If you’ve been taking French lessons for a while and feel the need to improve your listening comprehension and conversation skills, then our one-to-one French immersion program in Switzerland is the perfect next logical step.
Stay at your teacher’s home for one week or more and immerse yourself in the French language, in the culture and in the Swiss Francophone way of life. Tania’s place is located in a beautiful region by a lake facing the magnificent Alps close to the French border and only one hour away from Geneva and 2 hours from Zurich by train.
French Language Immersion in Beautiful Switzerland
Improve your French in a Lovely Relaxing Place by the Lake Neuchatel
About your French teacher and Host
Tania and her family will open their home to you, for an unforgettable experience. She is a seasoned French teacher with a bachelor in Science of education and offers various programs in order to give you the possibility to be in a true French immersion atmosphere. They will show you amazing places around their home, like the rocky cirque of Creux du Van or the typical villages which border the lake of Neuchâtel, steps away from the Alps. The whole family will be happy to host you in their spacious and comfortable home where you’ll live in a private apartment downstairs with all amenities. You will also be able to do plenty of optional activities.
A positive and fruitful French learning experience in a truly beautiful environment !
The family
Above your charming flat, Tania Francesco and Djeevan will invite you to have dinner along with some friends or sometimes with the other family members (Chloé, Anaïs & Maëlle). Djeevan’s grandparents, uncle and cousins live in the house next door and they all contribute in making the environment welcoming and friendly. At meals during the breaks, and in the evenings you will find conviviality, fruitful exchanges in French, interest and understanding from those who surround you.
The entire family loves welcoming guests in their house and they take great pleasure in showing the beautiful region of Neuchâtel. Francesco is an excellent cook and is very sporty. He will be happy to lend you one of his bikes and show you the nicest places of our region. All members are lovers of nature and culture. Taking pictures when going for walks around the lake or the mountains, visiting exhibits or museums, going to concerts or to the movies, are some of the activities you could be doing with them depending on the time of the year. Sport takes also an important part of their lives; they love to do water sports and mountain biking during the summer, and plenty of skiing during the winter. Other sports available and close to their home are tennis, golf, cross country skiing or even paragliding.
They would be very happy to organize and share these activities with you.
Your cosy apartment
You will stay in a modern and fully equipped spacious flat in a beautiful house. The place has a separate entrance access and the apartment has been completely renovated. There is a garden and a “carnotzet” where you’ll be able to study or relax. The welcoming atmosphere of the different rooms bring an enchanting level of comfort for a memorable stay. Music, TV, DVD player to watch French movies 🙂 and WiFi as well as complete kitchen equipment are available.
This apartment will seduce you with its large and very bright main room and it’s cosy ambiance. Enjoy the bedroom with purple colours, also spacious, and facing an ancient tree as well as sunrise. For the pleasure of your eyes and your taste buds, the open and fully equipped kitchen will allow you to dine with a beautiful look of the garden.
Look at the gallery
Around the village
You won’t believe how much this region has to offer…
St-Aubin is a small village of 3000 habitants situated on the banks of lake Neuchâtel. Facing the magnificent Alps. It’s also positioned at the foot of the ‘Crêtes du Jura’.
Majestic Alps or small mountains, beautiful landscapes, famous vineyards, large fields of cereals, colza or sunflowers, the region is full of reliefs and colours.
Ideally situated on the lake side, between Neuchâtel and Yverdon, this region is well known for the “Creux du Van”, “gorges de l’Areuse” as well as its many hiking and biking trails. Those magic places will fill you with wonder.
You’ll also have the opportunity to discover exceptional historical sites (Neuchâtel is very well known for its paleolithics, neolithics and celtics treasures), Medieval villages, museums and big castles (Valangin, Grandson, La Sarraz) … so many surprises.
Do you know that Neuchâtel is a region built by and for the watchmaking industry? La Chaux de Fonds and Le Locle are both inscribed in the world heritage list of the UNESCO.
Can you imagine yourself on the trail of “Absinthe” the legendary drink with a forbidden taste or in the center of the earth to see how the miners of yesterday worked?
Look at the gallery
Willing to know more? Here is the “best of” Neuchatel tourisme… and discover more original ideas under “Activities” section.
How to get to Saint-Aubin (via Neuchatel or Yverdon) ?
Saint-Aubin is very well located and very accessible (about 20 mn from Neuchâtel train station) by train or bus. The Saint Aubin train station is located a couple of minutes walk from the apartment.
Your hostess will be happy to pick you up at the Neuchâtel train station or Yverdon on the day of your arrival. (Complimentary).
