I'm 4 years old! Or rather, my business Joanna Richard English, is 4 years old. My mission for you is clearer than ever, so it’s time to share! I want you to know who I am, what I do, and how I can help you. After many many years as an employee teaching English to French speakers I wanted so much more for my students, so I started my own business. My goal of creating personal connections to the language inspires all of my work. I grew up speaking English in Canada, and eventually learned French NOT with grammar and books but in a rural family in Quebec, in bars with an international group of friends and eventually finding love and moving to France. While I AM certified to teach English to adults, the most powerful learning has come from experience… teaching adults from a variety of backgrounds and industries. My style has evolved from teacher to coach and I’m so happy to be helping others develop a personal connection to English, and to overcome their challenges and self doubts. I’m curious and creative (I love creating custom content for my set designers, my CRM pros, my Industrial architects, my international sales managers, my fellow entrepreneurs…). We don’t do random pages from a textbook, we use your unique contexts, challenges and interest to 10X the speed of your English journey. I’m stubborn: I take the ‘les francais sont nul en anglais’ stereotype as a personal challenge. I want to break this cycle, because I sincerely disagree. Language learning potential is not connected to nationality, but rather mindset. I’m here to help you change it. My students are B1/B2 Intermediate English learners,  high performers,  frustrated that their English doesn’t feel aligned with their professional status/accomplishments. You want more for yourself, you want to make connections…even enjoy English. I can offer: -One on One English coaching funded by CPF, online or in person in Saint Genest Malifaux, France (typically once a week, notes and homework provided on a learning platform) -Confident Conversation Club on Whatsapp (stay tuned for the Winter edition, you’ll be talking up a storm!) I ALWAYS offer a free discovery call, and level test to make sure we are a right fit because I know just how important rapport is for language learning. That’s also why my students and I take turns presenting our current interests, challenges etc in our sessions. If you were my student, what would you present to me this week? (a book/tv show/film, a trip, a work challenge, your new recipe…). Comment below! :) #earnlearnthrive

I got the paper! ;) After years of intuitively coaching my English learners, I'm proud to say that I'm now (since April 2025) an ELC Certified and Accredited Neurolanguage Coach (Efficient Language Coaching Global SL)! Thank you to my wonderful students who agreed to be my guinea pigs during the process ;)

"Speak English for work?! I don’t have enough vocabulary." It’s the thing I hear the MOST as an English coach. But… let’s be honest: what is “enough” vocabulary? You can keep learning word after word, but if you don’t use them, they won’t stick. And waiting until you feel “ready” or think you know everything? You’ll wait… forever. (This candid photo below, taken by one of my students, perfectly captures my genuine excitement and pride in another student’s English breakthrough.) The truth is, it’s not about needing more vocabulary. It’s about building confidence to use what you already know. And confidence doesn’t come from memorizing lists or planning out every single word. Just last week, one of my students turned down a business trip with their boss because they didn’t feel ready. They told me, “I don’t have enough vocabulary.” But waiting for the perfect moment isn’t how you’ll ever feel ready! Here’s what we do in my lessons instead: Recall what you already know: I promise, you know more than you think. We work on pulling that vocabulary out through fun, personalized activities (like my vocabulary recall GIF slides at the start of our lessons—if you know, you know 😉). The photo included in this post was taken by a student Practice without a safety net: Spontaneous conversations, tricky questions, and unpredictable scenarios. No time to prepare your response. Just figuring it out as you go. And you’ll surprise yourself every time. 🌟 Perfection doesn’t exist. What works is showing up, making mistakes, and learning to adapt. Confidence comes through action. That’s how I got where I am in French—by jumping into conversations without knowing everything, staying curious, and a lot of discomfort. 💬 Here’s how we can work together: 1️⃣ My Confident Conversation Club runs a few times a year (the current one is already full, but keep an eye out for the next one!). 2️⃣ Weekly one-on-one lessons for intermediate professionals—on video or in person in Saint-Genest-Malifaux. They’re tailored to you, and if you’re in France, they can even be funded by CPF. 3️⃣ I’m fully booked until January 2025, but I’m opening discovery calls throughout December. We’ll chat for 30 minutes for free to see if we’re the right fit. ✨ Interested? Fill out a quick info form and book a call. Links are in the comments! #earnlearnthrive

