Who else wants a life in France that actually feels like theirs?
You love living in France, or you are about to. But your friends are mostly English speakers, and dinners with French people leave you on the sidelines. Watch this short welcome, then see what changes when that wall comes down.
Ready to feel more at home in France?
Explore Coaching FLUENCE™Sound familiar?
You moved to France. Why does it still feel like you're visiting?
On paper, everything worked. The visa, the apartment, the paperwork. Then daily life started, and a quieter list showed up. Most of your friends are still English speakers. Dinners with French people are tiring, and by dessert you have said very little. People switch to English the moment you hesitate. You laugh a beat late, and you feel like a slightly smaller version of yourself.
Most Americans assume this is just part of being an expat, or that it will sort itself out with time. Honestly, it rarely does.
Until now
More lessons were never going to fix this
The usual advice is to take more classes, use an app, or just get out there. But a bigger vocabulary does not make you someone French people want to invite back. What changes things is how you take part in a conversation, a dinner, a friendship.
That is the part nobody teaches, and it is exactly where I work with you.
Introducing
The result of ten years of work, shaped around you
Here is what took me years to build: a small, selective immersion program for Americans who want a life in France, not just a way to get by. Weekly live online sessions with a certified Alliance Française teacher, a personal action plan every week, regular corrections and follow-up by email and WhatsApp.
Inside you'll discover:
- ✓ Why French people switch to English with you, and how to keep the conversation in French
- ✓ How to follow a fast dinner conversation without losing the thread
- ✓ What French silences actually mean, and why they are rarely coldness
- ✓ How friendships begin in France, and the small steps that open a French circle
- ✓ How to join a group conversation without waiting for the perfect sentence
- ✓ How to joke, tease back and make French people laugh
- ✓ How to turn a polite acquaintance into an invitation to dinner
- ✓ How to deal with the doctor, the neighbors and the town hall calmly
- ✓ How to feel like yourself in French, not a smaller version of you
- ✓ The day you notice nobody switched to English
- ✓ A weekly plan that fits your schedule, with regular corrections
Entry is selective because I work with a limited number of members, so each one receives real follow-up. We begin with a natural conversation about your situation, your goals and your challenges, so we both know it is the right fit.
French Teacher Bill reviews
What members say about practicing with Bill
"I've been taking sessions with Bill for almost a year now. Before that I studied French for four years in middle school, but I never really felt comfortable speaking it. With Bill that changed: I now feel at ease having conversations. A big moment for me was spending Christmas with my girlfriend's French family. For the first time it didn't feel like I was speaking a foreign language, it just felt natural spending the whole day conversing in French."
"Before Bill, I had tried to learn French several times and quit every time. I honestly doubted I would ever succeed.
Bill quickly made me believe in myself. He understood my strengths and weaknesses, adapted our sessions to my needs, and used everyday situations that pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Despite practicing entirely online, I was amazed by how confidently I could manage everyday situations when I traveled to Paris. The combination of personalized sessions and French Class Café helped me practice in a comfortable environment.
I was so impressed that I enrolled my two sons in conversation classes with Bill. Within six months, both had become the top students in their respective French classes, and a subject they once found boring became their favorite!
Today, I can communicate in French at work, enjoy my trips to France, and connect more deeply with the culture.
Thanks to Bill, I finally achieved a dream I had almost given up on."
"Thank you so much for everything, you have been a great teacher. It has made my time in France so much more enjoyable!"
"Bill is the best French teacher you could ask for. He adapts to your goals and level, and he is also very nice and easy to talk to, which makes the practicing process more enjoyable and fun."
"I highly recommend Bill's online French courses! The experience was quick, extensive, and efficient, especially for exam preparation. After just 11 hours, I understood 80% of the B1 exam."
"I enjoy working with Bill. His personality, patience and humor make the difficult task of becoming fluent in French enjoyable. He has a very student-centric approach whatever your goals are."
"Hi everyone, I just wanted to give a shout-out to my fabulous French teacher, Bill. I've worked with him over the last 6 months on overcoming the dreaded plateau from B1 to B2. He is incredibly patient, explains everything in a way that's easy to understand, and keeps me focused and motivated."
"Bill encourages me to speak freely without being afraid to make mistakes. The lesson is a mix of general conversation and a more guided exercise that still involves open conversation and listening. Most importantly for me, the lessons are fun."
"I passed the DELF B2 in March. I found the exam easy because Bill gave me so much advice on comprehension and production. Preparing the oral with him helped me enormously with the debates, choosing the topic, and formal words."
