French learning Immersion Stay in France

Destination French

Come to France to practice your French in an authentic and convivial ambiance!

A unique combination of intense language practice and cultural exchange, with holiday vibes.

The concept

Speak French and only French for one week.
Stay away from academic classes, and learn only through fun activities, and conversation.
Meet up with other learners and native speakers in an informal environment to practice French without pressure.
Learn more about the French culture by experiencing it!
Get more confident about your French skills by putting your knowledge into practice.

How will you improve your French?

Participating to a

thematic workshop everyday

The chance for you to enlarge your vocab and deepen your knowledge.

Every workshop is enhanced by a

fun outdoor and cultural activity.

Talking with

native French speakers

The participation of my friends and family makes Destination French a rich cultural and linguistic exchange.

Cease the opportunities to engage meaningful conversations with French native speakers in a friendly environment.

Having a

daily debriefing

Every night while enjoying a great French tradition, l'apéro, we will share about the experiences lived during the day.

I will be happy to provide you with my expertise in French to answer any questions about the language.

Counting with

my constant support

I will be next to you at any time but I will interfere as little as possible.

I'll prick up my ears to catch your French prose, take some notes for the debriefing and encourage you to convey your message with your own knowledge.

This is what the former participants say about Destination French:

Stavroula

The week had it all and gave me the wonderful opportunity to meet not only Céline, but also Alex, Ben, Hélène, David, Max, and Martine. French, English, and Greeks got together to chat in French, drink wine and, of course, eat lots of cheese!

Even though I'm an A2 student and not very sure of my language skills, I was surprised when, after a few hours, I was able to understand the guided tours, ask questions, and even take part in conversations. I'm leaving Anduze feeling confident, with a richer vocabulary and some great memories!

With Destination French, I fell even more in love with French and French culture. Thank you Céline for this incredible experience! Until next time!

Check out more pictures of the previous editions by visiting the blog posts I published after each immersion week:

First edition: June 2022

Second edition: June 2022

Third edition: June 2024

Who am I ?

My name is Céline Art, I am a qualified teacher for French and Spanish since 2010. I designed the linguistic immersion stay Destination French in order to fulfill a need I perceive in my students' practice, as well as to combine all my skills and likes in a single experience. After many years of teaching French in 1-to-1 classes to adult students, I noticed that they don't get good opportunities to practice their French with native French speakers. Often, this is because they are surrounded by English-speaking people or their native language. Therefore, their practice, is limited to small interactions. For many people, this limitation is frustrating. That's why I try as much as possible to bring the authenticity of the language into my classes. Nevertheless, some dimensions of the language and the culture can only be reached by experiencing them in person and in an authentic environment. As an expat and a language learner myself, I know the importance of being immersed in a language to improve it fast. Not having a getaway language to express ourselves, or understand what people say, awakes our survival superpowers, and that's when we learn way faster! Destination French aims to reproduce this situation. I assure you that this experience will definitely boost your confidence in speaking French, increase your level, and give you the satisfaction of having a deep cultural exchange with local people. The stay is entirely designed by me. This is an aspect of the experience I propose that goes beyond the frame of my professional activity as a teacher, but it is a great occasion for me to unleash my passion for organizing trips and bringing people together. I am a confirmed traveler. I chose to practice my profession online to give myself the scope to travel the world and unceasingly discover new cultures and places. This lifestyle nourishes my soul, and planning a trip is one of the most enjoyable things I can do. I plan my own trips and the one of my relatives who come visit me wherever I am. I take so much pleasure in showing them around and sharing everything I love about the place with them. That's the feeling I want to share with the participants of Destination French.

Where does it take place?

Destination French students enjoting a ride in the steam train of Anduze

Anduze, le Gard

Anduze is a very picturesque small village situated 70 km away from the Mediterranean coast in the South of France. Called the gate of les Cévennes, it is on the edge of two very different kinds of landscapes. To the South, the garrigue is a hilly region in which lands are covered by fragrant bushy plants like rosemary or thyme, as well as vineyards. To the North, the Cévennes, a mountain region covered with thick forests and crisscrossed by freshwater streams.

This natural richness as well as the strong historical and cultural heritage of the area give us a wonderful playground to have some adventures and discover more about French culture.

Be my guest in cozy guesthouses

By choosing to participate in the collective stay, you will be hosted by my parents and dear friends, Max and Martine in one of their guesthouses. This lovely couple, always up for a chat with their guests, transformed part of their farmhouse, surrounded by vineyards and olive plantations, into cozy guesthouses. There, you will enjoy the meals on the terrace and, in your free time, relax beside the swimming pool. You will have your private bedroom and share the common areas, bathroom, kitchen, and living.

Destination French guesthouse living room at max and Martine's place

Destination French swimming pool at my parent's place

Destination French guesthouse living room at my parent's place

If you opt for the private stay, you will be hosted at my parents' guesthouse. Their cozy studio, 2 steps away from their own house, is composed of a double bedroom, 1 bathroom, and a kitchen, open on the living room. From the swimming pool, you will enjoy a stunning view of the mountain range and the Tornac Castell. As Max and Martine, my parents enjoy their role as hosts and be happy to engage in conversations with you.

What makes Destination French so special?

The intimate ambiance

During Destination French, you'll join me, my parents, Max and Martine, and be part of our lives for one week. We'll share meals altogether, have fun playing pétanque, go for a walk, or chill on the river shore.

You will get many occasions to have deep conversations about meaningful topics as well as frivolous chitchats brightened up by my father's puns. You will learn the difference between an accent from the North through my mom and an accent from the South through Max and Martine. Don't worry, if you can't understand them, you can still talk with me and my dad, we are normal people!

Max and Martine will be thrilled to take you for a tour of their lands, planted with vines and olive trees, and initiate you to olive oil tasting. A very unique experience!

Destination French student enjoying a barbecue at the guesthouse

Destination French student engaging conversation with a French native speaker

Homemade French food at Destination French guesthouse

Homemade French food workshop for Destination French students

The home food

We all agree that one of the biggest pleasures of spending time in France is to eat. Nevertheless, opportunities to taste homemade food are rare when you come as a tourist.

We are lucky to be located near from one of the best bakeries I know in France. I will make sure to bring you a selection of viennoiseries and baguettes every morning, served with my mom's homemade marmalade and a comforting filter coffee. Mmmm... The perfect way to start the day off on the right foot!

When coming back to the guest house, we'll take some time to relax and share the traditional Apéro, described by a Scottish blogger as "a tradition as deeply ingrained in French culture as strikes and adultery". Well, I don't know about adultery, but I agree with the strikes part!

For dinner, my mom and I will cook you our best recipes, the ones that you won't find on fancy restaurant menus but that will fill your heart and soul.

A different way to learn

Destination French is the opportunity for the participants to practice their French in a friendly and laid back environment. You will disconnect from work, relax, have fun, and learn at the same time. On the program: vélorail, wine tasting, gastronomical experiences, museums, art venues, river swims, bucolic walks, farmer market, and much more!

Far from academic classes, in Destination French, I won't bother you with grammar unless you ask me to do so! I will let you talk and express your ideas on your own so, at the end of the conversation, the whole merit to convey your message will be yours. Believe me, this will bring you a huge satisfaction, and it is easier than you think!