Bonjour,

je m'appelle Claude and, for over two decades, I’ve been a French coach and teacher, using the French language as a pathway to joy, curiosity, and creative expression.

Originally from Switzerland, I never had a gift for languages—not even French, my native tongue. At the time dyslexia was not something one would diagnose, but for me grammar was incomprehensible and spelling a constant challenge. While I am not perfect at it, I am getting better :-) Over time, I discovered that learning is not about perfection, but resilience. 

As it often happens, life takes unexpected turns—I became fluent in German and English and eventually found my calling as a French coach and teacher. What once seemed like my greatest weakness turned into a source of confidence, purpose, and inspiration.

Before teaching and coaching, I worked as a designer and art director in Berlin and New York City. My own creative work moves across visual arts, poetry, dance, and expressive movement. These pursuits, along with my studies in meditation, clinical imagery, yoga, holistic health, reiki, and psychosynthesis, have deeply shaped my work. 

Out of my experience with languages, communication and cross-cultural interaction, and my additional studies, I developed a teaching methodology focusing on conversation and creative writing to reflect natural life's interaction and allow for expansion, curiosity, ease, authenticity and fun.

Since 2013, when I am not traveling, I am based in Oakland, CA. I believe the world is a gift to be explored and that languages are part of our journey inward, shaping our heart and soul. The French language is one more tool that helps us blossom into who we are and how we live.