LinguiFamily

Language Immersion Stay at Catherine's

France
Bourges
English
From 690 € / week
  • Profil, E-mail
  • Phone number verified
  • Graduate language teacher
  • Verified Profile
  • Quality Charter
Some texts are automatically translated. Some information is displayed in the original language.

Welcome to Cathy's home

Welcoming you this Easter and Summer 2024! Hello and welcome to my family!! - that consists of myself, my daughter Beth, aged 22, and all of our dogs, ponies and horses. Come and have fun with us! We love France and recently moved to Indre, "La France Profonde" to an old mill house with 3.8 hectares of land for our animals. It is very tranquil and unspoilt and a nature lover's paradise.
There are randonnees on the doorstep where we can walk the dogs, have a pony ride, take a picnic, or ride bikes. As I live in an old mill house the beautiful river Indre is a stone throw's away.

I am an experienced English Language teacher, I taught English Language formally in the UK for over 6 years and still teach English online. I love hosting students as I know language immersion stays are a very special and fun way to have a truly holistic language learning experience.
My students always make great progress while enjoying the freedom of the countryside and helping with the animals. I also have a First Class BA Hons in English Language and Literature (Trinity College Dublin) an MA in American Literature (Scholarship, Claremont Graduate School, USA) and from Oxford University an M. Litt in English Literature.
I prefer to take things more gently now and especially enjoy helping students with their language needs.
Re: Covid I am fully vaccinated and my home provides all the usual handwash and wipes, and is well aired/ ventilated.

A sojourn with me best suits independent minded young people or adults who like animals and are interested in a holiday in beautiful nature with horses and dogs.
Afternoon activities can include, for example, a trip to the water sports at Pouligny Notre Dame, a treasure hunt in Saint Severe, or a visit to La Chatre with its medieval streets and wonderful chocolate shop (very important!).
Previous students have loved meeting the horses and ponies, and helping with their daily care, perhaps giving them breakfast or putting them to bed at the end of the day, brushing and getting to know them and, if sufficiently experienced, (and insured, I can sort this for you) taking them on rides with me.
If you are a novice rider or uninsured there is a very good equestrian centre nearby where you can ride for a little extra cost.
There is also Geocaching in Berry, the UNESCO World Heritage sites at Bourges, vineyards and the museum to the well known nineteenth-century photographer George Sands nearby as well as a weekly market in Saint Severe and a very large market on a Saturday in La Chatre.
In the evenings we can make some popcorn and watch a movie in English perhaps with French subtitles, play some board games, or go to the lovely and very popular pizza house on the river in La Chatre.
Please ensure that your student arrives on or after 2 pm of the day of arrival and leaves before 12 on the morning of departure as this helps greatly with the changeover. Thank you.

  • Houseold:
  • Catherine (Mother )
Max number of hosts at the same time:
3 people
  • Accept:
  • 10-18 years old (girl - boy)
  • 18-25 years old (girl - boy)
  • Adult (woman - man)
  • Senior (woman - man)
  • Couple

I am very happy to welcome any guest who believes they will benefit from a country stay with horses and dogs.

All rates are in Euros.

Proposed activities:

A typical day with us

Hello! We live in the countryside surrounded by our horses, ponies, and dogs, and lovely unspoiled countryside! We recently moved to an old mill house and 3.8 hectares of land in an idyllic natural location. It is still a work in progress, rustic, but very comfortable and charming, a rural paradise and a piece of French history!

The day usually starts with coffee/hot chocolate/tea around 8 to 8.30, and then feeding and turning out the horses from their stables. It doesn't take long and is a great way to start the day. If you prefer, you are welcome to stay in bed or have a hot chocolate! Then we'll have a big breakfast, followed by an English language session tailored to your needs, if requested. Alternatively, we can engage in some daily morning activities, like walking the dogs on the lovely trails near the house (there are always dogs who would like to play ball with you at any time!) or shopping in La Chatre.

For lunch, previous students have enjoyed helping me make traditional English meals or sharing recipes, which we can cook together in English. In the afternoon, there are local attractions such as Teleski Nautique water sports in Pouligny St Martin, treasure hunts in Saint Severe, geocaching in Berry (36 sites), or a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Bourges Cathedral, crypt, and tower. For film buffs, Saint Severe also has the lovely Jour de Fete museum, celebrating the early film of the same name by Jacques Tati, filmed in the town, with games and activities for young people.

Alternatively, there are simply lovely walks and bike rides right on our doorstep, ideal for taking a picnic and watching wildlife.

