From Childhood Curiosity to a Lifelong Love of Teaching French: My Story

Could you pinpoint when your interest in learning French began? When did you think to yourself: “This is exciting, I want to learn this language, and nothing else”?

Teaching French as a foreign language is my job. It is also a passion. Because in the world of work, there are (among others) bread-and-butter jobs, survival jobs, big careers. And then, there are the “passion jobs.”

Mark my word: I have always disliked this term, "passion job". It is often used to justify limits. A low salary, hours far beyond the contract, or really challenging working conditions. You know : “Oh, [INSERT PASSION JOB], it’s a passion job, you don’t do it for [INSERT NORMAL WORK REWARD].” Bof*. A job remains a professional activity. Just because it’s a passion doesn’t make it a hobby.

But okay, I admit it. There are indeed these “passion jobs”: those we follow because a small voice or inner force guides us, telling us that our place is here and nowhere else. Jobs that let us reach the top of Maslow’s pyramid, that elusive goal of personal fulfillment.

I’ve been thinking about my own journey recently. When did my passion for languages start? When did I feel the desire to share my language with those who didn’t speak it yet? To become a teacher of my native language? Of course, many experiences helped shape this passion, but they only confirmed what was already alive inside me. And I think I’ve identified a real moment of revelation.

I was nine. We were visiting my family in the United States for the summer holidays. Chipmunks, baseball, barbecues and all. It was my first time abroad. There, everyone spoke English. Even the children. And you know what? THEY SPOKE ENGLISH INCREDIBLY WELL. With the accent and everything. I couldn’t understand a word—they spoke English like native speakers, not like little French kids learning a foreign language. I thought it was amazing. I would even say, I was in awe.

It puzzled me for days. How could someone speak a foreign language so fluently? And then, at nine, about to start fourth grade, I realized something: for them, English was not a “foreign” language—it was their mother tongue, just as French was for me. For some, a language is native; for others, it’s foreign.

Travel broadens the mind, they say. And it’s true. Experiencing difference helps us understand the world and ourselves. From that moment, language became a fascinating mystery I wanted to explore.

Today, I have returned to my passion. Not the kind that erases challenges, but the one that gives them meaning. And this has been true since I was nine.

So, I’d love to hear from you: when did your interest in learning French—or in any new language—begin? Was it a clear moment, a person, a trip, or just curiosity?

If you’ve ever felt that spark, why not give it space to grow? I offer online French courses designed for adult learners who want to transform curiosity into confidence—and make learning a truly exciting part of your life. You can start exploring French with me today, from anywhere in the world.

*bof in French means "ok I guess". You can learn about this expression and more 230 other expressions in my free list here: download it for free! If you are more a beginner than an intermediate or advanced student, you may be more interested in this list: the 1 500 most used words every expat needs. You can download it for free right here.