Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Julie (81) French (45) Avignon (38) week (20) time (16) experience (16) lessons (15) apartment (15) learning (12) immersion (12)
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  • 5/5 Riley Jane T. 2 years ago on Google • 16 reviews
    My time with Julie was one of the best weeks of my life. French is hard, but I’m convinced that Julie has designed a program with the very best circumstances to learn. Studying French with Julie was very different from formal classes I’ve taken in the past - it was practical, real, and actually useful. I feel much more confident in my speaking and listening abilities thanks to her. The lessons were fun, very hands on and interactive. I especially loved learning with the different games she has. Julie is a joy to be around, and a joy to learn from. Her teaching style instantly put me at ease. Her playful, funny demeanor helped me feel comfortable making mistakes and not take myself too seriously. I believe I have seriously up-leveled my French with her and expanded my horizons. The apartment is lovely. The photos on her site are beautiful but they don’t do it justice - it’s even better in person. First of all, it’s huge! The ceilings are so tall with beautiful detailed molding on the walls. The floors are beautiful, classic provencal red tile. It was perfectly clean, beautifully decorated, and met our every need. It’s clear that Julie has put a lot of thought and care into creating a space to help her students feel comfortable, relaxed, and inspired during their stay. I can’t say enough about the food. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten better in my life! Every meal with Julie was divine. Not only is she a great cook, she has great taste and knows what is good. It was so fun to try new things with her and experience real Provençal eating. It’s also really nice to not have to think about what you’re going to eat for breakfast and lunch, she takes care of it so you can focus on learning. During the immersion she takes you out on excursions. She went to great lengths to pack them with learning experiences and fun! I loved that she really enjoys the experience with you instead of feeling like a tour guide and a tour group. She has fun with you which makes it all the more fun! Although the lessons, the space, the food, and the adventures were amazing, getting to spend time with Julie is the best part of the week. She is simply a delight to be around. She is charming, smart, hilarious, and has great energy. Her excitement and passion for language, food, and the region of Provence is contagious. You can tell Julie genuinely loves what she does. I’m really going to miss her but I’m positive I’ll be back again and again in the years to come. Don’t hesitate. I’m so glad I didn’t. It was an unforgettable experience and I can’t wait to do it again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alison Sprouse P. 2 years ago on Google
    Truly a magical week spent in Avignon with our lovely, charming teacher Julie! She teaches clearly and with patience, keeps the excursions interesting, and makes tasty food. Plus, the apartment is beautiful, comfortable and in the middle of town. I went with 2 friends and we are already planning a return trip so we can continue improving our French with Julie. WORTH THE MONEY AND THE TIME! You won't regret it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeannie M. 3 months ago on Google • 6 reviews New
    Going to France to learn French has been something I've been daydreaming about for many years and this experience with Julie in Avignon was more than I ever could have dreamed. I got to spend two wonderful weeks with Julie learning about the French language and culture. Before arriving in Avignon I did some online learning, so I had a beginner/intermediate level but was not speaking. My main goal was to build on my vocabulary, grammar and listening skills but to actually gain some confidence to speak (even if just a little). Well, thankfully Julie is such a kind and patient person and teacher so she really put me at ease. I saw such an improvement in myself in a short amount of time so I'm forever thankful to her for that. Languages do not come easy to me so she had her work cut out for her! Beyond the amazing French lessons, every day was perfect. The apartment was absolutely beautiful and so well situated, it was dreamy to stay there. The breakfast and lunch Julie prepared everyday (all homemade) was so delicious. She really made it seem effortless making me such delicious plant-based food, this was such a treat. I loved that everything was local and she sourced special bread for breakfast, fresh juice and made every meal memorable. As well, she has so much local knowledge and you can tell she really loves what she does. We explored all of Avignon and then she helped to select the perfect excursions in and outside of the city. The whole experience with Julie was truly spectacular, I can't say enough. I look forward to returning and continuing my French education with her! --Jeannie Ottawa, Canada

  • 5/5 Joanne D. 4 years ago on Google • 6 reviews
    My husband and I had a wonderful week in Avignon with Julie in October. She was the perfect host and cooked tasty local dishes for us each day. I wanted to refresh my French and she provided high-quality lessons perfectly tailored to my level. We also had in-depth discussions on a wide range of topics which stretched my French and added interest to the lessons. 2 excursions were highlights: attending a reading of L’Étranger by Camus and a visit to an art exhibition held in an ancient nunnery/monastery. Julie’s flat is amazing. Molière himself lived there and it is quite palatial. Avignon itself is also a lovely town with much of historic significance. My husband took himself off each day cycling around the region. Julie catered to both our needs and we ended our stay with an evening on a boat listening to a couple of jazz singers and eating nibbles and sipping on wine.

