French tutor learning Italian with CasaLingua
Kim welcomes Nathalie to CasaLingua Language School in Consett
Things have gone full circle for language tutor Nathalie Paris – as she is now learning a new language with CasaLingua.
Nathalie first met our founder, Kim, while teaching Kim’s daughter French at Shotley Bridge Nursery before lockdown when Mia was 2.
After the pandemic, Kim decided she wanted a bit of a career change. So spoke to Nathalie to find out more about following her footsteps into self-employment after leaving her job as a school teacher.
Since then, the pair have become good friends. “Nathalie has been there with me from day one! She’s attended the grand opening event and has championed my classes and events. She’s been a fantastic supporter of CasaLingua.”
Nathalie is now learning a new language, thanks to online Italian lessons from CasaLingua.
Mentor to friend
Nathalie, who is originally from Northern France, says, “Kim was chatting to one of her friends about her plans to become a self-employed teacher, and they put her in touch with me. We met up and I just gave her some pointers. I suppose I was a bit of a mentor.
“She kept in touch and I followed what she was doing and supported her the best way I could. When she said she was opening the Language School in Consett, I went to some events. One of the first events was wine tasting and I went with my husband.”
Learning Italian with CasaLingua
At the time, Nathalie was learning Italian through home study after securing a new role that means she spends some time in Italy. And with plans to go to the country on holiday with her husband, Nathalie decided it was time to start learning more proactively.
“We want a special holiday with the two of us in Italy, so with my new role it was time to devote more time to learning Italian,” explains Nathalie.
So, she enrolled for an online Sunday evening class to start learning Italian with CasaLingua. And she’s loving learning with four other students!
I’m loving learning Italian
“I just love being able to look forward to my Sunday evening and look forward to being able to have a conversation in Italian, because when you do it, you learn better,” Nathalie says.
“When you learn on your own you have all these words in your head, but you need to actually have a conversation with a real person to learn better. You need the interaction and thinking on your feet, and that is what I'm really enjoying.”
Nathalie, who lives in Durham, says it’s the CasaLingua approach to learning languages that she thinks really works.
“Kim is always well prepared. We know what we're going to learn and there are resources to go with it, but it's relaxed and fun. There's no pressure. I don't I get embarrassed. Sometimes when you learn to speak a language you can get embarrassed in front of those who know how to speak the language. But I don’t feel that with CasaLingua language lessons.”
A real community
Being part of a CasaLingua language class isn’t just a fun way to learn for Nathalie. She also loves being part of the wider community that’s growing around our Language School in Consett.
She says, “It’s lovely to meet all the people who are learning with CasaLingua as well as their families. My husband and I went to the Christmas Quiz last year. When we went to the wine tasting, I bumped into someone whose children learned Spanish from me. And it turned out that the lady used to work with my husband.
“We saw them again at the quiz in 2024 and last year. So it is a bit of a community that is growing and that’s lovely.”
Our Language School in Consett
Nathalie – who uses her maiden name for obvious reasons – also loves the relaxing environment of our Language School in Consett.
“I am learning online but I have been to the Language School for the events and it’s a lovely space. It’s a beautiful place and welcoming and warm. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t go to the extra events! It’s not what you expect and it’s nice having all those extra little things that go on there.”
Learn a new language
If you would like to learn a new language with CasaLingua, then contact us today for details.
Don’t forget, we offer language lessons for all ages. Click here for adults, and here for children. And if you want to help your children with their GCSE language studies, click here.
You can also check out our events. We can’t wait to welcome you to CasaLingua.