All French Immersion Reviews

I spent a great week with Pascale. Not only was it very enjoyable, but it was really helpful in increasing my confidence in speaking and understanding in French. I appreciated her tailoring the lessons and excursions to my goal of increasing my conversational ability. She sent a daily list of vocabulary selected for my needs. Our conversations ranged from family life to books, films, and history. She is very patient, skilled, and interesting.
The accommodations at La Noria are very nice in a lovely setting with the perfect balance of interaction and privacy. Agnes and Geraldine provided great breakfasts and lunches, as well as conversation.
The excursions to Frontfoide Abbey, wine tasing at Chateau Perdiguier, and the tour of Bèziers were interesting and very helpful in enhancing understanding of the tours in French.
I highly recommend study with Pascale!

Each day of my immersion program was a welcome surprise and experience. Camille thinks of every detail and adapts the program to your needs and interests and goals. She plans each day for you with careful thought and organization. Camille is an excellent teacher with an unmatched joie de vivre. She is intelligent, warm, thoughtful, organized (a perfectionist) and generous. My apartment was private and very comfortable. It included a bathtub and shower—both with plenty of hot water and pressure. There was a separate toilet room and an ample bedroom with everything one could need. Camille is a master at making one feel at home.

Her teaching is superb. She is intuitive about how best to teach you and help you improve your French learning. I came a long way in my week —really without stress.

I benefited greatly from time spent with guides who spoke in French with me. The culture and history of the area is rich. Also, I appreciated the cuisine of Camille—simple, fresh and delicious! And not to forget Vinky—her very sweet bichon havannais—who does not bother you unless you want. I loved taking him for walks along the sea paths.

I plan to return next year because the experience was beneficial for me on many levels. I enjoyed every day and made excellent progress on my French. Merci pour tout Camille!

I feel extremely lucky to have come across Gwen in order to spend a week in France on an immersion course.

From the start I liked her vibes and sense of humour without ever feeling under pressure. Even though I have family who live in France, I wanted to find a family suitable for me to really knuckle down with the language. Who better than Gwen! She is truly passionate about sharing her knowledge of the language and local history which made my stay a really intensive and satisfying experience. I couldn’t have felt more comfortable in her beautiful country home or made to feel as welcome by her truly lovely family (and adorable golden retriever!).

The programme Gwen concocted for me entailed of three unique workshops which I enjoyed tremendously, a visit to the traditional village of Vezenobre and various outings to historical sites including Aigue-Mortes and the Roman monuments in Nîmes, the ornithological park in the Camargue to discover the flamingos up close, not to mention the  fantastic traditional French lunches and relaxing soirees with the family.

I have to thank Gwen and her family again for their generous hospitality and patience with me throughout the week with me persevering to speak the language! They were all prepared to help me and guide me with my faux pas with humour and encouragement. For me, without a doubt, it was definitely the best choice that I could have made.

It’s been a quite while since I first met Camille in Boston.  As I’m spending my first year of retirement traveling throughout France and as I’ve long wanted to explore Brittany, I was delighted when Camille generously invited me to stay with her for a week in Paimpol.  It gave us the happy opportunity to renew our friendship and for me to enjoy the astounding beauty of the coast and countryside.  And although I speak French fairly well, Camille  really helped me gain more confidence in my ability including by introducing me to a number of her wonderful friends who also took the time to visit with me and share their knowledge of the area.

I’m so grateful for Camille’s hospitality and the warmth and comfort of her home – I not only had my own bathroom and a bedroom with a super comfortable bed but, effectively, a whole separate “wing” of her house!  I can’t quite believe how quickly the week passed.  Brittany is gorgeous with a rich history, great cuisine, friendly locals, and lots to do and see.

One thing is sure, I will be back to visit Camille again soon !

