Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide private tutoring in French?
Yes! I provide private tutoring in French, customizing each session to meet your unique learning goals.
What levels of French do you teach?
I teach students at all levels of French, ranging from complete beginners to Advanced Placement (AP) and beyond. As a Certified French Teacher (K–12), I have experience working with learners of different ages and abilities, including elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as adults.
Whether a student is learning French for the first time, studying the language in school, preparing for an exam, or aiming to improve conversational fluency, I tailor each lesson to their individual objectives and learning style.
Do you teach French lessons in person?
Yes! I teach French lessons in person, meeting students at locations like coffee shops or public libraries.
Do you offer French lessons online?
Yes! I offer French lessons online via Zoom, so students can learn the language from the comfort and convenience of home.
My friends and I would like to learn French together. What options are available?
Students can enroll in classes for pairs or small groups, making it easy to learn French together in a collaborative setting.
How would you describe your approach to teaching French?
My approach to teaching French is communicative and standards-based, congruent with the proficiency guidelines established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
In particular, I design lessons that promote meaningful interaction, feature authentic materials, and encourage participation in practical tasks. This approach allows students to use the target language in real-life contexts instead of memorizing grammatical rules or learning vocabulary in a vacuum.
What does a communicative approach look like in practice?
In my French lessons, I apply a communicative approach by:
1. Cultivating meaningful interaction in the target language
Together, we use French to tackle real-world challenges. Activities are creative, dynamic, open-ended, and purposeful. For instance, students might debate a "hot" topic with their peers, describe their ideal job, explain how to make a favorite recipe, organize a service project, participate in a skit, plan a dream vacation, produce a puppet show, or retell a story — all in the target language.
2. Highlighting authentic materials
I weave authentic cultural products from French-speaking countries into the fabric of instruction, including tangible items like advertisements, art, fashion, food, household goods, maps, menus, schedules, scientific artifacts, and technological innovations. I also draw attention to intangible cultural elements, such as literature, media, philosophy, politics, and religion.
3. Designing task-based activities
For example, students participate in role-plays (les jeux de rôle) that reflect real-world scenarios, such as:
• Asking for directions in an unfamiliar location
• Checking in for a flight at the airport
• Describing symptoms at a doctor's appointment
• Expressing food preferences
• Going through customs and immigration
• Mailing a letter at the post office
• Making a hotel reservation
• Navigating a job interview
• Opening a bank account
• Placing an order at a bistro or café
• Purchasing tickets for a concert
• Renting a car in a foreign country
• Scheduling an appointment
• Shopping for a specific item
What modes of communication do students develop in your French lessons?
In my French lessons, I help students develop proficiency across the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational.
1. The interpretive mode of communication involves understanding one-way messages without immediate interaction. This skill requires cultural knowledge and the ability to make inferences. For example, students might listen to a French song or read an article from a French newspaper.
2. The interpersonal mode of communication encompasses active, two-way exchanges where participants negotiate meaning in real time. For instance, students might conduct a survey in French or exchange messages with a penpal (un[e] correspondant[e]) in a Francophone country.
3. The presentational mode of communication refers to sharing ideas with an audience in an organized manner without immediate interaction. To give you an idea, students might compare a cultural element from their own community with its counterpart in a Francophone country, synthesizing this information in French and delivering an oral presentation in class.
Do you work with students preparing to take the AP French Language and Culture Exam?
Yes! I work with students preparing to take the AP French Language and Culture exam by designing lessons structured around the six interdisciplinary themes of the course; namely:
• Beauty and Aesthetics
• Contemporary Life
• Families and Communities
• Global Challenges
• Personal and Public Identities
• Science and Technology
How do you help AP French students develop greater proficiency?
To help AP French students develop greater proficiency across the three modes of communication, I design lessons that engage them in purposeful tasks, such as:
• Making cultural comparisons
• Responding to emails
• Role-playing through simulated conversations
• Synthesizing information from multiple sources
• Writing persuasive essays
Through these activities, AP French students strengthen their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills in the target language, while simultaneously cultivating cultural literacy.
How do you help students facing communication challenges in French?
When students face communication challenges in French, I guide them to clarify misunderstandings, confirm comprehension, and work toward mutual understanding.
In addition, I show them how to use communicative strategies, such as circumlocution, repetition, and rephrasing, to maintain conversational flow and overcome gaps in grammar or vocabulary.
Together, these techniques nurture fluency by helping students build confidence and increase flexibility in real-world communication.
I would like my children to participate in the National French Contest (NFC) / le Grand Concours (GC). Can you help them prepare for this competition?
Yes! I can help your children prepare for the National French Contest (NFC) / le Grand Concours (GC). More specifically, I offer preparation covering the Foreign Language in Elementary School (FLES) division for Grades 1–6 and the Secondary Contest for Grades 7–12.
By focusing on the learning objectives and proficiency expectations at each level, I design tailored activities that provide students with targeted practice. This, in turn, helps them build confidence and become familiar with the types of questions they will encounter on the exam.
I want to take the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in French. Can you help me prepare?
Yes! I can help you prepare for the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in French.
This standardized assessment, developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), measures one's ability to communicate effectively in real-world situations.
I design targeted practice for students, giving meaningful feedback to help them build communicative competence.
Do you have experience teaching French to homeschooled students?
Yes! I have experience teaching French to homeschooled students, collaborating with parents and guardians to design lessons that meet curricular goals.
How long does it take to achieve fluency in French?
A variety of factors influence the rate at which students achieve fluency in French, including but not limited to the individual's age, developmental ability, level of motivation, and frequency of instruction.
While progress varies for each student, frequent practice and regularly scheduled lessons lead to noticeable improvement. I am committed to helping each and every student achieve their learning goals.
How much does it cost to learn French with Chloë?
For a complete list of prices, please click on the link (below):
