French Speaking Switzerland Immersion Homestay At Teacher’s

I can’t say enough good things about my stay with Raymonde! I loved absolutely everything about my immersion experience here. Raymonde is a warm, caring, fun person who takes great care of her students. She is very generous with her time—she took us to the train station whenever we needed to be there, she took us on wonderful excursions, she cooked for us, and she was always available to help us with any small concern or detail at all. She is so kind and always has a smile on her face, and is always checking with her students to make sure we are doing things we like to do and that we feel comfortable and welcome. She cooked amazing meals when we were with her. She hiked with us up a mountain to a restaurant where we ate fondue, she drove us to Montreux and showed us many other beautiful places along the way. Having a knowledgeable local to show us everything is priceless. There is no way a normal tourist would be able to have the same wonderful experience as we had with Raymonde. Her partner Michel is also a very kind and fun person—we were always laughing with him as he sang, visited with us, and had meals with us. They live in a beautiful home in a very charming village!

I can think of no other way to be able to see this area of Switzerland, while at the same time having your own private French tutor who is willing to create your own personal curriculum or study exactly what you want to study and the method in which you feel most comfortable. I am leaving here very grateful and thrilled about this amazing experience! Not only did I practice and improve my French, I had a wonderful person watching over me, spending time with me, teaching me, and ensuring that I experienced the best this area has to offer. This immersion is an experience I will remember with great joy. Raymonde is the best, and I hope I will be able to repeat this experience again! I will miss her!
Kristi

I joined my niece as the second on the party. I have some French comprehension, and appreciated the opportunity to listen and enjoy the conversations. I got to enjoy the amazing home, company, food, excursions and ambiance. Sitting and looking out the window at the bucolic view, listening to the birds and church bells was so relaxing and peaceful. I am so happy to have the chance and good fortune to visit this beautiful region of Switzerland. Raymonde provided a lovely and unforgettable experience. I really did not want to live. Thank you Raymonde.

Lynn ( Lily) Carol

My wife and I really enjoyed our stay with Raymonde. She and her husband were wonderful hosts. The immersion really helped our speaking and listening skills and Raymonde introduced us to some great resources to continue our French learning. We really enjoyed our field trip to Lausanne and the Olympic Museum. In addition, Raymonde prepared lovely meals and I loved being able to work with her in the kitchen. Her passion for local and organic foods was evident, and the breads and cheeses were “délicieux”!

We found Gingins to be an amazing little Swiss village, especially for those who love the outdoors, with all of the walking, hiking, biking, and skiing possibilities right there. We were also fortunate to be able to take in a couple of small events and experience a bit of the local community. We wished we could have stayed longer!

– Mike

I have just spent a few blissful days at Raymonde’s beautiful home in Switzerland. The opportunity to immerse myself in the French language and Swiss culture was an unforgettable experience. Raymonde is a wonderful host and teacher, and made me feel very welcome. My French has improved immensely in the short time I stayed with her and I am more aware of the areas I need to focus on. If you want to improve your French while also having fun and exploring beautiful Switzerland then the immersion homestay chez Raymonde is perfect.

I recently had a weekend immersion with Raymonde and it was absolutely wonderful. I felt very welcome in her home which makes for an excellent learning environment.My primary goal was conversation practice and I definitely felt that I had improved by the end of the weekend.Raymonde has a real passion for what she does and for people, therefore I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to improve their French and experience a little bit of Swiss life.

What an enormous pleasure it was to return to Europe for my long-awaited, Covid-postponed séjour d’immersion chez Raymonde in Switzerland. Despite my anxieties about Swiss entry requirements in effect in January 2022, it was quite easy to negotiate the Swiss government site and obtain information regarding entry documents and the Swiss Covid certificate (required for Americans even if fully vaccinated). Here is a link if you are interested (and if there are still Covid requirements in place): www.eda.admin.ch . Choose English from the drop-down list.

Although this was not my first introduction to French Today, it was my first immersion with Raymonde, who had been highly recommended by Camille. My two weeks here have been absolutely wonderful and have exceeded my expectations. Although the weather has not always been magnifique (it was winter, après tout),  there were many gorgeous days. We took daily walks around Gingins, the village where Raymonde lives, had an excursion to La Givrine for snow shoeing, enjoyed a perfect day of exploring in Lausanne, took a bike trip to Divonne, France for a couscous lunch, and made trips further afield to the impossibly beautiful towns of Montreux et Vevey. It seemed as if at every turn there was yet another awe-inspiring vista as Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) and the Alps form a most dramatic backdrop for this region avec les vues à couper le souffle.

