French Immersion Homestay At Teacher’s Near Carcassone

I spent a wonderful week with Eliane (and her family) and honestly, I’m not sure who wouldn’t feel the same way, taking private, personally tailored lessons in a warm and gracious setting.

I stayed with Eliane in  February 2024.  Surely spring and fall are more spectacular times to visit the southwest of France – and pretty much anywhere else – but traveling off season has its own obvious advantages:  no crowds, no waiting, no traffic jams.  

I’m at some type of intermediate level in French, and one of my major frustrations – in addition of course to my difficulties speaking — is my inability to understand everyday spoken French. Because I expressed that particular interest, during most of our daily lessons together, Elaine worked with me on listening skills using some short videos (work that I continue on my own at home).  I’m also a huge fan of word games, in both English and French, and Eliane (who likes them too) incorporated those as well when she learned of my interest.

I chose Option 2  (lessons, 5 excursions and all meals), and I would recommend that if it’s available, – especially if you don’t plan on having a car. 

Eliane’s meals were all delicious – absolutely excellent French home cooking (plus one traditional Indonesian noodle dish cooked by Eliane’s dad who was visiting from the Netherlands).   

Immersing yourself in a foreign language is exhausting, and having a private space like the downstairs apartment in Eliane’s house is a real plus.

All the afternoon excursions (in my case, Lagrasse, Carcassone, the caves of  Limousin, Narbonne and its beautiful beach, and a wine tasting) – were fascinating, in addition to being opportunities to continue to hear and speak French.   

Of my five afternoon excursions, three were with Eliane and two were with her brother-in-law William.   Both of my trips with William involved an hour or more each way in the car, plus time exploring without a third-party guide – that is to say, William was stuck with my massacring of French for several hours straight each of those days.   And while he is in his mid-20s, and my mid-20s are far in the rétroviseur, comme on dit, William was very gracious and easy to talk to about lots of subjects, so I got lots of speaking practice and spent two great afternoons with him. 

On the days when it wasn’t too late after the afternoon trip, I took two beautiful walks near Eliane’s house, once walking down the main road and turning right along a river, and the other turning left, along a narrow paved road through vineyards and fields, dormant and planted.

Highly recommended, whatever the season!  Merci Eliane!

It was with some trepidation that my husband and I came to Southern France for a one week French Immersion home stay. What if it was too hard? What if we didn’t like each other?

Of course it is impossible that one would not like Eliane!

And, while it was challenging, wasn’t that why I came?

So, we chose the more complete plan, where 3 meals/day were provided as well as excursions every afternoon.

I must say we were fed very well! Eliane is an excellent cook and the homemade lunches and dinners were wonderful, especially after a morning of learning or an afternoon of exploring.

The apartment was very nice with a comfortable bed. We had everything we needed.

Eliane’s family includes her partner, Benjamin, who also took us on tours, her brother-in-law, William, who is becoming part of the business and the adorable Elena who is a little over 2. Along with the dog, Okami, we felt welcomed into this lovely family.

So, the French? Eliane met me at my level and we worked on parts that were hardest for me.

I have never felt comfortable speaking French, but soon found I could carry a on conversation with her gentle corrections. Eliane was very patient with me as I sometimes stumbled or had to have her repeat a sentence over and over.

I feel like I am ready to take the next step toward fluency after a week with Eliane.

I could not have asked for a better experience!

Merci, Eliane!

I have had a great week with Eliane. Excellent teacher, great cook with a very friendly and welcoming family.

Eliane is very skilled at focusing her teaching on the individual student’s learning needs. This means I have been able to concentrate on my areas of weakness in French and my confidence has grown considerably.

Away from the classroom I thoroughly enjoyed the excursions she took me on to local tourist attractions such as the caverns at Limousis which are incredible.

Also during these visits I had ample opportunity to continue practicing my French.

In short, top-quality teaching and top-quality hospitality. I hope to return one day.

I read every one of Eliane’s reviews before I committed to spending a week with her. I can tell you that my experience with her and her family is 100% consistent with all of the reviews. 

I must add that Eliane is quite versatile, flexible, and ultra responsive to one’s own objectives.  She is a dynamo and is super-attuned to one’s goals.

