Hélène and her family – French immersion in Lyon City

Your teacher

Dear future guests, learners, and friends,

Graduated in German and certified in French as a Foreign Language, I have been teaching French as a Foreign Language since 2003. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of teaching many learners of all ages and from diverse cultures.

It will be a joy for me to help you appreciate my language, even though it is known to be difficult and sometimes rather whimsical. I will assist you in developing and improving your French skills, based on your initial level, needs, expectations, and level of commitment.

I will welcome you with my family: Laurent, my lovely husband, Manon and Solène, our two daughters, and our dog, Kickass, who will soon come begging for cuddles from you—so be prepared!

The program I propose emphasizes the luxury of providing you with a warm, friendly, and generous welcome, preparing delightful meals with pleasure, and spending quality time together at home or through visits to our beautiful city, Lyon.

Reception of groups (school groups for example) on request with reservation of external accommodation.

Feel free to contact me before booking so we can get to know each other. I’ll be happy to answer any questions. I hope to see you soon!

Hélène

Teaching style

My methodology is based above all on my listening to your needs, your objectives and your areas of interest. Then, I offer you varied activities, adapted to your level and tailor-made according to your expectations.

I recommend that you work from authentic documents which, if possible, also have a cultural interest.

My priority is for you to appreciate the French language. I won't hide its difficulties from you, but will do my best to make it more accessible and allow you to understand it better.

The basis of a successful learning rests a lot on the quality of our conversations. We will then target the linguistic objectives according to your needs.

For this, trust will be the key. This is why I am committed to putting you at ease and making you feel comfortable.

Levels taught

All levels of language proficiency.
I've been teaching French as a Foreign and Second language for over 20 years. I'm at ease teaching all types of students: children, young people, adults, people with little schooling, schoolchildren, students, from absolute beginners to advanced levels. I adapt. =)

Our Lyon duplex apartment, built at the beginning of the 20th century, is located on the second and third floor of a small building without a lift, in a typical former workers' accommodation, in a lively district of Lyon.

The lower floor of our apartment is a nice open space with a kitchen that opens onto the living room. Your bedroom and private bathroom are located on this level. Our family spaces (bedrooms and bathroom) are located upstairs.

Regarding your accommodation, you will have a large, bright, and comfortable bedroom with a loft bed (please note this in case it is a concern for you), as well as your own shower and toilet. In your room, you will find a chair, a desk, a mini-fridge, a kettle, a coffee maker (an espresso machine is in the kitchen), a microwave, a fan, and a wardrobe.
It is modest but very warm and welcoming—I believe you will find it charming.

Additionally, we have a large garden that we share with the other apartments in our building, and we also have a large balcony where we can chill.

Option: If you wish and if we have enough time, we can also take you to our small country house in the Ardèche mountains. There, the accommodation is rustic with a shared bathroom and toilet, but you have your own bedroom with a double bed. The experience is interesting for discovering rural life in France and enjoying magnificent landscapes. If you like being outdoors and walking, this discovery stay option is made for you.

Depending on your needs, your diet, your tastes and your desires, I will be happy to prepare delicious dishes for you prepared with fresh, if possible local, products. Don't hesitate to tell me your preferences and wishes. I adapt!

Providing you with good taste experiences is important to me. Meals are a moment of conviviality, especially the evening meal since it is often the only meal shared with my family and friends. We are committed to welcoming our guests and pleasing them.

In the evening, you will therefore have to wait after our visits in order to give me time to concoct delicious dishes for you. 😉
For breakfast, good fresh bread of course, coffee, hot chocolate or tea of your choice, seasonal fruits, dairy products and a fresh pastry of your choice. We look forward to welcoming you to our table. Yum!

And because eating is a source of pleasure, but so is preparing food, I offer pastries or bread-making workshops at our home, under the direction of a former high-school student who is now a baker. We can also, at your request, prepare a dish or dessert together. And if the idea of socializing doesn't scare you, we can also participate in a meal preparation workshop in a Lyon association called Les Petites Cantines. It's a participatory cooking concept that allows you to cook while chatting, an opportunity for you to dare to talk outside the family, in an equally caring context, before sharing the prepared meal with the group of the day and a few guests. Always a successful experience!

As a main gateway to the Alps, Lyon is a must. Third city in France and second metropolis in the country, Lyon has been included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998, and is known for its Gallo-Roman remains, its old town dating from the Renaissance called “Le Vieux Lyon” and its culinary delights. There, we can take semi-hidden passages called “traboules” which link some streets together. Very exciting!

Founded 2,000 years ago at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon built its fortune on the silk trade. Lyon is also the cradle of cinema, thanks to the work of the Lumière brothers.

