Guestbook 2011

"I came to the Saint-Raphael Language School in the summer of 2011.

It was an unforgettable experience for me, and I really did meet some amazing people, many of which I am still in contact with now. At that point I was in the middle of my A-level French at school, but my major weakness was speaking. The first day I arrived in Saint-Raphael I hardly spoke, but by my final day I was chattering away to any French person who would listen. I stayed there for three weeks doing the intensive course in the afternoon as well, which was really helpful and gave me a great opportunity to speak in a smaller group. It was very well organised and structured, and it didn’t only improve my French incredibly, but also gave me confidence and gave me an insight into the French culture. I’m really looking forward to returning next year, but hopefully this time for longer!

I would recommend it to anyone, because there is a lovely atmosphere, and the teachers are so helpful in targeting exactly what you need to improve on."

Lizzie Hill, student , Halstead, Éssex u.k.
Phone : 01787 475346

"Bonjour Edmond,

Bien sur. (sorry for missingpunctuation!)....
We would be delighted to give references. Bea’s experience could not have been better. We would highly recommend you.

We will be in touch regarding next year in the next month. "

Kate Heath ( parent ) , student course for Beatrice, with homestay ,
Melbourne, Australia phone : + 04 1468 9309

"Hello Nathalie,

Once again I would like to thank you and everyone in your group for all what you have done for the kids.These pictures are wonderful. Hope to meet again. As said before whenever you will have chance to be in Turkey pls don't hesistate to call me.

Regards,"

Fulya Ankara, 'Turquey
My mobile: +90 532 447 4603 and home +90 312 240 2892

"Dear Edmond,

Jacob and I had a fantastic time at the school this summer 2011..
We really enjoyed the staff, the other students, and the location of the school was perfect.
The fact that it was 1 hours from the airport gave us a sense of adventure and opened up doors to learn more about the other beach towns and villages surrounding St. Raphael.
We will be coming again next year and bringing a few more friends.
Please have anyone call us and we would be more than happy to recommend the school to them.

Please keep in touch!"

Michele French , adult + Children's Club ,
Holliston / Boston, MA Office Phone : + 1 508-244-7815

"A fantastic,funny , approachable , friendly & unforgettable school manager in Saint-Raphael : - ))

My experience this summer 2011 in Saint-Raphael , helped me out so much, it was unreal ! I study Joint Honours French at University, so I thought it would be helpful to try out a summer language course. Reading previous comments on the programme really encouraged me to go. It exceeded my expectations, even though the comments I'd previously read were very positive !
Edmond is fantastic. So funny, so approachable, so friendly and unforgettable!! If you have any worries, concerns or questions whatsoever, he's there to help sort them out. I personally had a couple of difficulties with my accommodation, but when I explained the situation to Edmond, he completely understood and did his best to sort things out.
Isabelle is very organised and a very good teacher, Nathalie , Lionel and Marie were really approachable and friendly.
I chose to eat at the restaurant that the majority of the group ate at each lunch time, and the food was excellent. This was a really good opportunity to speak to everyone, and meet more people on the course. It was lovely how everybody bonded as well, I met some lovely people.
The trips on offer were really interesting, for example San Remo in Italy, Monaco, the Water Park, frequent trips to the beach etc. there's loads on offer! Don't forget your sun cream though wherever you go!
Before I came to St Raphael, I understood about 65-70% of French people's conversations. By the end of the course, I understood 80-90% normally, and 90% if not all of dialogue in the French lessons, when speaking to teachers, 'classmates', etc. This helped me especially as I am at university in France for a year now and understanding as much as possible in lectures is critical.
In order tobenefit most from experience, you Definitely need to make the effort and speak to people, both others on the course and French people while you're there - if you don't, you Definitely don't benefit as much. I made the effort and benefitted so much it was unreal! It gives you a lot more confidence when speaking and holding a conversation as well. It's one thing learning and speaking a language back at home, but it's something else actually being in the country and speaking to genuine foreigners/French people!
The course, for me, paid off so much it is unbelievable. It's helped me especially with listening and speaking - I now find I can speak a lot more fluently. I'm not fluent in French, but find it a lot easier and can speak a lot more naturally and at a better pace when speaking to people - It's given me a lot more confidence when speaking as well. St Raphael has helped me so much both for my year abroad and for the future.

Edmond was fantastic, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone!"

Jennifer Wightman, part-time intensive course 6 hrs/day
from Nelson , Lancashire Evening Phone : + 44 128 261 4862

"Dear Edmond,

I hope you are well. Saint Raphael seems quite distant as the northern winter approaches. We had a great time and learned a lot. It was especially helpful to us that Louise was able to be with other teenagers. We thoroughly enjoyed the excursions and appreciated the effort you made in that regard. Our apartment was perfect for our needs. We would unhesitatingly recommend your school to other families.

With kind regards,"

David Herd & family adult + teen , morning classes
Inverness, Scotland home phone : + 44 01463 793 757

"Dear Edmond,

You are wonderful, thanks a lot for all your extra efforts. We appreciate of all you are offering us. Most of them have been travelled abroad. Besides my daughter, the rest 4 will be traveling by themselves without accompanied their parents. On behalf of all the parents I would like to express our thanks to you and rest of your staff before hand their arrival and say how relieved we are as parents that our children will have the chance to meet a caring person like you.

Kind regards."

Fulya Surmen , Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari,
Ankara Turkey , Phone: + 90 312 231 4829

Guestbook 2010

"Bonjour Edmond.

I enjoyed and learned much in France this summer 2010 through your efforts and your teachers in Saint-Raphael. I hope I will be able to direct people to your programme and also promise them an enjoyable holiday.

Kind regards."