Raymonde is an excellent and intuitive teacher. She quickly assessed my weaknesses and we agreed that she would continually correct my verbal mistakes, as I have many ingrained bad habits. Eager to advance my conversational skills, I found her willingness to patiently work with me in this manner invaluable. She also challenged my oral comprehension with recordings and television programs, followed by discussions where I was able to respond to questions and summarize what I had heard. At her urging I read a novel (La Soupe à La Grenade), which I then described to her. Every day was filled with a variety of activities, and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet Raymonde’s friends and her 3 charming adult sons. We cooked together most days, which is an excellent way to learn some new vocabulary. Bref, the two weeks flew past and I feel that Raymonde presented me with a great mix of techniques and challenges. I’m already planning a return visit in the fall when we can bike and hike. Mille mercis Raymonde!

My 27-year-old daughter and I spent a lovely week improving our French with Raymonde  in September 2021, and we highly recommend an immersion stay with her in Gingins. She is a warm and welcoming hostess as well as an astute « prof ». In addition to improving our French we had a lot of fun!Fresh flowers greeted us in our large and comfortable bedrooms, and Raymonde’s house is pretty and bright. We enjoyed helping in the kitchen (all the while speaking French) and we especially enjoyed eating Raymonde’s beautiful, fresh and healthy meals. I learned how to make a « tarte tatin express » — simplified and delicious!Raymonde listened to us speaking and developed lessons that were perfect for working on our weak spots. She corrects gently and is always encouraging, which I am sure is very hard work, particularly because she spends so much time with her students.We went hiking amid the beautiful Swiss scenery and admired the cows along the way,then enjoyed a fondue lunch in the mountains. On another beautiful afternoon we swam in Lake Geneva. We visited the local markets for perfect produce, and went to the other end of Lake Geneva to visit the Charlie Chaplin Museum and see the gorgeous vineyard terraces along the way. We stayed six days but I think 10 days would be ideal — I’m keeping my fingers crossed for next year!

« Where do I even start! – My experience with Raymonde was incredible. As soon as I met her she made me feel welcome in Switzerland and in her home. She goes above and beyond as a host as well as a teacher. Our week together flew by so quickly and we laughed together, cooked, went swimming, biking and so much more. I became less shy speaking French with her and wasn’t afraid of making mistakes or sounding silly. Her and Michel were so gracious and introduced me to some of their friends and family, who were also incredibly welcoming. The surrounding area of their house is super beautiful and it’s also very easy to get around by the bus/train that’s there. Raymonde and Michel are incredibly kind and sweet people, anybody who meets them are so lucky! I’m excited to come back someday soon!:)) »

Ich war eine Woche in Gingins bei Raymonde. Ich hatte sehr Glück mit dem Wetter. Es war sehr schön und warm, dies ermöglichte uns vieles draussen zu unternehmen. Es war eine unbeschreiblich grossartige Zeit. Wir haben viele Ausflüge zusammen gemacht, gekocht und vieles weiteres. Zusammen besuchten wir Lausanne, fuhren mit dem Schiff nach Genf und dort sind wir auf den Mini-Train, welcher uns viele Sehenswürdigkeiten in Genf zeigte. Wir waren auch im See schwimmen und sie zeigte mir wie man ihren geliebten Tarte Tartine bäckt. Der Sprachaufenthalt war sehr abwechslungsreich verglichen zu meinem normalen Lernstil. Durch diesen Aufenthalt konnte ich nicht nur meine Kenntnisse bezüglich Französisch verbessern, sondern lernte auch die Westschweiz bessere kennen. Diese Zeit werde ich niemals vergessen!!

