WHO WE ARE

A Frenchman, he has lived in Italy for 40 years, active in French-speaking associations in Milan and, for over 30 years, in Genoa. A retired corporate executive in the transportation sector, he has served as Honorary Consul of France in Genoa since 2016 and as President of the Alliance Française de Gênes since 2021.

Originally from Lyon, my love for Italy in all its facets brought me by chance to Genoa over thirty years ago, and I've never left. I've been working to promote the French language and culture in Genoa (first at the Centre Culturel Franco-Italien Galliera, which later became the Alliance Française de Gênes) since 1991. It's a mission I carry out with enthusiasm and passion because it allows me to maintain close daily contact with my hometown and collaborate with the city's cultural associations and organizations, artists, and teachers. When I'm not at the Alliance, I cook (both French and Italian 🙂), do oriental dance, and support the Genoa football team!

Born in Genoa but raised in eastern France, I returned to my hometown over 30 years ago for a holiday and have never left. It's fair to say that, professionally speaking, my path has always been 100% French. In fact, I worked first for the Consulate, then for the Centre Culturel, and finally for the Alliance. Not very original, you might say, but the beauty of my job is that over the years I've been able to explore, without ever getting bored, the many nuances of the French language and culture! At the Alliance, I mainly manage the course schedule and the administrative management of certifications and tests, the library, and I am a sworn translator for the Honorary Consulate of France in Genoa.

I teach French and am an examiner for the DELF/DALF language certifications. After earning my PhD in French Studies, I published works on the 17th and 18th century, and contemporary French novel. I am currently interested in French fiction and language teaching for specific fields.

Originally from Western France (Niort, Michel Houellebecq's favorite city) and passionate about foreign languages, I graduated in the early 2010s with a degree in Cultural Mediation, specializing in Italian! To pursue this nascent love for the Italian language, I came to Genoa in 2013, where I fell in love with focaccia... and a beautiful Italian woman! And then? I worked for a few years at the Alliance Française's playrooms and have been teaching French as a foreign language for four years now. I also work on Saturday mornings with French-speaking children (ZenaFlam association) and am also a French speaker for a French recording studio. I'm a true film and music buff, I love sports, and I adore literature, history, and languages! What I try to convey in my classes: my energy, my joie de vivre, my sense of humor, and my passion for the French language!

My name is Frédérique, or simply Fred (so we can avoid accents!). I'm originally from a small village in Isère (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region). Drawn to the Italian language and culture, I chose to study this at university, and thanks to my studies, I was able to gain my first experiences in various cities across the country. It was then that I discovered my passion for the French language and its sounds and decided to specialize in teaching it. I earned a binational Franco-Italian degree between Chambéry and Turin. Since 2005, I've been part of the Alliance française team, teaching French in individual and group courses, in companies, and even in schools. I'm also a DELF-DALF advisor, DELF-DALF examiner, TCF examiner, and DFP examiner. I'm also responsible for training future DELF-DALF correctors. I am passionate about a thousand things, different and varied: from nature to sports, from literature to history, from music to cinema, from DIY in the kitchen, furniture and other manual work... unfortunately not always with excellent results :) Mais chaque difficulté rencontrée doit être l'occasion d'un nouveau progrès! (Pierre de Coubertin)

Born in France, in the Auvergne region. As a child, she was always drawn to Italy and soon developed a deep interest in languages, in which she holds a degree, and travel. In 2007, she began teaching French in Rome, also becoming an examiner for the DELF and DALF certifications. She currently lives in Liguria but continues to travel frequently, especially to India, where she is pursuing another passion: the practice and teaching of yoga.

I pledged my loyalty and devotion to the Alliance Française when I arrived in Genoa in 2002. I have taught French in middle schools, high schools, and universities, and have also written books for those studying our beautiful language. You can count on me to guide you on the path to achieving your goals: certifications, exams, competitions, or language proficiency. I leave you the choice of learning modality—group, individual, in-person, or online—so you can make the most of the advantages inherent in each course type. On commence quand tu veux!

With degrees in translation and interpreting from the University of Toulouse and the University of Genoa, I've been working for the Alliance Française for seven years. After earning my double degree, I immediately turned to teaching to share my passion for foreign languages and satisfy my need for social interaction and cultural connections. At the Alliance, I teach French courses for all levels, from beginners to advanced, and for all ages, from children to adults! I'm also a DELF/DALF examiner and a member of the Zenaflam association. For the past six years, I've also been a public school teacher, teaching my native language in Genoa's middle schools. This job allows me to interact with a vibrant, interested, and creative age group and to expand my teaching and learning methods every year. Originally from Provence, I love pétanque, the sun, and happy hours! If you want to know more about the South of France, come and visit me on Via Garibaldi 😉