French Language episodes for intermediate learners to enhance their French language skills.

As a native French teacher, Estelle brings over two decades of experience in language education to her role as the host of "La Classe." Having taught French in Scottish high schools for 15 years, Estelle's expertise is rooted in practical classroom experience. Seven years ago, she founded her own online French teaching venture, La Classe, driven by her unwavering dedication to providing high-quality language education.
"La Classe" is a podcast dedicated to intermediate French learners, featuring episodes in French, covering various French-related topics, providing cultural insights, and offering practical language exercises.
Our listeners are diverse, comprising language enthusiasts, students, teachers, expats in France and professionals seeking to improve their French proficiency.

I started the podcast because I wanted to provide additional resources for my students and other French learners. I actually do listen to a lot of podcasts myself, particularly in Spanish, English, and Basque, to sustain my knowledge and explore different learning approaches across languages. I recognise their effectiveness in delivering educational content and reaching a wider audience.
My initial goal was to create a platform where intermediate French learners could access engaging and informative content to improve their language skills. I wanted to offer a resource that complemented traditional language learning methods and catered to different learning styles.
I started my podcast, "La Classe," a few years ago as an extension of my online French teaching venture.

I aim to release an episode every week, providing consistent content for listeners to engage with and learn from. Additionally, I release one bonus episode every month, offering extra value and insights to my subscribers.
My subscribers can access full transcripts with every episode, aiding comprehension and offering a written reference to reinforce learning ; they can explore bonus episodes and unique content available only to members such as interactive exercises within my app ; they can unlock access to exclusive live events, Q&A sessions and immersive cultural experiences ; finally, they can access our extensive archive, offering a library of past episodes and resources for continuous learning.
It typically takes me several hours to produce an episode, including researching, scripting, recording, editing, and finalising the content.
I personally finance the podcast, covering expenses such as hosting, editing software, equipment, and occasional marketing initiatives.

Currently, I don't have any sponsorships. As an independent podcaster, I prioritise maintaining the integrity and relevance of my content.
Podcasting has brought numerous benefits, including enhancing my teaching career by allowing me to reach a broader audience and share my expertise. Additionally, it has facilitated connections with like-minded individuals, expanded my knowledge base through research and discussions, and provided opportunities for personal and professional growth.

For my podcast, I primarily use Audacity for recording and editing episodes.
I conduct interviews primarily via Zoom, allowing for seamless remote conversations with guests regardless of their location.
Preparation for each episode involves researching the topic thoroughly, outlining key points and questions and gathering relevant resources.

In my experience, social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn have been valuable for engaging with my audience and sharing updates about new episodes. However, I've found that my email newsletter is particularly effective in reaching out to subscribers directly, providing them with regular updates, and offering exclusive content that keeps them engaged and coming back for more.

One key lesson I've learned on my podcasting journey is the importance of consistency. Maintaining a regular schedule for releasing episodes helps in building audience trust and engagement.

You can learn more about me and my podcast through the following channels:
- Website/Blog: Visit La Classe website for updates and additional resources related to French language learning. www.laclassedestelle.com/contact
- Subscribe to my app mon : laclassedestelle.passion.io also available on Apple Store and Google Play
- Instagram @laclassedestelle
- Facebook @laclassedestelle