Jennifer CAVALIER, School Manager at French in Normandy - International House Rouen responded to this review.
20 March 2025
Dear Ayane,
We are sorry to hear that your experience at French in Normandy did not meet your expectations. However, we would like to clarify certain points to provide a more accurate perspective on how our school operates.
Heating and Comfort
Our heating system functions perfectly and is set, for environmental reasons, at a constant temperature of 19 to 20°C, in accordance with energy-saving recommendations. So far, we have never received complaints about excessive heat in the summer.
Class Placement
You were assessed upon your arrival and placed in a B1-level class, which matched the overall skills observed. You mention having a C1 level in grammar and A2 in speaking, but this does not correspond at all to the evaluation carried out by our experienced teachers.
Teaching Methodology
Our approach is primarily based on oral practice, as we believe this is the key to language learning. Our courses are designed to encourage speaking and listening comprehension, which is a proven and effective method.
Class and Teacher Organization
Our teachers change every week, which is a deliberate pedagogical choice that allows students to be exposed to different accents and teaching styles, fostering richer learning.
Contrary to what you mentioned, all our teachers use Google Drive to share lesson materials, and we print documents only upon student request, as part of our environmental commitment.
Teaching Methods and Teacher Commitment
Our teachers apply varied approaches to keep lessons dynamic, but teaching objectives remain consistent. There is no radical difference in methodology between teachers and the CERCL recommendations are strictly applied.
Additionally, it is completely false to claim that our teachers take personal calls during class. While they may appear to be working on their computers during group activities, they are actually taking notes in the student progress log as part of the monitoring and support process.
Student Monitoring and Evaluation
A rigorous follow-up is ensured by our pedagogical coordinator, who holds weekly meetings every Thursday with teachers to evaluate student progress and adjust class placements if necessary. Furthermore, each week, teachers provide detailed recommendations in the student progress log, which students can access.
Course Topics
The topics covered in class are varied and always focused on improving speaking and listening skills. Students are never required to share personal information—everyone is free to express their opinions or remain reserved.
No Complaints from You During Your Stay
Finally, we regret that you never raised these concerns while you were with us. We were always available to assist you. Unfortunately, we cannot address issues once a student has left, whereas we could have worked together to find solutions if you had shared your concerns at the time.
We nevertheless wish you all the best in your continued French learning journey.
The French in Normandy Team
