The 8th anniversary of L’école de français with Céline Dandoy
Join us on a journey through 8 years of passion, dedication, and innovation in teaching the beauty of the French language amidst the challenges of entrepreneurship and navigating through a global pandemic. With Céline, let’s dive into the story behind this unique language school that has been transforming lives one lesson at a time.
The Inspiration Behind Starting L’école de français
In June 2016 L’école de français was created with the goal of making learning French enjoyable and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or level of proficiency.
When the Institut Français stopped offering French classes in Amsterdam, Claire and I, two friends and French teachers, saw an opportunity to fill the gap in the market and decided to create our own language school: L’école de français a space for people to learn and connect through the French language and make a positive impact on the community. We wanted to create a space where students could not only learn the language but also immerse themselves in French/Francophone culture.
Happy Birthday! Joyeux Anniversaire !
L’ école de francais has been operating for 8 years now but It’s difficult for me to determine a specific anniversary date due to the various milestones that have contributed to its establishment. These include the founding of my business during my first maternity leave in November 2015, joining forces with Claire’s business to create a VOF in May 2016, securing a location in June 2016, and launching our first French classes in July 2016.
Another significant moment was when I took over sole management of the school in March 2020, during a pivotal period for everyone.
“qu’importe la date pourvu qu’on ait la fête.” So I have decided, As long as we’re celebrating, the date is irrelevant and it will be around spring. Last year we had balloon for a month in one of the classroom and we never took of the garlands.
Challenges Faced in the First 8 Years of Business
In the first 8 years of running L’école de français in Amsterdam, I faced my fair share of challenges. From navigating the competitive landscape to managing finances and dealing with unexpected setbacks, every day presented a new hurdle to overcome.
Building a reputation from scratch in a crowded market was no easy feat. Standing out among language schools required creativity and perseverance as we do not have any subsidies or other funds. Additionally, adapting to the ever-changing dynamics of the industry meant staying agile and proactive at all times. From the very start, our best publicity has been quality courses and happy learners who talk about it to others. It’s free and very effective.
Moreover, the global pandemic brought its own set of challenges. With restrictions impacting in-person classes, shifting to online learning became imperative overnight. But it has opened up new markets for us, and students from all over the Netherlands and Europe are still taking courses with us.
Yet through it all, I remained resilient and determined to see my vision succeed. It also coincides with the arrival of all my grey hairs… The journey may have been rocky at times but each challenge has only fuelled my determination to make the school succeed, and proved my passion for teaching French and entrepreneurship.
Successes and Milestones Achieved by L’école de français
Here are a few memories from the last few years:
- June 2016 Here I am in a room with tables to build and chairs scattered all over and my son Aleksander reeking out in the middle. Joris (Claire’s husband) and I put together the school’s first chairs together: quite a symbol.
- January 2020, L’école de français had been operating for some time. After three maternity leaves (one for me, two for Claire), it was decided that Claire would leave once she found another job. Juggling my responsibilities as a mother of two alongside this new role was challenging, I had two trial periods during her maternity leaves. I knew I was capable. However, it was not sustainable for me to continue shouldering all the tasks alone. Fortunately, I had Romane, my former intern, who can assist me temporarily. I had/have full confidence in her abilities.
- Corona arrives in February 2020, and Claire takes the exit door. Therefore, I am seeking others to help with tasks that I am unable to manage on my own. They are still with me today: Simon, Laurence. The Covid era was undoubtedly the most challenging time, exhausting and nerve-wracking – there were tears shed – but also the most transformative and uplifting for L’école de français. When your “hobby” is your job, everything becomes easier.
- 2020-2022: A difficult period in my private life. The words of my grandmother will always be with me, and I will never forget that she advised me to fight until the end so that my school would remain MINE: not to sell out, not to give up, even in times of crisis… everything passes, even pandemics.
- April 2023, I met the French President because of my work promoting French abroad as an entrepreneur. It’s an honour for me to have L’école de français recognised and It’s a great source of pride. On a personal note, I was moved by my grandfather’s words and I can say, it is only then I realised for the first time how far I had come.
