FRENCH WITH CHRISTELLE
About Christelle
I was born and raised in Rennes, France. I studied English, French literature and music at the University Rennes II and at the National Conservatory of Music of Brittany.
During my studies, it became clear that I had the choice to either immediately pursue a career in education or to travel. I chose to travel, and that informal but invaluable education (including the opportunity to learn Spanish fluently) opened the door for me to hold positions of increasing responsibility within the field of education.
I have more than ten years of experience as a French teacher. I have successfully taught diverse students from a broad spectrum of learning and social backgrounds, using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL to help many students pass the AP, DILF, DELF, DALF, TEF, and TELC tests
I am an avid music lover and performer, and I believe that learning a language equals learning a melody.
Teaching Philosophy
I offer customized instruction. Class hours are 60 minutes in length and can be arranged to suit individual schedules.
My classes emphasize building the confidence for conversational skills via extensive and supported speaking, listening, reading and writing. The class and the outside world are integrated in genuine communicative practices that center the learner’s participation.
Whether I am working with students with no prior French exposure, high-schoolers needing tutoring or semi-fluent speakers interested in improving/consolidating their French language skills, I am committed to bringing both fun and real-world perspective to our learning.
My goal is to motivate my students and help them develop their inner strengths and abilities via activities in the targeted language that truly inspire them. I provide concrete language instruction, resources and moral support to create a stimulating learning environment that fosters confidence and encourages each student to reach their full potential.
I take the responsibilities of an educator very seriously, and work hard to develop mutual trust and respect with my students.
FAQ
Q: Do you offer a free trial class?
A: We will schedule an initial 15-minute video conversation to meet, discuss and determine your needs and goals. This service is free of charge.
Q: Do I have to buy a French textbook?
A: No, you do not have to buy any textbooks. All the material needed for our class will be provided. I will regularly give you assignments. I will also share pro tips and recommend French resources.
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Q: Do you offer classes for children?
A: Classes are suitable for teens from grade 9 and up.
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Q: How much are the classes and how do I pay?
A: Classes are $85 for one hour of tutoring a week; $80 per hour for two hours a week. Venmo and PayPal payments are accepted.
TESTIMONIALS
Christelle helped me enormously both with my conversational French and with formal grammatical constructions needed in order to pass a licensing exam (which I passed with flying colors thanks to her).
Her demeanor and energy are inviting, encouraging, friendly and warm — working with Christelle feels like talking to a friend, which allows one to speak more freely and fluently.
Her methods are effective: she introduces and reinforces grammatical formulations and vocabulary into sessions in a way that feels natural, supporting the way a language is learned naturally.
I have very fond memories of working with Christelle and I know you will benefit from working with her as well!
Allegra - New York, NY
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Christelle took me from speaking absolutely zero French to being highly proficient and conversational -- to give you a sense, in Paris, no one switches to English for me! Classes with her are fun and move at a pace that suits you. She has a talent for explaining the finer points of grammar in an accessible way. As a person fluent in several languages herself, she has empathy for the challenges her students face and also an understanding of how to best focus our efforts. Beyond her experience and skill as a teacher, she is an all-around wonderful and kind soul. To learn a language is to open a window to another world and culture, and I could not have chosen a better person than Christelle to be my guide.
Christine - Fredericton, Canada
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I had classes with Christelle twice in preparation for the TCF. In both instances, her assistance directly contributed to my improved results. She is an excellent French tutor and very knowledgeable on the test structure, and provided strategies to help me succeed.
After my initial classes with her, I decided to come back and would continue to work with her. While I have succeeded on the TCF with her help, I am sure that if I need additional help in the future I will seek her services again.
Teresa - Brazil
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Christelle has been my French tutor for five years and I don't know what I would do without her! My husband is from France, and we both live in the US, but I desperately needed to learn French in order to communicate with his family as they don't speak any English. I take class weekly with Christelle and it's always a pleasure, never a chore. She is extremely patient and reinforces everything from grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, idioms, etc. She always keeps the class interactive and spices it up with new exercises. Christelle is not only formally trained as a teacher, but she also clearly has a passion for teaching French which comes through in her lessons. She takes note on basics that I'm forgetting and incorporates the simple stuff along with advanced level complexities, so I don't keep making novice mistakes. I would highly recommend learning French with Christelle!
Daniella - New York, NY
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My spouse and I took lessons from Christelle for 6 months in our home because scheduling was tight and inconsistent. We were also getting ready to move and our attention span was greatly impaired. Christelle was patient, funny and thorough. She brought focus when we had none. She put up with our variety in meeting times. She gave us a tremendous trajectory in learning. Her attention to detail and grammar, in our lessons, was absolutely top notch. The only complaint was on us. We wish we'd had more time, done more and most of all, taken her with us when we moved.
Adison and Gerry - Alameda, CA
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I'd like to commend Christelle on her diligence and passion.
I've been taking private French lessons with Christelle for more than 5 years and I can truly see a tremendous improvement in my speaking skills. She tailors every lesson to areas where my language skills are weaker and creates precise exercises to strengthen those skills. At my current language level when most the grammar was already introduced, she finds ways to reintroduce specific grammar scenarios into our conversation so that they are not forgotten. I always look forward to my lesson with Christelle!
Olga - New York, NY