This post came to me while I successfully (read: moved to tears) completed an *advanced* ab workout. I am absolutely blown away by where I am today, and where I was a year ago. I had to write about it to capture the feelings, and the learnings I can share with you. No Chatgpt 😅 , no filter ... let's get personal... One year ago, I had to decide what to pack before I jumped on a plane to Canada for my father’s funeral. I had to ask ChatGpt to help me because my heart had shut my brain off. The day after I arrived back in France, I underwent major surgery to repair my abdominal wall. That summer reduced me to a shell…my muscle, my creativity, my ambition…all evaporated. I felt so afraid I would never get back to me. September came, and my wonderful students returned. Connecting with them, my family, my friends…my spark started to come back. I had put my professional coaching journey on pause too…and having my final sessions with Laetitia Dalicieux ⚡ after having my life blown up was so powerful. When you get to rock bottom, you see things much more clearly as you resurface. Maybe you won’t get back to your old self…but maybe you’ll become someone you love even more. September 2023 to August 2024…I’ve deepened relationships, strengthened my body and mind, and allow myself to feel the feelings. I’m celebrating the end of that challenging chapter by taking my business in this new direction, focusing on teaching English to entrepreneurs and leaders, in full alignment with my zone of genius. (and moving my body every day 😉) In terms of language learning, you might be afraid that your language has been lost forever if you have a period of no practise…however my personal experience, and teaching experience, shows that often a complete break/pause can do wonders for your brain and body. You can get back to your level, and you will even surpass it…you aren’t starting from zero…the passion is there to take you further. I know this is quite personal, but we are all humans, and my students know that when they have something going on...the lesson plan goes out the window if they want to discuss it (in the safe, confidential space I offer). Speaking about what really matters is how we connect to others, and to language. Life is too short not to live how we want to. Let's do this! 😍 💪 #developpementpersonnel #partage #zoneofgenuis #coaching #hope #alignement #real #sincere #authenticité Shoutout to Julie Faure-Laurent and Nina English Hanáková for their support and so many many others...

About last night's Apero Anglais... We had an incredible mix of 45 people from : Saint Genest Malifaux, Saint Romain les Atheux, Marlhes, Planfoy, Saint Étienne, Lyon, even Central African Republic A mix of professionals, retirees,a CM2 student and a very enthusiastic lycéen. Attendees included: A modern dancer Former English teachers Business owners Employees in International companies who need some help World travelers Some came because they lack community or a coach. Others admitted their fear of speaking up at work, comparing themselves to colleagues. And, of course, there were my students—hungry for more, eager to practice. Games, Food, and Connection: We played silly, communicative games, enjoyed gourmet hot dogs, and tried the new BRASSERIE STEPHANOISE collaboration La Cuvée des Babets! Along the way, people shared their language frustrations. I could relate—I still find certain conversations in French challenging, especially quick chats in the village. Spontaneously, several people: Decided to join the Confident Communication Club Signed up for English coaching with me Realized the value of adding community support to their learning Celebrating Growth: This was our biggest edition ever—45 attendees celebrating 4 years of Joanna Richard English. The Apéros Anglais are no ordinary event. The warmth of this community is amazing. Everyone is welcomed as a friend. You simply have to experience it. Joanna Richard English is me. Joanna Richard English is you. It’s my empathetic listening and innovative techniques to help you grow. It’s you: curious, excited, eager to break barriers and make your dreams happen. Writing about this mission makes me tear up a bit, because I care so much. But more than the words, I want to show you the joy I feel doing this "job"—you’ll see it in this candid photo taken by Thomas Desbouvrie . What you focus on grows, and I'll be your gardener ;) On my site you'll find: -a link for a free online oral evaluation with me/discussion about your English needs -my Confident Conversation Club on Whatsapp starting October 14 (ONE WEEK FREE TRIAL). https://lnkd.in/ehZM8emJ