- 2024, 8 years at L’école de français, I teach, I replace absent teachers, I glue skirting boards, and I’m also a dishwasher fairy and a disappearing book detective. I can talk about SEO, KPI, sell courses in Dutch… never say never.
- May 2024, I thought about renting a fourth room, (thanks Andrea) but I decided to concentrate on the quality of the courses we have and on my team… This being said, if you know me a bit, I am always on the lookout for new things to do because I love a challenge and am bored with routine. A business school came to me because they wanted to change how students think about French language and it fits perfectly with my schedule and vision, so I accepted the job.
Impact on Students and the Community
L’école de français has left a lasting impact on both its students, teachers and the community of Amsterdam and abroad. Through innovative teaching methods, personalised attention, and a supportive learning environment, students have not only improved their French language skills but also gained confidence in their abilities. Some have been here since the beginning and have become friends, others I’ve only met briefly but I’m always happy to exchange a few words with them. Children and adults alike, this notion of community is very strong with me and the team. I have an office but I always work in a classroom because I like it when people come to see me – it’s informal and effective.
The sense of community fostered at L’école de français goes beyond the classroom walls. Students from diverse backgrounds come together to learn and grow, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. This cultural exchange enriches everyone’s experience and promotes understanding and unity among individuals from different walks of life.
Through its commitment to excellence in education and building connections within the city, L’école de français continues to make a positive impact that extends far beyond its classrooms.
Happy birthday and thank you, team!
Some of us have been here since the beginning, while others have joined the team more recently. Interestingly, it is the teachers who seem to have the most insight on this topic. What brings us all together are our shared values.
Cornélus : I was very lucky to come across L’école de Français. After sitting in on a few lessons with experienced teachers, Céline quickly gave me responsibilities and offered to give my own lessons. This gave me confidence and made me want to invest myself in my work. L’école de français also gives me a lot of flexibility and we help each other out a lot when we’re unavailable. As the icing on the cake, the school is very well located in the centre of Amsterdam in a magnificent building, which makes it very pleasant to go and teach there.
Natacha : The great thing about L’école de français is that the teaching is so dynamic! We offer classic courses, of course, but we always spice them up with little games! What’s important to me as a teacher is the atmosphere.
I like my students to feel confident and comfortable in expressing themselves. And that’s exactly the spirit of L’école de français! In our “le français en action” course, we create situations and act out scenes! It’s an opportunity for me to put my second passion – acting – to good use! At L’école de français, we learn by playing and also by reading! In my “Autour du livre” class, we read a novel and then discuss it together. A real pleasure for me, as I love reading! Afterwards, we can all go to the cinema, the theater or literary events to continue the discussions and the fun. (Natacha and two students, Jantien and Peter, are in the photo here with writer Philippe Claudel).
When I think that I’ve been teaching at L’école de français since it was almost founded, and that today I have students who started with me and now continue to maintain their French…When I think about it, I feel proud of myself, of them and of our school!
Vincent : What I like about L’école de français is the sense of caring we feel all the time. The work in small groups and the personal support we are able to offer our students means that we can help them to progress without any pressure on them and without frustration for us teachers. I’ve been with the school practically from the start and I’ve been able to see it grow thanks to its ability to adapt to every need. L’école de français is the perfect place for personalised improvement!
Laurence : For nearly 4 years now, I’ve really enjoyed working at the school and with Céline. She’s always full of ideas for new things to do and new things to offer her customers.
She’s reactive, perceptive and a true entrepreneur, always striving for improvement and quality.
She sees her team as collaborators, not employees, and that makes all the difference with other organisations.
Doriane: 
The welcoming, relaxed environment at L’école de français means you’ll always be motivated. There’s a warm and friendly atmosphere, and fluid communication between teachers means you’re always on the right track.
Tag:Céline Dandoy, L'école de français, life, team
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