French Immersion Homestay At Teacher's In Picardie, France + Pool

I’ve recently returned from a fantastic stay with Chantal who I can wholeheartedly recommend for an immersive French language experience. I haven’t spoken a word of English all week and although I spent all day mixing up my tenses and struggling to find the words I needed at speed, Chantal managed to understand me, gently correct without interrupting the flow of the conversation and speak to me in a way that was extremely clear and easy to understand. With her friendly open nature, we were able to chat about any and all subjects as we drove in the car, walked the dogs or sat around the breakfast table. Where else could you possibly get that level of language exposure, and all while feeling like you were just spending time with a friend? The accommodation was really cosy and great for doing my homework and relaxing in the evening. The meals were delicious and eaten in the good company of Chantal and her very sweet mum Liliane and sometimes her lovely partner Stephane or a couple of friends. Everyone made me very welcome and I’d certainly love to go back again sometime. 

J’ai récemment passé deux merveilleuses semaines à suivre le programme d’immersion française offert par Chantal chez elle à Mouy.  Même si j’avais de bonnes bases en grammaire française, j’avais encore du mal à parler français.  J’y suis allée pour améliorer ma capacité à converser facilement en français tout en découvrant le mode de vie français. Chantal m’a donné ce que je cherchais.
Chantal, son partenaire Stéphane, et sa mère Liliane m’ont accueilli chaleureusement et m’ont fait sentir comme chez moi. J’ai rapidement adopté une routine quotidienne avec Chantal, qui était très sympa et toujours pleine d’énergie. Chaque matin, nous allions à pied à la boulangerie du coin pour acheter des baguettes et des croissants pour le petit-déjeuner. Après le petit-déjeuner, elle me donnait des leçons formelles sur les domaines de la grammaire qu’elle identifiait comme étant mes points faibles. C’était une enseignante méticuleuse et elle s’assurait de répondre à toutes mes questions. Nous allions ensuite déjeuner à côte, chez sa mère. Le déjeuner était un moment fort de la journée. Chantal, une cusinière formidable, réussissait toujours à nous concocter un repas spécial que nous savourions tranquillement. L’après-midi, nous promenions ses deux chiens, Grignote et Loulou, dans la forêt.  Ensuite, soit nous partions en excursion vers des sites historiques, soit je l’accompagnais dans ses courses. Quand le temps le permettait, j’allais rendre visite à sa mère charmante qui me racontait des histoires de sa jeunesse. J’ai également eu la chance d’être invitée à des événements spéciaux avec ses amis, notamment à une fête de la galette du rois et à une journée entre filles à Amiens.
Au cours de ces diverses activités, j’ai eu de nombreuses occasions de parler français sur divers sujets.  Chantal m’écoutait patiemment parler un français approximatif, corrigeait doucement mes fautes de grammaire et de prononciation, et m’apprenait des idiomes et des mots d’argot utilisés par les Français lorsqu’ils parlent entre amis. Stéphane et Liliane ont également fait leur part en partageant avec moi des mots et des phrases couramment utilisés qui me feraient paraître plus français.
Pendant deux semaines, Chantal m’a fait entrer dans sa famille et son quotidien. Non seulement j’ai fait beaucoup de progrès dans l’amelioration de mon français, mais j’ai aussi pu découvrir le mode de vie à la française. J’ai hâte de revenir bientôt.

An immersion class with Chantal is pretty much the perfect French learning experience.  Chantal simply adopts you into her vibrant life all the while improving your French.  You live and work with Chantal of course but there is so much more.  You meet and interact with Chantal’s mother, Stephane, and of course, the two cutest dogs in all of France<g>. Chantal’s knowledge and experience are vast, so she can seamlessly adapt perfectly to your current needs or interests and target just the right approach.  Her excursions let you see and enjoy the history and beauty of the l’Oise area through Chantal’s eyes and they reinforce aspects of the French you are learning.  The accommodations were fabulous with everything you might need.  To top it all off, Chantal is a marvelous cook (see her website for recipes).  This is by far the perfect way to accelerate your current French abilities and it’s so much fun we can’t wait to return.

Thank you for the most wonderful stay at your welcoming home. Everything was perfect. I was amazed how you went out of your way to make my stay enjoyable and comfortable.I look forward to my next immersion and this time I will try to pick up some cooking tips !Merci Chantal !

We, my husband James and I had an incredible stay during our French immersion with Chantal !

The structure of the day was a lovely balance, combining both lessons and practical cultural experiences. Breakfast was a treat with fresh bread Chantal thoughtfully pick up every morning, a small touch that perfectly captured the essence of French culture. After breakfast, we would dive into lessons that were engaging and tailored to our levels and needs.

Lunch was another highlight of our days. Not only did we enjoy a delicious full home cooked meal, we even lend a hand in the kitchen which was also a great opportunity to practice our French in a relaxed setting. Not to mention that Chantal has a remarkable gift in the kitchen.  Every meal is effortlessly cooked, perfectly balanced in French flavor and texture ! 

The afternoons were flexible, with time to relax at our own pace.  Or we appreciated the outings we went on together with Chantal, and her lovely families sometimes. Which granted us a fun, and real-world learning. It was great to use French in the local context, Chantal was always encouraging and patient as we practiced.

In the evenings, the town of Mouy has options for some tasty food, and you never felt isolating, if you wanted to venture out by yourself.  We were very lucky to be invited to an amazing party with Chantal. We participated in an informative workshop, with the wine tasting, charcuterie and cheese. The evening was fantastic, and the warm, welcoming music and atmosphere made the experience extremely enjoyable !

