I have spoken French since the age of 13, I majored in French in college, and it became my passion to speak it fluently, like a native. I was drawn to the language by remarkable instructors and professors who shared their enthusiasm with me. I learned the fun of specificity - finding the precise word to express my thoughts - and loved the grammar (how wild is that? - but true!).
I studied French at the Sorbonne during my sophomore year at the University of Illinois; it was a serious experience and there where I perfected my accent and dug deeply into the grammar and structure of the language.
I lived in France for seven years after college, immersing myself in the culture and community, avoiding Americans to the degree possible.
My children continued my passion and attended bilingual schools; both are fluent in French.
I have spoken, read, and written French ever since, with friends from my years in France, with the French communities in the US, and through my most recent employment at the French Library Alliance Française of Boston.
My tutoring style varies with the personality and need of the student, but I am serious about the subject. Language is not something one can learn without practice, and it requires not only understanding the concept, but using the language. But learning French is much more than rote memorization, and my goal is always to make it fun. After all, in many ways, we are just having a conversation!