LANGUAGE IN PROVENCE REVIEWS
GUESTBOOK
Madeleine H. (July 2011)
"Hi Susan,
How are you? Just got back to Singapore 2 days ago and I miss France already, especially the people at St Saturnin. Just wanted to let you know I had a wonderful time and those memories are going to stay with me for a long time. Thank you so much for your kind hospitality and it was really wonderful meeting your family, Francis ( I think he is such a wonderful cook and I enjoyed his cooking much more than what I had in the restaurants after we left St Saturnin), the teachers and of course,my fellow course mates. We met up with Yoko for dinner when we were in Bordeaux and had a good time chatting about our time at St Saturnin. I really enjoyed the course as it not just classroom based and I like the fact that everyone was just relaxed. It makes learning a pleasure.
Thank you once again and do stay in touch. "
Sue M., UK (July 2011)
"Dear Susan
We spoke to David this week who had had a wonderful time with you. He had thoroughly enjoyed his week with you, loved the set up, the teachers and the B&B – so a good experience all round. Thank you so much for all you did to make him feel welcome."
Pieter S., South Africa (July 2011)
Bonjour Susan!
J’ai arrivé a Pretoria a mercredi a midi. C’est trés froid ici! Le vol a été tres bon mais j’ai n’arrive pas a dormi! Merci beaucoup pour mon bon séjour. J’aime Saint Saturnin les Apt et votre l’ecole. Laetitia est aussi un tres bon professeur. Merci pour votre hospitalité. J’aime beaucoup notre visité a des champs de lavanda et les autres petites villages pres dé Saint Saturnin les Apt et le marché d’Apt.
Will it be possible to attend a group class next year, the same week as this year? Any of the two weeks will be fine for me as long as the lavender is in bloom during that week! Please also book a friend of mine for that same week. He will be in the beginners’ class.
Could you also book us the same accommodation that I had at Francis’s place.
Regards to Fernando, Marc and Nathalie.
A bientôt!
Robin L ., UK (June 2011)
"Hi Susan,
Hope you and the family are all well. I just wanted to thank you again for all your hospitality. I had a great time in Paris this week and spoke french at every opportunity to the amazement of my colleagues. "We never knew you spoke french!". I now get to join in the morning coffee ritual and have been attending the extended lunch breaks as well. I'm looking forward to my session with my tutor on Friday when I start throwing in the future and conditional tenses !!!.
I will drop a note to Sue Curry to give her some feedback and if you ever need any testimonials etc I will be happy to help and will be recommending you to BP.
thanks again and best wishes"
Jean B. USA (June 2011)
"Hi Susan,
Just wanted to let you know that I got back to San Francisco yesterday and to tell you again what a real pleasure it was to see you all. As always, please don't hesitate to let me know if anyone would like to chat with me about the school or St Saturnin as it is always a pleasure. I had a lovely time - the wine tasting, the lavender country and particularly that lovely dinner up in Lagarde d'Apt - it was just great. And the excursions that Yoko and I took with Francis were simply magic. I told him that I had wanted to see Mt Ventoux ever since I had started watching the Tour de France and it was everything and more that I had anticipated. I meant every word I said about Laetitia, it was a real pleasure to work with her and I'll keep my fingers crossed that she'll be available next year when I come. As you can see, I'm already looking forward to next year!
Virginia G. , USA (June 2011)
"Bonjour Susan,
Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful week at your language school. It was an extraordinary experience to be taught and entertained in your home and to be introduced to the region so graciously. I'll definitely recommend your school to others, as the small classes you provide are so effective and the setting is so magical.
Please give my thanks to Sylvie. I left so quickly I didn't have a chance to tell her how much I appreciated her efforts to untangle my prononciation très étrange. She's a marvelous teacher, intuitive and patient, and I would love the chance to take lessons with her again. "
Anne H., Australia (October 2010)
“ Dear Susan and Natalie
Wishing you a very Joyeux Noel - we have been seeing very snowy pictures of Europe on the News so hopefully you are not snowed in for the festive season. The weather here is just beginning to warm up to about 27 after a very wet Spring and early Summer.
I have had a wonderful time since I got back to Australia after my 2 months in France. The first few weeks were difficult as I suffered from jet lag (thank heavens i didn't have to go back to work!) After that I have been enjoying the rest of my long service leave by having coffee with lots of friends, buying stuff for the new house and doing lots and lots of gardening!
