From Shy Speaker to A* Success: Lucy’s A-Level French Journey

At Excuse My French, I love seeing students grow in confidence and discover that French isn’t just a subject — it’s a doorway to culture, travel, and opportunity.

Today’s student spotlight is all about Lucy, who came to me aiming for an A in her A-Level French. After months of hard work, practice, and building her confidence, she went above and beyond — and achieved an A* ⭐. I couldn’t be prouder of her!

👩‍🎓 Why A-Level French?

Lucy has been visiting France with her family since childhood:

“I’ve always loved French culture. At school, French was my favourite subject, and I wanted to become more fluent in the language.”

What she loves most? The sound of the language itself — though she admits the grammar rules (and their many exceptions!) can be frustrating.

😅 Before Lessons

Before we started working together, Lucy found French daunting:

“I compared myself to others and felt behind. Speaking scared me, and I struggled with fluency, grammar, and confidence.”

✨ Learning Together

Our lessons were designed to be informal and supportive.

“It didn’t feel like I was under pressure. I felt comfortable making mistakes. It was different from school — more like a connection than just a teacher-student relationship.”

One thing that surprised her? Having a native speaker as a tutor:

“You brought cultural knowledge I could use in my exam project, and corrected me in ways that really stuck.”

🌱 Building Confidence

Over the months, Lucy noticed big changes:

• Fluency & pace: “I don’t have to think as much before speaking.”

• Confidence: “I finally feel like I could hold a conversation with someone in France.”

• Exam prep: “I felt ready for my IRP, and I’m glad we practised tricky topics because the examiner had strong opinions!”

If she had to sum up her progress in three words? “Surprising, entertaining, and challenging.”

🎶 A Personal Connection to French

Outside of lessons, Lucy enjoys French shows like Lupin and Call My Agent, and listens to French artists such as Videoclub and Gims. She’s also planning to practise speaking more on her family holiday in the south of France.

Her dream destination? The French-speaking islands of the Seychelles, Martinique, or Guadeloupe.

💡 Advice for Other Students

When asked what she’d tell someone considering A-Level French, Lucy was honest:

“Definitely do it — but be ready to work hard. It’s interesting and rewarding, but you need to immerse yourself outside the classroom too.”

And about 1:1 tutoring?

“Yes, definitely. It feels personal, adapted to your needs — and with Amandine, you don’t just get a tutor, you get a friend!”

🏆 Final Thoughts

Lucy’s journey shows how much progress is possible when learning is personalised, fun, and focused on building confidence. She didn’t just reach her goal — she smashed it with an A* result! 🎉

👉 If you’re preparing for exams, brushing up your French for travel, or simply want to feel more fluent, get in touch — I’d love to help you too.