In the evening, you can help me put the horses to bed in their stables, and groom them if you wish, and then we'll share a nice dinner. Alternatively, as mentioned earlier, we can always visit the lovely pizza house on the river in La Chatre! Later, we can make some popcorn and watch a movie in English, perhaps with French subtitles, or join my daughter Beth on Zoom if she's not here, for a chat and some games.

Otherwise, in the evenings, we can light the woodburner and chat about your interests or play a board or card game.

A stay with me is best suited for young independent-minded individuals who love animals and nature.

  • Single room
  • Pets and animals:
    small dogs, young horses

Paid options organized by the family

I recently moved to this charming old Mill house in La France Profonde, full of history and charm and in a beautiful rural location unspoiled by tourism. All of the rooms are warm and clean and entirely functional but not exactly modern! It is a work in progress!
Guests wishing to book formal language lessons on top of the immersion séjour are most welcome. Thank you.

  • Language lessons
  • Lessons at home
  • Paid activities
  • Horse riding lessons at a fully insured equestrian

Comments of previous guests

Guy

Super expérience pour mon fils et une professeure parfaite

  •          
  • 5/5
  • -
  • Guy
  • -
  • on Mar 10, 2024

J'ai envoyé mon fils de 24 ans chez Cathy pour une semaine pendant les vacances de février avec des cours intensifs (3h par jour) afin qu'il soit préparé à partir à l'étranger dans le cadre de ses études d'ingénieur. Moi-même j'estime être très bon en anglais mais comme beaucoup de français travaillant avec des étrangers dont l'anglais n'est pas la langue natale je suis loin d'avoir un anglais académique. nous avons beaucoup échanger avec Cathy (en anglais bien sûr) pour définir les objectifs pour mon fils. Cathy a préparer les cours, m'a tenu informé régulièrement de ce qu'elle prévoyait comme enseignement, etc. un vrai suivi personnalisé et je la remercie énormément pour cela. Mon fils est rentré enchanté de son séjour. Le dépaysement de la campagne et de la demeure de Cathy a été pour lui un enchantement participant à son immersion complète. D'ailleurs dès son arrivée, seul l'anglais était utilisé pour communiquer. Cathy et sa fille ont intégré mon fils dans leur quotidien ponctué par les cours d'anglais. Quand mon fils est rentré j'ai pu me rendre compte à quel point il avait progressé. Je suis maintenant pleinement rassuré sur sa capacité à pouvoir partir et vivre seul à l'étranger pour ses études. Merci beaucoup à Cathy et sa fille. Je recommande chaudement cette famille.

Anne-laure

Belle expérience !

  •          
  • 4/5
  • -
  • Anne-laure
  • -
  • on Jul 5, 2023

《 notre fils de 13 ans et demi a passé deux semaines chez Catherine ; il était seul et a donc ainsi vraiment pu progresser en anglais. Catherine est une très gentille personne, notre fils s'est baladé à cheval dans la campagne environnante, a beaucoup joué avec les petits chiens, Catherine l'a emmené chez ses amies anglaises, chez un ami avec d'anciennes arcades de jeux en état de marche ( bonheur d'adolescent :), au restaurant... notre seule remarque serait que le confort de la maison est très sommaire, et le mode de vie très tourné vers les animaux,  donc ce séjour linguistique fut aussi une occasion de découvrir une autre façon de vivre. Une expérience positive et enrichissante pour notre fils!》

Priscilla

The best teacher I could have ever asked for !

  •          
  • 5/5
  • -
  • Priscilla
  • -
  • on Sep 21, 2021

I’m a forensic Psychologist and I’ve decided to attend Catherine’s lessons for improving my Academic and working English. Catherine is the best teacher I could have ever asked for: she’s brilliant, always extremely kind and patient with me. During the lessons there’s always time for discussing new topics and learning something new from each other. The lessons are always super interesting for me and suited to my needs: Catherine is extremely attentive to details and she makes me feel comfortable even with my mistakes. Since I’ve started lessons with her, I surely improved my English, especially my fluency. I would recommend Catherine to all those not only interested in improving their English but also interested in meeting a great professional and person! Prisca

Vitali

Perfect

  •          
  • 5/5
  • -
  • Vitali
  • -
  • on Sep 21, 2021

Catherine perfectly organizes your stay according to your needs and preferences. The language learning process becomes easy, invisible, but intense. If you like animals and interesting conversations - welcome to Catherine.

View all reviews
Display less reviews

You will also like

These families are also available

Your stay is safe with us

Language homestays for everyone
  • A team available 7 days a week
  • AXA TRAVEL ASSISTANCE
    protects you during the stay
  • The payments are secure

From 690 € / week

Your stay at Catherine 's home
from
to
Need some help ?
We speak English:
     +33 7 49 08 56 74