If I could give more stars, I would!
My week in Languedoc by the coast with Pascale, at La Noria, was top-notch. She’s an excellent teacher of language, of culture/history, and of how to live life to the fullest. Plus, she has just the right engaging personality and sense of humor to make the learning process go easier 🙂
I love that Pascale has the flexibility to tailor each immersion experience to the needs/desires of her student(s). For me it turned out to be focusing on language basics, yet fostering my desire to experience more on the excursion side than perhaps the average student would.
All in all, this was a lovely experience that I would definitely recommend and will not soon forget. Thank you, Pascale, Géraldine, and Agnès. …..mmmwah! (chef’s kiss)

Nous vous remercions pour un très bon séjour. Nous avons appris beaucoup concernant le français, les Français et la cuisine française. Mais ce n’est pas tout. Le plus important , nous avons gagné deux nouveaux amis. Vous nous avez assisté même avant notre voyage et dès le commencement de notre voyage, vous avez été très aimables, serviables et sympathiques). Nous avons tout aimé du séjour : les leçons, le repas de Michel et les excursions. C’était très special d’aller au marché avec vous et de manger de la nourriture du marché. MERCI BEAUCOUP

Firstly, the practical aspects: Camille’s home is very comfortable and quiet. I had my own very private space—bedroom, bathroom, toilet, etc.

Paimpol is charming, and the surrounding countryside is wonderfully dramatic. I ate well, both at home and in restaurants.

I came here by car from St Malo, about 80 miles away, and it was an easy journey. Provided you have a good car, keep to the speed limits—particularly in the villages—and beware of speed traps! My car was certainly comfortable for the trip.

Camille herself is very charming, friendly, and lively. She had devised a program for the week tailored just for me, taking into consideration, my hobbies which I had shared in an email she had previously sent.

She quickly understood my level of knowledge, my confidence, and what I was seeking to achieve.

She is very expert in constructing a full week of activity, while also making the necessary space for rest. Learning in such a concentrated way demands a lot of mental effort—especially at my age (I am 88 years old!).

Why was I there? To learn—not to be taught. There is a difference. Camille was not a schoolmistress, but a helpful friend. I wasn’t there to prepare for an exam or to give a good impression. She allowed me to make mistakes without discomfort. It is through mistakes that we learn.

Above all, I enjoyed myself—that’s also why I was there. My week’s program brought me into contact with Camille’s friends, both individually and in groups. I heard different accents and different ways of speaking. I didn’t expect every day to be an improvement on the last—I just relaxed and let things come naturally.

Our conversations covered as many subjects as I was happy to explore. Camille and I discussed our experiences of life, our relationships with others, our fears and hopes. Even religion and politics found their way into the conversation.

I would also encourage anyone to buy French Today audiobooks. They are not expensive and enable you to maintain a good connection with the French language – and Camille’s voice and encouraging energy – once you return home.

What did I gain from my week? Improved French, certainly. Increased confidence, absolutely. A new close friend—and many good memories.

I truly enjoyed every moment.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay with Delphine!

She’s a very patient and gentle teacher who adapts easily to the student’s needs and preferences. We went on a hike to the Cirque of Gavernie, in the Pyrennees, as well as wine tasting in Jurancon. We also had a fun creative session with a friend who inspired us to put on paper some of our thoughts and feelings with various art materials. I got to speak with her mom and husband and so practice more. Pau is a relatively small town with lots of options for exploring, including the Chateau, museums, and lots of interesting shops and cafes. The apartment is a compact studio with a view into sequioa trees and has everything you’d need.

I really love this way of studying a language and recommend it highly!

