Uncategorized

I had the good fortune of being born and raised in Lyon, a large city perfectly situated between Paris and the Mediterranean, and close to the beautiful ski slopes of the Alps. It is also the self-proclaimed gastronomy capital of the world.

I spent my first academic years in a small catholic school that combined strict discipline with a deep respect for the individuality of every child. I owe the most important elements of my education to the amazing teachers who shaped my childhood.

After obtaining the Baccaulaureate with a major in Economics, I studied philosophy and art at “Université Jean Moulin Lyon III.” I obtained a Master’s certificate in phenomenological anthropology, under the guidance of Professors Henri Maldiney and Odile Marcel, whose outstanding teachings and friendship have been a constant source of inspiration over the years.

My parents fostered in me an independent spirit, and as we had the great privilege of exploring several continents, including America, I acquired a taste for traveling at an early age.

I arrived in San Francisco in the early 1980′s. Well supported by the extreme kindness of my first employer, Sally Zappella, I not only discovered the American professional way of life, but realized that I had an affinity for it. Soon, I started teaching French at various schools, including the Alliance Française.

A few years later, Marie Galanti and Anne Prah-Perochon, owners of the “Journal Français d’Amérique,” entrusted me with an editorial position with their company. They also became two major role models for me as I progressed in my professional life as teacher, writer and business owner.

In January 1992, with the encouragement of a handful of dedicated students and a modest savings, I founded The French Class at 500 Sutter Street. Teaching has never been a job for me, but rather a way to share both of these worlds I love, my homes, France and California.