OUR TEAM
Fred - Founder
Fred was born and raised in a rural environment in the village of Monflanquin in the Southwest of France. He holds dual citizenship from France and Canada. He was only 15 when he traveled to Senegal on a UNESCO program where he got to share the daily life of the locals in a remote African village. That experience had a deep impact and made him realize how much could be learned from natural interaction with people from different cultural backgrounds. Fred strongly believes that immersion is the best way to learn a language and a culture.
Following that experience, he became a restless traveler, visiting over 80 countries and living in seven through his studies and professional life. He has learned four languages by immersing himself in local culture and interacting with the locals. Fred holds a Master's Degree in Tourism Management from the University of Angers, France and a Graduate Certificate in International Education from the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont, USA. After 15 years traveling the world as a project manager in the event industry, he now teaches International Events Management to Graduate students and he is also a consultant with the World Health Organization (WHO).
​
Fred lives between Martinique and his native village of Monflanquin. He's very much looking forward to introducing you to his hometown and its community and sharing some great experiences together!
​
OUR TEAM IN MONFLANQUIN
Marion
French Teacher
Marion is a French woman who holds many keys. USB keys, car keys, door keys and most importantly, grammatical keys that will help you quickly improve your French (even though she swears she doesn't have a magic wand!).
​
After earning her Master’s Degree in 2003, she first worked in France with illiterate foreign teenagers, and then with students from Belarus, and in Guangzhou, China. She then worked in Warsaw, Poland with adults wishing to learn French out of curiosity or for work.
Now back in France in Lot-et-Garonne since 2011, she is still teaching French to students in engineering (among whom graduates from the école polytechnique), European residents and farm workers.
​
Marion is passionate about finding the right words. The objective in learning a language is to communicate, not to do grammar exercises. This is why Marion chooses her documents firstly because she likes them, because they are interesting and because they trigger a discussion, or bring back memories...then, she creates her activities so that the students can understand, in groups or alone, what is difficult, subtle, for them to make their general knowledge greater, for them to make this knowledge their own.
In a few words, Marion is not a fashionista, she has not studied philosophy in the Sorbonne, she does not have a cooking blog, she does not make her own bread but one thing she can do is give French lessons and make her students improve and advance!
​
​
Lucie
French Teacher
''Travel broadens the mind'' and brought Lucie to choose a teaching career. In 2011, Lucie decided to take a break from her university sign language interpreter studies. 'Leaving to be able to reflect and see clearer' is her only motto.
It's in New Zealand, on the other side of the planet, where she finally discovered her calling, thanks to the encounters and exchanges she had along the way. Upon returning to France, she began another Master’s Degree to become a teacher of French as a foreign language which she passed with flying colors in 2016. With her degree as an additional notch in her belt, she started teaching in the Czech Republic and then in Argentina in the ''Alliance Française'' offices. In 2018, she went back to France to the South West, to the place where she was born, where she now teaches students at the école polytechnique, newly arrived immigrants and illiterates from all nationalities.
Lucie has a genuine benevolent curiosity for others, she is open minded and tolerant.
Patient, she will always find a way to make you feel comfortable and to help you improve your French with varied and entertaining pedagogical resources and always in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
For her there is no such thing as a language barrier - she has a lot of experience in mime and in drawing. Get ready to be happy !
_JPG.jpg)
Thierry
Activities Coordinator
Thierry was born in Romans-sur-Isère in the South East of France. He studied foreign languages, journalism and a few years ago, he became certified as a teacher of French as a foreign language.
He has lived in several European countries such as Spain, England and Ireland before going back to his native France. He knows the region of Monflanquin like the back of his hand, and he will be responsible for arranging a series of cultural workshops in which members of the local community will share their culture, experience and ''know how'' with you. Thierry loves summer in Monflanquin. That time of the year is perfect to go kayaking on the Dordogne, eat delicious fresh oysters on Bassin d'Arcachon, browse the many farmer's markets, and enjoy free concerts in the warm summer nights. He particularly enjoys the medieval festival taking place in Monflanquin mid-August every year, where tourists join the locals for a weekend of historical celebrations.
Thierry will be your contact for the organization of all the activities part of the immersion program. He will keep his eyes wide open to ensure each moment you spend during your stay in Monflanquin is 100 percent local and authentic.
OUR TEAM IN MARTINIQUE
Morgane
French Teacher
Morgane was born in a small town in the Southwest of France. After completing her studies in Biarritz, she worked in la Réunion Island, a French territory in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
That experience convinced her to pursue a career that would allow her to live in different countries, while transmitting her passion for the French language. She moved to Granada, Spain where she became an accredited teacher of French as a Foreign Language and she's been calling Martinique home since 2020.
She has a great deal of experience as a French teacher. She worked in different language academies in Spain and taught at the Alliance Française of Granada for four years. She is also an official examiner and corrector for the DELF and DALF diplomas (the official diplomas awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify that foreign candidates have achieved a certain level of French). She currently works for different local universities, associations and online language academies.
Her passions are cooking, scuba diving and she also loves learning foreign languages, and discovering new cultures. Morgane is looking forward to welcoming you to the beautiful island of Martinique and to accompany you on your journey towards French fluency!
Kate
French Teacher
Born in California in the United States, Kate became passionate for languages and French cultures really early. She studied in San Diego and Aix-en-Provence where she specialized in French language and civilization, and where she passed her Teaching Credential (equivalent of CAPES in France) to teach French in California. After four years experience teaching in several high schools and in Alliance Française in the United States, she decided to pursue a Master's degree in French as a foreign language (FLE). Before starting her second year, she moved to Martinique to do her internship and produce her written research thesis.
She has been living in Martinique since 2017 where she teaches French to varied audiences (people from the Caribbean, middle school students, high school students and university students). She gives lectures in the Master FLE (French as a second language) at the University of the West Indies where she works as an accredited examiner for the official DELF exam. Since 2018, Kate has plunged into the adventure of a doctorate in science of languages at the West Indies University where she is investigating the representation of the different languages spoken in Martinique.
​
Kate is passionate about languages, sociolinguistic, but also break-dance, yoga and sailing sport.
Leslie
Housing Coordinator
Alex
Activities Coordinator
Leslie is your Housing coordinator. She was born and raised in Martinique and she knows the island like the back of her hand. She has been working passionately for 6 years in tourism and transportation, and she will be delighted to welcome you, greet you and organize your stay with local host-families especially selected to guarantee the best linguistic and cultural immersion experience.
If you prefer, she can also arrange your housing in an apartment close to the place close to your classroom in Trois-Ilets or at a hotel. Leslie can't wait to help you discover her island like a local! Feel free to contact her with any questions so she can organize the best stay for you!
Alexandre is a native of Martinique where he grew up and studied. He has always been passionate about languages and foreign cultures, having lived in Puerto Rico, Spain and the United States before coming back to his home, Martinique. He knows every corner of his island and he is ready to share the local culture and introduce you to his local customs and traditions. Alexandre never misses the carnival festivities, a major event in Martinique and recommends that you plan to be on the island at this period (19th to 22nd of February, 2023).
Alexandre is in charge of organizing activities which are part of the immersion program and he will be with you to make sure you can enjoy a 100 percent authentic experience during your stay in Martinique.