Notably, she has mastered English so she knows what we are up against as English-speakers in developing our proficiency in French.  In my case, I sought to participate in the mundane chores and errands supporting her household because I gain perspective from those daily interactions and experiences, and I learn how transactions are handled linguistically. 

Eliane supported and fueled my confidence building in spoken French, and arranged a private wine-tasting, and she expertly guided me through the medieval cite of Carcassonne. 

During my week with Eliane I tangibly expanded my language proficiency and cultural awareness.  I also availed myself of the pastoral charms by borrowing a bike and riding along the Canal du Midi into Carcassonne. 

I will treasure my time with Eliane and her family.

It’s early Friday afternoon and I am nearing the end of my stay with Eliane and her family in Pezens, France. It has been a wonderful week filled with lots of language practice, beautiful scenery, and great food. Most importantly, however, is the gracious and friendly manner in which Eliane welcomed me into her home. The arrangement of students having the lower floor to themselves and Eliane and her family upstairs allows everyone to have their own space and be comfortable.

Each morning we talk (en Français) while enjoying coffee and breakfast. She gently guides my learning and explains fully the areas that give me trouble. We focus on conversation and pronunciation as was my request, with necessary grammar thrown in when needed. Her husband Benjamin and his younger brother William are there occasionally and will join in as well.

Eliane is also a wonderful cook. Our lunch each day is a home cooked meal with other members of the family joining us as their schedules allow. Dinner is on my own each evening. There is a beautiful restaurant just up the road for those who desire some haute cuisine and plenty of excellent restaurant choices in nearby Carcassonne. Don’t miss the cassoulet at Brassiere de 4 Temps! A couple evenings I was fine with a light dinner of cheeses and meats from the local supermarket, with local wine of course.

Two highlights of my stay were the wine tasting at the local winery and an afternoon strolling the cobblestone streets of Carcassonne with Eliane and sweet Elena.

All in all, I couldn’t have imagined a better environment for improving my French and discovering the joie de vie of this area.

My immersion week at Eliane’s was great from both a French language and cultural perspective. Eliane met me at my language level and expanded my comprehension and speaking abilities by engaging in a wide range of conversation from daily and family life to complex discussions about legal and taxation systems. She was very flexible, our lessons could be at home, on a walk, or doing daily tasks. Our afternoon adventures were great fun and continued my language learning.

The apartment is very comfortable and furnished with everything you need. I was also able to work remotely in the evenings without issue. Breakfast was great and the lunches were impressive, full meals. The family was often at meals as well and are very welcoming.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Eliane and her family and will come back again without hesitation.

My second immersion stay with Eliane was great ! Looking forward to the next one !

Vous me manquez tous déjà ! Merci pour ces supers moments avec toi !

I’ve just gotten back from a week homestay with Éliane and family and couldn’t be more satisfied. I chose Option 1, which was 3 hours of lessons per day (Monday through Friday) and two afternoon excursions. In addition, Option 1 included breakfast and lunch with Éliane, with an opportunity for more conversation during mealtimes. We had agreed, going into that week, that the main focus would be French conversation; Éliane made clear that she can tailor her courses to the perceived need and the preference of her students . I loved having the opportunity for so much French conversation. Éliane is a patient teacher, humble, and very genuine. Not least, she’s a skillful teacher who will not only guide your steps, but also make you feel very comfortable. It was a joy to meet the rest of the family; the accommodations were comfortable; and I got to discover Carcassonne and its environs. My only regret is that the week went by too fast! Thank you sincerely, Éliane, for having welcomed me into your home ; for having made me feel so comfortable ; and for having guided my progress (with a hand as gentle as it was skillful) towards the goals I had assigned for myself.

Traduction de Nicholas en français : 

