ALIORE, Worldwide Workshops

I taught English in Haute-Savoie, which was a very eye-opening and positive experience. My host family was fun, generous and welcoming, they treated me as one of the family and included me in family outings and day-to-day activities. I very happy that the parents made a special attempt to introduce me to local culture (skiing, local and regional French cuisine, sights in the region etc.) I improved my knowledge of French incredibly, mostly in terms of speaking, listening and everyday words and jargon. The children (early to mid teens) were reluctant to sit down and study English however when speaking English with them in everyday and family life they were always eager to 'show off' and join in, strengthening their skills. The most difficult times were when no one was home during the weekdays, usually I would travel into town or nearby areas to explore/see sights. Also I found in my area there wasn't much opportunity to meet people my age (early 20s).

I had such a glorious month with a terrific and caring French family. I would highly recommend this program. It is affordable and well organized. They work hard to accommodate your needs and requests. It was so fun helping others perfect their English whilst I practiced my French. We are now lifelong friends! How can you beat that?

I stayed with a family on the immediate outskirts of old Montpellier. My family were very welcoming and I was invited to participate in all their activities. As a result I met a very varied group of interesting locals and managed to gain an insight into everyday French life. I taught both a teenager and adult so very varied levels of English ability. Taking a variety of resources as conversation starters with you is useful. It is challenging living in someone else's space for four weeks. It is essential to try and develop a good rapport with the family before arriving to try and make sure you will be compatible and that your expectations are the same. This experience certainly gets you beyond the usual travel experience!