Today we’d like to introduce you to Marine Nikola.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m half Finnish, half French. I was born in Helsinki, Finland, and grew up at my grandparents’ home in Nice, France with my mother and brother. I began studying Art in Nice before continuing at a university in Paris that specialized in animation, graphic design, and special effects. Later, I completed a master’s degree in New York City and started working in Manhattan as a motion graphic designer.
At the same time, I began offering private French lessons in cafés and restaurants to earn some extra income. I was also painting on canvas (acrylic) and participating in exhibitions, selling some of my work. I was also working as a VJ in some clubs at night. Over time, I realized I wasn’t well suited to having a boss – or several bosses! – so I decided to become my own.
I started freelancing, creating animated video clips and advertising content, while continuing to teach French. I loved working with my students and seeing how much progress they made, which led me to create my own language school – Le Chat Noir Language – and focus all my efforts there. I eventually hired a few tutors to meet growing demand, whom I also train. My conversational and practical teaching style is quite unique, so much so that almost every one of our students ends up speaking French.
Over the past ten years, I’ve organized student parties to help them meet and practice conversation, as well as immersive trips to France for a full cultural and language experience.
I met Thomas in Bushwick 7 years ago. Two years ago we moved to San Diego after marrying in New York City. I now run the school from Pacific Beach (both online and in-person) while keeping one tutor based in NYC. San Diego has been a breath of fresh air after a decade in NYC with the sunny skies, beaches, surfing, tennis, and plenty of nature! The San Diego vibes and lifestyle really speak to me, I love it! It’s the French Riviera of the U.S, but chill, easygoing and with surfing.
Since moving here, I’ve also added translation to my portfolio, working on screenplays for TV shows and books.
The name Le Chat Noir Language was inspired by my black cat, Lucifer whom I adopted from a local bodega (She’s my little devil). A year later, Thomas and I rescued another black cat, Faust from the Bronx.
As for painting, I’ve set aside acrylics and exhibitions for now. I’m currently learning to master watercolor (which, I must admit, is quite challenging!).
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all! It’s been a rough journey, full of challenges to overcome. Twice, I nearly gave it all up – but my remaining students were so supportive that I pushed myself to work even harder.
I worked with a marketing specialist who, honestly, charged me way more than he should have – but in the end, his work delivered. Then, with the help of an old college friend, Olivier Chouache (who’s still my web designer today), we rebuilt my website to make it cleaner, more professional, and more appealing. What made the biggest difference, though, was that he got me properly indexed on Google and listed on Google Maps, which really boosted visibility.
The COVID lockdown was another major challenge. Overnight, I had to move all lessons online – something nobody was used to at the time – and restructure the entire program to make it work virtually.
On top of that, finding the right tutors has always been tricky. It’s a side job, so I need reliable people who not only take it seriously but also understand and embrace Le Chat Noir Language’s vision: helping people actually speak French – in a fun, engaging, and meaningful way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Le Chat Noir Language?
When I was in school, I had English and Italian classes, but I didn’t actually learn anything. After all those years, I couldn’t even put together a proper sentence. So when I started teaching French, I chose a different approach – one that pushes people to actually speak. Even if the grammar isn’t perfect and mistakes happen, that’s okay. The goal is communication, and with time, everything improves naturally.
I teach both conversation and writing (which are quite different skills). I help students prepare for the DELF or DALF exams, or even switch careers in France by teaching French business vocabulary – which, to be honest, is often just bad English with a French accent!
Most importantly, I want learning to be fun and motivating – something that makes students want to keep going. Many of my students stay with me for years, simply because they enjoy practicing, improving, and evolving. My very first student, Tatsushi Tahara – a Japanese New Yorker and photographer – has been meeting with me every week for ten years, and we still have so much to talk about every single time! And there is also Grant Ginder, now a well-known New York writer, whom I’ve been teaching for eight years – another relationship that has grown into a wonderful, ongoing exchange.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I plan to keep hiring more tutors so the company can continue to grow and flourish. As for me, I’ll still teach a handful of students, but I’d also like to focus more on translating books and screenplays, while continuing to create my own art.
I’d also love to help actors deliver their lines in French more naturally in TV shows and movies – because, honestly, I rarely understand them, and that’s a real shame.
Pricing:
- $60/hour – adults
- $70/hour – kids
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lechatnoirlanguage.com/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/le-chat-noir-language-san-diego
- Other: https://share.google/FeIjgIt4Mj407smmu
Image Credits
Copyright Tatsushi Tahara
