French native Qualified Teacher with experience teaching French and English as a foreign language. Examiner and Moderator for the IBO. Published Writer.

Find out more about Estelle

• 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 was born in Besançon, a lovely French town near the Swiss border. I moved abroad in my thirties and since then have enjoyed sharing my knowledge of the beautiful French language and culture.

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

  Simone Veil is to me an emblematic representative of the French culture, as an advocate for women's rights. She was a cornerstone of female emancipation in France, working tirelessly to advance women's rights.

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

  I love the expression "Impossible n'est pas français", literally "Impossible isn't French"!
  
  Famously attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, the expression "Impossible n'est pas français" is the French equivalent of "Nothing is impossible". In other words, nothing is impossible and there isn't anything you can't do!

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking French is part of my heritage and part of who I am. I find this language beautiful and enjoy helping others understanding and appreciating it.

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

  French is a beautiful language but learning its pronunciation can be a challenge! French has many nasal sounds , silent letters, accents and more!
  
  The grammar can also be testing, with noun gender or verb conjugations for example.
  
  To help with the process of learning French, you can listen to podcasts, watch French movies with English subtitles, listen to music in French or work with a French tutor!

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

  I have always loved learning languages (I speak French, English, Spanish and Italian) and remember developing a love for the English language in primary school. I didn't speak English then so I used to pretend I did and speak a lot of
  
  English-sounding gibberish with my best friend!

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

  Travelling is the best way to learn a language as you immerse yourself in the language and the culture. It is so much more motivating and effective! I have learnt English and Italian much faster being in those respective countries!