My decision to study in France was a last minute one, and I was very grateful that Pierre
was able to fit me into his busy schedule. I had read the many positive reviews and was
intrigued by the descriptions of medieval villages, hikes to castles and through
vineyards and lavender fields. As a retired teacher of ESOL (English for speakers of
other languages), I was also impressed by comments about his teaching style and
knowledge of history.
The experience totally lived up to my high expectations. We fit so much into a week,
both in instruction and in immersion to this amazing place. We went to the Cathar
village Minerve, and to the fishing village Bages. We hiked trails to a millstone quarry,
to a marble quarry, and to Les Châteaux de Lastours.
Tuning in to my interest in birds, Pierre previewed names of birds with me enroute to our
destination to salt marshes. I filled pages of notes on history and language and took
countless pictures of historic sites and wildflowers.
Pierre is a gifted teacher and helped me to have a much more comprehensive
understanding of the language. After a detailed explanation, he’d often say “c’est
logique.”
Ah, this makes sense! I had many aha moments.
Grammar comes more easily to me than everyday language does, so I’m very happy to
have come across the French Today website. Pierre gave me a great start on improving
my oral language, with challenges to use newly learned filler words in daily experiences.
En fin, there’s still much left to see and do. I highly recommend the experience to
others, and hope to return someday myself.

A Wonderful French Immersion Experience

I recently spent a five-day French immersion week at the home of Georgiana Maes Onesim. It was a wonderful experience, and I significantly improved my French language skills in just a short time.

Personalized French Lessons Adapted to My Needs

Georgiana quickly adjusted her teaching style to my specific needs, as I was not a typical French learner. Her ability to customize lessons made a real difference in my progress.

A Warm and Welcoming Family Atmosphere

Beyond the lessons, her family was a joy to spend time with, making the experience even more immersive. The friendly and engaging environment helped me practice French naturally.

Excellent Home-Cooked French Cuisine

One of the highlights of my stay was Georgiana’s amazing cooking. Every meal was a delicious and authentic French culinary experience, adding to the cultural immersion.

Convenient Location Near Paris and Versailles

Her home is easily accessible from Paris by train in less than an hour and is also very close to Versailles. This makes it a perfect location for those who want to combine language learning with sightseeing.

Why Choose This French Immersion Program?

If you are looking to improve your French skills in a supportive, immersive environment, I highly recommend Georgiana Maes Onesim’s program. With personalized teaching, a welcoming family, and a convenient location, it is a fantastic choice for learning French in France.

Pierre is a kind, calm, gentle, attentive teacher. I like the way he explains things, better than any book or the other teachers I’ve had over many decades. He speaks English fluently and so is able to make clear why things are different (or the same) in French vs English. He meets you at your French level though he is happy to have people at 2 different levels, which he says can work very successfully. His ever-present sense of humor was the icing on the cake.

Here’s more info about his program: You choose your timeframe, generally one or two weeks. You (and anyone you bring) will be the only student/s. Pierre provides breakfast and a cooked lunch every weekday. You have an informal lesson in his house each morning for 3 hours followed by an afternoon outing.

Pierre is a superb tour guide, eager to share his passion for the French culture, history, geology, and nature that surrounded us. We saw pink flamingos, hilltop Cathar castle ruins, a magnificent 12th century Cistercian abbey at the base of the Pyrenees, a charming coastal village that we would never have found in the guidebooks. He took us on hikes past organic vineyards striped with white or yellow swaths of wildflowers and surrounded by ancient stone walls.

I loved the feeling of being taken care of by Pierre – no worries or planning required by us. We knew that, each day, he would mix language learning with exploring a beautiful region as our very capable teacher, chef, chauffeur, and tour guide. A truly exceptional experience. 

I first journeyed to Pau in September 2024.  That first week was so informative and wonderful that I was anxious to return.  Luckily, I was able to arrange to come back approximately six months later, in March of this year.  As with the first trip, Delphine prepared detailed and personalized lessons and outings based on my interests and needs in French.  But in addition to the lessons, she works very hard to help her students integrate and feel comfortable using the language in real-life daily situations in France.  As an example of what sets her and French Bubble apart is this time I wanted my wife (who does not speak any French) to join me after a week so that she could have a chance to spend some time with Delphine and Adrien and get to know and love Pau as I have.  The issue was that we could not spend a full additionally week there.  Delphine, as usual, was completely accommodating to our schedule, even though I am sure this caused some difficulty for her in scheduling other students.  Moreover, Delphine and Adrien made her feel very comfortable and welcome by speaking English with her during our nights out and day trips exploring the Pyrenees.  I cannot express how professional, thoughtful and caring Delphine is with her students and their families.  After, our time in Pau my wife and I spent another week travelling in France, and thanks to Delphine I felt my confidence speaking with strangers grow day by day.  I look forward to returning again, and I highly recommend that you contact Delphine for your own immersive experience.  

