Pascale – French immersion in Béziers, Languedoc
Your teacher
Originally from Béziers, I spent most of my adult life in the United States. My first experience as an exchange student led me to Pennsylvania and later to Connecticut. After I graduated, I moved to California where I spent 20 years, initially working on projects for internet companies such as Google and Yahoo. Eventually, I decided to go into business for myself, teaching French to teenagers and adults. In 2014, I founded Bay Area French Tutor, a French tutoring business located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Now that I am back in my native Languedoc, I continue to teach French as a foreign language, online and in person. I have dual French-American citizenship, and I am perfectly bilingual and at home in both cultures. My American students have often asked me about immersion programs in France. So, I have decided to share my love for my native Languedoc with Francophiles by offering an intensive French course!
Teaching style
I tailor my classes to the needs and goals of each of my students. This means that on our first day together (Monday morning), we will create your ideal program. We are normally scheduled to have 15 hours of formal instruction (and that means grammar), 3 hours every morning Monday through Friday. We also share breakfast and lunch, and we spend 2 afternoons on an excursion together.
The program as currently designed is for students who prefer a more structured approach to language learning. If you decide to stick with the 15 hours of formal instruction, we will use grammar books and exercises. I will assess your level, and we will focus on those points of grammar that are unfamiliar to you, or with which you struggle. Part of my job will be to identify recurring mistakes and drill you until the correct form becomes second nature to you (ex.: *de le should be du, *de les should be des). However, if you find grammar off-putting and you would prefer our formal instruction be more conversational, we can easily do that by selecting a theme for a particular session, or pick a newspaper article that we will discuss. This will allow you to increase your vocabulary on a subject of your choice. I will correct you whenever you make a mistake, and I will explain why I am correcting you. Grammar will still be unavoidable of course, but our approach will be more organic than if you learn directly from a grammar book. And if formal instruction is simply not your cup of tea, we can go run errands together where you will do the talking and I will still correct you and/or help you whenever necessary. We can prepare for our outing ahead of time (or not, up to you!).
Teaching methods
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One-on-one conversation
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Oral and written grammar exercises
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Oral corrections from your teacher
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Personalized summary of everything you've learned that you can refer to
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Real-life simulations : ordering at a café, buying cheese at the fromagerie, etc.
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Verb drills
Levels taught
My immersion program is open to students who already have some French under their belt. If you are an absolute beginner, I do not recommend that you take this course. Being immersed in a foreign language is very intense, even interspersed with some English where necessary. You need to have had some prior exposure to French in order to benefit from a program such as this one.
If you are an advanced beginner or an intermediate student, I will occasionally switch to English to make sure my explanations of some intricate grammar point make sense to you. Wherever necessary, I will also use English to answer your questions.
I am happy to welcome teenagers (16 y.o. and older), as long as they are accompanied by a parent if they are still under age.
If you are an advanced student and your goal is to practice and perfect your language skills, we will speak French as much as you like, during formal instruction, excursions, and throughout your entire week at La Noria.
Please note: If you wish, we will speak French over breakfast and lunch, as well as during our excursions together. However, if you come with a friend/family member who does not speak French, we will switch to English so they can be included in the conversation.
Great for
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Adults
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Family or friends traveling together
Your accommodation
The section below, as well as photos of La Noria, are for informational purposes only. Reservations must be made with Agnès, the owner of the property. However, if you would prefer I connected you with Agnès, I will be happy to do so.
La Noria: The Property
Nestled in the middle of vineyards, the main house at La Noria is at least 200 years old and built of solid stone, like a lot of the construtions in this area dating back several centuries. This little paradise boasts a large park, and a gorgeous pool with an outdoor kitchen where we sometimes have dinner in the summer. In addition to me, you will have Agnès and Jean-Luc, the owners of La Noria, with whom to practice your French while you are on the property! There will also be Géraldine, as well as the other guests, most of them native French speakers, who will be vacationing here at the same time as you. Across from La Noria is what we call La Voie verte (the Green Way), a former railroad turned into a biking (and hiking) trail that connects several villages in the region.
Your Accommodations
La Noria has 4 rooms for rent, each with a private bathroom, located on the second and third floors of the main house. Downstairs is a kitchen where breakfast is served in the morning. When the weather is warm, breakfast is served outside under the Gloriette, a long rectangular gazebo.