Je viens d’effectuer un séjour linguistique d’une semaine chez Éliane et sa famille, dont je suis bien content. J’avais choisi ce qu’on appelle « la première option,” celle qui comprenait trois heures de leçons quotidiennement (soit du lundi au vendredi) et, de surcroît , deux excursions spéciales pendant l’après-midi. Le fait d’avoir sélectionné cette première option m’avait aussi donné droit à deux repas par jour auprès d’ Éliane, pendant lesquels l’on pouvait continuer à causer ensemble à table . C’était convenu en avance que, pendant cette semaine, on se focaliserait principalement sur la conversation — c’est-à-dire sur la compréhension et l’expression orale. Cependant, Éliane m’avait expliqué que, effectivement, c’est toujours à l’étudiant de lui faire savoir les compétences précises auxquelles l’on voudrait se consacrer. Moi, j’ai adoré l’opportunité d’avoir eu tellement d’occasion de m’exercer à l’oral. Éliane, elle, dégageait de la patience, de l’humilité, et était très « authentique « , sincère, en tant qu’individu. En plus, c’est une enseignante très habile qui guidera vos pas, tout en tenant à ce que vous vous sentiez encouragé et à l’aise. J’étais ravi d’avoir fait la connaissaunce du reste de sa famille à elle (tous étaient des gens délicieux); les accommodations qu’on m’a offertes étaient bien confortables ; et j’ai aussi profité d’une découverte de Carcassonne et de ses alentours. Mon seul regret — seul « bémol, » comme le diraient les francophones — était que cette semaine-là se soit passée beaucoup trop vite. Je te remercie, Éliane, de m’avoir accueilli si chaleureusement à ton chez toi; de m’avoir rendu tellement à l’aise ; d’avoir guidé mes progrès — aussi gentiment qu’habilement — par rapport aux objectifs que je m’étais fixés. Mille remerciements.

I have just spent 2 amazing weeks with Éliane and her delightful family, at their beautiful house in Pezens. 

Éliane provides 2 choices for her students, and I went for Option 2, so enjoyed full board and lots of trips. It worked really well for me!

I wanted to take a French immersion course in France, to improve my conversation skills and my understanding of the spoken language.

This has been one of the best experiences of my life. Éliane is so clever and so kind – a truly excellent teacher and a wonderful companion. It has been a real treat to get to know her and her family,  to eat and chat with them, and to visit plenty of charming places in the local area with them. So much more than I expected!

I’ve felt relaxed and comfortable in the private accommodation downstairs, and had plenty of time to read French books and watch French TV. 

There’s a little shop nearby, a boulangerie, a pharmacy – everything you need is a short stroll away. 

I highly recommend this whole experience, whatever your level of French.

Thank you so very much, Éliane, for everything!

Xx

My week with Éliane and her family in Pezens was the highlight of my entire four weeks in Europe! It was such an honor to be welcomed into her home! Had Option 2 been available when I booked with Éliane I would have jumped at the chance to spend more time with her. The apartment is very comfortable, private, and spacious and I thoroughly enjoyed our outings to the winery of Pennautier and village of Montolieu. I also greatly enjoyed the flexibility to cook in a well-equipped kitchen – and the many pleasures of seeking out French ingredients like a local. I also highly recommend the walk/bike trail along the Canal du Midi between Pezens and Carcassonne for quiet beauty and thinking time.

Éliane is an outstanding teacher, gracious host – and an excellent cook! She met me where I was – on a good day level B2 – and in addition to speaking/oral comprehension work, some of my favorite lessons involved phonetics and how to actually make French words “sound” French when spoken by me. 😀

She has a remarkable ability to take complex/advanced grammatical rules I have always struggled with and simplify them into easy to digest principles. She also provided me with excellent resources and notes to take home. 

Perhaps one of Éliane’s greatest strengths when working with me was putting me at ease (not an easy thing to do) with patience and a sense of humor that is infectious. When I returned to London I could still hear her as I was still speaking French in my head! She also accomplished something I never thought I would ever see … I became comfortable calling a taxi on the telephone and riding French trains without panicking! I left not only with a newfound confidence in my French but more importantly renewed self-confidence. Can’t wait to return!