  • 5/5 Laura S. 1 year ago on Google • 5 reviews
    My sister and I spent a week with Julie Gaudin in Avignon in May and came back with a new skill speaking French and a love for Avignon. Of course, Julie had a great deal to do with that. She was able to take the two of us with different experiences learning French and teach in a way that both were challenged. She is kind, experienced, and very intuitive to her students. The pluses are the meals she prepared for us and the places she took us for lessons to allow for real life experiences with the French people. Julie was awesome!! The accommodations were superb, comfortable very French and old. Avignon has a charm all its own and the people were very helpful in allowing us to practice our French. We were left with handouts for review and instructions on what is important for us to consider after the experience. I would highly recommend this experience and teacher to anyone!!

  • 5/5 j h. 11 months ago on Google • 5 reviews
    Julie’s teaching method really works! Before my 2 weeks with her, I had learned a good deal of grammar and vocabulary but had difficulty retrieving them when speaking. Now I’m able to put sentences together and speak with much more fluidity! Julie’s apartment is charming, and the large bedroom is fit for a queen. Avignon is a wonderful city - just the right size with plenty of things to do, but not overwhelming. Sunny south of France, fun teacher, and now more independence speaking. Parfait!

  • 5/5 Capper R. 1 year ago on Google • 4 reviews
    Julie is an excellent instructor/tutor. She made the entire time an experience that was over and above any of my expectations. The apartment is lovely and centrally located within the walls of Avignon. She is a gracious hostess and was available at all times for questions. I especially appreciate her focus on conversation and very helpful excursions/experiences with the opportunity to interact in conversation with merchants and other native French speakers. I will definitely return for another immersion with Julie!

  • 5/5 Stephanie P. 1 year ago on Google
    I had the best week of my life with Julie in Avignon. Julie is not only an incredible teacher, she is an incredible person. Her approach to learning is so patient and so kind. I learned so much from her in my one week there, and I cannot wait to return. She genuinely loves what she does, and in turn makes you LOVE the French language. I cannot recommend Julie enough, she will change your life. I feel so lucky to have met her and look forward to continuing my French education with her!

  • 5/5 Juliet G. 2 years ago on Google
    I spent a week in Avignon in Julie’s program, and it was excellent! Julie is engaging and works hard to help her students learn. The lessons were entertaining which helped with retention. Activities included trips to cafes or local markets, allowing opportunities to interact with locals and speak the language. She also offers options for excursions to experience other areas in the region. Overall I give this program my highest recommendations and look forward to going again soon!

  • 5/5 Chris M. 1 year ago on Google
    I have done several French courses in France over the past ten years and Julie’s was exceptional. My adult daughter and I spent a week together improving our French skills, and despite us being at different levels Julie customized the lessons each day to cater to both our needs. Each morning started with general conversation as we ate a delicious breakfast. The mornings flew by and we often had a mid am coffee at a café in the square as we continued our studies. Not only did we improve our French skills but we picked us a few culinary skills as Julie prepared an amazing locally sourced lunch seemingly effortlessly each day. We enjoyed two great outdoor excursions as the weather was so lovely. It was a week of intense but fun and varied learning at the end of which we were both really pleased with our progress. I have no hesitation in recommending Julies course and personally would love the opportunity to go back in the future.

  • 5/5 Heather P. 2 years ago on Google
    I had the most amazing one-week French immersion with Julie at Avignon in early September. I took almost one-year online classes with Julie before I came to Avignon for this much anticipated immersion experience. When Julie welcomed me at the train station, I felt instant connection with her. Julie was an excellent teacher, cook and cultural guide. She was very good in determining what I needed to focus to get the most out of the short one-week learning experience. By the end of the week, I felt that I have improved and built much confidence in speaking French, and knowing clearly what I should focus in my future French learning journey. In addition, Julie wowed me with the meals she prepared, and I enjoyed every one of her dishes. It was a treat to stay at her spacious, charming and historic apartment located in the center of Avignon, which was very convenient to walk to many restaurants and attractions in town. Julie also offered me excellent recommendations on restaurants and activities that I might enjoy on my own. Most importantly, I had so much fun going with her to shop fresh produce at the market, visit an old medieval village, learning language and culture even without realizing it. It was awesome to go to a piano recital with her in an old castle, and it was pretty cool. Julie worked very hard to make my one-week stay with her so memorable. I have already decided to come back again next year for another week of immersion with Julie.