La Noria also has 2 gîtes for rent (furnished apartments with all the amenities). The large gîte (Gîte du Midi) has 2 bedrooms, each with a queen-size bed, as well as 2 bathrooms, a large living-room + dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. The private garden of Gîte du Midi is glorious! The second gîte is called L'Ecluse and is next to the main house. Smaller than Gîte du Midi, it is a one-bedroom apartment with a queen-size bed, a bathroom, and a fully-equipped kitchen. For more information and photos about the rooms and the gîtes, please take a look at my website (below).
Access to a Kitchen
Neither La Noria nor the French immersion program include dinner. However, if you are renting a room, you will be able to cook dinner in the kitchen downstairs. Each of the gîtes has its own kitchen.
Amenities
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Air conditioning
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Swimming pool
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Towels, sheets and bedding
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TV
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Wifi
If you rent a room at La Noria, breakfast is included (b&b). If you rent a gîte, breakfast is not included and must be purchased separately.
Lunch is included in the French Immersion Program.
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Glutenfree option
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Lunch Included
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Vegan option
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Vegetarian option
The region
Located along the Mediterranean coastline of Occitanie, Languedoc offers a diverse tapestry of landscapes and traditions. The region has a rich history of Roman influence, visible in landmarks such as the Pont du Gard aqueduct, the amphitheater in Nîmes, and the Roman city of Narbonne. The Middle Ages has also left its mark, as testified by the many religious monuments that spread across this area, Fontfroide Abbey near Narbonne and St Nazaire Cathedral in Béziers being but two magnificent examples of religious medieval architecture in Occitanie.
Almost extinct when I was a child, the local language, Occitan, has been experiencing a revival and is now celebrated through festivals and other cultural events. Languedoc boasts scenic spots for outdoor activities, such as the Cévennes National Park, or Lac du Salagou. It is also renowned for its wine production, with vineyards stretching across the countryside. If you like seafood, you will enjoy eating some delicious oysters from Bouzigues together with a local white wine, in a quaint restaurant overlooking the Etang de Thau!
Occitanie is not as well known internationally as the French Riviera. However, Languedoc is a beautiful area and has been generating strong interest in the last few years, as evidenced by the many popular TV series shot on location between Béziers and Montpellier.
The excursions and experiences
On the first morning, we will work together on our excursion schedule for the week. The region is very rich in culture and history, and also offers natural resources for physical activities, especially during the warmer seasons.
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Cooking class with a chef
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Exploring France's most beautiful villages
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French class in a café
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History, art & culture, guided visits
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Horse riding
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Outdoors : hike, bike ride
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Wine cellar tour and winetasting
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Yoga, meditation or pilates
Getting there
From Paris, Béziers is a 4 ½ hr direct train ride on the fast train (TGV Inouï). You can also fly out of Paris into Montpellier (Aéroport Montpellier Méditerranée) or Perpignan (Aéroport Perpignan Rivesaltes). From there, you can take a train to Béziers.
You might also look into international flights to Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is a 2h45mn direct train ride (TGV Inouï) to Béziers.
Getting around
La Noria is 16 kms (10 miles) away from Béziers. If you plan on going out for dinner, or on visiting the region beyond a bike ride, I recommend that you rent a car. However, with two outings scheduled during the week, you will have the opportunity to visit the area with me, so you may just want to enjoy your stay on the property, or take long walks in the surrounding countryside.
Otherwise, you can rent an electric bike from Agnès (the owner of La Noria), and go on a long bike ride using the rail trail across the road from the property.
Things to know
* When you contact me, the first thing I will do is send you a list of FAQs that will answer most, if not all, of your questions about my program, and about your stay at La Noria.
* Dinner is not included in the cost of the French immersion program, or in the accommodation. I will give you a ride to the local supermarket so you can stock up on supplies for your dinners. There is a fully equipped kitchen downstairs from your room, including a fridge where you can store food.
* I can pick you up and drop you off at the Béziers train station.
* If need be, I can arrange to pick you up at the airport (Montpellier or Perpignan), but I will ask that you pay for tolls, gas, and parking fees.
Cancellation policy
* 3 months or more before your course starts: 100% refund minus 100€ administrative fee.
If you have already paid the 60% balance, I can return this amount. If you wish to postpone your course rather than cancel it, new dates can be arranged at no extra cost within the next 12 months, subject to availability. Be aware that the choice of dates may be limited, especially in the summer. La Noria is usually fully booked in July and August.
