French that feels clear, alive and useful.

Hello! My name is Elena Heinlaid. I have been teaching French for more than 10 years, both individually and in groups, to teenagers and adults. Over the years, I have worked with learners at very different levels and helped some of them prepare for international French exams.

I studied at Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3 in a programme that included French as a Foreign Language. My French level is officially certified at C1.

I lived and studied in France for three years, from 2013 to 2016. During that time, I discovered different regions of France, different ways of life and, above all, a language that now holds a very important place in my life.

My own journey with languages began much earlier. As a child, I already dreamed of speaking a foreign language, even though opportunities to learn languages were very limited in the town where I grew up. Today, I speak three languages at different levels, which also helps me understand what adult learners experience: searching for the right word, being afraid of making a mistake, or understanding much more than they are able to say.

In my lessons, I mainly use the communicative approach and the neurolinguistic approach. For me, learning a language is not just about knowing rules: the aim is to gradually turn knowledge into automatic skills and, above all, to dare to speak.

I enjoy working with curious, open-minded people who are ready to take part actively, because seeing their progress is what gives meaning to my work.

Outside teaching, I enjoy Pilates and jogging, detective novels, travelling, and French and Italian cuisine.

My goal is to help you become more confident and use French more naturally in everyday life.