French Immersion Homestay At Camille's In Paimpol - Bretagne

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!

I’ve just finished my immersion week at Camille’s house at Paimpol, Bretagne. I was a little apprehensive, never having done anything like this before, and I started learning French just one year ago, but because I speak Spanish, I have quite good comprehension. Camille was able to adapt her method perfectly to my needs. After a week, I felt more confident about my French spoken skills, and Camille gave me a lot of advice about how to continue with my journey with her French audiobook method.

Add to these benefits, I have to mention the many ways in which Camille shared cultural, political, culinary, and personal insights while having breakfast, driving, or walking her dog Vinky
and exploring the incredible Bretagne.

Somehow, Camille made it all look easy: ce n’est pas la mer à boire….but to me, it seems indeed an ocean! And the caliber of her work and teaching will be an enduring motivation for me to continue learning.

Bretagne is a beautiful part of France. Camille’s house is just a few meters of the sea. The house is beautifully decorated and is very warm (I stayed in November). I had my room with a private bathroom and toilet room and the bed was so comfortable!

Merci Beaucoup Camille ! À bientôt !

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!

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!

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.

I had a very enjoyable week while Marilynn worked with you on her French conversation. The walks around Paimpol are lovely, I do need to be near water and the local walks were perfect for that. It was nice to take Vinky out for a walk around the local area as everything was within easy distance of your home.

The town centre is very attractive and it was lovely to see all the small independent shops. Something sadly missing in the UK now. The harbour area was lovely and was very similar to our harbour here in Devon with a variety of cafes, restaurants and very importantly, ice cream parlours!

Our private, two bedroom suite was comfortable and convenient with our own bathroom and toilet. A nice quiet place to retire to for some ‘me time’ or a quick nap if needed.

I thought your covered garden area was a lovely space to do yoga with fresh air and greenery around me. Very calming.

Very best wishes to you and Jean Loup. It was lovely to meet both of you and a big thank you to Jean Loup for inviting us to his apartment for our ‘picnic’ which was delicious. I found it very enjoyable preparing food with you in your lovely kitchen and trying some of the local delicacies, some of which we had not heard of before.

I loved the local food market, it was a real eye opener. The produce was fabulous and could have tried everything there.

I arrived tired and late due to train delays but from the moment Camille met me at the train station in Paimpol she was a welcoming and gracious host. She immediately whisked me off for a lovely, relaxing picnic by the sea. Her home in the heart of Paimpol and 5 minutes walk from the sea is charming and my room and bed were very comfortable.
Every morning we had formal lessons with tours and treats later in the day. These included a trip to Pontrieux, an outing to see improvised theatre, a swim in the sea, beautiful walks and meals out – all the time chatting in French. By the end of each day I was ready for bed.

As a teacher Camille is knowledgeable and patient. She will adapt to your needs and level and encourage you to push yourself out of your comfort zone. As well one to one time with Camille I had lots of opportunities to talk to native French speakers

I am not a big dog lover but Vinky, Camille’s Havanese puppy, is a delight. His enthusiastic greeting every morning was a joyous start to the day. You can’t do anything but respond positively to his joy of being alive.

My nephew and I had an amazing French language immersion experience with Camille. From the moment we arrived at the train station in Paimpol, Camille was the ultimate host. She made sure we were comfortable and at ease while welcoming us to her beautiful home and village. My nephew and I have differing levels of French language fluency and Camille was able to adjust to our needs for both communication and instruction.

We enjoyed fabulous tours of Paimpol and the surrounding areas. We learned about the seafaring culture of Bretagne and the rich history of its inhabitants. We had lots of fun visiting the Tuesday morning market in Paimpol and savoring lots of local cuisine.

Perhaps our cutest tour guide was the amazing Vinky, Camille’s Havanese puppy! He is the gentlest sweetest puppy you will ever meet. And it was such a treat to spend some time with Camille’s daughter, Leyla, who was home for her summer break from university.

I had one of the best weeks of my life accompanying my husband on a french immersion at Camille’s French Today Experiences.

Words cannot express how welcoming it was at Camille’s home. Her beautiful and artful decor, our private comfortable 2 bedroom , bathroom and water closet suite and the fabulous experiences she offered and created for us.

She also arranged may English speaking outings for me. I was able to spend 3 separate times with her daughter being Paimpol all the while having my husband Leo immersed in French lessons and constant conversation with Camille and her friend Jean-Loup.

Everyday brought new adventures. Going to the town market, cooking at home, having many extravagant picnics, taking a ferry to the island of Béhat for lunch, walking, swimming, napping, and finishing with a Prosecco toast and snacks.

I don’t have enough words to express how delightful, meaningful, wonderful this week was. And to convince you to do it, except to say I wouldn’t miss this for the world if I were you. We will be returning soon.

Life is wonderful with Camille. Chose to experience it for yourself. You won’t regret it.

