Happy students - Des élèves heureux 🙂
Part of About | Learn French with Anne
Here are a few comments left by happy students, some of them repeating students as we had such a good time together.
How do you find the site? How would you rate Anne’s teaching?
Add Your Testimony below
After many years and several attempts to learn French, a friend guided me to Anne Guevel. Anne has transformed my language learning experience! She tailors her lessons to my actual life and moves at a pace that fits my professional schedule. Anne brings joy and fun to every session, and I’m finally learning French! Some people are called to teaching. Anne is one of them. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
– Lori C. in the USA
Vous m’avez donné la confiance en moi pour diriger un appel d’encadrement tout en français pour un client aujourd’hui ! C’était comme un échange normal au niveau de la conversation, mais en français !
5 stars across the board – I’ve come across a few sites that teach French, but this is one that I always come back. It’s my “go to” website. I got hooked on the mot du jour early on and have taken classes with Anne. I have 2 teenage kids and spend a lot of time on the road taking them places. I can’t do as much class work as I like but there is a lot of material that can be listened while in the car or having a coffee. The French language is not easy to learn for me, but Anne makes it easier. I’ve been lucky to go to France on holiday and I usually get into some funny conversations. That doesn’t bother me or the French. If you make the effort to speak French, the French will be very accommodating. After all, they had to learn it themselves and they know that it can be challenging”.
– Robert B in Ireland.
Your site looks great. Now that our French class is starting again next week after the summer holidays, I will be using it a lot.
I think of you often. Hans and I are always talking about our wonderful times in France. We hope we can go again. We may be able to make another trip.
Best wishes to you.
Bises,
– Yvonne S. in Australia
I have very much enjoyed your podcasts. I am a language teacher myself (Spanish and English) and find your podcasts, along with News in Slow French (Spanish/Italian), to be the best resources online. There is very little out there for the advanced french student, so your work is very useful to me and my classmates.
– Veronica R.
I had heard about Anne’s programmes from Yvonne, who found her first immersion immensely valuable. She was also planning a second one, so this in itself speaks highly of Anne. My husband just happened to have a conference in Paris, so what better follow up than to be immersed in Thourie. Anne was so cheerfully flexible in the planning stages, even when we added an extra trip several weeks out from the commencement. We visited Rennes several times. We hauled her to Mont St Michel, then to Concarneau, taking in Rochefort en Terre and Pont Aven. Thence to Carnac to see the stunning stones. She adapted the programme to our interests the whole time, adding personalised videos and excursions because she noticed an interest. She also was so patient with me, consistently instilling confidence, constantly encouraging me to voice my thoughts in French. Her skills as a teacher are patently evident. She is extremely organised, has vast resources prepared for easy access and is consistently cheerful and positive. We adored the accommodation. Such an authentic experience but with all the comforts and cleanliness to put one at ease. And the food!!! I wish we could bottle her and take her home. Anne has high order interpersonal skills and will cater to all requirements… large, small and quirky. We are so glad we came.
– Mary M. in Australia
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I am Mary’s husband Andris, Mary has written above about our experience with Anne and I would just like to add a few words. Anne’s Farmhouse accommodation is located in a lovely, peaceful spot near the village of Thourie. I found staying and relaxing at the Gite while Mary undertook lessons with Anne extremely pleasant. Our trips away were wonderful, a day trip to Mont Sant Michel and a two day trip to Rochefort – on -terre, Port Avon and Concarneau. Then a visit to Carnac to see the Menhirs was stunning.
Anne was charming and flexible (coping cheerfully with last minute alteration). We relished the cooking sessions and were able to take home some wonderful ideas for deserts and souffle.
– Andris K. in Australia
My time here at FrenchHour has far exceeded my expectations. Anne is a great teacher and the teaching environment is very relaxed yet structured.
I have never been to Europe so I didn’t know what to expect when I got here. Thourie and the surrounding villages are very interesting and date back to the 17th century and beyond. Just walking around is an education in it’s self.
I would recommend to anyone to come and experience FrenchHour and all it has to offer for your french learning needs. It is worth it!
– Mike T. in the USA
Just to add to Yvonne. I am her husband who shared the experiences shown below.
I cannot but sing the praises of our host teacher and guide Anne, she goes out of her way to make the hours and days interesting and stimulating, not only does one learn the language but one is exposed to the culture and the beauty of the region. I can thoroughly recommend seven days of being chauffeured and guided through this beautiful part of Brittany.
– Hans S.
The activities in my immersion course were suggested by Anne after I told her about my interests and the things I wanted to see. We arrived at an itinerary that included museums, cultural activities, markets, gardens and tasting experiences with local foods. On Sunday, Anne met me at the train station in Rennes and we went to Thourie, a small village in the country about half an hour from Rennes. It is a lovely peaceful spot. My accommodation was simple, clean and comfortable.