  • 5/5 Jim M. 2 years ago on Google
    I spent a week with Julie in December 2021. I can say honestly that the whole experience was far better than I could have imagined. As a beginner, my French skills were very limited, which made me a little nervous, as my week with Julie drew closer. The minute we met at the train station; those fears quickly vanished. Julie has the type of welcoming personality that, as soon as you meet her, you felt as if you had known her for a long time. The lessons we had were focused on filling in the many gaps in my learning (and there were many!!) Throughout my entire stay, Julie was extremely patient and very encouraging. She used a few different approaches during our sessions, and it helped my understanding of the language structure. She identified my issues and then found a way to help me understand and progress. I left with a clear sense of direction on how to continue my studies at home, along with all of the notes she took during our class time. Julie’s apartment, inside the walls of old Avignon, is awesome! The 17th-century building is the perfect setting for her classes. Everything the city has to offer is easily walkable. All of the locals that I interacted with in Avignon were very friendly and helpful. I am sure anyone would feel comfortable & safe walking anywhere in the city. Julie has an infectious passion for everything Provençal and will give you many tips for things to see and to experience while in Avignon and the surrounding area. The breakfast & lunches provided by Julie were always phenomenal! She is an excellent cook! She takes the time to prepare almost everything herself. She will appear every morning with a freshly baked loaf of bread from a local boulangerie, or a few amazing pastries! I follow a plant-based diet and Julie went out of her way to make every delicious meal for me, very special. The meals times were always a fun time with great conversations. As you read through these reviews, you will see (as I did) they all begin to sound very similar. There is a very good reason for this…. Julie is absolutely the best! And I am confident that your time with her, in Avignon, will be very productive for your language skills. You will also leave with many wonderful memories of an amazing village and a very kind, warm & gifted French Professor.

  • 5/5 Marilyn E. 11 months ago on Google
    A friend and I spent two weeks Chez Julie in March, 2023. Both of us are retired and have been taking French classes through Alliance Française in the US as well as other language programs in France for the past three years. We’re probably at A.2/B.1 level of competency, give or take. Julie arrived at the student apartment – oui, it is as spacious, light and well-appointed as advertised! – at 9 each weekday morning, and we began our day together while enjoying a healthy petit-déjeuner. Morning lessons were held in the salon. Afterward, she prepared our déjeuner, using fresh, local ingredients to create a delicious entrée (salad), plat (main dish) and dessert. After a leisurely lunch and conversation (en français), Julie left at 2:30, and we were free to stroll through Avignon and enjoy the many winding lanes, cafés, shops, parks and attractions. Twice a week, we took excursions after our morning lessons and enjoyed exploring nearby villages. Dinners were on our own; Avignon has plenty of very good restaurants (modest to high-end). Our first week’s lessons focused on practical, conversational grammar, vocabulary and honing pronunciation. Julie used a variety of teaching methods and activities (exercises, games, conversation) to engage us while building on our strengths and addressing our challenges. She changed things up during our second week, having observed that we had the basics in our brains but needed to practice speaking. So, the theme of our second week was “Parlez, parlez, parlez!”  And, “Parler, c’est ce qu'on a fait!” We played games and told each other stories while Julie coached us, helped us with pronunciation and wrote down whatever we got stuck on so we could go back later and see the word, the grammar rule, the sentence structure that had challenged us. We had fun! Both my friend and I made substantial progress in our oral comprehension and fluency! Our two weeks flew by! I wish we had stayed for three! “Le français chez Julie” receives 10 stars from me! An ideal location, lovely, comfortable accommodations, delicious, home-cooked meals and, most importantly, a skilled, insightful professeure who was kind, patient, fun to be with and helped me gain confidence and significantly improve my French – C'était tout ce que j'espérais et plus ! Marilyn, Seattle WA March 20233