When I told friends and family that I was going to spend a week in an immersion program in France with a French teacher and her family, many asked if I wasn’t afraid to stay with someone I didn’t know. I told them that only someone with a warm and generous heart would choose to open her home and share her life and family with students from around the globe. I was not mistaken. Eliane is kind and welcoming and immediately put me at ease even though I am not confident speaking French.
My goal was to spend the week practicing conversation, and that is how we passed the time. We spent long mornings at the table sharing stories over coffee and croissants, and some days we continued our conversations while walking along the Canal du Midi or a nearby lake. As the week went on, speaking French became easier, and I was pleased to find that I understood everything.
Practicing your French language skills in a home stay in France is truly the best way to improve! My only regret is that I only spent a week- the time passed too quickly!
I enjoyed getting to know Eliane‘s family: her partner Benjamin who was so welcoming , her brother-in-law William who was so kind to give me rides, adorable Elena who was always content, and Okami- the dog, who would gaze at me with hopeful eyes during each meal.
The meals were delicious and the conversation flowed easily. Eliane is skilled at asking questions and sharing stories about her life. She also took the time to get me to and from the airport,  and often would drop me off in Carcassonne in the afternoons during my free time.
I loved exploring Carcassonne on my own, both La Bastide with its shops, cafés, art museum, and cathedral and especially La Cité Médiévale with it’s winding streets and amazing château and ramparts. I enjoyed shopping in the boutiques and eating ice cream there on more than one occasion!
I had an excursion with Eliane to the Château where she explained everything like an expert guide. I also enjoyed a winery tour and tasting with her which was a pleasant evening full of laughter.
The student apartment was spacious and each evening I was very comfortable there in my home away from home.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience that I would definitely recommend. I am very grateful to Eliane and her family for sharing their life with me for the week in such a welcoming manner, and I appreciate Eliane for helping me gain confidence speaking French.
Merci mille fois!!

Lennart : 
Thank you for the time with you and your family. Thank you for hosting me and my wife in your home. You had the patience to help me with my French. Previous group courses in France have not made me advance in being able to form my own French phrases. You had the patience to help me and to find the words needed to form a sentence. Thank you for all the service and all the good food. My wife and I really felt at home. 

Siv : 
Ton concept, ton accueil d’étudiants dans ta maison et dans ta famille est très réussi. Pour moi et je pense aussi pour mon mari la semaine dernière à Pezens était un cadeau qui vaut plus que bien d’autres choses.Merci Éliane !Mon cœur a parlé.

I’ve taken many French classes over several years. Although I’ve made progress (especially in reading and writing), I was frustrated at my inability to have meaningful conversations beyond the rudimentary level.
Friends who have achieved fluency in French have always advised me to try a good immersion program. Unfortunately, I didn’t heed their suggestion until last week. But now that I have, I’m convinced it’s the best way to achieving real proficiency.
The key is finding a good program and Eliane’s is absolutely great. In addition to 3 hours of daily private lessons tailored to your language goals and needs, during most days you’re involved in the daily routine of her lovely, warm, and welcoming family. This isn’t just learning textbook French; it’s all about applying it—continually, exclusively, and naturally.
The comfortable, private, and spacious accommodations were another big plus. I enjoyed the breakfasts and lunches so much, I decided to add dinners as well. The almost daily excursions to explore this beautiful region of France enriched my understanding of the culture while providing opportunities to speak with many locals.
Now that I’m home, I’ll continue with conventional classes—but with a noticeable improvement in my ability and confidence. 
Un grand merci, Eliane! J’espère revenir une autre semaine l’année prochaine.

J’ai passé une bonne semaine avec Eliane et sa famille. C’était une super expérience et mon français s’est beaucoup amélioré.Les choses qui me troublaient avant ma visite, par exemple les pronoms relatifs, sont maintenant tellement claires. Eliane est une enseignante talentueuse. 
Elle était gentille et patiente avec moi quand j’ai plusieurs fois oublié les règles de grammaire. Merci beaucoup Eliane j’ai repris confiance en moi.

Translation:

I spent a lovely week with Eliane and her family. It was a great experience and my French has greatly improved. The things that worried me before my visit for example relative pronouns are now much clearer. Eliane is a very talented teacher. She was kind and patient with me when I forgot the rules of grammar several times. Thanks Eliane my confidence is restored. 

Loretta 

We just spent two wonderful weeks with Eliane and her lovely family. We had our own apartment and were treated as honored guests. She served a wonderful breakfast each morning and lunch was practically a three-course dinner.  Our favorite town to visit was Carcassone, a medieval village with an amazing history, but Eliane drove us someplace new every day, and always with grace and humor.  Her husband even picked us up from a restaurant one night in what was almost a hurricane. As I know almost no French I was intimidated at the thought of speaking incorrectly but Eliane is gentle and I never felt pressured; my experience was so much more pleasant than I hoped.  If you’re interested in learning French you can find no teacher as kind and patient as Eliane. Both my husband and I recommend Eliane very highly.  She is a treasure.  Bob and Dolores Soffientini.