Again thank you for the wonderful 2 weeks in Provence - I am already planning my next trip! Please give my email address to anyone in Australia who is thinking of coming to Provence. "
Mike Babin, Canada
“I’d like to give you some feedback on my stay and studies at Language in Provence last week. First of all, thank you for a great experience! What you delivered certainly exceeded my expectations. I was very pleased with the quality of instruction from Bernadette. The program was well-conceived. I liked the approach of classroom in the morning and the walks in the afternoon. In such a beautiful environment it would seem a waste to be cooped up all day. Your lunches were excellent! And I was also very impressed with my stay with M Jullien. He is a superb host, and I was extremely satisfied with all aspects of his hospitality.
I will definitely recommend your program to others. And I’d like to return at some point, perhaps for two weeks instead of one."
Brian Aspinall, Canada
“ I agree with Mike's comments. The week was a great experience. The content was well-prepared, Bernadette was an excellent instructor, and the afternoons were a great added dimension. I enjoyed staying in the hotel, and felt that I got the best of both worlds with the dinners chez M. Jullien. We are back at our regular Alliance Française class tomorrow and I will unhesitatingly recommend Language in Provence to anyone thinking of attending such a course. Like Mike, I would like to attend another of your courses at some stage, so you may not have seen the last of us! "
Susan Crawford, Australia
“ When one plans a trip one's imagination conjures up an image of what the destination will be, with the hope that the dream will be realised. Your charming home and school overlooking a magnificent view fulfilled all expectations. Also, the welcome you offered, along with the congenial company of fellow students contributed to a wonderful two weeks. The relaxed atmosphere created by you and the teachers made every day pleasurable and provided many happy memories. If you make it as far as Melbourne on your trip to Australia please let me know. In the meantime, all the best for a wonderful summer in Provence. ”
Jean Brubeck , United States
“
I wanted to thank you for my lovely visit to St Saturnin. Bernadette does such a great job with the classes - she always keeps them interesting, fun and challenging and those lovely walks in the afternoons are wonderful. Your beautiful lunches and the warm hospitality of your table make such a nice mid-day break. And, as always staying chez Francis was just a delight - that wonderful tour of the Luberon he took us on was so lovely. As I mentioned, I might be interested in taking an advanced course.
Again, thank you so much for a lovely visit. I am, as always happy to act as a reference to anyone considering your courses. Please give everyone in St Saturnin my very best and I'll speak with you soon. ”
Joan Bunch , England
“Just a quick note to thank you very much for your kindness and hospitality.
I had a great week in St Saturnin and enjoyed myself immensely. I would very much like to come back to St Saturnin and have already started working out dates and plans in my head for next summer.
In the meantime thank you once again. ”
Margaret Lewis, England
“ Finally back in a very wet and cool Lake District with very happy memories of our time in Provence! What a marvellous week it was and how I very much enjoyed the teaching and the company. I feel I learned a lot with Bernadette who didn't let us get away with anything and improved my pronunciation no end! Having got the rusty old French back out again I was then much more confident to speak for the rest of my stay. In fact at the next place we stayed at I got called in as an interpreter for someone. Can you imagine? But I was very chuffed. Thank you very much for arranging our accommodation with Francis. It was very comfortable and he is so accommodating. As you will see from the attached photo, we all had a good time in the evenings. ”
Teddy Anson, France
“ Thank you Françoise so very much from both of us for your excellent teaching this last week - you are so patient & understanding, I don't how you do it. Maybe when you get home you scream at the wall for 10 minutes & listen to Led Zeppelin at volume 10 to relieve your frustrations of us slow inadequate students! Last week has given us fresh enthusiasm for learning our French. After our course yesterday we went straight to Digne-les-Bains to visit my cousin as my aunt has just died. He was truly complimentary at our improved French, I was so pleased I had a huge smile on my face. We are really looking forward to our next classes with you next year - so stock up on patience - desolé! ”
Penny Parkes, England
“ Hello Susan. Just to thank you and Fernando as well as Francoise and Bernadette for all your hard work this week which was greatly appreciated. We both had a great time, learned lots of French and above all enjoyed some very good company whilst we were learning and practising. The lunches on your terrace were unforgettable (especially now we are back in rainy Manchester!) and we have some lovely memories of our week in Provence. I enclose some photos of our very enjoyable night out and I know Chris joins me in thanking all of your for making the week so special. ”
Tricia & Peter Stones , England
“Susan. We are sending some photos taken during our happy stay with you. We are desolated that it took so long, but we returned to meet both hardware and software problems, the last of which was not rectified until yesterday.
