French Speaking Switzerland Immersion Homestay At Teacher’s

This was the first time I have studied as part of an immersive homestay, so I didn’t know what to expect. I can honestly say it was a highlight of my summer ! Raymonde is a thoughtful host, an excellent teacher and a fun conversationalist. She made me feel welcome from the time I arrived. 

Raymonde’s home is clean, fresh and spacious.  It is in the country, with beautiful walks right outside her door, views of Mont Blanc in the distance, and farms selling their produce a quick drive down the road. Raymonde is also an outstanding cook, so we enjoyed many delicious meals from those nearby farms.

Our mornings were dedicated to French conversation and lessons, usually over coffee, and covered a huge array of subjects. The time flew ! Afternoons included excursions to nearby sites, either solo or together. Early in my stay, Raymonde had quietly noted my biggest language weaknesses and customized her lessons and feedback going forward to focus on those areas. In this way, I was able to break some entrenched bad habits over the week I was there.  I also learned some new language “rules” I had never learned before. The one-on-one time meant that I was constantly learning and being challenged, but not overwhelmed. And the customized lessons meant that I was always interested and inspired.

Raymonde is tremendously generous with her time, her energy and her enthusiasm. She is also a gifted teacher. I feel fortunate to have been able to learn with her for a week, in idyllic Switzerland no less. Mille mercis Raymonde!

A Five-Star French Immersion Adventure at My Teacher’s Home!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I recently embarked on a truly unique and unforgettable French immersion journey at Raymonde’s home in Gingins, and I can’t express how remarkable the experience was. This experience deserves every one of its five stars and more.

Studying the French language in the comfort of Raymonde’s home was an incredibly personalized and enriching experience. The cozy and welcoming environment provided the perfect backdrop for immersive language learning. Raymonde was not just an educator but also a gracious host, creating an atmosphere that felt like a home away from home.

Raymonde tailored the curriculum to my individual needs and pace. The program incorporated various activities and experiences to enhance my language skills and Swiss culture understanding. From daily conversations over delicious, fresh, nourishing meals to cultural outings and local excursions that brought me joy and amazement. Each day was an adventure!

The French immersion program was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I will always treasure. If you’re seeking an authentic, tailored, and unforgettable way to learn French, I can’t recommend Raymonde’s program enough.

My gratitude to Raymonde, Michel, their family and friends for an experience I’ll cherish forever!

Grace N. from Portland, Oregon USA.

My long-weekend with Raymonde was an absolute pleasure as well as a hearty brain workout!

Raymonde first asks for the objectives that you wish to achieve during the time spent together. Then she quietly assesses your strengths and weaknesses in your spoken French as your conversations progress. From this, she builds some lesson plans that you will do together over the course of the weekend. She uses a grammar book that she calls “the Bible” of grammar, but she told me that not all of her students wish to do any grammar at all, and that’s fine too! She is completely flexible and will do exactly what you would like to do, and avoid what you do not want to do.

The rest of the time is spent conversing naturally as you do various activities together. Every immersion is completely different and personalized.

For my weekend, we cooked together and she was sweet enough to go out and buy all gluten-free foods for me due to a gluten-sensitivity. She shared some of her favorite recipes. I will say that I ate better chez Raymonde than in many restaurants! Her cooking is very healthy and fresh uses loads of fresh (and local!) fruits and vegetables, as well as delicious proteins of all kinds. She loves to cook and entertain, and her enthusiasm is palpable and contagious.

As we both love to ride bikes and to walk in the mountains, these were our activities for the mornings together. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I know that for other students, she does other sorts of activities from sightseeing to shopping to going to museums or events.

It is incredible how much you can learn both during the structured lessons and also during the course of the activities we did together. You hear many little filler words, as well as the rhythm of the language. By chatting all day, any mistakes that you make can be corrected in real time, so that you can begin to retrain your brain again and again during natural conversations.

Also, Raymonde’s home is impeccably clean, tasteful, and light and airy. Your ensuite room is delightful and private. She lives in a small village only 10 minutes from Nyon gare, where she picks you up and drops you off.

10 out of 10- I cannot recommend her highly enough!