The next day we set off for Pont Aven on the South coast of Brittany where we planned to spend the first night. On the way we stopped at Rochefort-en-Terre, a beautiful village with views of the surrounding country. Pont Aven is a lovely village where Gauguin set up an artists’ colony and works from the group can be found in the local museum. We had a gourmet meal at Sur Le Pont in the evening and our hotel breakfast the next morning contained a variety of delicious local specialties.
The following three nights were spent in Quimper, once again in a comfortable hotel. We went to two great museums and took a guided tour of a famous pottery workshop. One afternoon we wandered through a beautiful English style garden in nearby Combrit, where I took a video of noisy happy frogs in the aquatic garden. What a treat!
Back in Rennes on Saturday we joined the locals at the ‘grand marché’. We saw four or five weddings at the Mairie, and enjoyed the performances of the street artists.
I really enjoyed my week with Anne in Brittany. She looked after me so well and made everything easy. It was a wonderful experience and I learned lots of French.
– Yvonne S.
It was a lovely stay with Anne, again, in the Breton countryside surrounded by rolling hills of green in December. This was my second IPF with Anne, and I enjoyed it as much as my first. The accommodations were very comfortable, and the food was delicious and plentiful. Most importantly, we spoke French every day, and Anne patiently helped me to constantly improve. I look forward to returning soon for a third immersion stay!
– Kathy K. in the USA
Which French Hour products did you use?
Online Courses
Online Quizzes
Tutorials with Anne
French Immersion Program
How Would You Rate Our Lessons?
Excellent
How Would You Rate Anne’s Teaching?
Excellent
Testimony
What a week Anne and I had on my IPF-VIP! Anne planned an itinerary that somehow managed to include all of the places I had said I would like to see.
We started with a visit to Anne’s small village of Thourie and the nearby bustling capital city of Rennes. The next day, we hopped into her hardy little car and headed west. We savored galettes, a traditional Breton dish, in the picturesque village of Rochefort-en-Terre. Further down the road, we took a stroll along narrow cobbled streets in the walled city of Vannes.
We stayed overnight in medieval Quimper, with its magical square, soaring cathedral and flower-bedecked quays. We paid a visit to the Henriot-Quimper faïencerie, which, for centuries, has made colorful hand-painted pottery.
We then headed out to Crozon, on the western tip of France. Along the way, we stopped at the village of Douarnenez, where a small bakery makes the best Kouign-amann in the country. (The sweet and buttery pastry is shipped daily to Paris). In Crozon, we came across just the sort of small bookstore I had hoped to find. The cozy shop had the latest French publications, calendars and magazines.
As we drove back to Thourie, we stopped at Pont-Aven, a 19th-century haven and inspiration for Paul Gauguin and other artists of the impressionist school. As you can imagine, the town’s museum is a little gem.
After a night in my comfortable quarters at Les Burons, Anne’s family farm, we headed to the seaside city of Saint-Malo, once home to privateers. I walked the granite ramparts that enclose the historic section of the city, which is known as Intra-Muros. It was rebuilt stone by stone after its complete destruction during World War II. Today, it is a shopping paradise, where I found gifts from placemats to classic striped Breton tops, for family and friends. Later, Anne and I took advantage of low tide and trekked out to the tidal island of Grand Bé to visit the tomb of François-René de Chateaubriand, a 19th-century writer, historian and diplomat.
Anne chose three charming French hotels. Our accommodations in Crozon and Saint-Malo offered breathtaking ocean views, and their restaurants served superb gourmet meals. One evening, Anne put together an equally delicious French picnic.
The Bretons are friendly and relaxed. They have truly preserved a way of life, from their architecture and rolling countryside to the patisseries, art galleries, bistros and small shops lining historic squares and lanes.
Of course, an important goal of my visit was to gain more fluency in French. Anne made certain that would happen. We spoke only in French, and she employed her inventive and effective teaching methods to make me comfortable speaking with the many people we encountered. She has a great gift for setting up her students to succeed.
My French fluency was truly tested when I arrived at Charles DeGaulle Airport to fly back to Boston. The lines everywhere were long and tempers were short. Many people had very little time to make their flights, including a shy woman just behind me. She spoke no English and was very worried. I urged her – in French – to inquire if she could be put into a much shorter line that was dedicated to business class passengers. She succeeded, and, as she disappeared through a gate, she turned, smiled and waved. Un bon moment pour moi!
Anne is a warm and friendly companion who is full of good humor and fun. I will savor the memories of a week in Brittany with Anne.
