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At Helen's 4 English lessons per day
We are an English family living near Mont St Michel.
Helen and Stephen are teachers with over twenty years of experience in the education field, having taught in schools and colleges in England. Since 2009, we have been offering language immersion stays to individuals who wish to improve their English.
During your language immersion holidays, you will share meals with the family, watch television in English, and participate in activities conducted entirely in English. You will be encouraged to speak and practice English at every opportunity, with more than 10 hours of learning each day!
Our stays include:
More than 50 hours of English language classes and activities.
20 hours of English classes
30 hours of practical English classes
Full board accommodation.
Level assessment upon arrival.
All study materials (books, DVDs, etc.).
A final assessment at the end of your learning with suggestions for the future.
Helen is TEFL certified (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), holds a postgraduate diploma in social sciences and education, and has over 20 years of experience in high schools in England and as a trainer in youth spaces for children (ages 14 to 17).
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geography and biological sciences along with a postgraduate certificate in education. He has over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, ranging from startups to medium-sized businesses and large corporations. He has also held leadership positions in high-technology multinational organizations at the international managing director level.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
All our stays are validated by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports.
All our stay files must compile the following documents: Educational project, civil liability insurance, criminal record extract, diplomas, registration documents, and activity certificates, health forms for minors, and hospital certificates.
We are aware that levels vary from one age to another. That’s why the morning classes are mandatory. This is an opportunity for children to acquire concepts appropriate for their age and enjoy a personalized lesson due to the small group size. In the afternoon, activities and outings will be planned. It’s an opportunity for your child to learn English while having fun, all within a secure stay.
English Language: To ensure that the Participant is in total immersion, the spoken language in the Family will be English except in cases of major misunderstanding or for any other exceptional reason (illness, accident, emergency, safety...). The host family is always nearby to support, assist, and encourage immersion in English.
It is important that children make the maximum effort to speak in English as much as possible. We understand this can be difficult (depending on the child’s level). However, it is essential that children are motivated to learn English!
We recognize the necessity for children to stay in touch with their family during their stay, which is why mobile phones are allowed but only during their free time at the end of the afternoon. Phones are not available between 8:30 PM and 8:30 AM. They should not be used during classes but can be used during outings (for taking photographs). The reason for this rule is to allow children to remain focused on learning and English.
Language Goals: Practice the English language in real-life situations: understand and make oneself understood in English, within the host family and during visits and activities.
Children will be encouraged to speak English at every opportunity, listen to the radio, and watch British television. Furthermore, children will be encouraged to speak in English as much as possible while doing artistic activities, cooking, playing sports, and participating in cultural visits every afternoon.
To best meet participants' needs, there is an evaluation of the level upon arrival and an assessment at the end of their learning with suggestions for the future. Each participant will receive a certificate of participation.
The Educational Project:
1. Our goal is to welcome all our students into our home and family so they can use the English language on a daily basis. Language learning is not limited to just class sessions. Indeed, every moment of the stay can be an opportunity to test and develop knowledge of a foreign language.
2. Assess each student's individual oral, written, and grammar skills.
3. Discover English culture through full immersion in our family with natural, fun, and rapid learning of the English language in a happy, fun, and safe environment.
5. Helen, who is an English teacher, will take daily lessons with all the students every morning.
6. We offer daily excursions in the afternoon, games, and films in original version in the evenings.
7. We encourage and help all students to speak English during their stay, reinforcing their confidence in using the English language.
Evaluation of Participants:
During the week, we will evaluate the students and their needs, adjusting lessons accordingly. At the end of the stay, each student will receive a written report highlighting their improvements and areas that still require additional lessons. All students will receive a completion certificate for their hard work and achievements.
The Educational Program:
Our primary goal is to provide a language immersion program so that your children progress and build their confidence in using the English language. The learning program is designed by Helen and is adapted based on the results of the English assessment test taken by all children on the first day. We work with the following materials:
Cambridge University Press: Grammar
Cambridge English (for primary, middle school, and high school students)
1-to-1 and mini-group activities.