I had an amazing time staying with Raymonde and her partner Michel for ten days. I was nervous before arriving, but they are both very warm, friendly people who made me feel welcome right away. I’m a bit shy, but I quickly felt comfortable conversing with Raymonde. We discussed a wide variety of subjects and the conversations flowed quite naturally. Although it was a bit of an adjustment coming into an immersion environment, I greatly appreciated all the opportunities to practice speaking throughout the day. It really helped me feel more comfortable and build confidence in my speaking abilities.The structured lessons were also excellent. Focusing for long periods of time can be difficult for me, but I was amazed at how quickly time passed and how much I learned each morning. She was patient and positive and I felt challenged but never overwhelmed. Her teaching style is flexible and she always had several options. Some of the lesson activities included listening to/reading and discussing short articles, grammar exercises, listening to songs/studying the lyrics and taking walks in the countryside while practicing conversation. She was perceptive and easily adapted her teaching to my needs.One of the best parts about my stay was being able to explore many of the stunning places in  the area, both through excursions with Raymonde and independently during my freetime.  My activities with Raymonde included hiking, biking, swimming, and exploring the terraced vineyards of « Le Lavaux » and some of the towns nearby. There were even a couple bonus outings to explore the nearby town of Nyon and go to a cute fondue restaurant in the Jura mountains. During my free time, I was able to explore the surrounding countryside and several nearby cities/towns (Lausanne, Geneva, Yvoire, Gruyères). Raymonde was really great at helping me look up transit schedules and make plans for my free time. Getting around using public transit was super easy and allowed me to explore independently without a car. It was nice to be based in a small village while also having easy access to the entire region. The weather during my stay was a bit rainer than is typical for July, but it was mostly good and I was able to visit all of the places I had planned to go.My overall experience vastly exceeded my expectations and Raymonde went above and beyond to make sure I had the best experience possible. I highly recommend this immersion stay to anyone looking to improve their French while exploring a beautiful part of the world.

I’ve just spent a week “bathed in French” in the west of Switzerland. My French education before had been rather patchy despite having taken French courses in college, attended evening courses, gone on language stays to Paris, and having taken private lessons – and this was a mode of learning which I had wanted to try for a long time. This was a gift to myself because I love languages and because I wanted to improve my French, however, I didn’t have any illusions about becoming perfectly fluent within such a short time.

Raymonde tailored the week to my tastes and needs thanks to a questionnaire which I filled out prior to my stay in addition to the conversations that we had. Every morning I had lessons using different teaching methods. As a language teacher myself, I enjoyed being on the receiving end of such activities and feeling the frustrations but also experiencing the small triumphs that language learners have. My requests were taken seriously, and I was also introduced to songs and materials that I wouldn’t have found by myself.

Not only the lessons but also the excursions and meals were customised to suit my tastes and dietary wishes. Raymonde created vegetarian meals especially for me. She is a good cook with a sense for the aesthetic – the meals were tasty as well as a feast for the eye. In addition, I was accompanied on excursions that were curated for me. I even had the opportunity to try out an e-bike for the first time – C’était chouette!

Gingins and the beautiful region between Geneva and Lausanne offers a seemingly endless range of activities to enjoy. There are museums, year-round sport and outdoor activities, cultural events, cafés, and restaurants and on and on. I enjoyed my visit to the national museum in Prangins and to the castle gardens in Vullierens but also to the lakeside in Rolle.

Raymonde’s home is located in the middle of the village in a green and peaceful spot. It is decorated with attention to detail and style. My room with an en suite bathroom was comfortable and cosy. I felt very much at home there.

I’m looking forward to future stays. Thanks for everything, Raymonde.

I spent a week in June 2021 in a French immersion stay with Raymonde and her partner Michel at her house in the countryside near Nyon.

I had spent 9 months as a student in Paris a long time ago and, after retiring, I  wanted to renew my acquaintance with the French language. There are a great many sites offering immersion stays in both France and Switzerland, so it’s easy to be confused with what’s on offer.

I think that if you really want to benefit as much as possible from just one week it’s important to be in a truly immersive environment and to have a certified  language instructor.

It’s not easy and sometimes very tedious to be constantly correcting people. It helps to have someone who’s both certified and experienced teaching in group and individual environments. This is what Raymonde does and has done for many years.

I think that if you are a B1-B2 student and really want to get the most out of your stay you should buy a copy of La Grammaire Française Progressive 4’th Ed beforehand and review the contents.

Sometimes it’s difficult to know what you don’t know. A review ahead of time will  help you to understand where your weak spots lie. Once you’re actually in immersion, Raymonde is very good at adapting to individual needs. 5 stars.

I enjoyed a dreamy ten days in Gingins chez Raymonde—swimming in the lake, biking through picturesque Switzerland/France, visiting bars in the lively cities Lausanne and Genève, and learning and laughing with Raymonde and Michel.

