impeccable !
A Warm Family Welcome
I spent a lovely week with Georgiana and her beautiful family. I even had the chance to spend time with her brother and his family, which was a real joy.
A Passionate Teacher
Georgiana is a dedicated teacher who constantly challenged me with French, pushing me to improve every day. Even her children contributed to my French immersion, making the experience feel more natural and engaging.
Cultural Exchange
We shared so much about our respective countries’ everyday lives. It was a true cultural exchange, enriching on both sides.
A Garden Full of Wonders
Georgiana’s garden is filled with vibrant flowers and useful herbs, and she eagerly shared her knowledge about them with me.
Divine Home Cooking
Her cooking is absolutely divine. I not only learned French but also discovered the art of delicious, home-cooked meals.
Exploring Saint Remy
Saint Remy is a charming small town, perfect for solo walks, and I found it easy to navigate.
Highly Recommended
I highly recommend this experience. Thank you, Georgiana!
I just returned from an incredible immersive experience with Pierre at French Today, during which I was able to get personalized attention learning the language, exploring local olive groves, hiking among castles ruins, and visiting a charming fishing village. Pierre’s love of the his country and its history was ever present, making my acquisition of the French language truly enjoyable.
What a great time I passed with my sister ‘chez Camille’. From the initial welcome, where we were offered the freedom of Camille’s home, to the delightful French cuisine that we were treated to, it was delightful. We had our own private area with two bedrooms and bathroom facilities. Camille’s home is well within walking distance of the sea, the town, The Abbey de Beauport, The Lake of Poulafret and riverside walks in either direction. It was like bringing her videos to life.
Now for the purpose of my visit which was, of course, to practice and improve my spoken French. Our daily lessons were entirely constructed around my ability and the way my brain learns. What a revelation! My lesson were informal as I wanted to be confident speaking ‘Street French’. I was, on arrival, quite timid and fearful of being ‘exposed’. However, this was quickly dispelled by my introduction to Jean-Loup who doesn’t speak English, and boy did I surprise myself with the amount of knowledge that was filed in my head.
My lessons were also aided greatly by Camille’s À Moi Paris’ French learning method with guidance on how to use the app most effectively for me.
This for me was a holiday of a lifetime and I’ve come away with Camille’s words and encouragement to guide me into greater success and , of course, confidence as I continue my French Journey.
Many thanks to Camille for awakening the French in me.