Why did I create thefleow?

I created thefleow to offer my own French courses on a website that reflects who I am. My name is Sara Loubette, and I’m a teacher of FLE¹French as a foreign language: French taught to people for whom it is not their native language and I've been teaching French online as a freelancer for three years.

Until now, I've been teaching my classes through online platforms. They offer one-on-one lessons. With thefleow, I continue to offer these one-on-one lessons, and I've added two new features: small-group conversation workshops and a private space where you can find everything we've been working on.

In this article, I'll explain where I'm from, what you'll find on thefleow, how to get started, and where the name comes from.

Where I'm From

I am French-Moroccan. I was born into two cultures and grew up in Paris.

French is my native language. A native language is the first language you learn as a child at home. For you, French is a foreign language: that’s why we refer to it as FLE.

I have a bachelor's degree in sciences du langage²the academic discipline that studies how languages function: sounds, grammar, meaning, and usage, specializing in French as a foreign language. I also have the DAEFLE³Certificate of Qualification to Teach French as a Foreign Language, a degree that qualifies one to teach French to people for whom it is not their native language.

Why did I choose this career? Because I wanted to share my culture and teach my native language.

What You'll Find on thefleow

On a platform, you simply book a one-on-one lesson, and that's it. I wanted a website where I could offer my own services, on my own terms. Thefleow is based on three things:

1. one-on-one private lessons via videoconference;
2. conversation workshops with learners at the same level;
3. A private space where you can access your lessons and exercises.

One-on-one is a common French expression. It means “one-on-one, face-to-face.” A one-on-one class is just you and me, with no other students.

I teach levels A0 through C1 of the CECR⁴Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: the scale that describes language proficiency levels, from A1 to C2. A1 and A2 correspond to a beginner, B1 and B2 to an independent user, and C1 and C2 to an experienced user. A0 is not part of the official scale: it is used when starting from scratch. To find out where you stand, visit the page levels.

Private lessons: 25 or 50 minutes

A private lesson lasts 25 or 50 minutes. You can choose based on your schedule.

The 50-minute class is for you if you want a longer class. The 25-minute class is for you if you don't have time for a long class.

The content varies depending on the student. I adapt to you and your needs. Depending on the class, we work on grammar and reading comprehension, and we do exercises.

At the end of each class, I give you homework to do at home. It includes:

• reading comprehension exercises;
• grammar exercises;
• one production écrite⁵a text that you write yourself in French.

This gives you some material to review what we've covered together. To find out what a class is like, read my method.

Conversation Workshops

This is the latest from thefleow.

Learners often feel isolated in their language learning. They have no one else to speak French with. So I wanted to create a space with a bit more of a community feel, where we can get together to share and talk.

Here's how a workshop works:

• It lasts 50 minutes;
• It has 2 to 5 students;
• All participants are at the same level;
• Each session focuses on a specific topic, and we discuss that topic together.

There is one workshop per level, once a week, depending on demand.

In a private lesson, you talk with your teacher. In a workshop, you also talk with other people who are learning French, just like you.

Your private area and your first class

On thefleow, every learner has their own private space. There you'll find:

• your class notes;
• your exercises;
• external resources, selected based on the topics we've covered;
• You can message me directly if you have a question;
• Booking your classes.

The website is available in five languages: French, English, Spanish, German, and Portuguese. This means you can read the practical information in your own language, even if you're just starting to learn French.

How do I get started?

You can book a class directly espresso. We'll talk it over together, and this is also a trial class. In French, a espresso is, first and foremost, a short, strong espresso.

Still not sure? Send me a message from the page contact.

Where does the name "thefleow" come from?

The name "thefleow" combines two words:

• FLE, French as a foreign language, my specialty;
• flow, an English word that means “flow” or “current.”

By sliding the e of French as a Foreign Language in flow, we get fleow. The idea can be summed up in one English sentence: Learn with the Flow, literally “learning with the flow.”

A spelling note: "thefleow" is written as one word, all lowercase.

What now?

The blog is our first new online feature. Every Wednesday, a new post answers a question about French: grammar, speaking, proficiency levels, exams, and practical aspects of daily life.

A forum is in the works. It is not yet online.