On a number of occasions, I started French lessons at a local school with various teachers only to reach a point each time of extreme frustration that led me to quit. I felt completely overwhelmed with the sheer amount of vocabulary, the many verb tenses, and the pronunciation. I convinced myself that I was too old to learn the language, that I didn’t have the brain wiring for it, that I probably could get by okay in France speaking English. That all changed when I was assigned to Gilbert’s class. Something was different with him from the outset and I’m proud to say that I’ve been enrolled continuously for about 3 years now. I’ve even begun to take secondary private lessons with him that are focused on conversation, and during which all we do is talk in French for an hour. Gilbert has a way of making the learning fun for and less stressful to me. He focuses on the verbs, grammar, and vocabulary that will give you the biggest bang for your buck in the conversations you’ll actually employ abroad. Gilbert urges us to “know what’s around you,” i.e., to focus on the vocabulary involved in your unique life—your particular job, your particular house, your particular family, your particular activities, your particular dreams. For instance, Gilbert found out that I’m an avid tennis and pickleball player and enjoy playing when I travel. He organized a pickleball game with him, me, and two others of his students. There was one catch—the rules of the game, the order of play, and all conversation before, after, and during the game had to be done in French. We had a blast and I learned a lot. Most importantly what I learned stuck with me. I feel that way about a lot of what Gilbert teaches me—that it’s specifically tailored to my life and therefore resonates with me and sticks. Truth be told, I am amazed by my progress and I can only thank Gilbert for his understanding of the plight of the new student and for making learning French fun and manageable. Merci beaucoup, Gilbert!