About Sophie
Salut! I'm Sophie, a Parisian-born French teacher who's been calling Melbourne home for 14 years.
I teach French to Aussies of all ages, learning French for dozens of different reasons: VCE French students in need of a confidence boost, former VCE students going on a trip to France, francophiles and retired people in need of brain-gym.
As an expat living in an English-speaking country, as well as a French teacher, I believe languages are meant to be spoken, not just learnt.
Before teaching French, I was a language student myself: in addition to English, I learnt 4 foreign languages when I was younger (in order: German, Ancient Greek, Breton, Italian).
Despite my experience with learning languages, I wasn't prepared for the shock of living my life in English. You see, in French schools, I mostly learnt written English (and written German, Ancient Greek…). I was really good at reading and not too bad at writing. But understanding real-life English conversation was tough (no teacher ever prepared me to live in a shared house with housemates from Dublin, Liverpool, Texas, Darwin, New Zealand…), and speaking wasn't easier. I could speak, true. Like a novel or a newspaper article. Weezz a frenche axcent, messieurs-dames! At first, I thought I'd never be able to hold a real, deep conversation in English.
That's when I met Fred! Fred had just arrived from France and was traveling by himself around Australia. Fred knew maybe 15 words in English. But Fred was putting so much effort and enthusiasm into communicating that it didn't matter. Everyone he met would end up understanding enough.
What did Fred have that I didn't have? Confidence and kindness. Confidence in his own ability to communicate and kindness for himself and his imperfect skills.
So, instead of waiting to understand every word and reply in beautifully crafted sentences, I started to trust I could understand enough and I decided to speak even if it wasn't perfect.
I developed strategies for when I didn’t know how to express an idea and I made a point to ask if I couldn’t understand something. The more I talked, the more confident I became and the easier it became to hold a conversation.
Because I learned the hard way that nothing can prepare you to have a conversation, except having many imperfect conversations, I now teach French in a way that helps you actually speak, with confidence, even when you don’t have the perfect words.
Whether online or in person, I create a warm and friendly environment where you are supported to build confidence, one sentence at a time. In my lessons, we focus on the skills that make real-life communication easier: speaking little and often, building useful phrases, learning how to rephrase when you’re stuck, and practising without shame.
Over the years, I’ve helped:
VCE students feel calmer and more confident for oral exams,
Travellers feel ready to handle real French conversations (even with messy grammar).
Adult learners finally stop “waiting until they’re ready” and start speaking …
If you’d like a feel for what it’s like to learn with me, you can read a few student words on my testimonials page.
When I’m not teaching French, you’ll find me zooming through Melbourne on my trusted bike, rain, hail or shine (and sometimes all three in one day 😉). I’m also raising a small human with my partner, and and we share our home with a cat who believes they run the place. I love good books, great coffee, and baking sweet treats to share.
Ready to find your confidence but not sure where to start? Fill in the contact form and set up a free 15-minute chat with me. I’ll ask a couple of quick questions about your French goals (and what’s been getting in the way), then help you choose the best next step.
About Sophie French Tutor
Sophie French Tutor started with me — Sophie — a Paris-born French teacher who’s been calling Melbourne home for years. My teaching style is built around one core idea: languages are meant to be spoken, not just learnt in a textbook.
So we focus on real conversation, practical strategies, and building confidence kindly, one imperfect sentence at a time.
As Sophie French Tutor has grown, I’ve brought in a small team of teachers I trust completely — qualified French teachers who are also experienced language learners themselves.
They’re based across Australia and Europe, which means we can offer more flexibility while staying connected to real, living French.
Whether you learn with me or with someone from the team, you’ll get the same supportive, conversation-first experience.
Ready to get started?
Tell us a little about your French goals and we'll take it from there.
Or email us directly at info@frenchtutor.com.au