Martina Needham, Manorhamilton, Ireland. My telephone number is + 353 872881363

"To whom it may concern :

I have two sons whom I have sent every summer, for the past seven years, to different countries in Europe. For this summer 2010 I had everything arranged two months ahead of schedule. Unfortunately a couple of weeks before the beginning of classes, the school canceled in Nice. Since the plane was already booked, I desperately searched for an alternative summer program until I found France Langue & Culture in Saint-Raphael, which is truly the most friendly school I have known. Edmond, the manager was wonderful, he quickly arranged the courses for both of my kids and selected an incredible host family that not only provided room and board for the kids but treated them like family members. In a nut shell: a very flexible, professional and welcoming school, I highly recommend it.

Kindly."

Ruth Ojeda - Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua , Mexico. Phone (656) 229 51 75

"Hi Edmond,

Lovely to hear from you and sorry for not replying sooner. You can definitely put my name and home telephone number on your reference link.. I will also try to write a testimonial this weekend.. .because our whole family was very happy with our experience ...

With best wishes."

Karen Pasley - Dublin , Ireland . My number is : + 353 1 4900055

"A warm recommendation :

I had registered, payed, and bought my plane tickets, far in advance, for a three-week program in Nice, only to find out the day before that it was canceled last minute. With a plane to catch and a three week stay in France, I had no idea what I was going to do without a course. Immediately, my mother contacted Edmond, the manager of France Langue & Culture in Saint-Raphael , who instantly solved everything within a one day notice. Edmond had not only registered my brother and me to his course, but found us accommodation for the whole three weeks before our plane even landed! I cannot express my gratitude towards Edmond for making of my summer a wonderful learning experience that I truly enjoyed and one that I will never forget. Edmond’s French Language Holiday School significantly improved my rusty French over the course of three weeks- both verbally and grammatically wise-and the professionalism exemplified by his team of experienced French professors is unmatched.

We will for sure be back."

Arturo R. Alluin - Dallas, Texas, U.S.A. + (903) 357 7699

"Hello Edmond,

We had a great time in Saint-Raphael this summer 2010. The teachers were excellent and there was the opportunity to try lots of different experiences, I particularly enjoyed the cookery lesson in a french brasserie. Our children made great friends and were always delighted to go to their lessons each morning. The lunches were great fun and my french husband was always made most welcome, even if he wasn't attending the classes!

Thank you Edmond for a lovely holiday."

Karen + 2 daughters,12 y.o. - Dublin, Ireland . Phone : + 353 1 4900055

"Merci Edmond,

We had a very nice experience in St. Raphael. The school was very good (lovely teachers), the food at the lunch delicious, and our children had a very good time. Of course Chantal and Robert , our hosts at the villa with a swimming-pool are lovely people and they were the icing on the cake.

Best Regards."

Eugene and Edwina Daly in Tullamore , Ireland 00353-579320505 (home phone number

Guestbook 2007-2008-2009

"I had the pleasure to be taught by two excellent teachers. They both have a high level of motivation and the outstanding ability to keep us foreigners motivated to speak/use the French language. Alina was very kind with the children and managed to keep them happy, although they were at the beginning not too enthusiastic about spending their vacation with learning French. The food at " Comptoir des Gones ", as well as the friendliness of the owner and staff deserve of special note. Last but not least Olivier is not only charming, but an excellent and very knowledgeable 'tour guide'.
Edmond - Please convey our best wishes to all the nice people in St. Raphaël, who made our two weeks' stay summer 2008 in St. Raphaël a success. Best regards"

Tsering C. Tethong Family Jona / Zürich , CH + 41 55 212 52 67

"I had a wonderful two weeks at your school in July and I would recommend it to anyone. The teachers, especially were great and the lunches at Les Comtoir des Gones were so much fun.
Im hoping to return in 2009 for two or even three weeks. Toutes mes amities"

Gillian O'Brien , Dublin , Ireland home phone : + 353 018 323 242 Mobile: + 353 086 324 3250

“Once again, many thanks for our wonderful stay at your school! It has been a delight for the entire Family and was a great motivational kick for all of us. We will definitely return! Many thanks to the teacher Isabelle for her kind, imaginative and motivating way she taught our two older children. Thanks to the teacher Laurence for her lively and pleasant classes and to other teachers for their profound and interesting discussions. And, of course, for the success of the Children's Club, where our youngest joined with such pleasure that every day she eagerly attended the kids group. And to you, dear Edmond, for having created a very personal, and in the best sense, a family-friendly atmosphere. Also, please thank the owners of the restaurant "Comptoir des Gones" and to the many other nice participants we met at the school…”

Bad Schwalbach, Germany

“For Ronny and I, the experience in your summer course had been very positive and we both can profit of our language study. We have very nice memories to these two weeks vacation in St.Raphael and we are thinking to come back next year.”

Beat Horrer - Zürich, Switwerland . Phone: + 41 448 173 028

“The course in St.Raphaël was a great experience for the entire family! Great teachers and the perfect outdoor environment for classes were just the perfect frame for good success. Besides that, nice housing, the beautiful coast, many different types of beaches and the wonderful spirit Mediterranée completed a wonderful stay! I can strongly recommend the institute of Mr. Edmond v. Saenger!

Eberle Family - Bern, Switzerland . Evening phone: + 41 31 325 5791

”This summer was everything we expected and more... The school was great, the housing was wonderful and specially Mr. and Mrs Villar (wonderful people). And the town, what can I say about Saint-Raphael other than it is magical...”

Elissar + 2 kids - Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. Phone: + 52 222 225-6005

”Lottie and I really enjoyed our time in Saint-Raphael and more importantly much improved our French. The teachers are excellent”

Jane Meggitt + Lottie - Halifax, England. Phone: + 44 01422-820872