Certified French teacher – Conversation, DELF, TCF, all levels Learn French systematically – Speak with confidence from the very first lessons.

Find out more about Franklin

• Did you grow up speaking this language? Or were you inspired by a trip abroad, an individual, or a certain aspect of the culture?

  I am Cameroonian, and French is one of our native and official languages. I grew up speaking French daily at school and in many social contexts, which allowed me to develop a strong and natural command of the language from an early age.

• Can you name a living, historical, or fictional character that you think is an emblematic representative of the language’s culture?

  Victor Hugo perfectly represents the richness, depth, and expressive power of the French language through his literary works and his influence on French culture.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition, or expression in the language that you particularly like?

  One French expression I truly love is “Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ignore.” It beautifully reflects the emotional and philosophical depth of the French mindset.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  French is an essential communication tool for me, especially during my travels across the French-speaking world. It allows me to connect with people, understand cultures more deeply, and build meaningful personal and professional relationships.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language, and what can help the learning process?

  One of the main difficulties for my students is mastering grammatical gender and articles. There is no universal rule to determine whether a noun is masculine or feminine, so learners must memorize each word with its article. Consistent exposure, repetition, and contextual practice greatly help overcome this challenge.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your school days.

  I have always enjoyed learning languages. While studying Italian grammar, I realized that many French grammatical rules could be applied successfully, which reinforced my understanding of language structures and boosted my confidence as a learner and teacher.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Travel has played a major role in my linguistic development. I speak several languages at least at an A1 level, including Spanish, German, Tagalog, Japanese, Swahili, and Lingala. I attended kindergarten in Kigali, Rwanda, lived in Nigeria for three years, spent ten years in the Philippines, and traveled extensively across China (Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing, Qingdao), Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. Before visiting each country, I always take time to learn the basics of the local language, which greatly enhances communication and cultural understanding.