I studied high-school French up until the age of 18, for my A’ Level French exam (national exam in the UK). I’ve always been a Francophile but somehow I drifted away from the language after moving to North America and focusing on my career. Upon my move to Canada, I was jolted into appreciating the benefits of living in a bilingual country and enrolled my children in French immersion at school. After a long break away (twenty years!), suddenly my love for French was reignited! Thus, my motivation to sign-up as an advanced learner was mostly to learn French for pleasure, but also to help my children with their education. Due to the scheduling complexities that come with parenting and working full-time, it was difficult for me to follow in-person classes at the local Alliance Francaise; so, when I stumbled upon the cours de perfectionnement, it seemed like an ideal fit!
Since then, I have enjoyed Manon’s teaching so much that the French language has become my passion, again, and my hobby! The beauty of the cours de perfectionnement is that it is very flexible and can be completed around my availability. The course is great value for money considering the volume of material and support provided each month: 12-15 activities (including detailed corrections), book club, a monthly quiz and even supplementary oral sessions (extra cost), if you want them. There’s enough material for intensive study, but if you can’t get everything done, and there’s no pressure, the materials are yours to keep for later.
In my opinion, Manon represents the very best of the teaching profession: she has very high standards (prepare for your work to be deeply scrutinized!), but delivers her feedback with humour, kindness and compassion. Everyone is at ease in her class. The course materials are unique, better than anything you’ll find in a textbook, and she also makes personalized recommendations for the advanced learner that come from her years of experience teaching French.
A further benefit of subscribing is that you also become part of Manon’s international motley crew of French enthusiasts! The course content is varied but often political in nature and Manon has created a truly global, progressive, community around her classes that always makes her students feel amongst friends.
DAVID, UK-Canada – Advanced course subscriber
I can’t recommend Manon’s teaching and the Cours de Perfectionnement enough. As someone who had got to a pretty fluent level of French over the years, had lived in France and didn’t much enjoy formal French classes, I didn’t think I would ever pay for more teaching. However I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with a feeling of stagnation: as my French became more advanced it became harder to improve. Trying to pinpoint what you don’t know at this level is tricky, so trying to improve on your own can feel like a painfully slow and unrewarding business!
What the Cours de Perfectionnement do so well is pinpoint exactly the things that advanced French students tend to get wrong or misunderstand – Manon has an incredible wealth of experience so she knows. Bringing together extracts of audio and written material from francophone culture, videos, blogs, quizzes and language exercises, the material is always diverse and on interesting subjects. Every 2 weeks is a new theme which helps to give the things you learn a context rather than it feeling like random words and expressions.
What I find most valuable was being able to write comments – on things you didn’t understand or surprised you in the exercises – as well as longer reflections and the written exercises. These often lead to interesting discussions with Manon (and with other students) on specific points, with anything you write replied to/corrected by Manon. This makes the teaching interactive and much more personal.
Finally, I really appreciated the flexibility of this style of teaching – which of the exercises you do and when is up to you, allowing you to work on what you need or enjoy, and work on them when you like. The more work you put in the more you’ll get out of it, but it’s up to you and there is no-one breathing down your neck if you have a busy couple of weeks and don’t manage to do much!
If what you are looking for is speaking practice then this isn’t for you as, apart from the quizzes, there is no face to face teaching. But you can get that with any language exchange online… What is so much harder to find is this kind of specifically adapted advanced French teaching that will improve your language across the board (comprehension, writing, vocab, grammar) as well as your knowledge of current affairs and francophone culture.
ANNA F, UK – C1 certified – Advanced course subscriber
Heading into my 4th month as a subscriber of Manon’s ‘Cours de perfectionnement’, I’ve found it to be a great platform for advancing my french and I would thoroughly recommend it and Manon’s platform more generally to anyone keen to improve their french at an advanced (C1/2) level.
Having obtained DELF B2 last year, I was looking for tools to help me work towards C1. There doesn’t seem to be as many platforms available at this level, and the content more traditional outlets use feels a bit repetitive/cliched by this stage (L’académie française et les grandes ecoles for the third time anyone?!), which is a shame, because one of the best things about learning another language is the opportunity to get exposure to other cultures. Here the Cours de perfectionnement is fantastic – from l’autoportrait, to ‘la misogynie’ and ‘sans alcool’ – Manon shares a great range of topics, which have not only helped my French but been eye openers on aspects of francophone culture and generally just very interesting to work through.
