contact@french-immersion-teacher-home.com
contact@french-immersion-teacher-home.com
The village of La Garnache offers a perfect balance between peaceful countryside and lively local life. Surrounded by fields and quiet country roads, it is an ideal place to enjoy nature, go for walks or bike rides, and experience a slower pace of life. At the same time, the atmosphere is warm and social — it’s easy to stop and chat with neighbours, and everyday life feels simple and authentic. We also share our garden with family members living next door, which creates a friendly, lived-in environment where you can naturally meet people and experience real French countryside life. The village is well located, close to Nantes, which is only about two hours from Paris by TGV.
Despite its small size, La Garnache is dynamic and active. It has two schools and many sports clubs, giving it a lively, family-friendly feel. The village has kept a strong sense of tradition, with the church bell ringing every fifteen minutes and historical landmarks such as the château in the centre. Just outside the village, at the end of our hamlet, you can also find Fonteclose, the former property of François de Charette, an important historical figure of the region. Altogether, it is a place where you can enjoy both the calm of the countryside and the richness of local culture.
Hello! I’m a passionate French as a Foreign Language (FLE) teacher with over 10 years of experience. My journey has taken me from the Alliance Française in Newcastle (Australia) to six enriching years at SOFI 64 on the Basque Coast, where I specialized in immersive programs for international adults. I particularly enjoy working with motivated learners—their curiosity, enthusiasm, and interest in French culture make each exchange dynamic, meaningful, and fun. Originally from Nantes, where I graduated, I then travelled the world teaching and discovering new places, and I now live back in the West of France, in Vendée (85), a region I love sharing with my students.
Beyond my professional experience, intercultural exchange is at the heart of my daily life. I live with my Australian husband and our two young daughters in a warm, bilingual home where languages naturally mix. Hosting students is not just a job for us—it’s a true extension of our lifestyle. Whether during meals, outings to local markets, or exploring the coastline, interactions continue naturally throughout the day, helping you gain confidence in a relaxed and authentic environment. I strive to create a friendly, supportive atmosphere where you can fully immerse yourself in the French language and way of life.
With a solid academic foundation and over 10 years of experience, I have taught French (FLE) and English across a wide range of international settings. My career began in Australia, where I taught at the Alliance Française, universities, and schools, followed by teaching positions in Spain and England. Alongside,I have spent several years within the French secondary school system, leading short and long-term missions in high schools across the Basque Country and the Pays de la Loire.
I am a certified DELF/DALF examiner and corrector (levels A1 to C2), which allows me to provide expert preparation for students seeking official diplomas. Additionally, I am qualified to conduct naturalisation exams (TEF), ensuring that my students receive precise, goal-oriented guidance.
My dual background as a French native and an English teacher gives me a unique pedagogical perspective. While I view English as an essential professional tool, teaching French is my true passion—a way to share my culture and native tongue. Whether preparing you for an official exam or building your everyday confidence, I tailor my method to ensure a perfect balance between formal structure and natural fluency.
As I have two young children, our schedule is organised around school time. Lessons usually take place in the morning after breakfast, when everyone is fresh and focused. On Wednesdays (when there is no school in France) and Saturdays, we often organise day trips instead of formal lessons, which is a great opportunity to discover the region: big cultural cities like Nantes, coastal towns like Pornic, Noirmoutier or Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, and charming smaller towns like Clisson.
Afternoons are dedicated to activities or everyday immersion. Depending on your interests, we might explore the Parc de la Sablière or the Château de la Garnache. We can also visit the Fromagerie Beillevaire for a cheese tasting, enjoy a creative jewellery-making workshop at home, or play board games together — something we all love, either at home or in the local games library in La Garnache. We can also reverse the schedule and have class in the afternoon, allowing a morning visit to the market in Challans, known for its excellent local products such as mogettes, préfou, fresh vegetables, and ultra-fresh seafood.
From around 5pm, we enter the lively family “tunnel” (homework, dinner, bedtime). Then, from about 8pm, the atmosphere becomes calm again — a nice moment to relax, sometimes share a drink with neighbours, and enjoy dinner together in a more peaceful setting.
To immerse oneself in the French language is to enter a world where every word carries the weight of history, every conversation reveals a culture, and every day becomes a discovery of the soul. —Maya Angelou
