AVIS
Ils sont venus et ils en parlent
''My review of the great stay I had!
I stayed with Carol and Fred for 10 days as a home stay guest in June 2018 with full board. I was accommodated in a very comfortable double room in their new chalet with an ensuite and a superb view over the Morzine mountains and valley. Carol and Fred have a unique ability to welcome you into their home and help improve your French. As soon as I arrived, I felt instantly at home and a part of the family. Carol had asked me if I minded young children and a dog. I said it would all add to the enjoyment of being with the family. And so it was. I miss them all and can’t wait to return.
The purpose for my homestay was to improve my French and to do some day hikes. The family were exceptionally patient with my limited ability to speak and comprehend French. They spoke slowly and weren’t fazed when they had to repeat themselves, often! Carol provided me with one-to-one tuition and very useful follow-up exercises. I felt a deal more confident about communicating in French after my stay with them.
I had spent the previous 4 weeks at another school. Instead I wished I had spent that time with Carol and Fred. Just prior to Morzine I fell and broke my foot. Although I wasn’t able to hike as I’d planned, Carol and Fred were wonderfully generous driving me everywhere including great picnics!
There were many other delights staying with the family such as Fred’s cooking – I remember a mushroom fondue which was unforgettable, as well as Carol’s ability to make you feel part of the family and their genuine interest in you not as a guest but as a friend.
Carol and Fred’s energy and generosity is outstanding. It is the perfect place to learn French! I can’t wait to get back there.''
Barbara, 69, Sydney, Australia (stay in June 2018):
‘'If you are looking to learn French then there is no place better than to start than a French language homestay programme with Carol and her family in a delightful family built chalet in the Savoyard region of France. I should know because I have had the joy of two homestay experiences in January and March 2019.
Carol is an energetic and enthusiastic French language teacher, with two loved, friendly and sociable small children. Her husband is a chef, who delights in sharing his passion for Savoyard cooking with the household guests! The family is completed by a friendly dog, who accompanied Carol and I on out daily walks ‘de parler français au naturel!
During my stay, I shared the family's day to day life. I also learned about French customs, diets and habits, which suited my open , mature and curious mind. I also made new friends through Carole organising a traditional Savoyard Soirée for friends. My language skills improved due to the constant immersion. Back in UK I was delighted to receive compliments from my Native French teacher about my French skills having improved!
I shall certainly be going back a third time! Carol, when can I come to stay?''
Margery, 65, London, GB (Stays in January and March 2019)
''I failed french at school and have a mental block for languages. As a 40 something I really want to learn French but having spent thousands of pounds on french lessons in London and in France i made little progress. Carols approach to « living french » has worked ! I can now communicate, understand basic conversations and have the confidence to ask French people to talk slowly to me so I can follow what is being said. Carol doesnt provide short cuts, but makes you work on the correct grammar so you sound authentic and sensible. By practicing « live » French together in a cafe, walking the dog or cooking a meal I have finally cracked it!''
Lindsey, 41, London W1 (spring 2019)
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Dmitri, 45, Nothingam, GB, winter 2019
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Geoffrey, 45, USA
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Cooke Peter, United Kingdom
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Rosie, London, UK, Spring 2019
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Birdsall, Katharine, USA, July 2019
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Anay Dattawadkar, USA, July 2019
''I stayed in 4 different host families while learning French in France. I loved them all but Carol and Fred combined all the best bits of the others in one and had some truly unique things to offer too. Entertaining and helping people learn new skills in a totally practical, direct,and fun way has been a way of life for them for many years and it shows. I felt like part of the family but more than that it seems like Fred and Carol know everyone in Morzine and so it felt like I was really able to get to know some of the wider French community which is very unsusual especially when I wasn’t very string speaker. A lot of home stays are with older people but Fred and Carol are a young dynamic couple who love doing things and they were happy to share them with me. I think all the students remember the fondue soirées particularly fondly.Me I loved the days out skiing together and Fred showing me all the secret ways around the resort…..oh and of course sledding down a narrow mountain track for kilometers with Antoine yelling at me: « Lâche les freins! ». Thanks for everything guys.''
Victoria Rixom, 2019