About me

I’m Marie, a French teacher for adults.

Based in Hossegor, I teach French online and face-to-face, helping adults gain confidence in French and use the language naturally in real-life situations.

A French perspective shaped by many places

I grew up in Béarn, in south-west France, with a Catalan French father and a maternal family from Réunion island and Madagascar.

I have moved ten times, living in Haute-Savoie, the Landes, Réunion island, Corrèze, French Guiana, Paris, Bordeaux and New Caledonia, before returning to the Landes.

Living in so many different parts of France and its overseas territories has given me a broad understanding of my country, its regional identities, cultures, ways of speaking and ways of life.

It has also shaped the way I teach French. Language is never just about grammar and vocabulary: we choose our words, our tone and our level of formality depending on who we are talking to, where we are and the situation we are in.

I help my learners understand these differences and adapt the way they speak to the context, so that they can feel more at ease and communicate naturally in French.

How I teach

I believe learning French is about understanding how the language works and, above all, learning how to use it in real life.

Grammar and vocabulary are essential, but they become much more meaningful when you can use them to express yourself, understand others and take part in conversations.

My lessons combine language work with real communication. We might explore a grammar point, learn useful vocabulary, work on pronunciation or simply have a conversation, always with your level, your needs and your goals in mind.

I also help my learners understand the different registers of French and how to adapt their language to the situation. Knowing what to say is important, but knowing how to say it, to whom and in what context can make all the difference.

My aim is to help you become more confident and comfortable using French, without losing sight of the accuracy and solid foundations that allow you to progress.

A word about my pronunciation approach

Pronunciation is an important part of learning to communicate naturally in French. But it is not only about individual sounds.

I work first on rhythm, stress and intonation, the elements that give spoken French its particular flow and help you understand and be understood.

When individual sounds need attention, I use the Verbo-Tonal Method, a listening and movement based approach to pronunciation.

Rather than simply asking you to repeat a sound, I help you explore different ways of using your voice and body to find a more natural way to produce it.

This approach is adapted to each learner and can be useful at any level, from complete beginners to more advanced speakers.

A career change at 50

Teaching French was not my first career.

I first trained and worked in international professional environments, in roles including commercial support. Over the years, I worked for large organisations such as BNP, Total and the French Consulate in Geneva, as well as for small family-run businesses.

These different experiences gave me a broad understanding of professional communication, from large international organisations to smaller, more personal working environments. They also taught me how much language, tone and cultural codes matter in professional and everyday interactions.

At 50, I decided to make a career change and turn my interest in languages and intercultural communication into a new profession.

I first completed the DAEFLE (Diplôme d’Aptitude à l’Enseignement du Français Langue Étrangère), awarded by the Alliance Française de Paris, and then went on to complete a Master’s degree in French as a Foreign Language.

More recently, I trained in the Verbo-Tonal Method with Fonetix, whose approach and teaching resources I now use in my pronunciation work.

Starting this new career at 50 was a deliberate choice. It brought together my previous professional experience, my international outlook and my passion for languages and continues to shape the way I work with adult learners today.

Professional collaborations