ABOUT ME
Bonjour ! I'm Maëlle, a passionate and creative French teacher.
I grew up moving from one country to another, and felt in love at an early age with languages, books, discovering new cultures and travelling. See more about me below.
What kind of teacher am I?
I would say that my best qualities as a teacher are my sensitivity and flexibility. I can quickly feel if a student is struggling or discouraged and I adapt to their rhythm making sure they keep interest and love for French.
I adapt my lessons depending on your language background. For example, an Italian native speaker will have different challenges in French from an English native speaker. Pronunciation and grammatical structures might be achieved effortlessly or not. If there are no articles or no subjunctive in your language, I will make sure to spend enough time on these topics so you feel at ease. On the contrary, if you already speak a Romance language, explanations - if needed - will be probably quick. Also, people learn in a different way: you might have a visual or an auditive memory, etc. I take into account many aspects of my learners in order to provide them the best support.
I adapt my lessons depending on your language background. For example, an Italian native speaker will have different challenges in French from an English native speaker. Pronunciation and grammatical structures might be achieved effortlessly or not. If there are no articles or no subjunctive in your language, I will make sure to spend enough time on these topics so you feel at ease. On the contrary, if you already speak a Romance language, explanations - if needed - will be probably quick. Also, people learn in a different way: you might have a visual or an auditive memory, etc. I take into account many aspects of my learners in order to provide them the best support.
What is my Professional Experience?
I have 15 years experience in teaching French in four different countries and in various contexts. I have given individual and group lessons to all levels from A1 to C2 learners. I have taught general French and French for business, medicine, tourism and anthropology. I have prepared students for DELF examinations and am currently a DELF evaluator. I have conducted Creative writing workshops and used drama techniques in group lessons.
My former employers include: the Spanish Embassy in France ; Eutop, Tracé Bruxelles, Interface 3, Open Context, Languages Unlimited (Brussels); Media House Eurovision Roma, Koinè, Saint Georges Institute (Rome); l'Alliance française de Malte Méditerranée, Insurem (Malta) and more.
I have extensive experience teaching French to children and teenagers. I had the opportunity to teach French in outstanding schools like L'École des Roches where I also conducted Drama and Storytelling workshops. While working as an actress in a French Theatre company for children in Rome, I created and staged three shows with very young learners from the Lycée français de Rome. I taught French for four years in one of the top private schools in Malta and in language schools too.
I enjoy teaching to children in a fun and alternative way, using games and art.
What is my Educational Background?
I've always loved learning so I spent quite a lot of time at University.
I studied Literature, Linguistics, Translation and Didactics in the frame of various diplomas. I have a Master's Degree in Literary Translation (El Colegio de México) and in Hispanic Studies (Université de Montpellier). I have a Bachelor's Degree in Latin American Studies (Université de Toulouse) and in Didactics of French as a Foreign Language with minor in Italian Studies (Sorbonne-Nouvelle, Paris).
I had a great time as a student, my only regret was not having enough time in Mexico to study Nahuatl. But who knows, it could be a hobby when I retire!
What is my life Experience?
My native culture is French: my parents are French and I grew up in Aix-en-Provence until I was 6. Then, we moved to the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. My personal culture is a mix of France and the cultures of these countries.
Did I enjoy this lifestyle? Let me tell you what I did after leaving my parent's home. I moved to Uruguay, Mexico, back to Spain, Italy, Belgium and Malta, spending some years in France in between. So, yes, definitely, I love discovering new cultures and countries. If I were not a French teacher I would have loved being an anthropologist.
Some years ago, I discovered that people who have grown up in expatriation are referred to as Third Culture Kids in sociology. If you are part of this category and never heard about it before, have a look at this article. You will learn a lot about yourself and I'm pretty sure it will make you laugh too.
Growing up in a multicultural and changing environment impacted my personality. It has many benefits but also challenges. I feel that I adapt easily to new people and environment, I have strong cross-cultural skills and a global vision. I think there is always more than one way to do things.
Did I enjoy this lifestyle? Let me tell you what I did after leaving my parent's home. I moved to Uruguay, Mexico, back to Spain, Italy, Belgium and Malta, spending some years in France in between. So, yes, definitely, I love discovering new cultures and countries. If I were not a French teacher I would have loved being an anthropologist.
"Let's go!" has always been one of my favourite sentences. I'm glad that adulthood gave me all the keys 🔑 to fulfill my travelling ambitions.