My immersion with Camille in Paimpol was both delightful and instructive. Despite my best efforts, my French-speaking skills had remained stagnant for 60 years. However, the immersion with Camille marked a true breakthrough for me. My wife, Jillene, who doesn’t speak French (having been an exchange student in Austria), accompanied me. Camille seamlessly integrated her into the immersion.

Camille’s teaching method, using the À Moi Paris program, is nothing short of brilliant. Each day, after a delightful breakfast around 9 AM, we studied together for two hours. Camille’s guidance and teaching made a significant difference in advancing my French. After a break, we would meet for lunch, which was always excellent.

Each day included an excursion: we walked to the beach for picnics and took an unforgettable trip to Béhat, the island of flowers. There, we toured, hiked, napped in a field, swam in the bay, and ended the day with cocktails outdoors. Throughout the day, while living and speaking French, Camille would note down any words I didn’t know on her phone. Each night, she texted me these words for vocabulary building. This personalized vocabulary list, created from our daily experiences, was invaluable and could only have been achieved through this immersion.

One highlight of our stay was the first day, which coincided with July 14th (known as Bastille Day in the U.S.). We witnessed a lively Brittany band playing traditional pipes and marching in slow motion. As an amateur musician, I was in awe of their skill. Later that evening, we danced to vibrant island music performed by a top-notch band, and the night concluded with fireworks.

Throughout each day, I spoke French with Camille and her friends, especially Jean-Loup, one of the most interesting, kind, and gentle men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
We had countless enjoyable moments with Camille and Jean-Loup. Additionally, we spent an amazing day with a fantastic guide who showed us La Roche Jagu, a stunning 15th-century fortified house located in Ploëzal, Brittany.

I must mention that Vincky is the most adorable, well-behaved little dog with a truly angelic nature.

We loved the experience so much that we’ve planned a 2-week immersion with her in Tenerife at the end of March 2025.

I had a very enjoyable and instructive Homestay with Camille in Paimpol. As my French was already reasonably advanced in terms of grammar and vocabulary the emphasis throughout was on the spoken word.

Having only made one fleeting visit to Britanny previously, I much appreciated the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture of the region. I did so with the assistance of extremely well-informed guides and through contact with friends that Camille introduced me to.

I particularly enjoyed a tour with a very entertaining local guide who knew all that was to be known about the Paimpol fishing industry. With her I was able to study the local statues and memorials commemorating the lucrative but hazardous exploits of Paimpol fisherfolk in Icelandic water.

I also appreciated the time Camille and I spent harvesting clams with her engaging friend Dominique.

My introduction to local history also included the viewing of a fascinating film featuring the part played by the local Resistance in the exfiltration of downed Allied aviators. A visit to the beach where the handover to the Royal Navy took place under the noses of the Germans had particular resonance for me as a student of military history.

My thanks to Camille for everything she did to make my stay enjoyable (including cooking some very tasty meals) and to her friend Jean-Loup who provided mobility with his Range Rover as well as much interesting conversation.

I am a beginning French student – I have never spoken French or taken a French class.  My wife, who speaks French very well, was going on a one-week immersion to Paimpol to study with Camille of “My French Friend.”  She invited me to go with her, but I was hesitant because I did not speak French.  I decided to go anyway.  What a great decision that was!

Camille spent one solid hour with me each morning, and one solid hour with my wife.  Our lessons were geared to our own individual level of knowledge and never overlapped.  I felt so comfortable with the basic learning and the French learning method Camille used.   I had fun with the lessons and couldn’t believe the French words were coming from MY mouth.

After morning lessons, and a delicious lunch made by Camille, we all visited many beautiful sites in Paimpol, had picnics, and spoke as friends. Camille would converse in French at my wife’s level and Camille would translate to English for me.  I never felt isolated or left out.  We walked several times to beautiful beaches and took pictures of the marvelous scenery.  I felt she had planned these walks specifically for me since I am an amateur photographer.  We visited a deserted Abbey, ate at wonderful restaurants, and explored the town market.  I felt very much at home.

If you’ve ever considered a French language immersion, this is the one to select.

C’est magnifique!

I was so excited to return this year for my second immersion with Camille of My French Friend! My stay with her last year was so wonderful that when I read she was offering immersions again this year I wrote immediately with a great big “YES! I want to come again!” And although I wouldn’t have thought it possible, this year’s trip was even more wonderful.

Camille is a gifted teacher and has a knack for tailoring lessons to each student individually rather than the one-size-fits-all approach from some other immersive experiences. Each lesson was designed specifically for me, for my level, my interests, and with an understanding of how I learn best. She is patient beyond words, and best of all, we had so much FUN together, laughing our way through even the most difficult grammar instruction- a particular challenge of mine.

All that plus a comfortable and beautiful home to live in, delicious, healthy food (again, tailored to my own specific tastes) and fabulous excursions and day trips- and the breathtaking scenery of Paimpol and Brittany.

Need I say more? Run don’t walk to study in this fabulous immersion with Camille.

I wonder… is it too early to apply for next summer?