I can’t put in a few words the value of the immersion experience that I had with Raymonde. Not only is she an accomplished language teacher but, most important, she is an amazing human being. With her guidance and patience I was able to test the limits of my knowledge and, at the same time, gain confidence to try my French in real-world situations. Before attending the immersion and, after eight years of self-study, I was convinced that I was in a much lower level. After the experience, that included much more than simply going over lesson plans, I know where my weaknesses and strengths are. This way, I can focus better in the areas that need working. Thank you Raymonde for an amazing experience!!

I had the most wonderful time staying with Raymonde in her lovely home, experiencing Swiss life and language immersion in this beautiful area of Switzerland. Raymonde and her partner Michel both made me feel very welcome and I was so lucky to be able to also enjoy meeting some of their different friends and neighbours while I was staying. I was even able to attend the local village celebration for Swiss National Day!

Raymonde is a very warm and insightful mentor with a lovely openness which makes it so easy to connect and feel comfortable. We enjoyed some beautiful countryside walks, bike riding, visits, music, excursions, great food and lots of conversation. These together with the daily lessons gave me many opportunities to extend my French listening and speaking skills, all the while with the help of Raymonde’s gentle correction and advice close at hand.

I would love to come back for another stay, maybe even in the winter. I feel like I now have a new friend and a special place to return, in Switzerland.

I stayed with Raymonde for ten days and had the best time. Raymonde is thoughtful, energetic and well-organized. She understands your needs and is ready to work with you whether it is your language fluency or dietary needs. Aside from our morning classes, Raymonde took me to some beautiful areas by car or by train; she knows how to maximize your time and always gives you options for activities. Raymonde is a great teacher who makes the learning experience fun and effective. I felt welcome right away and her hospitality was superb in so many ways. Between the wonderful meals that she prepared for me every day and all the great learning experiences, she exceeded my expectations. Raymonde listened and corrected my French enthusiastically all day. She goes above and beyond for you to improve your French. I am so thankful for her generosity. Merci du fond du coeur, Raymonde !

Raymonde is an excellent teacher and wonderful person. She constantly corrected my French in a friendly way, which was extremely helpful for the progress of my French. She is organized about things and always well prepared to teach. Her house was gorgeous & comfortable, surrounded by peaceful nature, the Juras mountain
In front, with the Alps in the back.

I unfortunately had a back pain during my stay, but she treated me like mother from the beginning to end, giving me hot pads to soothe the pain, taking me to a hospital & more. We talked a lot, she took me to a nice drive to Montreux showing the beautiful nature and cultural points of interests. Raymonde is attentive to my wishes, which she is always eager to accommodate. With Raymonde & her partner, and then with my husband joining in the middle during the stay, we had such a great time dining good food, chatting and even going out to a nice little town near her house on the last evening. We also visited her friend who was also very nice. Even my husband (non-French speaker) learned some French expressions during our meal times.

For all these reasons, I strongly recommend the immersion with her. My husband & I would love to come back in the near future.
Thanks soooo much, Raymonde & Michel!!!

My daughter and I spent a wonderful week with Raymonde and her partner Michel in their home in Switzerland. We chose to go in December which meant we were able to indulge in fondue, chocolate and other delectable Swiss food guilt-free after our hikes through the snow! It was a fabulous way to spend time during the build up to a northern hemisphere Christmas.

Raymonde was a gracious host, who was more than happy to share her home and especially her lovely kitchen with us for the duration of our stay. Raymonde wanted to ensure that we stayed interested in our French studies throughout the week and was able to quickly adapt our schedule when we weren’t keen to do more grammar exercises. Our day trip to Montreux was amazing and after visiting the Queen Studio Experience, we shared a delicious lunch before then wandering through the Christmas markets on the promenade of Lake Geneva. The highlight of the week was our trek through a snow-covered forest which led to a restaurant seemingly in the middle of nowhere. To our great surprise and pleasure, we were presented with a tasty fondue meal, complete with wine by the fireplace.

Raymonde was extremely patient and attentive throughout the week and ensured that we had continuous French conversation practice from breakfast through to evening. Such a treat for us and an awesome way to unwind after a hectic year. Thank you again Raymonde.

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!:)) »