Ecole Haudecoeur Français
The bay of Dinard on a sunny day, with the seafront and boats

Dinard · Brittany · Online

French, learned the way it is lived.

Private French lessons, fully tailored, at your home in the Dinard area or online from anywhere in the world. Intensive weeks or a steady rhythm, with a native teacher.

Request a quoteSee our lessons

About

Speak without fear of sounding silly

Whether you are ordering a coffee, sitting down to dinner or chatting with locals, most of us have felt the hesitation of speaking a foreign language abroad. The fear of mispronouncing a word, or of not understanding the answer, often leads us to switch to English.

Ecole Haudecoeur puts you in those situations with a native French-speaking teacher who guides and reassures you, and builds your confidence step by step: useful phrases, intonation, pronunciation, and a real understanding of French culture.

Pronunciation

Intonation and sounds, corrected gently and constantly.

Vocabulary

The words you will actually use, chosen around your goals.

Culture

Understanding France, not just its grammar.

Lessons

Two ways to learn French

At your home in the Dinard area

Private lessons, one-to-one or for two people, at every level and age. Your teacher comes to your home or holiday residence in Dinard and the surrounding area. Ideal for an intensive stay of one or several weeks.

€75 / hour

Online

Live private lessons by video, for all ages and levels, wherever you are in the world. The same tailor-made programme and the same teacher.

€75 / hour

  • Programme built around your goals and schedule
  • Native French-speaking teacher
  • Full immersion from the first lesson
  • Discreet, personal and flexible

Quote on request for intensive programmes of several weeks.

Not sure of your level? Take the level test (PDF)

Method

Learn French by doing

Each lesson prepares a real situation; then, when you are in Dinard, we go and live it together. Online, we rehearse and role-play it live.

Ten real-life activities. Each starts with a short lesson on the vocabulary and grammar you need, then you put it into practice with your teacher.

1 hour

Find your way around a French supermarket

We first work on the vocabulary and grammar you need: building a shopping list, finding products, asking a sales assistant for help. We then go to the supermarket together so you can put it into practice with confidence.

45 minutes

Get information about phone plans

A lesson on the words and structures needed to ask questions in a phone shop, followed by a visit to the shop together. Already have a plan but a problem to solve? We can go and sort it out together.

1 hour

Order a drink and chat in a café

Ordering in French can be intimidating, even for confident speakers. We go to a café with you, help you order, then stay to talk and practise French in a friendly atmosphere.

1.5 hours

Order lunch and chat at the restaurant

The same approach as the café session, extended to a full lunch: reading the menu, ordering, dealing with the unexpected, and keeping a conversation going at the table.

Varies

Take part in a cultural excursion

Museum, exhibition or guided walk: we prepare the specific vocabulary in class, then go together so you can understand, ask questions and discover the local culture while learning.

30 minutes

Ask about local products (wines, cheeses…)

France is the land of gastronomy and every region has its specialities. We work on the vocabulary to ask producers and shopkeepers for advice, then practise on the spot.

1 hour

Rent a bike or buy a train, bus or tram ticket

To get around the city or the region, you want to be able to ask someone directly. We rehearse the exchanges, then go together to rent a bike or buy a ticket.

1 hour

Handle the post office and the bank

Planning a long stay in France? You may need to open a bank account or send a parcel. We prepare the vocabulary and the formalities, then go together.

1 hour

Go clothes or shoe shopping

Vocabulary and grammar for shopping (sizes, colours, fitting, paying), then a visit to a clothing or shoe shop together to practise in real conditions.

45 minutes

Ask the tourist office about cultural activities

Every tourist town has an « Office de tourisme ». Staff speak English, of course, but you want to be able to ask in French. We prepare the exchange, then you try it for real.

Dinard

A seaside setting for French immersion

Dinard is a seaside town on the Emerald Coast of Brittany, known for its bay and its Belle Époque villas. Lessons here can mix class time with the everyday life of a French town: the café, the shops, the seafront.

Belle Époque villa on the rocks above the sea in Dinard
Boats moored in the bay below the coastal villas of Dinard
Seaside villa with stone steps down to the beach in Dinard

Your teacher

Marie-France, founder and teacher

Portrait of Marie-France, founder and teacher

Master's degree in teaching French as a foreign language and thirteen years of teaching experience.

She began with young beginners for a year in Alberta, Canada, then taught for seven years in Strasbourg: private lessons, couples and groups of children of all ages and levels. Since 2023 she has been based in the Dinard region, where she teaches French and its culture through complete immersion.

Her students have included members of Eurocorps, the Council of Europe and travellers from around the world.

Languages: French (native), English, Spanish.

Reviews

What our students say

« It's been 4 months since I started taking courses at this school and by all means I don't regret! The program is very customized (in other words adjusted to your needs and goals, so you don't need to repeat useless topics). »

Maxim Kadyrgulov · Google

« I've taken private tuition French classes at 3 different schools in 3 cities, and this experience was the best (and most economical by a long shot) of the three. »

Aaron Pfaff · Google

« I took French classes for two weeks during the summer of 2018. My French improved greatly. My favorite part was that the classes are full immersion: our private lessons were completely in French. After just a few classes I could see my confidence go up when interacting with the locals. »

Natalia A. · TripAdvisor

« As a complete beginner I spent one week of intensive studying French. My teacher gave me an excellent basis of the French language. She adapted the course to my goals and my speed of learning. Learning French in the historic centre of Strasbourg was a great experience. »

Karel Fort · Google

« Marie-France and Audrey are both excellent teachers, super friendly and patient. The classes are dynamic and tailor-made according to the needs of each student. »

Julieta, Buenos Aires · Google

« Ich nehme seit 7 Monaten regelmäßig Französischstunden, und es ist einfach super! Die Stunden sind kurzweilig, machen sehr viel Spaß und ich finde mich mittlerweile viel, viel besser zurecht in der französischen Sprache. Der beste Französischunterricht, den ich je hatte! »

Guddi · Google

Reviews posted on Google and TripAdvisor, including from the Strasbourg years.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much do French lessons cost at Ecole Haudecoeur?

Private lessons, at your home or online, are €75 per hour. For an intensive programme of several weeks, request a personalised quote.

Where do the lessons take place?

At your home or holiday residence in the Dinard area (Brittany, France), and online by video from anywhere in the world. Ecole Haudecoeur has no physical school at present: the teacher comes to you.

Can I take an intensive course of several weeks?

Yes. The programme is tailor-made, so you can take a few hours a week or an intensive schedule for one or several weeks.

Which levels and ages do you teach?

All levels, from complete beginner to advanced, and all ages. Lessons are one-to-one or for two people.

Do I need to speak French already?

No. The teacher adapts to your level from the first lesson, and the lesson is in French as much as possible so that you progress faster.

How do I know my level?

Use the level test (PDF) or write to us, and we will assess your level before planning your programme.

Contact

Request a quote

Tell Marie-France about your goals, your dates and whether you prefer lessons at your residence in Dinard or online. She replies personally.

Emailmarie-france@ecole-haudecoeur.com

Useful to mention: your level, your dates, the number of hours per week, in person or online.

Write to Marie-France