The course content will be tailored to your needs and will focus on the four language skills: listening, reading, speaking, writing. Improve oral and written comprehension. Acquisition of intonation, pronunciation, and vocabulary expansion.
Typical Daily Schedule:
9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Private English classes in class
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM: Free time
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Practical English classes: Cooking or Arts and Crafts. Family lunch.
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Activities or outings with the family (Mont Saint Michel, Bowling, swimming pool, St. Malo, etc.) Each activity includes an English questionnaire afterward or during each activity.
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM: English class and daily journal
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Family dinner
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Free time (to call parents or take a shower)
8:00 PM – 9:30 PM: English film
9:30 PM: Bedtime depends on the age of the participant.
Maximum of 4 students at a time during the February holidays.
We do not offer the Total Immersion Guarantee, so there may be other students who speak the same language as you during the stay.
Stays for children during all school holidays.
Maximum 4 children during the winter holidays.
Adult stays in January, May, June, September, November, and December.
The stays begin on Sunday and end on Friday evening.
After the end of the stay, we will verify that:
The rooms are ventilated for several hours,
and the premises are cleaned and disinfected after each departure according to a strict protocol.
Due to the additional time required, the spacing between departures and arrivals will be affected.
Therefore, the duration of the stay will be shortened to 5 nights (arrival on Sunday between 4 pm and 5:30 pm and departure on Friday between 4 pm and 5:30 pm).
We offer a program with a unique vacation experience! A total immersion in English, living with our English family on our farm in Normandy. Students receive private English lessons, participate in activities, and receive full board accommodation.
You will be encouraged to speak English at every opportunity, listen to British radio, and watch British television. We offer 3 hours of English classes per day, covering conversational English, grammar, and vocabulary development.
Why choose us?
Natural, fun, and fast learning through immersion.
Continuous supervision and complete safety for your children.
Qualified and experienced teachers.
Personalized and tailored lessons.
The educational program
Our main objective is to offer a language immersion for your children to progress and strengthen their confidence in using the English language.
The learning program is designed by Mrs. Helen Wilson Smith and is adapted based on the results of the English evaluation test taken by all children on the first day.
We work with the following materials:
Cambridge University Press Grammar
Cambridge English (for primary, middle, and high school students)
1-on-1 and small group activities
The content of the classes will be adapted to your needs and will focus on the four language skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Improving oral and written comprehension. Acquiring intonation and pronunciation, increasing technical vocabulary.
Typical daily program
09:00: Breakfast
9:15 - 12:15: Private English lessons in the classroom
12:15 - 12:30: Free time
12:30 - 14:00: Practical English lessons: cooking or arts and crafts. Lunch with the family
14:00 - 18:00: Activities or family outings (Mont Saint Michel, Bowling, swimming pool, St. Malo, etc.) each activity includes an English questionnaire after or during each activity.
18:00 - 18:30: English lesson and daily journal
18:30 - 19:30: Dinner with the family
19:30 - 20:00: Free time (to call parents or take a shower)
20:00 - 21:30: English film
21:30: Bedtime depends on the age of the participant
Reviews from our students
AN AMAZING FAMILY
At first, the goal was to fully immerse our teenagers in English... at the end of the stay, they were asking when they could go back... so in addition to the quite impressive progress, they met an amazing family... next stay already planned
Thank you Helen, Stephen, Finlay, Harley and also Sophie
Learning English
Helen's energy, supported by her husband Stephen, allowed our 13-year-old son to make real progress, observed right from the start of the school year, in oral comprehension and written accuracy, after a stay that took place in July 2018. He even went back during the Toussaint holidays, with the same pleasure. A very suitable language stay for children and teenagers, combining the learning of English with numerous outings (sports; cycling, swimming... and cultural; Saint Malo, Dinard). Apparently exceptional cuisine.
To be enjoyed without moderation
Very enjoyable
My 14-year-old son just came back from his language stay and he is delighted! Helen, Stephen, and their children are very friendly! My son wants to go back: he learned a lot and significantly improved his English. The food is good, there is a friendly and amicable atmosphere. They did lots of visits and activities (always in English)... Close to Mont St. Michel and St. Malo. It's the ideal way to learn English without going to England! In short, I recommend it!