– Pam S. in the USA
Which French Hour products did you use?
Online Courses
Online Quizzes
Tutorials with Anne
Forums
How Would You Rate Our Lessons?
Excellent
How Would You Rate Anne’s Teaching?
Excellent
Testimony
Mon IPF
Il y a plusieurs années, j’ai commencé à apprendre le français avec beaucoup d’enthousiasme. La langue est difficile, bien sûr, mais je ne rigole pas avec le français.
C’est pourquoi j’aime l’idée d’un IPF avec Anne. Mais pour moi, il n’est pas possible d’aller en France pendant la majeure partie de l’année. Donc, j’ai demandé à Anne si elle pourrait envisager un IPF pour moi toute seule. Je veux également faire des progrès aussi vite que possible. Parler français sans cesse pendant une semaine, ça sera incroyable.
Anne et moi, nous sommes en train d’organiser mon IPF. Je veux voir plusieurs endroits en Bretagne — Quimper, Saint-Malo, Rennes et peut-être Crozon.
Je vais avoir un séjour vraiment linguistique et culturel — et avec Anne. Quoi de mieux? Je vous raconterai toutes mes aventures quand je reviendrai.
My IPF
Several years ago, I began studying French with great dedication. The language is difficult, to be sure, but I am serious about my goal to speak French fluently.
That’s why I really like the idea of an immersion program with Anne. Unfortunately, I cannot go to France during most of the year. For that reason, I asked Anne if she could consider an immersion program just for me. Equally important, I want to make progress as quickly as possible. Speaking French continually for a week would be incredible.
Anne and I together are planning my immersion week. I want to visit several places in Brittany, among them Quimper, Saint-Malo, Rennes and perhaps Crozon.
I’m going to have a true linguistic and cultural experience — and with Anne. What could be better? I’ll tell you all about it when I return.
– Pam S.
Which French Hour products did you use?
French Immersion Program
How Would You Rate Our Lessons?
Excellent
How Would You Rate Anne’s Teaching?
Excellent
Testimony
A really first class week in and around Thourie under Anne’s excellent guidance. Due to all the difficulties in France, the strikes, lack of petrol, Anne had to really redo the IPF program from scratch. This involved walks and biking around the area and meeting plenty of local people- what a delight!
Anne put so much energy and passion into the revised programme but was also incredibly patient in correcting my mistakes and helping to develop my spoken French. She also got a non- cooking guy into the kitchen and we had some excellent food and wine.
Top marks for a great teacher and a great hostess- wish I could do it all over again!
-Colin G. in England
Dear Anne
I am a regular listener to your podcasts. I want to thank you for making the audios free, explaining the vocabulary and giving me the chance to improve my pronunciation. I take down the vocabulary, listen and then write out the transcript. I am always learning with your update information, your colloquial expressions and new vocabulary. Your podcasts are also very entertaining and funny. They help me learn about France culture and society, and relax when I have time for myself. Regards, Blanca G-P (trilangue!)
Website content meets my needs: Excellent
Worksheets content: Excellent
Worksheets navigation: Excellent
Overall website navigation: Excellent
Log in and log out: Excellent
Audio files: Excellent
-Blanca G-P
I have been studying French with Anne since June, 2015, with the goal of learning as much of the language as possible. Thanks to Anne’s impressive teaching skills, I have made remarkable progress. In fact, I just received my DELF certification level B1, awarded by the French Ministry of Education, which is the level required to apply for French citizenship. Anne has a unique ability to convey complex grammatical concepts in straightforward, easily understandable terms. For example, her explanation of French pronominal verbs is quite simply the best I have ever heard. Anne brings enormous energy and hard work to her lessons, and her obvious love of teaching her native French shines throughout everything she does. She is always happy to tailor her lessons to the student’s individual abilities and goals. Without question, Anne is the teacher you need if you want to realize your full potential in learning the French language.
-Greg H. in the USA
I started studying French several years ago and had concluded that I would probably never be able to converse in the language. Then I started working with Anne via Skype and taking French Hour courses. What a difference! Anne’s methods are intriguing, entertaining – and most important – highly effective. Her videos build aural comprehension through tools she has developed, all while providing glimpses of daily life in France. In three short months I have made progress I never though possible. Anne’s methods are unique. If you want to learn French, this is the way to go.
-Pam S.
Just got back from a wonderful total immersion class with Anne. A group of us have taken 5 years of classes from Anne and have really made progress. She is a patient, intelligent and fun teacher. The total immersion class held at her family farm in Brittany was fabulous. We stayed at the farm, took classes in the morning, excursions around Brittany in the afternoons, and then cooked meals for our group that were regional favorites. Check out her Pinterest boards to see what a great time we had in Brittany. Her family farm was comfortable as well as beautiful. She has an ability to teach a group with varying skill levels, so don’t be afraid to take her immersion class.
