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Private French Lessons for adults

Whether you're a beginner dreaming of one day moving abroad, or an intermediate learner who wants to feel more confident and express your personality, private French lessons can help you…

  • Strengthen your speaking and conversational skills

  • Improve your accent and pronunciation 

  • Get ready to move to a Francophone country or region

  • Take the next step in your career 

  • Reconnect with the French language as an adult (For former French majors/minors, former French Immersion students, etc.)

  • Enjoy the cognitive benefits of language learning, such as reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s 

  • Learn French for fun! 

Learning French through private lessons means that you’ll benefit from:

  • A bespoke, customized learning experience: Each lesson is planned according to your unique interests and goals, whether that’s travel, current events, literature, or something else! My students work on things like reading about the history of the Loire valley châteaux, the 20th century artistic movement of “Fauvisme,” reading French poetry out loud to improve their pronunciation — and focused grammar lessons tailored to their individual needs. 

  • Ample opportunities to speak and converse: Unlike in a larger group setting, where you may only get to say a few sentences out loud per class, you’ll have the whole session to practice speaking. This allows you to build confidence and improve your pronunciation much more quickly! 

  • Focused 1:1 attention: You’ll get undivided attention and personalized feedback from an experienced educator, who can answer your specific questions about vocabulary, grammar, and culture. I can quickly correct your mistakes before they become bad habits (but I also believe every ‘mistake’ is just a learning opportunity!) and I will be there to help you celebrate the progress that you make each and every session! 


Cecile is a wonderful and caring French instructor. She is patient, kind and teaches her students to their strengths and interests. I enjoy the conversation parts of my class as much as the grammar and reading parts. I  look forward to each meeting even when I have homework to correct!! :)

— Margaret H, current student

Private French Lessons could be a good fit for you if…

  • You've been using the apps, but are getting frustrated with the lack of explanations and no good opportunities to practice your pronunciation or have a conversation

  • You want to feel more confident doing things like ordering food, buying train tickets or renting a car, or communicating with your AirBnb host (And you might also want to check out the Traveller’s Special!)

  • You miss having French be part of your day-to-day life

  • You've always wanted to learn French but weren't sure where or how to start

  • You're looking for a new hobby that is not only fun, but has significant health benefits in terms of cognition and mental wellbeing

  • You want to work with an experienced educator who is invested in your success and can make the process fun!

Meet your French teacher

Cecile is a great French tutor who reignited my passion for the language after a decade-long hiatus. Having studied French for ten years in the past, I was afraid about my rusty skills, but Cecile's understanding and tailored approach made all the difference. She recognized my perfectionist tendencies and smartly structured our sessions to include half an hour of pure conversation without corrections, followed by focused grammar practice on tenses I wanted help with. This balance allowed me to expand my vocabulary and, most importantly, feel safe to make mistakes, which significantly boosted my confidence. Cecile's guidance has been instrumental in my journey back to fluency.

— Michelle M, senior compliance analyst

Bonjour ! Je m’appelle Cecile.

I’m an educator with 8 years of experience working with adult learners and youth. I started my career teaching at a Lycée (equivalent to grades 10-12), as well as teaching BTS coursework (equivalent to community college) in southeastern France.

Since coming to Canada in 2018, I have also done work in instructional design, curriculum development, and educational advising, including previously serving as an Education Advisor to the British Columbia Office of the Human Rights Commissioner. 

I am passionate about language acquisition and love seeing my students learn, grow, and progress. You can learn more about me here! 


From mastering basic phrases to fluently expressing yourself in conversations, our lessons will cover:

  • Grammar: Build a solid foundation with clear explanations and practical exercises. 

  • Vocabulary: Learn essential words and phrases relevant to your interests and needs, including slang and fun, informal verbal expressions.

  • Reading comprehension: Read short or long texts related to your personal interests, whether that’s gastronomy, art history, or social issues. 

  • Conversational practice: If you want to speak French, then you have to… speak French! :) You’ll have lots of opportunities to practice speaking during our sessions. 

  • Pronunciation: Refine your pronunciation and intonation to speak with confidence and clarity. We can work on those pesky “R” sounds, nasal vowels, and more.

  • Cultural Insights: Explore the nuances of La Francophonie from France to Québec, enhancing your comprehension and appreciation of the language.


How It Works

  1. Assessment: We begin with a brief, informal assessment of your current proficiency level and learning objectives. (Exception: Complete beginners with no prior experience learning French will not need to complete an assessment.)

  2. Customized Lesson Plans: I create personalized lesson plans, designed to help you achieve your goals and enjoy the process along the way.

  3. Interactive Lessons: Engage in dynamic one-on-one sessions tailored to your needs, focussing on the skills that are important to you.

  4. Checking In: I ask for your feedback, and strive to continually improve your learning experience as we work together. 

  5. Support & Resources: If desired, get personalized recommendations of podcasts, online articles, music, and more to reinforce your learning. 

Cecile provides a warm and inviting learning experience. From her personalized approach to her well-thought out lesson plans, Cecile will help you improve your French level while speaking and writing about the things you are most passionate about. With these personalized lessons, I was able to think and communicate in French comfortably and confidently.

— Kirsten H, student preparing to move to Genève (French-speaking Switzerland)

We offer single lessons (book as-needed), and bundles of 5, 10, and 15 lessons.

Each lesson is 1 hour long, and lessons must be completed within 6 months of purchase date.

Lessons are available in-person in the Lonsdale neighbourhood of North Vancouver. 

For more information, including pricing, please use the button below to contact us.

You can also check out the FAQ, or reach out at FrenchAvecCecile@gmail.com.

Ready to get started?

Whether you're looking to shake off the rust, advance your career, or want to learn French for personal enrichment, private lessons will give you the tools you need to reach your goals.