The flexibility of the course is great. You get a new topic every 2-3 weeks to work through at your own pace, which is great when your other commitments can be a bit unpredictable! Each topic has 12-15 activities; a mix of articles, sound clips, grammar videos, tests and the bit I benefit from the most – creative writing prompts. For getting my written French to where I want it to be, Manon is awesome! Her attention to detail and thoroughness is so helpful. Yes people can probably understand what I’m trying to say with my mistakes, but only by really focusing on these errors, understanding why I went wrong, and then correcting them can I get better. And here Manon is fantastic for flagging issues, and directing me to blogs/videos that explain things. As a polyglot herself Manon is well versed in the challenges of language learning and her encouragement is much appreciated. For that and all the effort she puts into reviewing my written work (which also always comes back very fast!) I am very grateful 🙂
Anna M, UK – Advanced course subscriber
I highly recommend Manon’s advanced learner course. Twenty years after studying French in school I decided to awaken the skills I had learned but lost. I spent five years studying on my own referencing text books and on-line resources. I was proud of what I had accomplished but felt I still had a long way to go to achieve the fluency I desired. Manon’s course is exactly what I needed to help advance my skills while being able to work independently, at my own pace. Her years of teaching experience is evident in every exercise, video and post. The exercises she has created are specifically directed at addressing the finer points of grammar advanced students face and her videos guide you on how to become more aware of the mechanics of the language with the aim of helping you continue your self-study journey. The course also includes an opportunity for one-on-one guidance through written production providing a personalised aspect in an on-line delivery. I am very pleased with the investment made in advancing my French with Manon.
Joanna, Australia – Advanced course subscriber
As someone who is passionate about learning languages I have had experiences with many different language teachers. Many can teach an absolute beginner, but I find that it takes a certain type of teacher to help a student move beyond an upper intermediate plateau. Manon is that kind of teacher! She has all kinds of challenging material for French learners at more advanced levels.
Beyond offering great material Manon knows how to push her students to grow and evolve within the French language. She is remarkably empathetic and can connect with the needs of her students.
Brooks, USA – C1 certified
I cannot recommend Manon highly enough as a French teacher. We began working together right before the Covid-19 pandemic, and I had a very ambitious goal to pass the DALF C2 exam despite limited time on my end. Lessons with Manon were a huge boon to me while juggling the constant anxiety that accompanied each wave of the pandemic and my stressful job. She gets to know her students in such a way that she can encourage and motivate them while also kindly and thoughtfully holding them to high standards and applying her precise attention to detail to courses.
Manon is incredibly passionate about culture, languages, world events, feminism and civil rights. We had fantastic discussions and our lessons were filled with book and podcast recommendations. Often they felt like speaking with a very knowledgeable friend, with the added bonus of improving my French skills. 🙂 Manon would also give me very detailed and fast feedback on all of my homework, putting in hours of work outside of our lessons so that I could progress quickly.
Manon is deeply familiar with the DALF exams having taken them in other languages and having administered them herself. When I walked into the exam, I knew exactly what to expect having benefited from Manon’s precise coaching. Thanks to her, I was able to see my French language skills progress steadily during our time together, and I passed the DALF exam with a very strong score.
Carolyn, USA – C2 certified
For years, I wasted time and money on classroom, online courses, and weekly Skype sessions with tutors, all promising to improve my French. It was not until I started my courses with Manon that I saw a dramatic improvement. She is brilliant and her teaching methods are incredibly effective. Demanding and exacting, yet delightful and amusing, Manon’s courses are the highlight of my week.
Jennifer, USA
I highly recommend Manon as a French teacher. She has helped me enormously since we started working together. Her attention to detail has meant that I have been able to improve my pronunciation, my writing etc. Her passion for the language clearly shows during our lessons and her book, blog and other recommendations has provided another source of learning and pleasure for me. She has been immensely motivating, supportive and encouraging when at times I’ve felt discouraged with my progress which has helped me to move beyond my comfort zone and to steadfastly continue on this learning journey. If you’re looking to progress your French in a fun and interesting way then look no further than Manon. She is a truly wonderful teacher!
Julie, Australia
If you are planning to sit DALF C1 or C2, Manon is the teacher you need! She’s the person to ensure that your level of French is high enough, that you fully understand and know how to fulfil the very specific requirements of the exam tasks and feel confident in your abilities. She works incredibly hard for her students – everything from the selection of resources, to the programme of learning, to feedback on homework, to the lessons themselves, is tailored to the particular needs of the individual student. She is also just a brilliant teacher, able both to see what you need to do to make progress and how to get there (in different ways). And the lessons are fun! The time flies by. There couldn’t be a better way to prepare for what are very challenging exams.
I really can’t recommend Manon highly enough.
Lucy, UK – C1 certified
Manon was an amazing teacher, motivator, and huge help during the preparation for my DALF exam. She’s very well organized, chose relevant and up-to-date materials, and taught be me all the required methodology to succeed at the exam. Her materials cover exam-relevant topics, which gives you valuable expertise for the day of the exam. Furthermore, I valued Manon’s teaching style: She makes learning fun and dynamic! She is caring, patient, and really tries to make you progress! Manon’s feedback on my work was super detailed, she highlighted common mistakes, which made me progress a lot! I can’t think of a better teacher to make you succeed!
