Why learn in a group?
A French group will appeal if you love the social aspect and supportive climate of learning French together. It’s also a learning situation where a variety in practise is possible.
On Thursday afternoons in Hythe, I run a group for Intermediate students some of whom can only attend on an irregular basis so even if you live or work part of the year in France you’ll be welcome to keep up your French when you’re back in Kent. This group runs online with offline meet-ups – get in touch if you’d like to join a group or if you want me to run one for you and your friends.
I have been taking lessons from Kathi once a week for about two years. I arrived as a mature student (mid-50s) with pitiful schoolgirl French. Kathi has been incredibly kind, supportive, witty and helpful in her teaching style. I like that the group is small so that we can go at our own pace rather than to fit a syllabus or an exam timetable. Kathi always knows how to make me feel like I have achieved something, no matter how small. I know my knowledge of the language has improved and consequently my confidence. She is especially helpful with the grammatical side of the language which I know I am poor at in English, let alone French. I hope to be able to continue my lessons with Kathi for the foreseeable future. I highly recommend Kathi.
Mandy – student with the Intermediate Group
An Advanced group
I have stayed in contact with many of the students in my Advanced group in Surrey which had run for over 250 sessions when I lived there. We continue to practise their French on Wednesday nights online. We even meet up in person every now and then when I run extended sessions on a theme of their choice. In the last few years we’ve successfully managed a weekly session using Zoom and Whereby.
Here’s what some of them think about learning in a group:
“I have attempted to learn French many times and in many different ways over the years. I can honestly say that Kathi’s Wednesday group has definitely been the most enjoyable way of doing so by far, and my French has improved hugely too!” – Di
“Our French group has gone from strength to strength, and it was easier for me to notice the progress of others in the class until I went to France on holiday. Kathi has recently been playing us French news which we have to break down and translate. She also encourages us to speak French all the time. The net result is that I could understand people much better, speak much more fluently than ever before. I could even understand the radio to some extent, which I had never really been able to do before. The other thing that had often floored me was talking on the phone and this I did quite confidently. She is incredibly nice and friendly, but manages to be strict with us as well which is just as well when we try to lapse into English!” – Frances
Peter speaks:
“For over a year now I have been the only man at the Advanced level classes. I am always made very welcome by the lovely ladies and enjoy the light-hearted banter – en français bien sûr! Kathi is a wonderful teacher and a lovely lady too. Being English she is able to immediately identify our difficulties and what we are trying to say which to me is very important. I particularly enjoy it when un vrai français turns up (often in UK to learn English-long story) at the class to witness our efforts in speaking their beautiful language. Free pronunciation lessons! One thing troubles me though. It seems I am the official supplier of chocolates to the class. Although “les filles” are always on a diet (!) they seem to disappear quickly. And I don’t even touch their wine! Great fun – come along and enjoy” – Peter
I do get enquiries from students who’d prefer to learn in a group. If you’d like to be part of a group do get in touch. I’m very happy to set one up if there are 3 of you of a broadly similar level. If you are part of a self-run French group and need an injection of ideas I can certainly help!