Details of the 3 workshops in France (July 2012)

Workshop French with a smile !

• You have already packed and moved from the UK to start your dream of living in France! However you experience an unwanted and frustrating language barrier in your daily communication with the locals!   
• You want to communicate more effectively in French as part of your profession or you just want to better communicate! This should be equally effective in helping manage your business and satisfy your customers…   
• You are a true Francophile, once you studied French at school, but since time has passed and you never actually practice your French! Perhaps you might like to revitalize this “language sediment “  
• You are trying to study the language but you think too much time is spent on grammar and theory but there is not enough space made for practicing and to speak     

·    Speak French, d’accord, but rather out of the ‘classroom’ and not just sitting behind your computer…!  

Do you recognize yourself in any of above? Ok - Then perhaps my program ‘French with a smile’ is right for you … 

Le français à vivre ! 

As 95% of communication is non-verbal, it is important to learn how to speak the language from the heart, by living the language together with the culture deep inside and really experience the joy of French with your feelings, emotions, talents, limitations and personality … There is no ‘standard French’ way to speak because everyone has their own unique French accent, tone of voice, tempo and self expression mechanisms. This makes learning to communicate in French ‘une aventure unique et pleine de couleurs’ ! 

To make real progress in the most pleasant way ….? 

If you want  to improve your French speaking skills at the same time as having a relaxing holiday, enjoying nice meals in good company as well as discovering some of the French culture,  all  preferably in France, what follows below will surely interest you ! 

A one week program in a beautiful region of south west of France, in Corrèze, nearby Dordogne. 

‘Tout en Français’  the langage, the culture,  the gastronomie .. .la Joie de vivre …! 

C’est possible! 

Bonjour! My name is Laurence Quetel, I am French, a Clini-clown performer (Clown interacting with patients in healthcare) and clowns trainer I am also a French language trainer based in the Netherlands with vast experience in various training programs in a multinational company. During my life, I have twice had the opportunity to live outside France and to learn a new language each time … That’s how I have experienced that alongside grammar rules and theory, the pleasure and the usefulness of a language grows tremendously through just practicing it, plus of course, ‘living’ it within the heart and emotions by using our imagination and creativity!   

What is on the program? Your complete immersion in France! 

1. Workshops  and excursions ‘Tout en Français’  

A great combination of relaxation and fun exercises, improvisational comedy sketches, role plays and writing sketches in groups based on different themes. We create and explore real life situations and contexts. We stimulate our imagination and creativity. ’What you know flows to the surface and what‘s new playfully lands deep inside without noticing!’ Much attention is given to presentation and practicing the language with others, respecting everyone’s level and rhythm, in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The ‘training’ material is found in daily life situations, in French music, books and magazines, plus texts created by the group itself. An acquired level in French of A1/B2 on the European language proficiency scale is recommended as a starting point for the workshop. Acting experience is not important, just a little courage to launch into the adventure! It is not about ‘getting good’ or searching for perfection …!

Because it should also be a holiday, we will organize three afternoons with lively sessions and excursions to explore this beautiful region and to experience the real French culture! Together with the whole group we will decide on the activities.

The workshops and activities take place mornings and afternoons from monday till saturday included, except 2 afternoons which are free for private outings or just for relaxing by the swimming pool!

During 3 evenings, we will organize some games, video sessions, french music or maybe the cinema. Your participation is optional of course.

Workshop Intuitive painting in acrylic: exploring multi technics and mixed materials  

Summer 2012 workshop of one week France (July 15 - 21 or July 22 - 28) 

Intuitive painting is a powerful tool of creative expression. It vibrates with colours, it flows off the tip of the brush, with energy that moves through the whole body. It makes shapes and images right in our face to surprise us, to delight us, to trigger our critic, to convey an immediate impression of mystery. 

Exercising your creativity without concern for the results, free from standards and expectations, it develops greater trust in your intuition, expands your sense of freedom and possibility, and gives you a way to fearlessly explore unknown aspects of yourself, a freedom that extends beyond the paper into dynamic changes in everyday life. 

Follow your heart and not your mind, feel the energy of the moment, have an eye for small details or just notice the warmth of the sun or the caress of the wind. 

Painting and being swept away by this feeling, in the moment, your heart will guide you in the choice of tools, materials, texture, colours, shapes, movements, figurative or maybe fully abstract, tailored to your energy. You can explore your own authentique path in your creation and integrate your work with nature by applying a combination of technics making use of all materials around you such as twigs, leaves, feathers, wire, sand, paper, etc. 

The program 

We will work as much as possible outdoors. The goal is not to copy what one sees, but the pleasure to feel free to roam the rhythms, shapes and colours around us. You disregard of rules or conventions, sometimes you lose yourself in full abstraction. Every day we are guided by a theme of one of the five elements: earth, water, air, fire and light. 

