About Me

My French life began in December 1997 when I undertook one of the longest coach journeys ever. It ended in a land of snow and twinkling lights, Méribel, Savoie, France. I stepped off the bus to what I thought would be my home for the next six months… mais non! Home for the next twenty years… oui!

I chose the Alps, a ski resort, as I love skiing, and the mountains, I love nature and all the freshness it brings. The seasons are like new beginnings, full of surprises. Spring rains wash away the remnants of the winter, leaving room for an abundance of wildflowers and green pastures. Summers are warm and hazy. The autumn hues are breathtakingly beautiful and November creeps in with the first fires, hot chocolates and a faint buzz of excitement for the impending winter season to come.

I’m British and I love Britain but I married an amazing French man. Our 3 children cement the bond and provide me grounds for deeper integration into the community. It’s an adventure, a journey of discovery and intrigue. I embrace the differences and accept the rocky road of misunderstandings and cultural divide. It’s what makes the tapestry of this French life so intricate and interesting.

My work has always been in teaching French & English but my passion is to coach, guide and encourage my students to learn in innovative, fun new ways. This is why I recently undertook the exciting journey of discovering Neurolanguage coaching® (concept by Rachel Marie Paling at ELC). This approach has transformed my teaching style and cemented my conviction that my purpose is to help learners help themselves. Learning a language is a journey of discovery and I hope you choose to start this journey with me.

Active in Learning Karen Journoud Signature with Red Beret
Karen Journoud skiing off-piste on a mountain

A Few Facts

Name

Karen Journoud

Nationality

British & French (acquired 2019)

Location

Méribel, Savoie, French Alps Worldwide - online

Profession

Language Coach - French/English

About me

My qualifications

BA Hons French & Business Studies
TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language – 2001
DU FLE – Français Langue Etrangère – 2016
Neurolanguage® & Advanced Neurolanguage Coaching® – 2021

My experience

With over 20 years experience teaching English and French to groups and individuals alike, I have grown and shaped my capabilities to helping others progress and thrive within the language learning environment. This continuous development led me in March 2021 to Efficient Language School’s Neurolanguage coaching® courses and the amazing Rachel Marie Paling, who has inspired the likes of me with a new vision towards teaching and learning in general. I plan to continue learning and developing to be able to share this vision with you.

What I love about my life

Winters spent eating raclette and cheese fondue, après-ski vin-chaud after a great day on the mountain and the whole box and dice of living in the mountains with my husband and 3 kids! I love sport and being outdoors in the fresh air. I’m also partial to enjoying a spot of ‘mum’ dancing and tend to think I’m a professional singer at the same time as pretending to play the piano!

Passionate about

Apart from the above, I absolutely love coaching and helping the people i’m in contact with bring out the best in themselves. Connecting with people in this way and seeing them blossom in life and language gives me an enormous amount of personal satisfaction, a kind of fuzzy warm feeling that I’m helping you finally get this!