Speak French
French Language and Culture Programs
Led by the wonderful French language and culture teaching veteran Kimber Hawkey and Pascale Hapsgood, a native of Nantes, as well as Maryvonne Gasparini, a native of Paris and Perigord, Speak!’s French program is varied and inspired. We offer a variety of small group classes, workshops, private and custom lessons and cultural events.
The French Curriculum: An Inspired Journey
- Passeport: Conversational French for Beginners
- Interview: Conversational French for Advanced Beginners
- Raconte-moi: Intermediate French Grammar and Conversation
- Perspectives: Advanced French Grammar and Conversation
- Bon Voyage and Paris in the Spring: French for Travelers
- Plunge! : French Immersion Course
- Cine-Films Français: French Language and Culture through Film
- Individual Lessons and Custom Courses
- For Kids: French camps and after-school enrichment through our Speak! at School program
One-on-One French Course
Program Description
Whether you are a busy professional or an upcoming traveler, if you are committed to improving your French, our custom one-on-one course is ideal for you! Lessons will be tailored to your linguistic level and goals in order to achieve superior results. We will do our best to work with your schedule and match you with an instructor who will best help you meet your specific goals.
Possible Programs:
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10 hours -$600
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20 hours -$1100
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UVA Faculty/Staff Education Benefit Special : 38 hours: $2,000 (over one year).
- 60 hours : $3,000
Please note that many employers will reimburse for language training. University of Virginia employees and most Postdoctoral and Research Fellows are eligible to apply annual education benefits ($2,000/year) to language training at Speak!
Passeport 1: Conversational French for Beginners
- Instructor: Maryvonne Gasparini
- Lesson times: Wednesday 9 – 10:30am
- Course dates: March 28 – May 30
- Tuition: $225
- Materials fee: TBA
2-Week Intensive Summer Session
- Instructor: Speak! Team
- Lesson times:Monday – Thursdays, 5:30 – 7:30pm
- Course dates: July 2 – July 12
- Tuition: $225
- Materials fee: TBA
Course Description
This course is designed for beginners planing a trip to a francophone country and/or students who would like the new challenge of enlarging their frontiers and embracing a new culture. French is not easy, and we’d be lying if we promised that after 15 hours over 10 weeks you will hold a conversation about everything, but what we can assure you is that you’ll not only learn, but also laugh a lot. You’ll not only challenge yourself, but you’ll be able to introduce yourself, ask your way around, tell the time and the date, and count the number of cows in a French field. . .
Passeport 2: Conversational French for Beginners 2
2-Week Intensive Summer Session
- Instructor: Speak! Team
- Lesson times:Monday – Thursday, 5:30 – 7:30pm
- Course dates: July 16 – July 26
- Tuition: $225
- Materials fee: TBA
Course Description
This course picks up where Passeport 1 leaves off. In it you will continue to practice and master basic grammar and learn how to get by in everyday situations!
Interview : Conversational French for Advanced Beginners
- Instructor: Maryvonne Gasparini
- Lesson times: Wednesdays, 10:45am-12:15pm
- Course dates: March 28 – May 30
- Tuition: $225
2-Week Intensive Summer Session
- Instructor: Speak! Team
- Lesson times: Monday-Thursday, 5:30-7:30pm
- Course dates: July 30 – August 9
- Tuition: $225
- Materials fee: TBA
Course Description
For students who have studied French at least for a semester and have a little knowledge of the French language (present tense, conjugation of the auxiliary verbs “to be” and “to have,” greetings, asking and answering basic questions). In this class we are using a mixture of different books and techniques to build strong basics. We not only use a text book called “Alter Ego” but also some pronunciation exercises and a video called “Aurelie.” All these tools combined with grammar exercises have been created specially for your needs.
French Family Camp! French Immersion for Parents and Young Children!
- Instructor: Pascale Hapgood & Katell Bourhis
- Lesson times: Monday – Friday, 2-5pm
- Course dates: May 29 – June 8
- $425 for parent and child, $150 for additional family members or friends!
Course Description
Camp Description: Are you traveling to a francophone country with the family this summer? Do you want to be able to get around, reserve a table for dinner, book a hotel room or a show? Find the train schedule for a little excursion out of town?
Would you like your kids to be as excited as you are? Do you want them to start developing a love of languages? A knack for French in particular? Then search no more! Come to Speak! with your child (children) and you can both learn the basics with us!
