Camille in Normandy – A Linguistic and Culinary Immersion 🧀🍏🐄

I had a wonderful experience in Normandy with Camille. From the moment Camille met me at the train station in Briouze, I felt at ease and completely supported in my French language journey.

Prior to my arrival, Camille took the time to confirm what I was interested in doing during my immersion program and organised activities accordingly.

First up on the itinerary was a visit to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. This was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the D-Day landings and heroics of those involved. It was a truly inspirational experience. Following this, Camille found a nearby restaurant and we enjoyed a delicious lunch of melted camembert (bien sûr), potatoes, salad and a glass of local cider - miam! Our afternoon was spent at the British Normandy Memorial to see the "Standing with Giants" installation which honours the lives of the 1,476 personnel lost under British command on D-Day. It was a powerful depiction of the cost of war. One could for a moment imagine both the fear and bravery of those who fought on the beaches and beyond.

Day 2 commenced with a French lesson, where Camille tested my pronounciation and writing skills. I was very impressed with the activities that Camille had organised as they were relevant and fun!

Afterwards, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the park and a visit to 'Le Haras du Pin' to view the spectacle which involved the many breeds of horses stabled at the property. It was a truly enjoyable experience and the buildings, horses and riders were magnificent.

On day 3, Camille took me to the village of Camembert to learn more about the origins of this delicious cheese at the Musée du Camembert. Of course it involved a tasting opportunity! This was followed by a superb lunch in nearby Argentan and another French lesson in the afternoon.

That evening, Camille very kindly organised for me to attend a comedy-musical production in which she was involved.

Overall I can't speak highly enough of Camille and her professionalism, dedication, friendliness and joie de vivre! Camille was incredibly patient with me and gently corrected any misspoken words or grammar. She also tailored my learning by incorporating new words into activities that she had created.

I was very grateful that Camille was able to tailor my program to fit a 3-day experience, as time did not permit me to undertake the typical 5-day immersion. We spoke almost exclusively in French which was the main purpose of my visit. In addition, I learnt so much more about Normandy, its history, the people, the landscape and the fabulous food.

Merci encore Camille.

I recently spent an unforgettable week in immersion with Camille in Putanges-le-lac in Normandy.

It was the ideal way to improve my French language skills as well as to really experience French culture with a native.

Camille does such a wonderful job of planning and tailoring the experience according to students' preferences.

Camille and I visited the site where cider and Calvados are made, as well as the site where Camembert is made. Camille and I also participated in a wonderful hands-on cooking class with an instructor during which we made a several course lunch, including Quiche Lorraine, that we shared together.

Camille and I took a memorable day trip to Mont Saint Michel, where we had a guided tour of the abbey as well as a guided tour of the beach of sable mouvant surrounding the abbey. One day, we enjoyed lunch in an authentic French restaurant.

Interspersed with these activities, Camille and I shared lunches and study time together each day.

Camille makes an outstanding lunch and is an exceptionally gifted language teacher as well. The study time was well-planned and tailored specifically to my French language learning needs. Camille ensures the studies are relevant and varied.

Among the lodging options for the week, I chose to stay at a 5-epis-rated gite (like a 5 star bed and breakfast) owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Francois and Edyth Quince. I truly spent a luxurious week in their gite.

It is not far from Camille, and she came each day for our French studies and activities. In addition to the amazing daily breakfasts at the gite, I chose to also sign up for dinners at the gite, which were multi-course exquisitely prepared home-made French meals made by Jean-Francois and Edyth. These meals and wonderful French conversation were shared in the dining room with them each evening along with any other guests at the gite who signed up for dinners. The breakfasts were an amazing spread of breakfast pastries, meats, home-made jams, home-made yogurt, and local products. I truly was spoiled by such fine-dining and fine-living to accompany my lovely weekdays in immersion with Camille.

I am now back at home in the United States enjoying the happy memories we made. I have been delighting my family by cooking with recipes from my visit. I am continuing my French lessons with Camille online.

My French-speaking friends in the United States have commented on the rapid improvement of my French-speaking skills, and I am enjoying my new confidence and ability to convey what I wish to say in a more fluid manner.

Spending time with Camille studying and exploring was such a pleasure due to her welcoming, warm and easy-going nature. I look forward to going back!

I have traveled extensively throughout France, each region offering its own unique appeal. However, Normandy has consistently been at the top of my list of places to visit, though I had not had the opportunity until recently. Thanks to Camille, who has been my online instructor for nearly a year and is a native of Normandy, I was able to participate in a five-day immersion course in a charming and tranquil town at the heart of the region.

My experience with Camille, her family, and friends was truly exceptional. Camille stands out as an exceptional French teacher both online and more so in person; her lessons were always well-structured, engaging, and cleverly integrated with themes that allowed for deep immersion in Norman culture. Each morning, classes focused on Norman history, culture, cuisine, and lifestyle, all tailored to prepare me for the four core components of the DELF C1 examination (oral and written comprehension, oral and written production). The progress I made was evident, as my French-speaking friends and relatives in Switzerland remarked on how much I had improved in such a short period.

The program extended beyond classroom learning, with afternoon excursions to various notable sites across Normandy, including Caen and the D-Day beaches, where we participated in guided tours conducted entirely in French. This immersive approach meant I spent approximately ten hours daily practicing French in real-life contexts while enjoying memorable experiences.

Gastronomy was another highlight of my stay. Normandy, home to the renowned Camembert cheese, provided numerous opportunities to explore local culinary traditions. Activities included visiting an organic Camembert farm, sampling local bouchot mussels marinière with fries by the beach, attending a specialized cheese-tasting evening hosted by Camille’s mother—a professional in the catering industry—and preparing French dishes such as savory crêpes and tarts together.

Overall, I cannot imagine a more enriching immersion course. I highly recommend this program to anyone passionate about French language and culture, whether pursuing conversational fluency or advanced exam preparation. Based on my experiences studying with over ten native French instructors worldwide, Camille is truly an outstanding educator.