May the Music
in your Heart make your Life Dance!
Que la Musique de votre Coeur fasse Danser votre Vie!
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French Classes |
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Ah, Joie
de Vivre! The Joy of Life!
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Ah Joie de Vivre offers a choice of classes in the French language at the following levels:
as well as a variety of courses spoken
in French such as yoga, cooking classes etc...
(See Fall, 2008)
Private tutoring is available. A French Immersion workshop at any level can come to your location.
(For More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
(Click Here for Schedule) (Click Here for Rates)
For learning languages other than French, see FluencyFast.com
French Immersion for beginners, or
for those of you who know words and phrases and are at this time unable or uncomfortable
to make sentences. (You will within the first half hour). Some intermediate
level students find that they also greatly benefit from this intensive. Fluency
and comprehension levels increase dramatically in this engaging and delightful
approach. Here 95% French is
spoken and the program is 100% guaranteed.
The innovative and fun teaching methods include:
While the class is interactive as
a group, there is a great respect for each person's level of comfort with opportunities
to express yourself as an individual. At any given time, you can choose to be
very active or learn in a more receptive and quiet manner.
Please be aware that 95% of french
is spoken during these classes with an average of 90% retention. You will will
find yourself in a French conversation mode within the first 20 minutes. These
two French immersion weekends are designed so that even a beginner will be able
to experience a sense of fluency and ease with the language within the first
hour.
French immersion graduates will have
the opportunity to further expand their newly acquired French skills and vocabulary.
Follow up evening intensive classes, and some occasional weekends will be offered
so all graduates can continue to practice speaking and hearing French.
Most weekends will take place in West Asheville, 2 miles from Westgate. There is a bus stop, or you can make carpooling arrangements if needed. You will receive Directions upon registration.
(Click Here
for Schedule) (Click Here for Rates)
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
I want to thank you for allowing me
to renew the French that has been living inside of me! I am very excited! You
are a wonderful teacher. I have been able to share my "français"
with my daughters (who pretty much think I'm crazy, but they are enjoying me
being excited about it!).
Cheryl - Spring 2008 Asheville
2008
MayaJoëlle is the best teacher
I ever had. She makes learning so fun.
She has us USE the language, which is the only way people REALLY learn.
Volarte - Spring 2008 Asheville, NC
The teaching style is the best I have seen. You make me feel very comfortable.
The class environment….. was very pleasant … very nice refreshments….
Learning languages does not come easily for me but I was amazed at how much
I learned and how easily I picked it up.
I also especially liked the colloquial expressions and the every day use of
the French language.
Pat Johnson - Spring 2008 Asheville NC
…very helpful in reducing fear… especially since others had so much
more experience than me.
Thank you MayaJoëlle. You are lovely and funny and kept the weekend interesting.
I hope to continue with you.
Lynn Hendrick - Spring 2008 Asheville NC
MayaJoëlle is a wonderful teacher. Classes are fun and my progress is amazing.
Dale Karl - Spring 2008 Asheville NC
I really enjoyed both weekends immensely
and I learned a lot….. MayaJoëlle is very enthusiastic and did a great
job presenting everything. ... Graduate 2007
Lively, interesting, engaging, supportive…Great experience…. I was
terrified on Friday but quickly was very comfortable…. This is the perfect
way to start learning fresh…. Comprehension level was high… Asheville
- Mike Teeter - 2007
Merci beaucoup pour une experience formidable …. Jeanne Steinke - Brevard
2005
----from all my classes experiences in French…without doubt, my most helpful
experience was the French Immersion story telling with you. It’s funny,
too, because I almost didn’t sign up for it. I felt nervous and intimidated.
But I am so glad I did. You put us at ease right from the beginning, and it
was lots of fun. And nearly a year later, I can still tell the story of Jean
Manuel almost word for word. Those phrases really stuck in my head. Phyllis
Miller - Brevard January 2006
(Click Here
for Schedule) (Click Here for Rates)
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
The following description is taken in part from Fluencyfast .com
Course Title – French immersion 1: Beginning French Through TPRS®
Course Description— Introductory French taught through TPR Storytelling®. A beginning French course aimed at the rapid achievement of a beginning level of proficiency through interesting reading, engaging storytelling and personalized discussions. Introductory French taught through TPR Storytelling®. Students can expect to acquire the 100 highest frequency words in French through stories and action. There is no pressure to speak or perform. This class is popular with tourists, travelers, business professionals in technology and people who took French in high school years ago but can't speak a word today. Students are invited to take this class more than once because although the curriculum changes each time, the pace will always stay comfortable so that your experience is effortless and fun. Students with previous French exposure are guided through the process of reactivating latent vocabulary. True beginners are guided through the process of beginning language acquisition in a low pressure, low-stress environment.
Course Objectives—Students will be expected to participate, ask questions,
answer questions, apply higher level thinking skills to the reading of a reader
and oral stories, co-create live stories and write and tell stories in French.
15 hours of reading and study outside of class is recommended.
Course Content—
Beginning, high frequency vocabulary, action words, complex sentence structure in the present and past tenses combined in stories. Reading material based on the 100 highest frequency vocabulary words in French and many English cognates. Course content includes multiple stories using this set of vocabulary words and common grammatical structures.
Course Activities—
1. TPR (Total Physical Response) – responding to oral commands physically, non-verbally and with one word answers
2. TPRS (Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling)
Storytelling involving questions regarding the plot and details that are answered by the students.
