Imagine yourself spending a week under the Provençal sun; between the Mediterranean and the hills, surrounded by olive trees, and the melody of the French language.
À la French is more than a language retreat: it’s a living experience of French culture, designed to awaken all your senses. Here, learning French happens naturally; as you cook with a local chef, wonder through colorful markets, visit artists, and share authentic conversations over a glass of rosé.
Each moment invites you to taste the language, to feel its rhythm, and to live like a local on the Côte d’Azur.
Throughout the week, you will be welcomed into the warm atmosphere of a true Provençal family experience, guided by Élodie, Mathieu, and Maria — each bringing their passion, their craft, and their way of life to create something deeply authentic and unforgettable.
For the very first time, Élodie, founder of the NGO L’Aventure Montessori, Montessori trainer, and French as a Foreign Language teacher in Rome, shares her unique approach through this retreat.
With over 20 years of experience, she has developed a way of learning rooted in the senses, connection, and lived experience. Here, French is not studied — it is felt, spoken, tasted, and lived.
Each day, you will take part in intimate workshops in a small group, designed to build confidence, fluidity, and joy in speaking. Through real-life situations — from cooking and wine tasting to artistic expression and cultural exploration — you will naturally develop your language skills while connecting to the essence of French culture. Wether you are an advanced french speaker or a complete beginner, Élodie will adapt to your level!
To enrich this experience, Chef Mathieu will guide you through the flavors of Provence with hands-on cooking and tasting moments, while Maria, a local artist, will invite you into a creative journey inspired by the colors and textures of the South.
Together, they create a retreat that is sensory, human, and deeply alive.
We will make sure that your experience in Provence will be one you remember forever — a journey where language becomes emotion, and where you don’t just learn French… you begin to live à la French.
I am an educator, trainer, and language guide who is deeply passionate about creating meaningful and human learning experiences. My journey began in the classroom, where I worked as a teacher for over 10 years.
During this time, I developed a strong foundation in education, working closely with children and adults, and discovering that learning is most powerful when it is lived, felt, and shared. I later became the director of a Montessori non-profit organization, where I led educational projects and supported the creation of learning environments rooted in autonomy, creativity, and respect for each individual.
Alongside this, I have been a Montessori trainer for over a decade, and through my training organization, I have accompanied and trained hundreds of professionals in Montessori pedagogy. At the same time, my passion for language led me to become a French as a Foreign Language teacher in Rome, where I now guide international learners in discovering the French language in a more intuitive, immersive, and joyful way.
My life has taken me across the world — I have lived and worked in the United States, in Africa, in Italy, as well as in countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia. These experiences have deeply shaped my vision of education and language: I came to understand that language is not something we memorize, but something we experience, through culture, connection, and daily life.
I am trilingual — French, Italian, and English — and today I bring together all these influences to create immersive learning experiences where language becomes alive. Drawing from Montessori principles, I now design and lead group experiences where participants can connect to the language through their senses, their emotions, and real-life situations. Today, I live between Rome and the Côte d’Azur, always deeply connected to my roots in the South of France. One of the things I love most is welcoming small groups into our family villas, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere where people can feel at home, connect with one another, and experience the French way of life from the inside.
Through these retreats, I share what I cherish most: the taste of the French language, the beauty of my region, the pleasure of simple moments, and my love for French culture — including its elegance, its art of living, and of course… its sense of style.
For me, teaching French is not about perfection — it is about connection, confidence, and pleasure. It is about helping you step into the language naturally, and making it part of who you are.
You will explore Provence with Elodie, as well as your local hosts and guides Maria and Mathieu.
Activities will include:
• Participate in French workshops with Elodie and develop your writing and speaking skills
• Enjoy daily delicious meals prepared with fresh products and care by chef Mathieu and Maria
• Take strolls around unbeaten paths in the beautiful nature of Provence through the hills overlooking the old town
• Visit the littoral, the islands, and its breath-taking creeks
• We will take you through the alleys of the historic center of Hyères, this magic city where numerous writers and painters have come to find inspiration since the dawn of time. Artists such as Edith Warton, RL Stevenson, Noailles, Picasso, and Jean Cocteau amongst others, contributed in their time to shaping the rich art heritage of Hyères
• Visit our coloured markets, discover and taste Provençal specialties
• 6 Nights / 5 Days
• 8 to 10 participants
• We ask for a 30% non-refundable deposit of full booking upon reservation and the remaining at the latest on July 6th 2026
What is included?
• 6 nights accommodation
• 6 gourmet dinners & wine
• Daily delicious breakfasts and lunches or picnic
• Cooking & Baking workshops
• Visits, including transportation
• Aperitifs and snacks
Not Included
• Airfares to France
• Airport transfer
• MANDATORY travel insurance (participants should suscribe to a travel insurance that covers the balance paid to Simple Life in Provence and book “flexible” flight tickets with cancellation options)
This retreat includes six immersive workshop experiences, each lasting approximately 2–3 hours, as well as a final full-day immersion challenge. Each moment is designed to help you step naturally into the French language through real-life experiences, connection, and sensory exploration.