COMING BY PLANE – INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
Geneva-Cointrin Airport (www.gva.ch)
55 min to Yverdon (direct train)
1 hr 30 min to Neuchâtel (direct train)
Zurich-Kloten Aéroport (www.zurich-airport.com)
2 hrs to Neuchâtel (direct train)
Bâle / Mulhouse Aéroport (www.euroairport.com)
about 2 hrs to Neuchâtel (bus plus direct train)
BY TRAIN
Direct train Geneva – Neuchâtel : 1h10min
(Neuchâtel – Saint-Aubin: 20 mn)
Direct train Geneva – Yverdon : 45 min
(No train between Yverdon and Saint-Aubin)
Direct train Lausanne – Neuchâtel : 40 min
Direct train Lausanne – Yverdon : 20 min
Direct train Zurich – Neuchâtel : 1h50 min
Direct traint Basel – Neuchâtel : 1h35 min
Train Paris – Neuchâtel (TGV) : about 5hrs with 1 change
Swiss trains website: http://www.cff.ch/home.html
BY CAR
Geneva – Saint-Aubin : about 1h15min drive
Price Options
STANDARD ONE WEEK IMMERSION / PROGRAM A
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Your Individualized Intensive French Immersion
To adapt the lessons to the person’s learning style and objectives through subjects which motivate the student is the key to an efficient and gratifying progression.
Tania is an experienced, specialized and native French teacher. She has been teaching for more than 25 years, traveling for many years throughout the world; she worked with all different age groups and has taught French to students with different cultural backgrounds. It’s very important for her to adapt her lessons to the student’s learning style and objectives. Working on the weak areas, understanding the structure of the language, and practicing verbal and written communication through subjects which motivate the student is for Tania, the key to an efficient and gratifying progression.
This one-to-one approach to teaching combined with the family atmosphere enable the student to make considerable progress in a very short time. The suggested activities during the week will give you the perfect chance to express yourself through French conversation in all types of situations, you will find yourself in real situations. The French lessons, the activities and the meals taken with the family in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, will give you plenty of opportunities to speak and listen.
Tania will offer you a program tailored to suit your personal needs: more or less intensive, specific topics, work based on real life situations…
You may modify the number of lesson hours, the duration of your stay as well as the time spent on excursions. Please feel welcome to make a proposition and we’ll adapt the price according to the changes.
See below 2 examples of a one week French language immersion
PROGRAM A
15h of private French lessons with an experienced teacher
3 half days of excursions
Possible agenda
Saturday: Arrival in the afternoon or evening, you will be greeted with an aperitif. Dinner with the family.
Sunday: Breakfast with the family and planning of activities for the week. A half day excursion with your teacher. Dinner with your teacher and family.
Monday: Breakfast. 2 sessions of 1h30min* French lessons; free time during the rest of the day. Dinner with your teacher and family.
Tuesday: Breakfast. 2 hrs lesson in the morning. Excursion in the afternoon. 1h lesson at the end of the day. Dinner with the family.
Wednesday: Breakfast. 2 sessions of 1h30min lesson; free time and dinner with the family.
Thursday: Breakfast. 2 sessions of 1h30min lesson; free time and dinner with the family.
Friday: Breakfast. 2 sessions of 1h30min lesson. Excursion in the afternoon. Dinner with the family in the evening.
Saturday: Breakfast. End of the French immersion week.
*Could also be 1h30 lesson at the beginning of the day, and 1h30 lesson at the end of the day, depending on the activities. During free time, the student will have the possibility of experiencing practical situations (go food shopping, go to the post office, take the train).
The price includes
• 7 nights in a private apartment located in your teacher’s home.
• 15 hours of private lessons with your hostess/teacher.
• 2 meals per day (breakfast and dinner).
(we can prepare a light lunch for an additional cost)
• 3 half day excursions with your hosts
• A complete French cultural and linguistic immersion.
PROGRAM B
10h of private French lessons with an experienced teacher
4 half days of excursions
Possible agenda
Saturday: Arrival in the afternoon or evening, you will be greeted with an aperitif. Dinner with the family.
Sunday: Breakfast with the family and planning of topics and activities for the week. A half day excursion. Dinner with your teacher and family.
Monday: Breakfast. 1 session of 2 h French lesson*, free time during the rest of the day.1 hour of teaching followed with dinner with your teacher and family.
Tuesday: Breakfast. 1 session of 2 h lesson. A half day excursion. Dinner with your teacher and family.
Wednesday: Breakfast. 1 session of 2h lesson, free time and dinner with the family.
Thursday: Breakfast. 1 session of 2 h lesson. A half day excursion. Dinner with your teacher and family.
Friday: Breakfast. 2 hrs lesson in the morning. Excursion in the afternoon. Dinner with the family in the evening.
Saturday: Breakfast. End of the French immersion week.
*Could also be 1h lesson at the beginning of the day, and 1h lesson at the end of the day, depending on the activities. During free time, the student will have the possibility of experiencing practical situations (go food shopping, go to the post office, take the train).
The price includes
• 7 nights in a private apartment located in your teacher’s home.
