From Bonjour to Brilliance: Voices of The French Room

I’ve been teaching French for many years—but this year marks 10 years since I opened The French Room.

It’s more than just a school. It’s a place people come back to—week after week, year after year—because something about it sticks. The community. The rhythm. The belief that you really can speak French, no matter when or where in your learning you start.

That belief doesn't happen overnight and it doesn't happen in isolation. It comes from being part of a community of people, like you, who are determined to speak French.

I’ve been teaching French for a long time—but I’ve never taken for granted what it means when someone shows up, week after week, ready to learn especially when I can see the preparation that they have put in before a class.

The French Room might be my school—but the people who come here make it somewhere special to learn.

Curiosity. Consistency. Encouragement. Grit. Kindness.

Those are some of the words that I would use to describe the qualities that I see week in week out. It's an inspiration to me and I've learnt a lot from experiencing it over the years.

I see you keep going when you are frustrated or make a mistake you think you shouldn't have done. Turn up when it has been hard. Supporting each other in French and personally. Ready to take risks, make mistakes, and brave enough to turn French into something you can actually use—with confidence and pride.