Native French teacher from Paris, coach trainer, and polyglot — I speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin. The result? I truly understand what you're going through as a language learner —

Find out more about Ben

• Did you grow up speaking this language? Or were you inspired by a trip abroad, an individual or a certain aspect of the culture?

  Yes, French is my mother tongue. I was born in Paris and have lived there my entire life. I grew up speaking French at home, at school and in everyday life, so my relationship with the language is deeply rooted in my personal and cultural identity rather than inspired by a specific trip or individual.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Molière is, in my opinion, one of the most emblematic figures of the French language and culture. Even today, French is often referred to as “la langue de Molière”, which shows how strongly his work still represents the richness, precision and elegance of the language.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or expression in the language that you particularly like?

  One expression I particularly like is “ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard.”
  It’s a very vivid and humorous way to say that something is not impressive or extraordinary. I like how French uses imagery and irony to express ideas in a subtle but expressive way.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  French is my first language, my mother tongue. I have learned five other languages since then, but French remains my reference point and my emotional refuge. It is the language in which I think most deeply, express my emotions most accurately, and feel the most at ease. It is an essential part of who I am.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  One of the main difficulties in learning French is pronunciation, as well as the many subtle nuances in meaning, tone and register. What really helps the learning process is exposure to real spoken French, consistent practice, and a clear method that explains not only how the language works, but also why.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  When I was at school, I was actually not a very good student in languages because I lacked an effective learning method. I struggled with traditional approaches. Ironically, today I teach languages and help people overcome the same difficulties I once had. Being able to support others and positively change their learning experience is something I find very meaningful.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Travel was not necessary for me to improve my French, as it is my native language. Growing up and living in France provided constant exposure to different registers, accents and cultural contexts, which naturally deepened my mastery of the language.