The workshops and activities take place mornings and afternoons from monday till saturday included, except 2 afternoons which are free for private outings or just for relaxing by the swimming pool!

On Saturday a joint artwork and the exhibition of our works created and experimented 

The rest of the time you will be free to work individually, to prepare possible substrates for the next day’s paintings (drying cycle!), to enjoy a walk in the beautiful surroundings or to relax at the swimming pool. In consultation, other arrangements may be made. 

Painting techniques used 

We will use acrylic paint as a base material, but you are free to choose any technique you want. Acrylic paint has the advantage that you can use it in different ways and you can easily glue it together with other materials using acrylic binder and special gels, etc. You are hereby invited and assisted in the investigation of a mix of techniques and materials, allowing even to expand beyond the 2D. Combining various substrates (paper, cardboard, panel, etc.) you will experience any mix of techniques and materials. You will learn dealing with composition, texture, colours and using all materials that we encounter. 

Who is your coach? 

His name is Rene Beerendonk and he is Dutch. Besides an extensive experience in painting he has a broad experience in multiple fields of plastic arts such as modeling, sculpting in wood and stone and monumental art. In the latter he is following a program at an Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. He has more than 10 years of experience in facilitating workshops for individuals or in groups. 

One of his other hobbies is Clowning and Mime Theater. Also let himself be inspired by various spiritual movements such as meditation, intuitive dance and Biodanza. But he can also enjoy French culture and a good chat on ‘the philosophy of life’ with a good bottle of wine! 

Curious about him ... read more on www.renebeerendonk.nl   

Workshop clowning: A journey into your heart! 

A Clown is a candied being that endlessly discovers the world, through new experiences, meeting  people, objects, situations without no judgment, no past and without projecting in the future. Like the children, the clown is full of wonder, curiosity, playfulness, pleasure and joy. That part of ourselves that overtime we have learned to control, to restrain in order to become more pragmatic, to fit the daily life of obligations and social codes. This intuitive being still lives deep inside of everyone, and by liberating him, we make more space for ourselves. We discover some hidden treasures, talents, pleasures, strengths and also some sensible and fragile parts of our being. Every clown is unique, looks at the world his own way, with his own emotions and experiences, with a unique physical appearance, own way to move. Clowning is a journey to our uniqueness, to (re) discover it, to enjoy and to develop and to protect it! 

Participants of the workshop are invited to explore, to feel and listen deep in them, in order to find their personal clown. Through exercises, games, improvisations, dancing, with costumes and the red nose, we explore many of our talents in a light atmosphere with fun and humor as heelers!  

The clowns workshop 

The workshops and activities take place mornings and afternoons from monday till saturday included, except 2 afternoons which are free for private outings or just for relaxing by the swimming pool!

We also organize ‘un lâcher de clowns’. A clowns ballade in public in order to play and to interact with French people!  

Costs of workshops and accommodation 

You pay separately for the workshop and for accommodation. 

Workshop costs

Costs workshops per week (excl.accomodation):

French with a smile ( excl. excursions): 375 euro

Intuitive painting (excl. materials): 345 euro

Clowning: 345 euro

Accomodation

Your stay may be one of the following 3 possibilities. 

- You stay in full luxury with full board in the charming hotel La Boissiere (6 d / 7 nights) www.laboissiere.com 

Accommodation per participant (including full board), subject to availability: 

• based on 2-Persons  room full board € 431 pp/ half board € 362 pp

• 1-P room full board € 510 pp/ half board € 441 pp

Note: The full board rate includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner with a glass of wine. All other drinks are at own expense. 

Arrival on Sunday after 17.00.At 19.00 appetizers, followed by dinner and introduction.

Departure next Sunday morning after breakfast

- You arrange accommodation elsewhere, but you take part in lunch and dinner (6 days)

Or 6 days dinner only € 152, € 66 lunch only

- You arrange accommodation elsewhere and pay only for the meals that you join

The reservation and payment has to be arranged by yourself directly with the hotel itself. Do not wait too long as your reservation only will be guaranteed from the moment you have finalized your booking…and it really is a nice but small hotel (7 rooms). 

Location of the site 

‘Bienvenue en Correze, le pays de la cuisine et de la douceur de vivre ...’ 

The Village of Ayen is a nice little village near Brive la Gaillarde (100km south of Limoges and 40 km north of Sarlat). ) We'll stay in the creative center La Boissiere, which is a charming small hotel in a nicely renovated house with swimming pool, situated on a hill. Here we enjoy a typical French and creative atmosphere, delicious cuisine amid peace and comfort. 

Information et inscription:  

email: info@clowninside.com 

info: www.clowninside.com  

téléphone: 0031 40 248 26 11  

Mobile : 0031 6 39 49 27 08