I really enjoyed my lessons with Soline and she spoke clearly and in a way that was easy to understand. I really fell as if my French has improved since meeting her, and I now understand more complex grammatical areas, that I didn’t understand before. Her style of teaching really benefitted me and she was accommodating to the level of French I was at. Volvic, and the surrounding areas are incredible, and the excursions gave us the opportunity to explore some of those areas such as the Puy-de-Dôme and Vichy. I would highly recommend this experience for anyone who wants to develop their French, at any level.

Aidan

J’ai adoré mes deux semaines à Pau avec Delphine !

I wanted to improve my confidence with everyday conversations, but also to practise the requirements for passing the DELF B2 exam.Thanks to Delphine’s daily diligence, I am now familiar with the four areas tested by the DELF, and I have a much clearer sense of the specific criteria required to achieve a PASS. I know my areas of strength and weakness and the fact that there is still much more to learn about the French language !Each day, Delphine and I started the day with oral discussion. We talked about a variety of topics, from the education systems in France and Australia, the history of France including Pau’s very own château, Tour de la Monnaie and Henri IV, through to the current geopolitics of USA. From these conversations, Delphine assisted me with grammar points, gave me useful examples or models, took daily notes, and provided me with a résumé each evening. I did specific DELF tasks each evening, particularly working on written and oral comprehension.

My partner and I appreciated having a well-fitted out separate apartment in the same building as Delphine. We enjoyed conversation and lunch each day with Delphine, and sometimes with her husband Adrien. Our excursions included a fascinating visit to the Musée de la Résistance et de la Déportation, with an excellent guided tour of this comprehensive museum. Another great museum was the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Pau, near Place d’Espagne. Delphine organised a visit to La Cave de Jurançon.A dégustation of locally-produced white wine was followed by a tour in English (for my partner) and yet another dégustation – we ended up buying both red and white wines ! Almost every day, after my morning lessons, we walked through the vast grounds of the Château de Pau and along the historic Promenade with glorious views of the old-style houses of centre-ville and the snow-covered Pyrénées.

My partner and I enjoyed several meals at the Crêperie du Château, perfectly located in front of the château itself. Closer to Pau, the Parc Beaumont was also a great place to stroll and enjoy the array of planted trees and spring flowerings of tulips. Throughout our (prsque) two weeks in Pau, we were lucky with cold but clear weather. Les Pyrénées were magnificent, under a fresh spring coating of snow. All inall, we both enjoyed a super immersion which gave me more confidence in my ability to attempt DELF B2, as well as more insights into the French way of everyday life, food and wine.

Our thanks to you, Delphine !

My (English speaking only) wife and I just concluded our second immersion with Camille Chevalier, this time in Tenerife, and the experience has been extraordinary on so many levels.

For French students of a certain age who have yet to visit Tenerife, this immersion is truly a marvel.

Firstly, as anticipated, my fluency and comprehension of French improved significantly. Camille’s expertise and approach to language learning are truly effective.

Secondly, the excursions around Tenerife were nothing short of spectacular. This island paradise boasts stunning coastal views, dramatic seascapes, crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling, and awe-inspiring volcanic mountains adorned with exotic flora and offering breathtaking panoramas.

The warmth and hospitality of the people we encountered throughout Tenerife were equally remarkable. They were open, friendly, and genuinely interested in engaging with us. For those unfamiliar, Tenerife is one of Spain’s Canary Islands. Beyond the typical English-speaking tourist guides, Camille’s near-perfect Spanish fluency added another layer of depth and richness to the experience.

This immersion was an unforgettable journey of learning, exploration, and connection. Highly recommended!