"Bill is a true professional, with tricks and tips to make French easier. As a very busy professional, I love how flexible he is with my schedule. The dynamic is awesome: just turn your camera on and start speaking, reading or writing. He has a sharp eye for correcting you at the right moment."
About
Hi, I'm Bill
I'm a native French speaker and a French fluency coach, certified by the Alliance Française as a teacher and TCF examiner. For close to ten years I have worked with learners in more than 160 countries. I also speak English, Arabic and Spanish, so I know exactly what it takes to build a life in a second language.
I know both sides of the table: how French people hear Americans, and what Americans wish someone had told them before they moved. That is what I share here, every day.
I created Coaching FLUENCE™ for people who want more than a few phrases. Sessions are live, personal and built around your life, which is why members choose them over a classic French course or a weekly tutor.
Read my full storyNot ready for a call?
Start with the free guide
23 Things Nobody Tells Americans Before Moving to France. A short read that will save you months of surprises.
Get It for $0Resources
Start at your own pace
Free and self-paced ways to begin, whenever you are ready.
Free Guide
23 things Americans wish they had known before they moved, or if they already did.
Is moving to France right for you?
A 3 minute quiz to see where you stand before you commit.
The Blog
Practical articles for Americans building a life in France.
French in 30
My signature 30 day program for the everyday conversations that matter.
Master Conversational French
A practical ebook for expats who want to speak, not just study.
French Class Café Club
Our closed club is currently full. Join the waitlist for the next opening.
Questions
Good to know
Is Coaching FLUENCE like having a French tutor?
It is closer to having a coach. A French tutor usually follows a textbook and a weekly lesson. Here we work on the situations you actually face: dinners with French friends, neighbors, work, your partner's family. You get live sessions, a personal weekly action plan, regular corrections and follow-up by email and WhatsApp.
Do you offer private French lessons for adults online?
Yes. Everything is live and online, so you can join from anywhere in the US or abroad. Sessions are personal and adapted to your level, your schedule and your goals.
Do you offer French classes for seniors and retirees?
Yes. I work with students of all ages, and about half of them are over 60. My oldest student is 74. Older students often do very well, because they are motivated, regular and happy to practice.
Is there a French course near me?
Wherever you live, my sessions happen live online, so there is nothing to commute to. You join from home on Google Meet and practice with a native French speaker.
What does French immersion look like with you?
Immersion means practicing French the way you will use it: real conversations, cultural coaching and a weekly plan built around your life. Sessions are held in French as much as your level allows, with English support when you need it.
Which level do I need to start?
Several levels are welcome, from late beginner to advanced. We begin with a call so I can hear where you are and tell you honestly whether the program is the right fit.
How early should I start learning French before moving to France?
Ideally six to twelve months before, but it is never too late. Starting early means your first months are about living, making friends and settling in, not catching up.
Why do French people switch to English with me?
Usually out of kindness, and because it makes the conversation easier for both sides. How you take part in the first thirty seconds changes what happens next, and that is something we practice together.
How is this different from an app or a language exchange?
Apps teach words. Coaching works on how you take part in a conversation, a dinner or a friendship, with a person who corrects you and adapts to you every week.
Do you prepare for the TCF, TEF, DELF or DALF exams, for residency or French citizenship?
Yes. I am a TCF, DELF and DALF examiner, so I know exactly what examiners expect. Whether you need a level for a residency permit or for French citizenship, the preparation can be part of your plan. We can talk about it during your call.
How long is Coaching FLUENCE™?
Coaching FLUENCE™ is a personalized three-month coaching program with weekly live sessions, a structured practice plan and ongoing feedback.
Three months give us time to work on meaningful progress in your everyday conversations. Some members choose to continue for six months or even a year, to go further, expand their social lives in France and build lasting fluency.
Your progress depends on your starting level, consistency and how much French you practice between sessions.
Who will I work with?
You work with me directly, and you benefit from ten years of expertise: all the resources I use as a teacher at the Alliance Française, my personal guidance, and a proven structure that has worked for the students I coach.
How do I book a session?
Start with a short application call through my calendar. We talk about your situation, then I tell you whether Coaching FLUENCE is the right next step.
How do I access the online sessions?
Once you are booked, you receive a Google Meet link for every live session. I correct your work and follow your progress by email and WhatsApp, so you always know what to do next.
What is the best way to learn French as an adult?
Structure, consistency, discipline and repetition. Small regular steps with a person who corrects you beat any burst of intensity, and that is exactly what Coaching FLUENCE brings.