Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachèle Demeo
Hi Rachèle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Quick bio:
I was born in Nîmes, Southern France, and grew up in a bilingual, multicultural environment with an American-Italian father and a British mother. My passion for teaching, languages, and cultures shaped my path early on, leading me to pursue studies in French, English, Italian, and Education. After earning degrees in France and the U.S., I taught at various institutions, including Berlitz and Northrop Grumman. Eventually, I moved to California, where I taught French to middle school, high school, and eventually university students.
How It All Began–A Journey to FLAM San Diego:
Balancing life as a mom and educator has always been a delicate act for me. I spent three years homeschooling my two sons while teaching French at universities in Southern California. When I eventually enrolled them in a public American school, I continued to teach them French at home—a rewarding but challenging endeavor, especially as one of my sons faced ADD and dyslexia.
In 2019, everything changed after a conversation with a woman in Orange County who wanted advice on starting a dual-language school. While expressing my frustrating in teaching my children French, she introduced me to FLAM (Français LAngue Maternelle), a program designed for expatriate communities to teach French as a heritage language. It was a lightbulb moment. For years, families in San Diego had asked me to open a French school, and I realized that FLAM was the perfect fit for my own children as well as the children of our French-speaking community.
In 2020, FLAM San Diego came to life. We launched with virtual classes during the pandemic and later expanded to include in-person and online programs for families across San Diego County and beyond as we have students nationwide. Our passionate team of educators has been the heart of our success, creating a welcoming environment that makes learning French accessible and fun.
Today, FLAM San Diego offers programs for children, teens, and adults, as well as dynamic extracurricular activities. Being part of so many families’ French language journeys is incredibly fulfilling, and their success stories continue to inspire us to grow and nurture this vibrant community of learners.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Opening FLAM San Diego in 2020 during the pandemic was far from easy.
We had to quickly transition to online teaching, train our teachers to online teaching and learning, and adapt to new platforms (a challenge they’ve mastered).
Our admin team was made up of volunteers, who dedicated countless hours to ensure everything ran smoothly, laying the foundation for what is now a thriving community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’d love to share a special project we’re currently working on at FLAM San Diego. As the school’s founder, I’m excited to say that our amazing teachers are working with students in class on a meaningful holiday initiative. Together, they’re creating personalized Christmas cards for the residents of a retirement home in Southern France. Many of these seniors have limited family or visitors, and our students are thrilled to spread holiday joy and connection across the Atlantic.
On December 23rd, I’ll personally deliver the cards to the retirement home, creating a unique bond between our community here in San Diego and this small village in the south of France. I believe this project beautifully embodies the spirit of the season.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5-10 years, we see our industry continuing to grow as more families recognize the importance of multilingual education and cultural connections. At FLAM San Diego, we’re committed to serving our community by fulfilling its needs and expanding our French language classes and other programs. As demand for bilingual education rises, we anticipate offering even more diverse programs, both in-person and online, to accommodate a broader range of students. We aim to stay adaptable, ensuring that we continue to meet the evolving needs of our community while fostering a love for the French language and culture.
Pricing:
- $1700/year for our in-person group classes
- $1500/year for our online group classes
- $15-$20 / extracurricular activity
- $60/per lesson for private classes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flamsandiego.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flamsandiego/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FLAMSanDiego
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RacheleDeMeo
Image Credits
– Jastin DeMeo
-Antoine Didienne