I came primarily to improve my French. Though I had taken some French courses in high school, I had forgotten many of the basics and felt very self-conscious about my prononciation. It was an invaluable experience to wake up each day and speak French with Raymonde—who was very patient and would kindly correct me and explain away my errors—and to engage in intensive study each day. For me, it was important to have grammar lessons each day and to work through exercises 1-on-1, at my own pace. I think it was immensely valuable to have an individualized lesson. In the past, I had learned French in classrooms where it was impossible to tailor the program to my needs and abilities.

In addition to the French speaking and learning opportunities, Raymonde’s house is located in a beautiful area in Switzerland. It was very easy to navigate without a car. I took a train into Genève and Lausanne (beautiful cities overlooking the lake and providing exciting opportunities to practice French with native speakers). Each time Raymonde offered to accompany me and show me specific sights, but also gave me breathing room to enjoy the city on my own.

We took breathtaking bike rides to the lake, and to France. Raymonde has bikes and gear and was pleased to outfit me for the rides. The views were truly unbeatable, the air is pure, and the lake was crystal-clear (I even jumped into the lake for a freezing but refreshing dunk).

Other activities included viewing a film in French with Raymonde, hiking through the snow and eating authentic fondue, enjoying Raymonde’s spectacular cooking, and wine tasting with Raymonde.

The experience transcended my expectations, and I highly recommend this program for any solo/young travellers in particular. (Also, don’t hesitate to enrol because of hesitations about your French ability—the nature of the program is that it is truly customized, and Raymonde provides a safe environment to make mistakes and learn along the way.)

I don’t know how to express what an amazing time I had learning and laughing with Raymonde. She is warm, welcoming, and an extraordinary teacher of the French language.

This was the first immersion program I’ve ever done, and I was a bit hesitant to stay with someone I didn’t know. But I decided that it was worth a shot, and it turned out to be well worth it! Raymonde was always in constant contact before my trip, which helped me feel at ease when I arrived in Geneva. The trains are very simple to learn and there is no need for a car. She was happy to come get me at the station in Nyon and was immediately upbeat and a lovely person to be around.

I spent ten days with Raymonde and Michel in their charming house, surrounded by the picturesque Swiss landscape and enjoying the delicious nourishing food Raymonde prepared. The first week I studied by myself at an intermediate/advanced level, and then I was joined by my boyfriend the last few days. He was just starting to learn French, but he was still able to join on the excursions and be introduced to the French language. Even though the weather was a bit rainy during my time, I was able to appreciate the beauty and serenity of the small village and explore other larger cities nearby. No matter the weather, it is stunning! We are already planning another trip back, but this time in the winter so we can enjoy all the wonderful cold weather activities and see the lovely mountains covered in snow!

Raymonde is able to find what each individual person needs and wants to focus on. We did lessons for a few hours everyday and would also go on excursions during the week. We even learned how to cook a few classic dishes! All in French, of course! I can’t believe how much confidence and progress I have gained within just ten days! Not only are the lessons helpful but she is a lovely person to converse with in general. You are welcomed into her home to be a part of the family, but she also leaves you to your space if you want it. I highly recommend this program, it has far surpassed all of my expectations!

Raymonde and her partner Michel could not have been more welcoming and quickly put me at ease. I had travelled to Raymonde in order to practice and gain confidence in speaking French. The greatest compliment I could give her was when I realised during a delicious home cooked evening meal that I had been speaking French all day! From breakfast through to blueberry tart in the mountains in the afternoon to the relaxed evening supper!

Raymonde is an intuitive and caring teacher and my immersion week with her was educational, inspiring and soulful. I can’t thank her enough and will be returning at the earliest possible opportunity.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my week of total immersion with you. It has completely surpassed my expectations even with the glowing reference I was given by a past student of yours who is a friend of mine from home.

What became immediately apparent to me was that you intended to tailor your instruction to my needs. No one had ever done that for me as I have mostly just been in group classes. You then brought a variety of approaches to our lessons. At times, the emphasis was on grammar points either of your or my choosing complete with examples and exercises to reinforce the lessons. Sometimes we role played in French or listened to short articles of interest always with the idea of practicing oral comprehension. We even listened to French songs and then studied the lyrics.

Besides our actual lesson times, I enjoyed the casual conversation about whatever we were thinking about or doing at the moment. This could have taken place on one of our two delightful excursions or preparing and enjoying a meal together. You know you are truly having an immersion experience when you are learning on the spot! I even came to really appreciate being corrected a lot. Who else would do that for me so tirelessly? It was a gift!

In conclusion, I want to thank you for accepting me into your home and bringing the French language even closer to my heart. J’espère revenir un de ces jours!