Chantal Near Chantilly

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.

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 learned so much (and had so much fun!) while spending 2 weeks with Chantal during the spring of 2024. It was a real turning-point for my French. Until that time I was at the "low-intermediate" level ... tongue-tied when trying to speak with classmates and teachers; too shy to speak with local people on the streets of France; frustrated that my language-learning was stalled. But something clicked when I was with Chantal, thanks to her superb method of teaching. The pieces of the language-learning puzzle started to fit together, and I could take part in whole conversations, including expressing feelings and more complex thoughts, with enthusiasm instead of with a struggle. The best part is that it all took place in the perfect immersive setting - at the kitchen table, walking the dogs, at the vet, at the boulangerie...

I would return again in a minute! I highly recommend this immersion experience - it will change your life!