Learning English through complete immersion in a very friendly family in Normandy...
Helen, Stephen, I have only been away from your charming and comfortable stone house for 3 days and I already miss you. This complete immersion week in English allowed me to speak English more easily, of course, but also gave me a taste for a peaceful family life.
Thank you for this unique and exotic experience (just 3 hours from Paris and in France!). My baby and I had an exceptional time.
My "all in English" week consisted of morning classes (my English CV is perfect!), afternoon walks to Mont St. Michel or in the forest, cooking (long live Helen's lemon cake!), songs... It was an experience where I could combine usefulness with pleasure. More than just theoretical training, I acquired English for everyday life and now only want to improve further.
Your "service" of experiencing English as a family in Normandy is ideal for anyone who wants to speak English correctly in a peaceful and rich environment. Congratulations and thank you for sharing your knowledge, your pedagogical skills, your patience, your sense of others so that we can discover another way to learn English, which I am now convinced is much more effective than a week of classroom training!
Everything in your approach is done to make us feel good, the room with its private facilities is very comfortable and allows for peaceful sleep, the kitchen and the living room are practical and warm places to share, and your garden with its sunny terrace is just delightful!
Looking forward to returning to share your British life in such a pleasant setting in Normandy,
See you soon,
I had a great stay. Very warm and pleasant welcome. I had a great time. I learned a lot of things. And this stay allowed me to work on my English. I was able to share some activities with the family: music, hiking, cooking, sports. I was highly recommended to visit the region, which is superb. I visited Mont Saint-Michel. A big thank you to the whole family, and I hope to come back next year, see you soon!
Mon fils a passé une très bonne semaine chez Helen. Elle est très accueillante, gentille et très forte pour faire progresser. Elle suit l’enfant en fonction de ses faiblesses et l’amène à un bien meilleur niveau qu’au départ. Une vraie incursion en Angleterre sans quitter la France. Very british ! Ils ont aussi un petit chien, Teddy, très mignon, drôle et joueur qui apporte une touche supplémentaire très joyeuse ! Merci à Helen, Sophie et Stephen !
Notre fils a passé une semaine très agréable dans une famille sympathique et accueillante avec de nombreuses activités et des cours d anglais intéressants. Il a l.impression d être beaucoup plus à l aise en anglais. La nourriture était excellente. Nous recommandons cette famille.
J'ai passé une semaine dans la famille d'Helen et j'ai beaucoup apprécié. Ce fut une très belle expérience, j'y ai appris de nombreuses choses que ce soit dans la langue anglaise ou dans la vie, les tradition et la culture. Les gens sont gentils, accueillants, la maison est très agréable. Je suis ravie d'avoir pu y aller et je vous recommande donc ce séjour.
Très bonne première expérience dans une famille anglaise. Le séjour était équilibré : studieux et ludique. Très pédagogue. Merci et bravo pour ces règles de vie en famille, en vacances !
Bonjour, les filles sont ravies de leur séjour. La prise de contact avec Helen et l'association Linguifamily a été facile et fluide. Tout le programme de la semaine a été conforme à ce qui était annoncé, les filles ont été accueillies confortablement, les repas étaient de qualité. Elles ont fait des progrès à l'oral et de compréhension en anglais. Elles ont apprécié l'implication de l'ensemble de la famille d'Helen pour le bon déroulement de leur séjour. Nous recommandons cette famille ! Christelle Suzé
Le séjour chez Helen s'est très bien passé. On y apprend beaucoup de choses le matin en cours d'anglais, l'après-midi on fait des activités toujours en anglais, mais on s'occupe dans une bonne ambiance, avec ou sans pluie la famille de Helen trouve toujours une activité pour nous occuper. Ce fut tellement bien que j'aimerais y retourner! Antoine 14 ans Nous avons 3 heures de cours d'anglais le matin. L'ambiance était très bonne. nous avons fait plusieurs activité: vélo, fitness, visite culturelle, centre aquatique, art plastique et cuisine. Le fitness est possible aux enfants de 14 ans ou +. j'espère à bientôt pierre Louis 12 ans
Euryell et Emie ont passé un agréable séjour chez Helen et Stephen (et leurs enfants). Les cours prodigués par Helen sont vraiment d'excellente qualité et leurs ont permis de faire un réel progrès (pour ne pas dire un "bon") dans l'apprentissage de l'anglais. L'ambiance a été conviviale et amicale, elles n'ont pas été livrées à elles mêmes. La nourriture est bonne avec une participation de leur part à l'élaboration des plats. Malgré le temps (pratiquement que de la pluie) Helen a réussi à les occuper pendant tout le séjour. Un très bon moyen d'apprendre l'anglais en cette période de confinement où les déplacements sont limités. Je recommande un séjour chez Helen et je recommande également ce type de séjour.
