I have long had a love for the French language, and studied French for many years in school in the United States. I stopped my studies of the language after my Freshman year in college, feeling that the only way that I could improve my French any further was by studying or working in France. Unfortunately, that opportunity didn't come for many years. After finishing law school and working for several years, last year I was lucky enough to arrange a secondment to a Parisian law firm for six months. In preparation for my stay in Paris, I took up my French studies again. After a number of disappointing contacts with French language schools and independent professors in the United States, I found information about the Dialogue language school on the internet. The school seemed particularly suited to my needs, since I was working full time in a law firm - Dialogue offered complete immersion in the French language and one-on-one instruction, thereby ensuring maximum progress within a short period of time. Moreover, based upon my comparisons with other schools, I noticed that the prices for the one-on-one teaching were comparable to the prices for small group classes in similar immersion programs. I decided to take a week of vacation and spend it in Spa, Belgium attending classes at Dialogue.

During the five days that I spent at Dialogue, I felt that I largely recovered the level of French that I had had years before when I was a student. Even more importantly, I acquired a facility of expression that I had never had before, having only taken large group classes when I was in school. The teaching method developed by Claudine and Jean-Luc Godard is extremely effective, and I found that my lessons were tailored to my particular needs and requests. The professors were not only intelligent, highly skilled and motivated, they had such a pleasant teaching style that the classes were very enjoyable. Additionally, I found that much of the learning took place in the relaxed setting of meals and coffee breaks with the Godard family, the professors and the other students.

Before planning my stay at Dialogue, I was somewhat worried that spending a week in language immersion might not be the most relaxing way to take a break from work. Instead, I found that being at the school was very much like being a guest in the home of excellent hosts. I had a private room and shower in a lovely room with views of the countryside. Every day, there were three delicious sit-down meals, with wine flowing freely at dinner. During the afternoon, there was time to go hiking in the Ardennes or to the thermal baths in heart of Spa. At the end of my stay, not only was I extremely pleased with my progress in French, I felt refreshed and relaxed.

Six months after my first visit to Dialogue and immediately prior to starting my new job in a Parisian law firm, I returned to Dialogue for two weeks. The result is that I felt extremely comfortable and natural speaking in French once I arrived in France. Immediately after my arrival, I received many compliments on my French. Parisians repeatedly expressed surprise that I had never lived for an extended period of time in France. Furthermore, the facility of expression that I gained at Dialogue helped me to adapt quickly to working in an entirely French office and to interact easily on a social level with French people outside of the office. I know that the time that I spent at Dialogue played an important role in my current comfort level in France and the extent to which I am enjoying my stay here.

Dialogue is, without a doubt, the best language school that I have found. The main drawback to studying at Dialogue is that afterward, you will be much less tolerant of the inefficiency of studying elsewhere.

Anne Oh
Stibbe
Email: anne.oh@stibbe.fr