Katell Bourhis and Pascale Hapgood, both native of Brittany, will teach you what you really need to know to make your trip a success! Pascale will teach the adults in one room, Katell the children in the other room. But we’ll all meet at times for some fun and games!
Plunge!: Intensive Conversational French all levels!
- Instructors: Speak! Team
- Lesson times: M-F 9am-1pm
- Course dates: May 28-June 8
- Tuition: $450 (includes materials)
Course Description:
Plunge into the beautiful world of French language and culture with this fun, effective two week course. Daily practice is the best way to build a strong foundation (in any language), so take advantage of the more tranquil pace of summer to step-up your conversational French.
Raconte-moi : Conversational French for Intermediate Speakers
- Instructor: Pascale Hapgood
- Lesson time, Section 1: Tuesday 9 – 10:30am
- Lesson time, Section 2: Tuesday 10:45am – 12:15pm
- Course dates: April 10 – May 29
- Tuition: $225
- Materials : TBA
Course Description
An 8-week session during which students will improve their conversational skills via conversational exchanges on a variety of theme and topics. In addition to a custom-packet of materials, this class will also incorporate news articles to spark conversation, build vocabulary and inspire cultural awareness. The articles discussed during classes are distributed a week prior to each class, and students are asked to study it at home and come prepared for discussion. A broad variety of subjects are covered such as society(environmental, health , human rights…) news (elections, politics. economy…), and gossip (The Monaco Royal family, the French presidential couple…). We will also be reading a French novel and translating it together. Last but not least, we will be spending about 20 minutes every two weeks studying grammar with a lot of exercises to help with understanding and memorizing the rules. But most important of all, this class is yours, so Pascale will embrace your level and strive to fulfill your personal needs and goals.
Perspectives: Conversational French, Advanced Level
- Instructor: Pascale Hapgood
- Lesson times: Thursday mornings, 9:30 – 11am
- Course dates: April 12 – May 31
- Tuition: $225
- Materials: TBA
Course Description
Students who can speak French with ease will love this animated advanced class! You’ll get an hour and a half of discussion during which you’ll bend and flex your linguistic skills as well as improve your vocabulary. You will also learn more about French culture and discover new expressions while reading and discussing newspaper articles as well as a carefully-selected novel.
Paris in the Spring : Conversational French for Travelers
- Instructor: Speak! Team
- Lesson times: TBA
- Course dates: March 12 – April 16
- Tuition: $185
- Materials: Oxford’s Take off in French
Course Description
Bienvenue à French for Travelers! In this dynamic, interactive course, you will begin your journey to proficiency and prepare yourself for upcoming travels to French-speaking places. You will learn how to introduce yourself, ask your way, book a hotel room, order in a cafe, go shopping for food and clothing. All of this while exploring the cultural richness of the French world!
Cine-Films Francais: French through Film
- Instructor: TBA
- Lesson times: Saturdays 1 – 2:30pm
- Course dates: TBA
- Tuition: $125
- Materials : $10
Course Description
In this course, we will first be watching and discussing the classic film L’Argent de Poche. At each lesson, we will watch a portion of the film and engage in a guided discussion about the various themes and topics. We will work on grammar topics as they come up during these discussions, moving our way through the French tenses and functions. The second film can will be chosen by the class as per the suggestions of the teacher. Although this course is accessible to an Advanced-Beginner student who likes to talk, it may be more suited to Intermediate-Advanced level students. Such a great film! Come join Kimber at the movies!
Bon Voyage: Francophone Life, Language, Culture aka “How to survive while living in France!”
- Instructors: Team
- Lesson times: TBA
- Course dates: TBA
- Tuition: $275
Course Description
Join Speak!’s French team for a dynamic, conversational and thematic approach to daily life in a francophone country. This special, two week course will teach you how to master important tasks like: reserving a hotel room; selecting a restaurant/understanding the menu/ordering, making inquiries at museums, theaters, castles; shopping for clothes and shoes (sizes, etc.); grocery and market shopping. You’ll also discover loads of insider tips that will surely enrich and enliven your next trip to France.
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Speak Abroad – Come with us to Todi
Now Enrolling for 2012!
Fall: June 16-30, 2012
Join Christina Ball (Speak!) and La Lingua, La Vita Italian school in the hill town of Todi for a glorious two week cultural and linguistic immersion experience.
Click here for more info!