Plusieurs activités sont proposées, on y découvre la région, des activités manuelles et autres. Après deux semaines dans cette famille mon niveau d’anglais s’est fortement amélioré. Et puis la cuisine est très bonne la bas. Nous sommes repartis avec un petit pincement au cœur car c’est une famille incroyable. Et puis la cuisine est très bonne la bas. Je recommande ce séjour !...
Apprendre l'anglais en immersion compléte dans une famille trés sympa en Normandie... Helen, Stephen, je ne suis partie de votre charmante et confortable maison en pierres que depuis 3 jours et vous me manquez déjà beaucoup. Cette semaine en immersion complète en anglais m’a permis de me remettre à parler plus facilement l’anglais bien sûr mais m’a aussi donné le goût d’une vie paisible en famille. Je vous remercie pour cette expérience unique et si dépaysante (à seulement 3 heures de Paris et en France!). Mon bébé et moi avons passé un moment exceptionnel. Ma semaine « tout en anglais » composait de cours le matin (mon cv en anglais est parfait !), de balades l’après-midi au Mont St Michel ou en forêt, de cuisines (vive le lemon cake d’Helen !), de chansons…fut une expérience où j’ai pu allier utile à agréable. Bien plus qu’une formation théorique, j’ai acquis un anglais pour la vie courante et je n’ai qu’une envie me perfectionner plus encore. Votre « prestation » en famille en Normandie est idéale pour donner l’envie à quiconque de parler correctement l’anglais dans un environnement paisible et riche en curiosités. Bravo et merci de bien vouloir partager vos connaissances, votre sens de la pédagogie, votre patience, votre goût des autres afin que nous puissions découvrir aux portes de chez nous une autre manière d’apprendre l’anglais, qui j’en suis désormais persuadée, est bien plus efficace qu’une semaine de formation en classe !! Tout est fait dans votre approche pour que nous nous sentions bien, la chambre avec ses sanitaires privées est très confortables et l'on peut y dormir paisiblement, la cuisine et le séjour sont des lieux de partages pratiques et chaleureux et votre jardin avec sa terrasse ensoleillée est juste un délice! Au plaisir de revenir partager votre british life en Normandie si agréable, See you soon, Sarah
Ma fille Célia est ravie de la semaine passée à la ferme en votre compagnie, je recommande à tout le monde ce type de séjour pour progresser en Anglais. Many thanks....
Le dynamisme d'Helen, épaulée par Stephen son époux, ont permis à notre fils âgé de 13 ans de réaliser de réels progrès, constatés dès la rentrée scolaire, de compréhension orale, de rigueur à l'écrit, après un séjour qui s'était déroulé en juillet 2018. Il y est d'ailleurs retourné pendant les vacances de la Toussaint, avec le même plaisir. Séjour linguistique très adapté pour les enfants, adolescents alliant l'apprentissage de l'anglais avec de nombreuses sorties (sportives; vélo, natation,... et culturelles; Saint Malo, Dinard). Une cuisine apparemment exceptionnelle. A consommer sans modération
From 1210 € / week
+33 7 49 08 56 74