Hannah, Germany – C1 certified
Manon é minha professora de francês há mais de um ano. Ela é pontual, dedicada e capaz. Em sua aula tenho a oportunidade de trabalhar expressão e produção oral e escrita. É muito bom poder contar com alguém que conhece tão bem a língua e sente prazer em seu trabalho. Também aprecio o fato de que ela me corrige. Pois, acredito que seja importante aprender a língua francesa da maneira correta. Além disso, ela me incentiva a continuar meus estudos da língua, sozinha, em casa, como complemento às aulas. Sinto que aprender a língua francesa é um projeto importante em minha vida e que é assim recebido por minha professora de francês. Sinto que posso contar com Manon!
Roberta, Brazil
Like many people learning a second language, I was nervous speaking to a native French speaker. Within five minutes of my first lesson with Manon, she made me realize that mistakes can be fun and to learn from them, not fear them. I’ve now worked with Manon for over a year and I honestly can’t believe how much I’ve learned with her. Besides teaching, she’s an excellent motivator and now I hope I can say an even better friend. Oh and she’s hilarious! I recommend her to anyone and everyone.
Ryan, USA
Hace más de dos años que Manon y yo nos vemos semanalmente para mi clase de francés y puedo decir que ni una sola vez me he aburrido, he encontrado la clase monótona o he salido pensando que no había aprendido nada nuevo. Manon es una excelente profesora: es profesional, prepara las clases a conciencia, adapta las clases a las necesidades del alumno para lograr avanzar en aquellos aspectos donde más los necesita. Conoce a fondo la gramática, el vocabulario, la pronunciación, y sabe como explicarlo. Al mismo tiempo se preocupa por incluir constantemente nuevas actividades y recursos pedagógicos. Es un verdadero placer ver cada semana a Manon y esperar para descubrir qué tiene preparado.
Paloma, Spain
Eu estudo francês com a Manon há cerca de um ano e meio, incialmente como uma ajuda no meu curso regular de francês para desenvolver mais rápido o domínio do idioma, porém hoje ela é minha única professora de francês. Considero que a Manon foi um achado! Eu tive outos professores de francês online, mas, ainda que tenha aprendido bastante e mesmo gostado das aulas, essas eram ou pouco estruturadas ou pareciam preparadas para todo mundo independente do nível de cada aluno. Com a Manon, desde o começo, as aulas foram voltadas para as minhas necessidades pessoais e eu pude progredir no aprendizado da língua em todos os sentidos, seja leitura, escrita, conversação e compreensão oral. Além disso, a Manon é aberta a discussões sobre qualquer assunto, tornando a aula dinâmica e muito divertida.
I study French with Manon for one year and a half now. I was in a regular French course when I started looking for a French teacher to have online lessons as a way to improve the learning of the language. I had some online teachers before and, even if I enjoyed the classes, I felt that those classes were confused and it would be hard to have a real progress with them. Then I found Manon, almost by chance, and everything changed. Manon could identify my needs and expectations and her course is prepared considering that. I can feel I am developing the language day by day on speaking, listening, reading and writing. Her classes are also dynamic and fun, and we talk about different things. I don’t need a language school anymore and now Manon is my unique French teacher. Merci, Manon!
Cristiane, Brazil
Je suis toujours de bonne humeur après mes leçons avec Manon. Elle est encourageante et conduit très bien notre conversation dans plusieurs voies ! Ses leçons, qui traitent des sujets très intéressants, sont pleines d’humour et de discussions très passionnantes. C’est un grand plaisir de travailler avec elle, et elle m’a beaucoup encouragée et aidée en français. Je recommande vivement que tous ceux qui souhaitent progresser en français prennent des cours avec Manon.
Mossie, USA
I have been taking French with Manon for over a year now and I see her as much a mentor and friend as I do a teacher. Many people know the mechanics of a language but very few people are natural born teachers the way Manon is. She instinctively understands my learning special learning style. I really need to be prepared in advance and I tend to freeze up (and shut down!) if I’m surprised. Manon sets up lessons so that I can prepare myself before coming to class. She is building confidence in my knowledge of French. Just as an extra plus – Manon is hilarious too – so our lessons are fun too and the time flies. But she is too kind and patient to ever make me the butt of her humor. Finally, she is dedicated – this isn’t about just making money for her and (via email or message) she often helps me with correction or if I ask a question. Ultimately, Manon loves to share her knowledge and empower others.
Ada, USA
I had 70 (!!) lessons with Manon and I would strongly recommend her as the best French teacher one could find. Manon is very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, passionate about languages and oh so French (but with a global perspective 😉 ). She will help you with any particular goal you might have and structure the lessons to suit your needs. With Manon I managed not only improve my conversational skills, but also got better at complicated grammar. If you are looking for a French teacher, look no further, book a class with Manon!
Veronika, Russia