We can't talk about Lyon without talking about food. Some say that Lyon is the world capital of gastronomy. So you have to try some "bouchons" before leaving town. You may know the name of our famous chef, Paul Bocuse, who has sadly passed away.

You will love walking around and discovering Lyon's cultural life and will be amazed by its wealth and the many possibilities offered by the city (23 museums, a lot of exhibitions and festivals throughout the year such as the famous Fête des Lumières, cruises on the Rhône and the Saône, cycling along the Rhône, enjoying a beer on a barge, relaxing at Parc de la Tête d'Or, etc.).

We will be happy to help you make the most of your stay and take you to our favorite places.

By public transport, on foot, or by bike, I'll help you discover my city and its treasures. Upon request, I can organize outings outside Lyon (horseback riding, hiking in the Monts du Lyonnais, village visits, etc.), but there's so much to visit in Lyon (museums, traboules, ancient sites, the Bocuse market halls, Tête d'Or Park, the Vieux-Lyon and Croix-Rousse neighborhoods, etc.) and to do (cooking workshops, theater performances, cinema, festivals, concerts, etc.). In short, there's no shortage of cultural and discovery activities. You will find all the information here: https://www.onlylyon.com/en

If your stay allows it and you're interested, we can organize a short stay of a few days at our house in the Ardèche Mountains to explore rural France and discover a peaceful and beautiful region. Tell me your preferences and interests, and we'll organize a tailor-made trip.

Getting there

Lyon is the second largest employment area after Paris, and its relatively central location makes it a very accessible and well-connected city via Saint-Exupéry Airport and its two main train stations, Part-Dieu and Perrache. Accessible in 25 minutes from the airport to Part-Dieu station by the Rhônexpress shuttle (it's better to book your ticket in advance; it'll cost you less: https://www.rhonexpress.fr/en_GB/all-our-prices), Lyon is also accessible by train, and from Paris, it will take you less than two hours to get there. Want to reach the Beaujolais region? It will take you less than an hour, Avignon or Grenoble 1 hour 20 minutes, Montpellier and Marseille 1 hour 40 minutes, Annecy 2 hours, Geneva 2 hours 10 minutes, Nice 4 hours, and Bordeaux 5 hours. Long live the train! =)

Once you arrive, Lyon is perfectly connected: metro, tram, bus, funicular (cable car), and cycle paths.

Getting around

Getting around Lyon is pretty easy, thanks to its well-connected public transport, walkable streets, and bike-friendly paths. Here’s a breakdown of your options: metro (4 lines), trams (Efficient and great for reaching areas not covered by the metro), buses, funiculars.

Tip: Buy a TCL ticket (€2.10 for a single journey, valid for one hour, or daily or weekly passes) from the machines in metro/tram stations or use the "TCL E-Ticket" app. You can also pay by credit card directly in metro, trams and buses, like I do.

You will find all the information here: https://www.tcl.fr/en

Things to know

If will pick you up at the Lyon Part-Dieu or Perrache train station.
Together, we can use public transportation, ride a bike, or walk. If we have to use our car, you will be asked for a fee.

Cancellation policy

More than two months before the date of arrival: 100% refund – minus 65 EUR admin
fees.

Between 1 and 2 months prior to arrival: 50% refund – minus 65 EUR admin fees.

Less than one month before the arrival date: the student loses the entire sum, except if the stay can be rescheduled. If not possible, teacher will offer 15 hours of remote instruction.

What happens if I, Hélène, need to cancel my course? This has never happened… but in this eventuality, I would offer to arrange new course dates with you if possible, or if not, try to help find another teacher who could accommodate you. If I need to cancel your course, I will refund in full any money you have paid to me, but I cannot be held responsible for other payments you make, such as transportation or other accommodation costs. I recommend you take out a travel insurance policy which covers cancellation, alongside health coverage and theft insurance.

Payment method

The student will pay 40% of the total invoice or 50% for a long stay when booking (from two weeks) and the remaining 60% or 50%, one month before the date of arrival (by Wise or Revolut transfer ).
I regret that payment by bank transfer is not possible unless you are willing to cover the additional fees.
Student acknowledges that the booking will be finalized only when the 40% or 50% deposit is received.

Payments must be made through Wise or Revolut. Wise is an international wire transfer option that is usually much cheaper than what banks generally offer. If the student pays the booking by bank transfer, additional fees (25 EUR) will be added to the final price. The bank details to use are mentioned below:

IBAN: FR76 1027 8073 0100 0201 0040 174
BIC code (if requested): CMCIFR2A

Teacher's Website

https://www.linghomelyon.com/