* 1-3 months before your course starts: 50% refund minus 100€ administrative fee. It may be possible to schedule new dates if you choose to postpone rather than cancel… but I cannot guarantee this.
* Less than 1 month before start of course: 0% refund. The total amount is forfeited.
Payment method
Two diferent bank transfers, to me and to the B&B.
A really excellent week. Pascale was very friendly, helpful and encouraging. My aim was to improve my speaking ability and increase my confidence. I did not want a lot of grammar and Pascale was very adept at picking up repetitive errors which I made when speaking and giving me relevant exercises. She is very knowledgeable about the area and we went on some excellent trips which made my week into a holiday as well as a learning experience. The accommodation was also excellent and Agnès and Geraldine were both very friendly and helpful.
Niki, Normandy France
I and my partner, who did not participate in learning French, we spent a week with Pascale in may. We had a great time. The lessons of French that I had were made of conversation at breakfast and lunch - this was mixed with English for the benefit of my partner. After the first day when Pascale was assessing my level and my needs we focused on filling the gaps in my knowledge and discussing lots of grammatical and structural issues. We were doing lots of exercises and I had to do some homework which we then discussed the next day. My biggest problem was the lack of knowledge of how? and why? and being of the old school of training I needed to know grammar that was behind it and Pascale could - patiently - explain these to me. I certainly have a better understanding of the French language, even though much more effort is required on my part to to be fluent. We loved the place - the tranquility and the flowers, the country vibes. Pascale took us on a couple of trips around the area and this was both educational and fun for both of us. There were also two lovely ladies to complete the picture - Agnès who served us a very French breakfast and the chef Géraldine who prepared lunch for us. We went for walks and rented bikes to go for a ride and this was fun as well - going out there to test my French! Overall, it was a great week for both of us - thank you Pascale!
I spent a great week with Pascale. Not only was it very enjoyable, but it was really helpful in increasing my confidence in speaking and understanding in French. I appreciated her tailoring the lessons and excursions to my goal of increasing my conversational ability. She sent a daily list of vocabulary selected for my needs. Our conversations ranged from family life to books, films, and history. She is very patient, skilled, and interesting.
The accommodations at La Noria are very nice in a lovely setting with the perfect balance of interaction and privacy. Agnes and Geraldine provided great breakfasts and lunches, as well as conversation.
The excursions to Frontfoide Abbey, wine tasing at Chateau Perdiguier, and the tour of Bèziers were interesting and very helpful in enhancing understanding of the tours in French.
I highly recommend study with Pascale!
Caroline, Hillsborough, NC, USA
If I could give more stars, I would!
My week in Languedoc by the coast with Pascale, at La Noria, was top-notch. She’s an excellent teacher of language, of culture/history, and of how to live life to the fullest. Plus, she has just the right engaging personality and sense of humor to make the learning process go easier 🙂
I love that Pascale has the flexibility to tailor each immersion experience to the needs/desires of her student(s). For me it turned out to be focusing on language basics, yet fostering my desire to experience more on the excursion side than perhaps the average student would.
All in all, this was a lovely experience that I would definitely recommend and will not soon forget. Thank you, Pascale, Géraldine, and Agnès. …..mmmwah! (chef’s kiss)
Regina, Kansas city, MO, USA
Thank you, Pascale, your French Immersion Program offered much more than I had expected! It was not only a fruitful learning experience but also an unforgettable vacation.
I had a specific professional objective to learn French, and Pascale tailored the lessons perfectly. To make the most of the immersion program, the lessons focused more on conversation, including role plays. The topics were relevant to the area of my profession, and her curiosity and questions encouraged me to talk. Grammar was also covered, mainly as homework, and we reviewed it together, focusing on the areas of my weak points. I learned incredibly a lot in five days, and now I am reviewing the materials to consolidate the learning.
Junko, Tokyo, Japan
Pascale is a patient and skilled teacher who is especially attuned to the needs of native English speakers learning French. One week with Pascale increased my confidence level dramatically. Pascale easily managed our different learning styles and adapted our lessons to our slightly mismatched levels so that both of us felt challenged and neither felt overwhelmed. We enjoyed our excursions to Beziers and Pezenas, as well as idyllic evenings at restaurants along the Canal du Midi. Our lodgings at La Noria with its tranquil and beautiful gardens were idyllic, and Agnes was a perfect host. We are already talking about a return trip!
Susie & David, Brookline, MA, USA