  • 5/5 Liz G. 1 year ago on Google • 2 reviews
    My husband and I did a one week French immersion with Julie. We stayed in her gorgeous apartment in the heart of Avignon. We both had basic French, but needed assistance to take it to the next level. We received exactly the type of help we needed to start to converse in French in a more natural manner. We now have a much better grasp of passe compose, imparfait and futur proche. Julie is a patient teacher. All lessons are conducted while eating delicious food, prepared by Julie, or at a local cafe, which makes the lessons even better. We also went kayaking together and visited markets. Julie is passionate about the French language and about helping others to speak it. I can throughly recommend her.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Frank G. 9 months ago on Google • 1 review
    Our two weeks spent in Avignon speaking and studying French with Julie were even better than we had hoped for. Though we have very different levels of ability, Julie’s well-organized exercises, lively conversation and day-to-day interactions meant we could work together to improve our French. As others have mentioned, Julie is an amazing cook, a highly knowledgeable linguist and a warm and welcoming person to spend time with! As well, the apartment located inside Avignon’s historic walls provides a perfect base for walking the city and visiting the many beautiful towns nearby. We thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from our time, and highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to sharpen their French skills before spending some time exploring France. Julie’s focus on how the French actually speak and use their language in daily interactions meant we were better able to understand and talk with people in the following weeks in our travels around the country.

  • 5/5 V 8 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    We had a wonderful immersion experience with Julie Gaudin in Avignon. Julie’s 17th century apartment is 5 star. As one reviewer said, the photos do not do it justice – and the photos are stunning enough. In addition to our huge and beautiful bedroom and bathroom, there was a separate, smaller bedroom with its own bathroom. The lounge room was, again, large and stylish, and the kitchen had everything necessary to accommodate those who cooked - as well as those who did not, but wanted to stock up, including a climate-controlled wine fridge. Having been away from home for quite a while, we also appreciated having a washing machine. The apartment is in the heart of old Avignon, with shops and supermarkets just around the corner. Julie lives elsewhere so, outside of lesson time, you have the apartment to yourself. But we were in Avignon for French lessons. Julie’s teaching skills are 5 star too. Julie is a very experienced teacher who focused on our spoken French, at the same time strengthening our repertoire of grammar. Julie used a variety of techniques to help us, and broke up what could have been a very long morning with language games and visits to nearby cafes – as well as a lot of humour. Indeed, her classes were much enhanced by her lovely, bubbly and very “chaleureuse” personality. She is a gem. After asking about our preferences, every day Julie made us our preferred breakfast and a delicious French lunch. In the evening, there are some fabulous places close by where you can eat if you choose not to cook. We were there in early June and enjoyed many drinks and wonderful evening meals in the glorious and leafy courtyards of old Avignon. Julie was great at providing excellent recommendations. Julie was also very accommodating of our own needs. Her flexibility regarding arrangements made our stay particularly easy and special. Our daughter from Vienna was able to join us for a while and we were also able to deviate from the set program of outings. Thanks again Julie for helping us out! A little advice: we recommend staying longer than the immersion course. Take your time. Avignon and its environs are amazing and there is so much to see. We arrived in Avignon a few days before our immersion. This gave us an opportunity to visit places that would not have fitted into an “immersion” day, especially as we did not have a car. In Avignon itself, there is no need for a car at all, and there are many other places (e.g., Arles) that are very easy to get to by train while you are staying in Avignon with Julie. However, we did book a private tour of the beautiful Luberon Valley, which is not so accessible if you do not have transport. The tour was run by Provans and it was amazing. We wished we had had more time to do more Provans tours – not cheap, but very personal and very, very good. You will learn a lot of French and much more from Julie – and you will love Avignon and its neighbouring villages. Come and stay a while with Julie! Vera and Frank Morgan

  • 5/5 Nan D. 5 months ago on Google • 1 review
    My sister, husband and I spent a week in Julie's lovely 17th century apartment in Avignon recently. Julie is a very experienced, energetic, fun and professional French teacher. Even though we were 3 students at different levels she really worked hard to make sure each of us improved our level of spoken French. She really focused on "speaking like modern French people speak" with tons of tips on contractions, common phrases, memorising liaisons, avoiding easy mistakes, conversation games, etc. This is exactly what most French language learners really need to integrate better into French culture. She also created copious notes that we can review in the future and keep as an important database and memory aid. Unfortunately, we couldn't taste her famous cooking because she was getting over an illness but it didn't hamper our progress and enjoyment of her classes. The apartment is very spacious and extremely well located only a 5-10 minute walk from the Avignon centre train station. It was well supplied with spices, teas, coffee, condiments, soaps, shampoo, paper goods, etc. There is also a washing machine and drying rack. I would not hesitate to book a repeat immersion class because the whole experience was very fun and productive. Avignon is a gorgeous city full of lovely museums, medieval art and architecture, lovely mansions, and it has a gorgeous setting along the river. We could have easily spent an additional week with Julie and not seen everything Avignon has to offer. Do not hesitate to book an immersion experience with Julie. We are so glad we did! Merci Julie, a la prochaine!


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