The course was just right for us and we struggle to find time now to keep at it. The notes are useful and we intend not to drop back, as we shall be in Paris in September and after that our classes begin again. Françoise was so good at analysing our weakest spots and we just loved her. We appreciated the super lunches and the outings and didn’t mind missing Les Baux as we cycled up there a couple of years ago from Aigues Mortes when we were on the canal with the penichette. We wish you continuing success."
Jean Brubeck, California
“ Susan, I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you thank you. I had a wonderful time at the school and feel like I've filled in a couple of "holes" in my language skills. Françoise is a truly wonderful teacher and so patient! It really was a delight to work with her. Lou and Jenny and I are talking about doing it again next year so we'll probably be in touch a bit further down the line to see what courses you have scheduled for May or June of 2008. If I do come back I'll be requesting to stay at chez Francis - what a delightful man and what a lovely house, it really made my stay in St Saturnin that much more pleasant. Susan, I would be happy to act as a reference for either the school course or chez Francis should it be needed. Should anyone wish I would be happy to speak with them so please feel free to give them my email address or phone number. Thank you again and I hope to see you all again next year. ”
Margaret Tabor, Massachusetts, USA
“I am returning to Language in Provence for 2 weeks in April of this year. I hope family finances will allow me to study there yearly. I'm more than satisfied. Each day we had 2 different teachers, 2 different voices, 2 approaches. I'm fairly sure they coordinated so they did not repeat exercises or activities. They are superb teachers, inventive, patient, quick to seize a teachable moment, able to adapt to change of direction or special interest coming from the students. They also speak English, although not often to you, which means they understand what you are trying to say and can help. They are also both proactive in pointing out problem areas for Anglophones. And they are kind. I and the others felt free to take chances.”
Alex Parker, Lymm, England
“I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you for a very enjoyable week. Would you please pass on my special thanks to Françoise for her very kind help and support (& patience!) and to Francis for his wonderful hospitality. I thoroughly enjoyed the week (despite the church bells ringing through the night!) - you never know, we might get to organise a group reunion some day!”
Pamela Dee, England
“Just to let you know that we enjoyed the French course enormously, and please pass on our thanks to Francoise, and also send our regards to Francis. We have bought a number of French verb and grammar books, and I have also bought Martin a book on English grammar - until he understands that, I don't think he has much chance of grasping the subtleties of French grammar! Time permitting, we hope to come back for two weeks in the middle of next September.”
Heather Kennedy, Canada
“I'm writing just to say a post-trip"merci beaucoup" for offering me such a wonderful learning experienceduring my week there earlier this summer. I was leafing through somephotos this morning, and came across the shots of the class and the picturesbrought back most happy memories and reminded me of what a pleasant weekI had in your company. My highest compliments as well on the teaching abilities of Bernadette. She was indeed an "enseignante formidable" and the classes with her were instructive and fun at the same time. I do hope the school continues to be a success, and that your students all come away as pleased as I did! If there's ever a need to provide a reference to a potential student, please don't hesitate to offer my contact information - I'd be happy to pass on my positive impressions of the program and the staff.”
Vera, Luxembourg
“This is to say thank you once again for the most wonderful time we had with you at Fontaine de Guby! Johanna and I had a good trip back... Our week in France shines like a golden memory and radiates all the pleasures of Provence and the good times you showed us. With lots of very best wishes from us both and hoping very much there will be an encore at some point.”
Teddy Anson, France
“I had a really excellent time with you all last week, I really didn't want to leave & Valerie & I are so looking forward to coming on future courses next year. I am determined to be disciplined & go through & write up last week's course work, this week. We have already today ordered books 'Key to French Grammar' & 'Living French' & will also get the BBC steps packs of books & CDs. I will also spend time with Louise & Debbie so we can learn/revise together & might also take weekly one hour lessons with a lady in the next village. Thank you so much to Francoise for her excellent teaching, patience, humour & for teaching me those essential words for the French roads!!!”
Rosanne Cancellieri, Boston
“I am writing to let you know that I enjoyed my week at Language in Provence. Thank you very much for your hospitality and for organizing this program. Would you pass along my thanks and best regards to Françoise? Elle est formidable and is an asset to your program. I have sent an email to Francis thanking him in my simple beginners French ( hopefully I didn't make any terrible mistakes). He is an excellent host. If someone asks me for a recommendation for an immersion course in French, I will mention your school. I will be back when I think I am ready for Level 2.”
Chris Oliver, England
“I very much enjoyed my week at you language school. My trip to France was positive on every level and I returned home enthused to make extra effort with the language. I think trips across the Channel are going to become a regular feature! I thank you and your team (especially Francoise for her patience!!) for making my trip/course such an enjoyable experience.”