-Jeana H.
French immersion with Anne in Thourie was great! The activities were varied, challenging and enjoyable. I loved the excursions with little tests along the way. Anne has boundless energy and a passion for the language and culture that comes through in her teaching. She is thorough, well prepared and adjusts her teaching methods to the needs of the students. With her patience and encouragement I achieved my goal of gaining confidence in speaking French. Anne’s group management skills are formidable! I admired the way she organized all our class activities, cooking sessions and excursions. She was able to get us all working together in a very short time. I met some lovely people and learned a lot of French. Thank you Anne for taking care of us and thank you for working so hard to make our time in Thourie so much fun.
-Yvonne S.
I have been learning French with Anne via Skype for around four years and I must say that Anne is an exceptional teacher with an endless array of material and tools to keep me motivated. Whilst the focus of my lessons is conversation, we also cover the other language disciplines as well. The lessons are tailored for me with specific exercises to address my weaknesses. I go to France every year and have very little difficulty understanding my friends speak even when in a group and speaking ‘every day’ French – I know that this is 100% a result of my lessons with Anne. I cannot recommend her highly enough. Merci Anne, à mardi !
-Christine H. in Australia
I just attended a full week immersion program with Anne at the farm in Thourie. It was am amazing experience. Not only is Anne an exceptional teacher, she is a wonderful guide for all of Bretagne. She put her heart and soul into the program and her love for the culture and language is profound and infectious. I came away with a renewed desire to improve my French language skills as well as a wonderful memories of the trip. Her patient and flexible approach to the course made it easy for all. Her sense of fun and enthusiasm are a natural gift and I strongly recommend this program to anyone with an interest in a unique and very personal approach to French language and cultural immersion.
-Katie R.
Thank you Anne for your lessens! I have been learning French with Anne for 3 months with Skype to get used to French before I go to the country. I enjoyed her lessons and made a progress. She is intelligent, can cover any subjects to talk about and very patient. I understood my weak points and how to study from now on.
I appreciate her lessons.
-Ritsuko K. in Japan
Dear Anne!
I am very glad I am learning French with you! Your courses are very valuable and useful material. All I must do now just to learn it properly(!)I shall work and try hard! Merci, Anne.
I appreciate her lessons.
-Laura O. in Russia (?)
Anne is the best French language teacher who I have ever met. She is very professional. Her lessons are worth every penny. If you are serious about learning French, don’t look no further. She is a real gem.
-Yoko T. in Japan
I have been taking classes with Anne for 5 years and, it has not only been a great learning experience, it has actually been fun. Anne’s methods are way more interesting than French in college and she makes a lot more sense and I know that, if I put the time in, I can really make progress. She seems to have a work sheet on almost everything I have difficulty with and continues to add to them everyday. Thanks Anne.
-Janice L.
I studied french with Anne for almost 2 years. She is an exceptional teacher with so many tools that make learning french clear and easy. Any question you have can be answered with one of her organized and concise worksheets. Anne is skilled at teaching from beginning to advanced students. I have tried a few french study programs including classes at my high school and rosetta stone, and I can honestly say that Anne’s lessons were far superior to both of those. She is a lovely person and a patient teacher.
-Thea G. in Sweden (?)
I have studied French for ten months. Most has been on my own, using Rosetta Stone, various audio sources, and various grammar texts. The most intensive was two days of Immersion French at a local Alliance Francaise. Personal instruction from Anne has included the best of all of these techniques, and none of the downsides. I get personal attention without having to get the words exactly right, right now; I get suggestions when I need them, but I can take the time to try to get the phrases out myself; I get gentle pointers supplied in a supportive manner. Along the way, I get insights into the French and the French culture. In two sessions, I’ve begun to develop a sense of confidence that I haven’t had in ten months of study. I can feel it starting to come together.
-Bill R.
Merci, Anne!! I have studied French with Rosetta Stone, Berlitz, and the Alliance Francaise and Anne is by far the best teacher with the best process of any. You learn very practical French in a supportive and fun way and she has fantastic tools to augment the lessons. I really look forward to my weekly lessons; each one is custom designed for where I am and what I need. Anne is very creative in using different learning methodologies with a focus on getting you to speak the language. When there’s an important grammar rule she explains it in a clear way with lots of examples. She’s a fantastic teacher … and her teaching is totally current unlike most French text and workbooks.
-Barrie D.
Add Your Testimony
Did you have a great experience on French Hour or working directly with Anne? Please let us know! We’d love to feature your testimony on our Testimonials page!