• 10 hours of private lessons with your hostess/teacher.
• 2 meals per day (breakfast and dinner).
(we can prepare a light lunch for an additional cost)
• 4 half day excursions with your hosts.
• A complete French cultural and linguistic immersion.
Note: we also offer a French immersion in the French Pyrenees and a 4-day immersion workshop in Nantes, France on May 2025.
Testimonials
Frank Ekin
First, at the Yverdon les Bains station, after a long trip from Australia, when we met our host, Tania, with her big smile and her lively energy we forgot how tired we were as she drove her car to Lake Neuchatel with so many beautiful views, mountains, lake and green fields.
In Saint-Aubin, when we saw the apartment, what a surprise! There is a private garden with large trees and several beautiful plants, a small rocky cave, a stone staircase; a perfect place to eat and read in peace.
The apartment is beautiful with a lot of space, a kitchen, a huge bedroom and even an almost soundproof room where I could play my bagpipes without disturbing the neighbours.
I had lessons every day in my music room and I received several notes that explained grammar points in a funny way. We had two hours a day in conversation. We shared many anecdotes, jokes and opinions on all subjects.
Above all, we met many members of the family. We had meals with them. In fact, it was like a big holiday with family and friends. We found the whole family very nice and helpful.
We also found that there was so much to do near Saint-Aubin and that it was not necessary to travel very far. It’s a very pretty place.
We spent two weeks with Tania and her family, it was a very great and fun time and a wonderful way to learn French.
In Saint-Aubin, when we saw the apartment, what a surprise! There is a private garden with large trees and several beautiful plants, a small rocky cave, a stone staircase; a perfect place to eat and read in peace.
The apartment is beautiful with a lot of space, a kitchen, a huge bedroom and even an almost soundproof room where I could play my bagpipes without disturbing the neighbours.
I had lessons every day in my music room and I received several notes that explained grammar points in a funny way. We had two hours a day in conversation. We shared many anecdotes, jokes and opinions on all subjects.
Above all, we met many members of the family. We had meals with them. In fact, it was like a big holiday with family and friends. We found the whole family very nice and helpful.
We also found that there was so much to do near Saint-Aubin and that it was not necessary to travel very far. It’s a very pretty place.
We spent two weeks with Tania and her family, it was a very great and fun time and a wonderful way to learn French.
Ben Hsu
I spent a wonderful week with Tania in Switzerland at the end of July 2019. Tania was a great teacher who helped me perfect my French and pointed out my weakness gently and patiently. I needed to improve my spoken French and pronunciation and this program helped me a lot. She accommodated my schedule and even took me to the beautiful Swiss alps. The excursions I did with her and Francesco enhanced my knowledge and appreciation of beautiful Switzerland. At the end of the program, I did not want to leave. Thanks Tania and Francesco.
Susan Canning
I have been studying French with Tania for many years and during that time, I feel that we have become firm friends. She always finds interesting subjects to discuss in her lessons and they are personally designed for my level of French and for my interests.
Tania has invited me to St. Aubin, an area that she knows intimately and shown me around the wonderful landscapes and excellent places of interest, such as la Musée d’Horlogerie and les Mines d’Asphalte, where we had a guided tour in French and Swiss German. The region surrounding St. Aubin is extremely pretty, with Lake Neuchatel and mountains in the distance, providing many scenic walks and excellent picnic spots.
Tania has welcomed me to her home, as she does to all her guests, and goes to endless lengths, over and above the expected, to make everyone feel at ease. I have thoroughly enjoyed her hospitality and meeting her family, who help to make time spent with her a memorable and worthwhile experience.
Ann
“My homestay with Tania exceeded my expectations! I enjoyed the perfect blend of academics and culture while staying in the beautiful Chez Flora apartment (which has a separate entrance and private garden).
In the classroom, interesting topics (i.e. the life of Jean-Jacques Rousseau) formed the basis of my study of written and spoken French, vocabulary, and the finer points of grammar. I also studied phonetics with Tania. Every day, my skills improved.
In the classroom, interesting topics (i.e. the life of Jean-Jacques Rousseau) formed the basis of my study of written and spoken French, vocabulary, and the finer points of grammar. I also studied phonetics with Tania. Every day, my skills improved.
Outside the classroom, there were many opportunities to continue learning! Every afternoon, I found myself immersed in French while visiting castles, mountains, and museums. Every evening, delicious dinners with Tania’s welcoming family and friends provided authentic learning opportunities. New words and expressions were often learned around the dinner table.
My experience was truly outstanding in every respect! Thus, I offer my highest recommendation.”
Audrey
Bonjour Tania,
I want to thank you for your kindness. I had a great time at your place. You are an exceptional teacher and I hope I can say now that you are also a friend.
Thanks to you, your parents and your family. I have some wonderful memories of this week with you and your family.
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