We truly felt that this homestay experience was a perfect balance of learning and cultural immersion. Chantal is an exceptional and wonderful teacher !  She not only helps you improve your French, also allows you to live and breathe the language in a natural and typical way.  We earnestly recommend this program to anyone looking for an authentic and enriching way to learn French. 

Thank you Chantal, for an unforgettable and memorable experience !

Janet & James

This immersion class with Chantal was one of the best experiences of my life.A private lesson with Chantal was priceless with undivided attention.Right after my arrival, classe started the next day. With homeworks and sometimes reports after watching a video or two, I didn’t even feel the jet lag.Every class was fruitful and I learned a lot which I used later in Paris.
During the breakfast and lunch with Chantal, Stephane and Chantal’s mom Lilian
I could not only practice my French but also learn about life in France.  Chantal is also an excellent cook and she makes it look easy and simple, yet very tasty. She enjoys cooking and not a single dish was repeated during my stay for 2 weeks.I was glad to volunteer and help her in the kitchen, another opportunity to learn aboutFrench cooking.
One of the excursions was to Auvers-sur-Oise where Vincent Van Gogh died and is buried along with his brother Theo. I never knew that it was so close to Mouy and how excited I was when I got there and saw the famous church and fields in person!I had to revisit that place one more time when I stayed in Paris after Mouy.

Aside from the French language, this stay opened my eyes to French cuisine and lifestyle.
Definitely I am going back to Mouy not only to improve my French but because I miss all
of Mouy, most of all the lovely family members and adorable Grignote and Lulu.

Return 

I am back !

My second stay of the year 

J’ai passé six heureux jours avec Chantal et son mari Stéphane à leur maison à Mouy. Chantal est une enseignante perspicace et nous avons couvert beaucoup d’aspects de français, parlé et écrit. Elle est une cuisinière excellente et les déjeuners étaient délicieux.  Le seul problème était que les déjeuners ont précipité un degré de réticence d’étudier pendant l’après-midi! En plus il y avait beaucoup de temps de se détendre dans le studio très confortable (la piscine était très bienvenue) et les promenades avec Grignotte et LuLu (les chiens de la famille) étaient une autre occasion de parler en français et d’éprouver les beaux paysages par Mouy. Je recommande sans réserve un séjour à Mouy avec Chantal et sa famille.C’est une façon garanti d’améliorer son français et de s’amuser en même temps. J’attends avec impatience de refaire l’expérience dans l’avenir!

My third stay. Looking forward for next year 

I don’t count anymore how many returns ! At least 6 weeks per year !

Don’t hesitate! All of Chantal’s reviews matched my experience with her exactly! And the fact the she has many many many students who return several times a year speaks volumes. There are not a lot of language vacation/ adult immersion programs in someone’s own home to choose from, but even so it was mind-boggling for me to try and decipher between them. It’s almost as if you have to read between the lines. I am going to point out a few things that set her apart.

-Many instructors aren’t able to offer separate accommodations, or if they do, the fees are a bit much for what you get. But Chantal has a separate bungalow for her students which allows you some privacy and quiet time. Napping or studying in the garden next to the pool was a big plus! Plus, the bungalow is spick and span clean!

-Mouy is extremely accessible. You simply fly in to Paris and it’s a quick ride to Chantal’s. No need to take a domestic flight or a 3 hour train ride to another part of France.

-I went with Chantal to several of her appointments (dentist, esthetician) and it was a good learning experience to be a part these interactions. It built up my confidence.

-I liked that she was a good and easy-going conversationalist and we chit-chatted about all kinds of things during our walks or in the kitchen. One learns the flow and rhythm of the language in this way.

-The atmosphere chez Chantal is incredibly warm, jovial and casual. It really was like staying with close friends or family. Even when I lost patience with myself, Chantal, Stephan and her mother remained patient and encouraging. Although they respect their language, they are not stuck up about it nor impatient with students they and really made me feel that I was capable of improving.

I’ll be returning next year and I’m looking forward to it! Especially the spa day that we have planned!

After only a week with Chantal, I found that I was much better able to communicate with others in my subsequent encounters in Paris and elsewhere. It was partly because my grammar had improved and my vocabulary increased, but it was also because I had a clearer understanding of where the gaps in my proficiency lay. I knew to prepare for these difficulties, and I also had the confidence to do my best, knowing that, even if gracelessly, I would be able to convey my meaning.

Chantal was focused and clear from the beginning, catching and lightly correcting my mistakes while keeping the flow of conversation going. Later, in the context of morning lessons, she addressed in greater depth the types of mistakes I was making, giving a context and explanation for the new words and skills that it would help me to master. She quickly realized that my capabilities were spotty: I was advanced in some areas and yet made beginner-level mistakes in others. That’s one of the greatest advantages of working one-on-one with her: each of us has their own particular patchwork of strengths and weaknessses, and she’s really skilled at assessing the contours of your particular patch of knowledge—and expanding it where it’s most critical.

I was highly motivated to improve because I found Chantal so engaging. I wanted to converse with her, her lovely mother, and her partner, Stephane. All were welcoming, patient, and encouraging, acting as though it were a most natural thing to have a stranger from 5000 miles (8000 kilometers) away suddenly sharing meals with them, saying things awkwardly, slowly, and at times incoherently.

And the meals—delicious! I looked forward each morning to walking to the bakery with Chantal. In the evenings I was always surprised by the elegant collation she had prepared.

Add to these benefits the many ways in which Chantal shared cultural, political, culinary , and personal insights while cooking, driving, walking Grignote and Loulou, and exploring Chantilly and Senlis. Somehow, Chantal 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, teaching, will be an enduring motivation for me to continue learning.

I come each year since 2017. So it’s my seventh stay