THE SCHOOL
Learning of languages
The purpose of this school is to become familiar with new languages in a friendly atmosphere. Our teaching is relatively flexible, depending on the student's rhythm. Our classes can be for individuals or groups of a maximum of five participants. We focus on letting the student expand his or her conversational skills for everyday life.
We can also come to your company or to your home, if needed.
Whether it is covering topics and vocabulary about food, sports, hobbies or work, we can work on what you want to prioritise for your learning. You should achieve a level of conversation acceptable to let you express yourself easily in everyday life after following one or two courses a week during one semester.
Lessons take place in Eysins, not far from the Terre-Bonne Business Park and the motorway.
COURSES
Preparation for the exams
A certificate is awarded by the school that will confirm your level at the end of the course. This level is indicative and it will help you to prepare yourself for exams, should you wish to take them.
Have fun learning languages
The courses take place in a friendly atmosphere, letting you progress rapidly but not under pressure.
THE TEACHERS
Laure-Anne Piaget
I am a young woman who lives and has grown up in Switzerland. I live in Eysins, a small village close to Nyon.
I worked as an executive assistant with several international companies active in the pharmaceutical industry. I am passionate about music, I play the saxophone. We played with my band at the off-festival in Montreux and at the Cully Jazz Festival.
In 2013, I left Switzerland for Laos to teach English as a volunteer. This experience brought me a lot and opened up new horizons.
On my return to Switzerland, I found work as an executive assistant, but here it is... the 'teaching bug' that has touched me... In 2017 I decided to teach French to foreigners. This is how the idea of creating 'Sapphire School' started.
Why the name sapphire? In Laos, I met people working in sapphire mines, the beauty of the stone and the welcoming of the people left me such good memories that I would like to pay tribute to them.
I also volunteered as a French teacher in Caritas Vaud in 2021 and 2022. I taught my students French Language of Integration (FLI) using the FIDE Method (French, Italian, German In Switzerland).
The didactic approach of FIDE is founded on principles such as everyday life, action and needs orientation. I was very happy teaching for this association.
Chantal Theintz
I grew up in the countryside near Rolle, in a farm surrounded by meadows and forests. I like to spend time in nature, where I practice sport and hiking, alone or with my two children.
After obtaining a university degree in social sciences, I worked nearly ten years in adult education and training. I had the pleasure of teaching French as a foreign language.
Subsequently, I followed certifying training in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and coaching, which brought me many effective tools to support students in their learning process.
In addition to coaching, I also develop activities in the field of energy care, including sylvotherapy, which uses the energy of trees to bring physical and emotional well-being to the people I accompany.
Pauline Cairns
English is my mother tongue, I was born and raised in Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh. Currently, I live in Nyon, very near to the Sapphire School.
My passion is for learning and education development. I love to help people to succeed in their goals whilst making sure they have fun along the way.
I have worked in training and education roles for over 30 years in various roles as a hands-on teacher to developing bespoke education programs. In my career so far, I have been fortunate enough to have travelled the world and have lived in some amazing cities such as Shanghai, Hong Kong, Paris, London and Dublin, now settling in beautiful Switzerland.
My travels have enabled me to understand many different cultures and learning style. This has been invaluable when teaching international students. I love to enhance my own knowledge, and as well as teaching English, I am a Digital Instructional Designer and a certified Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist.
These roles, although diverse, have given me very useful tools to support the personal development of my students and clients.
COACHING
Professional life
Translation of your Curriculum Vitae and motivation letter from English to French, 65 CHF per hour
Translation from English to French during the appointments at the ORP with your counselor*, 60 CHF per hour
*Travel expenses not included
I can also help you to present yourself in French during an interview, with a future employer or with the municipality, to obtain the Swiss nationality, for example.
Our school prepare students for the FIDE exam.
The FIDE test assesses your language skills on the levels A1 - B1. The tasks relate to various everyday situations in Switzerland, such as work, doctor’s appointments or visits to the local municipality. The FIDE test consists of on oral part (speaking and comprehension) and a written part (reading and writing). For more information, please follow this link:
COSTS
Individual courses
65 CHF
per hour
Group
60 CHF (per person)
per hour for a group of a maximum of 5 people
Translations from English to French
Curriculum Vitae and motivation letter
65 CHF (per hour)
During the appointments at the ORP with your counselor*
60 CHF (per hour)
*Travel expenses not included
INTENSIVE WEEKENDS
The organisation of several intensive weekends is scheduled once per semester
The number of participants is limited to 5 people a day, with a lunch included.
The course is from 9 am to midday with a one hour break for lunch. Then, depending of the participants' wishes, we will organise some group activities as, for example, bowling, wine tasting or hiking in the mountains.
This will depend on the weekend and the participants' wishes.
Costs
for a whole weekend
__________________
300 CHF
9 am - 4 pm
Intensive Weekend, it was fun !
Saturday:
French class from 9 am to 1 pm, lunch included, then we will go to Signy, to "Domaine du Capitole", to taste some wine, to discover how winemakers are working, no obligation to taste wine, it's as you prefer.
Sunday:
French class from 9 am to 1 pm, lunch included, and then we will visit Stéphane, a friend who is glassmaker. You will be able to craft a little jewelry or a little plate in glass.
VerreStéph - Atelier de verre - Gingins - Contact