The workshops are open to all levels — whether you are a beginner or more advanced. Activities and exercises are thoughtfully adapted, offering different levels of language so that each participant can feel both comfortable and challenged.
With her strong background in education, Élodie brings a refined and intuitive pedagogical approach. She has a deep expertise in differentiating learning experiences and personalizing each moment, allowing everyone to progress at their own rhythm while feeling supported and confident.
Workshop 1 – Connecting, Expressing & Discovering Provence
We begin the week by gently stepping into the language and into the group. In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, you will be guided to introduce yourself, share where you come from, and begin connecting with others in French in a simple and natural way. This first session also opens a window onto the soul of Provence — its traditions, its rhythms, and its unique art of living. It creates a cultural foundation that will enrich everything you experience throughout the retreat.
You will learn to: introduce yourself, speak about your background, and engage in simple, authentic conversations while discovering Provençal culture.
Workshop 2 – Wine Tasting & The Art of French Terroir
This experience invites you into the refined and sensory world of French wine. Like an apprentice sommelier, you will learn how to observe, taste, and describe wine with attention and curiosity. You will explore the subtleties of color, texture, aromas, and balance, while discovering how wine is deeply connected to place, culture, and the French way of sharing moments together. The session naturally prepares you for a real tasting experience in a vineyard setting, where everything comes to life.
You will learn to: describe wine, express sensations, compare flavors, and engage in more refined and nuanced conversations.
Workshop 3 – Natural French Immersion (Porquerolles Experience)
On the island of Porquerolles, surrounded by sea, light, and silence, language becomes something you experience rather than study.
Through simple prompts, you will begin to describe what you see, what you feel, and what you experience in the present moment. French becomes fluid and intuitive.
You will learn to: speak spontaneously, express sensations and emotions, and gain confidence in natural conversation.
Workshop 4 – Cooking & Language in Action
In this hands-on cooking experience in a traditional Provençal cooking club, you will step into the language through action. As you discover local recipes and culinary traditions, you will naturally absorb vocabulary related to ingredients, utensils, and gestures. The experience continues in the afternoon, where we transform what you have lived into language — recreating, expressing, and sharing. This workshop anchors French in something concrete, joyful, and deeply cultural.
You will learn to: understand instructions, describe actions, structure your speech, and speak with greater fluidity and confidence.
Workshop 5 – Art, Colors & Expression
This creative session invites you to explore your inner world through the colors and light of Provence. Guided by Maria, you will create a personal piece inspired by the region and by artists such as Matisse. As you paint, you will be guided to express your perceptions, your emotions, and your choices in French, in a way that feels natural and personal. It is a moment of freedom, where language becomes a tool for expression rather than performance. You will learn to: Describe colors, express emotions, share opinions, and speak more freely and personally.
Workshop 6 – French Pastry MasterChef Experience
This workshop brings energy, playfulness, and collaboration into the experience. Designed like a MasterChef challenge, you will create French pastries in teams, guided by Chef Mathieu. In this dynamic and joyful setting, language becomes a tool for action — to organize, communicate, and create together. It is a moment of laughter, spontaneity, and shared success. You will learn to: Follow instructions, communicate in a group, describe textures and quantities, and speak more spontaneously.
Workshop 7 – Final Immersion Challenge: Living French in Hyères
The final experience is a full immersion into real life. In the streets of Hyères, everything you have learned throughout the week comes together. You will interact with locals, navigate the market, explore shops, order in restaurants, and engage with the world around you entirely in French. This is not a simulation — it is real life. And it is where the transformation happens.
You will learn to: speak independently, adapt to real situations, improvise, and truly live the language with confidence.
Monday
3:00 pm: Arrival at the villa & check-in
5:30 pm: Welcome cocktail
7:00 pm: Sunset aperitif by the sea
8:00 pm: Dinner & French icebreaker evening
Tuesday
9:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Workshop 1 with Élodie
1:00 pm: Lunch at the villa
2:00 pm: Workshop 2 with Élodie
5:00 pm: Wine tasting & local experience
8:00 pm: Dinner
Wednesday
9:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Departure to Porquerolles. Day on the island: beach, cycling, relaxation
1:00 pm: Picnic lunch
3:00 pm: Workshop 3 with Élodie (Porquerolles)
6:00 pm: Return to the villa
8:00 pm: Dinner
Thursday
9:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Provençal cooking experience
1:00 pm: Lunch
3:00 pm: Workshop 4 with Élodie
7:30 pm: Dinner
Friday
9:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Workshop 5 with Maria
1:00 pm: Lunch
3:00 pm: Workshop 6 with Chef Mathieu
7:30 pm: Dinner
Saturday
9:00 am: Breakfast
10:00 am: Full immersion day in Hyères (market, shops, heritage & lunch in town) → Final immersion challenge (Workshop 7)
7:30 pm: Farewell aperitif & dinner
Sunday
9:00 am: Breakfast
11:00 am: Check-out & goodbyes
Depending on weather, activities might be switched around
