Survive & Thrive in France
They found confidence, friendships, and a place to belong.
Meet some of the wonderful people who joined our very first Survive & Thrive cohort. Their stories say far more than I ever could.
“I gained more confidence in my everyday spoken French, but I also unexpectedly gained a community. We started as complete strangers, and now we’re discussing meeting up somewhere in France because we all share the same goal of integrating into French life.”
— Fern, now living in Périgueux in Dordogne
Maybe this sounds familiar:
You studied French years ago, but now it feels rusty.
You’re excited about building a life in France — but speaking French in everyday situations can still feel overwhelming.
You want to chat with your neighbours, enjoy le marché, make appointments, and feel more at home.
But when someone speaks quickly, the phone rings, or you need to respond on the spot, the words disappear.
So you switch to English, stay quiet, or avoid the situation altogether.
And little by little, you may feel you’re not fully enjoying the French life you came here for.
If you nodded along to even one of these, Survive & Thrive was created for you.
This programme helps you feel calmer, more prepared, and more confident in the everyday French situations that matter most.
So you don’t just buy les fraises. You connect with le marchand.
Over the years, I’ve taught English-speaking expats moving to France and building their lives here — in Bordeaux, Nice, Annecy, Strasbourg, Paris, La Rochelle, Montpellier, Dijon, and far beyond.
And again and again, I saw the same thing: the real challenge was never grammar.
It was real life. Phone calls. Doctor appointments. Deliveries. Bills. Talking to neighbors. Understanding the plumber, the pharmacist, the landlord, or the person at the market.
The same practical situations came back with almost every student.
So I decided to bring together everything I’ve learned from years of one-to-one teaching — all those real conversations, struggles, and everyday situations — into one clear, practical course.
A program designed to help you feel more independent, more confident, and more at home in France — and one I also want to build with you and your real needs.
Learning French is easier when you’re not doing it alone.
One of the biggest surprises from our very first cohort wasn’t just how much everyone’s French improved. It was the friendships, encouragement, and confidence that grew along the way.
Many participants told me that this sense of support became one of the most valuable parts of the programme.
Inside the program, you’ll focus on the French you actually need in real life — not grammar for the sake of grammar. This is not about learning French the “traditional way”. It’s about learning what you actually need to live your life in France.
Module 1
Feel comfortable in simple everyday interactions
Stop feeling lost in common situations
Introduce yourself naturally
Handle basic conversations without panic
Understand numbers, prices, and simple information
Module 2
Understand and respond with more confidence
Catch key words when people speak fast
Ask people to repeat or slow down
Respond simply instead of freezing
Feel less overwhelmed in conversations
Module 3
Handle real-life situations in France
Doctor, pharmacy, appointments
Market, shops, everyday interactions
Bills, deliveries, practical situations
Feel more independent in daily life
Module 4
Connect and feel more at ease with people
Feel less like an outsider
Talk to neighbours with more ease
Handle small talk and social moments
Accept invitations (apéros, lunches…)
A simple weekly routine with short videos, printable PDFs, mini quizzes, and live coaching support.
Get a glimpse of the course…
Inside the program, everything is designed to help you practice real-life French in a simple, supportive, and non-overwhelming way.
SHORT VIDEO LESSONS
Clear 5–10 minute lessons you can follow at your own pace.
REAL-LIFE DIALOGUES
Phone calls, appointments, neighbors, shops, deliveries, and everyday situations that usually make you freeze.
PRINTABLE PDF GUIDES
Cheat sheets, key phrases, email templates, and simple step-by-step support.
SIMPLE QUIZZES
Gentle repetition to help you remember what matters most.
4 LIVE COACHING SESSIONS
Small-group speaking practice, pronunciation help, role-play, and answers to your real questions.
LIFETIME ACCESS TO THE CORE PROGRAM
Keep everything on the website and come back whenever life in France gives you something new.
Only 10–15 minutes a day can help you feel more capable, calm, and independent in France.
In just a few weeks, everyday life in France starts to feel different.
You pick up the phone with a little more calm.
You book an appointment without that moment of panic.
At the pharmacy, at the market, or with a neighbor… you understand enough to stay in the conversation.
You stop relying on Google Translate for every little thing.
And little by little, something shifts.
You feel less like a visitor… and more at home in your life here.
Because the real transformation is not perfect French.
It’s feeling calm, capable, and thinking:
“I can handle this.”
Enrollment is now open. Limited to just 15 participants to ensure personal support throughout the program.
ℹ️ VAT not applicable, article 293 B of the French General Tax Code.
✓8-week guided experience
✓4 practical modules
✓4 live coaching sessions
✓Lifetime access to the core program
✓Simple weekly routine
✓Small, supportive group
✓Only 15 places
Investment: €450
8-week guided program designed for expats building a life in France.
✔ You’re an English speaker moving to France or already living here
✔ You learned French at school 30 or 40 years ago and it feels rusty
✔ You use Duolingo, YouTube, apps or notebooks but still freeze in real life
✔ You want clear structure instead of jumping from one resource to another
✔ You’re moving to France or already living here and want to feel independent
✔ You want practical French for real conversations, calls and everyday life
✔ You need a calm, supportive teacher and a small group feel
✔ You are a complete beginner or a rusty beginner and need step-by-step guidance
If you see yourself in this, you’re exactly who I created this course for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What students love about the Feel Good French method
I had studied French years ago at school, but it all felt buried somewhere in my brain. Déborah helped me bring it back in a way that finally made sense for daily life in France.
I now feel much more confident speaking to neighbors, shopkeepers and even on the phone.
Before working with Déborah, I always felt embarrassed and a bit useless in everyday situations.
I understood some words, but when people spoke fast, I froze.
Her method made everything feel calmer, clearer and much more practical.
For the first time, I started feeling capable in real life.
For the first time, I felt that someone truly understood what it’s like to be an English speaker trying to build a life in France.
The practical dialogues, pronunciation support, and cultural guidance helped me feel much calmer and more capable in everyday situations.
Of course, there are still moments I don’t fully understand, but now I no longer panic… I know how to stay in the conversation and handle much more than before.