Personalized, informal questions regarding the students in the class.
Reading short readings, extended readings and Pauvre Anne, a 10 chapter simple reader using discussion, translation and independent reading. (Opt)
Writing stories in French based on the vocabulary and grammatical structures taught in the class. (Opt)
Telling stories to classmates.
Acting out the stories
Songs and games.
Kinestenic learning
(Click Here
for Schedule) (Click Here for Rates)
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
-----------------------------------
Fluencyfast.com
-
What YOU must know about acquiring a language through TPRS in order to be successful:
1. There is no such thing as a person who isn’t good at learning languages.
2. Everything you learned in school about how to learn languages was wrong. You were forcing your brain to function in a way it was never designed to. That was not the fault of your brain.
3. The trick to acquiring another
language is ridiculously simple:
You must hear a lot of the language and you must completely, entirely, totally,
100% understand what is being said.
In fact…. if you’re doing
it right… it feels effortless. It feels involuntary.
4. You must be relaxed and not feel pressured to speak or perform, so you’ll never have to speak and you’ll never do anything you don’t volunteer to do.
5. Turn off the part of your brain that want to turn this into work…. wants to memorize… wants to study… wants to analyze…. wants to cram information into the short term memory instead of the long-term memory….
To do that, you must:
A. Have fun. Commit to making everything that happens here an absolute blast.
B. Listen. Be aware of when your attention wanders and either contribute something to the story or stand up.
C. Tell me every single time you don’t understand by signaling me.
D. Tell me if I’m talking too fast. If you think it’s a little fast…. Someone else does, too… and they’re too shy to speak up. Consider it a community service.
E. Make sure that you support everyone else here in being able to effortlessly and involuntarily acquire French--.
F. Laugh. Even if I’m not funny. Brain research says you’ll remember more.
G. Move around on the breaks. A little
physical movement makes the brain dump feel-good chemicals into the body that
also increase long-term memory.
H. Read.
Independent Reading Strategy
When I come to a word I don’t
know…
I think about the story
I look at the context
I say the word
I see if there is anything I know in the word
I put in a “blank” and attempt to guess the meaning
And if I still can’t figure it
out..
I skip it!
(Click Here
for Schedule) (Click Here for Rates)
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
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Different levels of evening follow
up classes are for Weekend Intensive graduates or for French students who are
intermediate. (If you only remember a few phrases from High School or College…
I recommend the Weekend intensive. It will help you bring out what you know
and will help you experience a sense of fluency).
From time to time a weekend intensive is offered for the intermediate level
according to demand
We will spend just about all the time speaking French through:
- Poetry
- Regular conversation
- Some story telling with open vocabulary
- Interpreting visual stories in French
- Pop up grammar (fast and only in context)
- Some games
- Of course singing "quelques chansons françaises"
- Beaucoup de rire...
"Last weekend, I learned a great deal, and I feel I integrated a number of rules. You have a gift for teaching language. You are able to provide students with a road map to understanding how the language is assembled without taking each sentence apart. You provide excellent criticism without dampening a student's desire to try. You create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere, all the time keeping the class on track."
"When I first started lessons with you, I was afraid to speak because I did not believe that I could make myself understood. You helped me to recognize that I do have some interior understanding of the basics of the French language. I do see my progress. I really enjoy lessons and am encouraged to keep improving."
Lucy Tirk - Asheville 2008-
"MayaJoëlle has a gift and passion for teaching the French language that makes learning exciting and rewarding. Her classes, which are entirely in French, allow for total immersion into the experience. A generous, caring facilitator, MayaJoëlle creates a "safe," enjoyable atmosphere that invites participation no matter what your conversational level. I recommend her without reservation."
Rachelle Rogers - Asheville 2008
(Click Here
for Schedule) (Click Here for Rates)
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
There are several “groupes de conversation” in Asheville. One I believe to be on Thursday around noon, another, which I facilitate every Monday from 5:30PM to 7PM, is almost full. (Please call for availability). Again, according to needs and demand, we can create a new “groupe de conversation”.
(For More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
French for young children 6 to 8 years
old, a delightful and playful way to learn.
A 4 week course to be offered according to interest. MayaJoëlle has 25
years experience working with children, most of which she has been teaching
them French.
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
Yoga classes in French
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
*A weekend intensive for French speaking
students offering different activities such as, French cooking, bread making,
yoga, movement/dance, singing French songs and more, featuring several French
native Instructors. All in French! We are open to your suggestions.
(For
More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
Picture yourself in a big village
in the heart of France. For a week or two. We are renting a large house, (or
you stay in a chambre d’hote- B&B). The village was carefully picked
because of its beauty, the people living there, and its proximity to fantastic
historical sites, as well as the natural wonders that can be visited on a day
or 1/2 day trip. A few evenings are scheduled to meet some willing French native
for partaking in some activities around food: sharing music, songs, dances,
movement, poetry, art, play etc… and whatever your gift is (are). Some
opportunities to connect with some of the habitants, for you to practice your
French or for them to practice their English,.. And much more! This is not intended
for a touristic experience, but rather to experience integration into the daily
life of a charming village!
(For More Information Contact MayaJoëlle)
May the Music in your Heart make your Life Dance!
Que la Musique de votre Coeur fasse Danser votre Vie!
Website
Design
by Jack Boyd
Updated
2009-06-19