French Immersion Homestay At Teacher’s In Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques

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!

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.  

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 !

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

If you are considering an immersion course to improve your French, stop right here and sign up with French Bubble Immersion.  I cannot imagine a better immersion course.  I spent a week with Delphine in mid-September of this year and had a fantastic time and learned a great deal.  My only regret is that I did not schedule a longer stay.  For those of you who may be wondering why I am writing a review in English and not in French after an immersion course, not to worry, I am writing this in English so that beginners or others who are just starting their French journey will be able to fully understand and not miss anything.  However, if you spend a week (or more) with Delphine your French skills will be greatly improved no matter your level.  

Delphine is a fantastic teacher.  You can tell she really enjoys teaching French and exposing students not just to the language but the culture.  There are many adequate teachers but the really good ones, like Delphine, know how to connect with the student and tailor the lessons and interactions accordingly.  Just tell her what you want to work on or what concerns you have and she will get to work and set up a program to help you.

If you are like me you may be concerned about certain things such as:  whether you will be comfortable in the student apartment; whether you will get along with Delphine; whether the lessons will be too hard or uninteresting; whether  you will have enough time alone or maybe too much time on your own.  Rest assured, you have nothing to worry about.  Delphine and her partner, Adrien, are very warm, charming and fun to be around.  The apartment is very comfortable and located in a quiet building in a lovely calm neighborhood that is only a short walk from the city center of Pau.  Pau is a great city, the climate is nearly perfect, it is big enough to be interesting but small enough to be accessible and friendly.  The apartment is two floors above Delphine and Adrien’s, so it is very convenient to meet for lessons or excursions, but being a separate apartment, you will have your own space to relax when you need it.  As far as the level of the lessons or their form, that is entirely up to you and Delphine.  She is very intuitive and will adapt the lessons and interactions so that you are comfortable.   

Make sure you take advantage of one or more of the excursions.  These are great opportunities to speak French, see something new and interesting and just have fun.  We went to the mountains, and the local caves, both of which were fantastic.  As an added bonus, Delphine’s mother joined us for the excursion to the ski/mountain resort of Artouste.  As you can see, Delphine does not treat you just as a student but really endeavors to make you feel at home and part of the family.    

If you have any questions or would like and further information, please contact me at KLR500@gmail.com.

After two weeks of immersion with Delphine and Adrien, I would highly recommend French Bubble to anyone looking to very quickly grow in their aptitude for French and their ability to use the language in everyday situations. I entered the program as an A2 beginner, having taken some classes in high school and dabbling a bit since then; I was very pleasantly surprised when after only a few days I was more comfortable speaking to native French people and in forming full thoughts than I had ever been before. The program is ideal for practical understanding of the French language and common-sense application of both simple and more complex grammatical concepts. Whether you are just beginning as I was or are more advanced, I am sure you will not regret the decision to try immersion with French Bubble. And aside from the language aspect, my time with Delphine and Adrien was fantastic! From the very beginning Delphine was accommodating of my schedule and the things I wanted to do while in Pau, and she went out of her way many times to ensure that my stay and experience were overwhelmingly positive. From the excursions to the beaches of Biarritz and Hossegor to the weekend seeing Medieval castles around Carcassonne and the constant trying of world-class foods and wines, I cannot recommend her enough to anyone looking for a unique and wonderfully fulfilling time in France!

An incredible twelve days in the magical town of Pau in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains.

Delphine and Adrien were friendly hosts and I felt welcome and looked after throughout my stay.

Delphine is an excellent teacher and the morning lessons were adapted to my needs. We spoke only French and engaged many interesting conversations. I’ve realised after my stay that my level of comprehension and spoken French has improved considerably.

The separate appartment was well-equipped and comfortable.

Delphine suggested many activities on offer in the town and area (including eating out). I picked the ones of interest to me such as visiting the thermal baths, cycling along the river and visiting the largest permanent “brocante” in France. I would highly recommend the extra excursion to the mountains and beach. Delphine included me as a member of the family and I even made a basque cake with her mother-in-law !

I would highly recommend a stay at Delphine’s to learn French, whatever level you are, as well as getting to know this special part of France.