If you are reading this you are probably considering an immersion week chez Camille. I just got back from my week in Paimpol and my advice would be to book it ASAP. As a career French teacher who has lived, studied, worked, and traveled extensively in France and the francophone world, I am positive that nobody does immersion better than Camille Chevalier. You will have no regrets and you will gain so very much!
My goals were different than many of Camille’s usual students in that I didn’t need any formal languange lessons or grammar. I had been feeling pretty rusty and what I really needed was to SPEAK French non-stop for a week to re-activate my dormant repertoire and start to recover my French personality and confidence. From lack of use in recent years my French was suffering from some serious self-conciousness. It barely took 5 minutes for Camille to understand what she was dealing with, and from the very first afternoon she implemented a plan get me speaking as much as possible to as many different people as possible. I met and conversed with actors, sailors, doctors, volunteers, tour guides, runners, vendors, and of course, my teacher Camille and her lovely companion Jean-Loup. Their combined encouragement, openness, and kindness made for an easygoing and non-pressured week. The whole experience was incredibly valuable to me from a language standpoint. I spoke and heard a LOT of French, and each evening I benefited from Camille’s written summary of my vocabulary of the day and short assignments designed to solidify any new acquisitions.
Camille’s home and the town of Paimpol were ideal for an immersion week. Paimpol is a charming port town with great food and shopping, a bustling Tuesday market, and the most gorgeous coastal path that stretches for miles- a runner’s paradise! Camille’s house is only two blocks from the water and a walk to town for shopping, ice cream, market, and Bastille Day fireworks over the port. Paimpol is surrounded by adorable towns that I had the chance to discover with Camille and Jean-Loup as well as on special excursions specifically planned for me to practice my French with multiple people. Seeing that I love to stay active, Camille arranged an afternoon of hiking with a local young woman who knew every trail in the region and was also an excellent conversationalist. I enjoyed an afternoon with a friendly local licensed tour guide who was able to share multiple key sites in the area and tons of Breton history. I had never been to Brittany before so this was perfect.
My bedroom chez Camille was private and comfortable and had everything I needed. Being there felt like a true vacation, especially because Camille is a terrific cook who is careful to choose only the best ingredients. I finished everything she put in front of me and took seconds. Every meal was my ideal meal accompanied by wonderful conversation. What a treat to just be taken care of for a week!
On our last day we took the ferry over to Brehat for a picnic and afternoon of swimming and exploring on foot (no cars allowed). The scenery was out of a movie! Such a special place!
A word about Vinky, who might actually be the best dog in the world. If you love dogs, Vinky’s your man. If you don’t love dogs, he’s a non-issue. But it would be hard not to love this dog and his presence was most definitely additive during my stay in terms of cuddles and vocabulary. Camille has worked hard to train him and he just goes with the flow. The cutest!
My week in Paimpol was exactly what I needed it to be. It was, as expected, excellent for my French. Perhaps more significantly, though, it was a gentle and much-needed reminder that communication has very little to do with perfection and everything to do with opening up and letting go to help others see you and hear your message. Camille was born to teach and has found a very special way to share her expertise with language learners. Organized, detail oriented, encouraging, lively, and open, Camille wears her heart on her sleeve and seeks to provide an incredible all around experience for her students. I’m already pouring over my calendar to find a time to go back.