Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Bergman.
Hi Annie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Bonjour from San Diego — My Life in Motion
I grew up in a small village nestled in the French Alps, surrounded by nature and infused with a deep curiosity about the world. From a young age, I was drawn to exploration, learning, and connecting with people from different cultures. That passion has shaped every chapter of my life.
My career has taken a winding path—from computer science research and entrepreneurship to education and language teaching. Along the way, I’ve always sought to blend my love for technology, human connection, and meaningful learning.
I began my professional journey as an engineer and researcher, working in countries around the globe. For over a decade, I lived abroad—renting apartments, eating local food, and even paying taxes—doing my best to truly live like a local. To me, that’s the most authentic way to connect with a place and its people. It’s not just about visiting; it’s about feeling the energy of a country from the inside out.
In my twenties, I spent significant time in Australia and India. Later, I crossed the ocean to the United States, where I lived and worked in Austin, Texas; Urbana-Champaign, Illinois; and the Bay Area in California—always driven by my passion for computer science and emerging technology.
At the dawn of the internet age, I had the privilege of working at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at UIUC—the birthplace of HAL, the iconic AI from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yes, I was (and still am) a bit of a geek! I was part of the team developing one of the first generations of collaborative Java tools on the web.
One particularly exciting idea my partner and I had back then was to connect an early handheld device, the PalmPilot, with GPS to create geolocation apps. We released them as freeware online—a concept that would eventually evolve into the mobile mapping tools we all use today. That’s how I launched my first startup, GPSPilot.com. It was an e-commerce company specializing in geolocation, and it became a 10-year adventure full of challenges and incredible fulfillment. I ran the business remotely—first from a Caribbean island, then back home in France—balancing entrepreneurship with family life. I truly savored every moment of that journey.
Everything changed after a serious injury forced me to pause and reassess my priorities. That turning point led me to one of my lifelong passions: teaching. I transitioned into education at Université Grenoble Alpes, where I spent the next 10 years as a Continuing Education coach. I started from scratch—learning the ropes of a new profession, developing fresh skills, and eventually leading projects, teaching, mentoring students at the start of their careers, and collaborating with businesses to help their employees grow. After so many years abroad, returning to my roots—surrounded by the mountains, my family, and old friends—was grounding and rejuvenating.
In 2017, I moved once again—this time to San Diego—where I reinvented myself as a French as a Foreign Language (FLE) instructor. I loved reconnecting with people, exploring new teaching methods, and drawing from all the skills I had developed in my “previous lives.” I realized that teaching a language isn’t so different from teaching computer code ; coaching professionals and motivating students aren’t so far apart—it’s all about engagement, clarity, and connection. Living in foreign countries also taught me what’s truly essential when you travel, which helped me focus on teaching the most practical and useful aspects of French. And in this new role, I’ve found deep fulfillment in sharing cultural insights and exchanging perspectives with my students.
When COVID hit, like many others, my classes moved online. Not long after, my daughter Chloé—who studies linguistics and phonetics—joined me, and together we founded Not So Boring French, a playful and innovative language learning platform. Our mission is to help learners improve their listening comprehension and pronunciation through a research-based phonetics approach. We’re passionate about building a friendly and supportive community where learners can gain confidence and fluency in real-life communication. We offer both traditional and phonetics-focused classes, along with fun, informal activities outside the classroom—like breakfast chats, happy hours, and conversational walks.
Chloé is currently pursuing her PhD in France, and our collaboration is also a beautiful way to stay connected. Sure, some days it’s more “colleague time” than mother-daughter bonding, but it works—and it keeps us both inspired.
At the heart of everything I do is a love for sharing, connecting, and creating. I’m so grateful for this new chapter in San Diego, where I’ve discovered vibrant communities of friends, students, and fellow adventurers. They’ve become like a second family.
Merci to all of you who make this journey so meaningful.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Cultural, Language, and Value Shifts
Living and working in multiple countries naturally came with challenges: adapting to new cultural norms, navigating bureaucracy, learning languages, and adjusting to different work styles. It was both logistically and emotionally exhausting at times but incredibly fulfilling to discover new ways of thinking and living. Interestingly, the biggest cultural shocks didn’t always come from places that seemed very different. Sometimes, they came from countries that felt familiar—where I assumed we shared the same values, only to discover unexpected differences, especially in professional settings and daily routines.
Isolation, Reevaluation, and Reinvention
Reinventing myself again and again—from engineer to entrepreneur to educator—was not always easy, especially after a serious injury that forced me to pause and rethink everything. Letting go of one path to start a new required courage, reflection, and a lot of inner work. But throughout it all, I found my way forward—thanks to the support of family, friends, and the incredible people I met along the way.
I’ve come to see these challenges as defining moments that revealed my resilience, adaptability, and unwavering willingness to grow through each stage of life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Not So Boring French?
I’m the co-founder and lead French instructor at Not So Boring French, an online language school with a mission: to make speaking French easier, more natural, and definitely not boring. We specialize in helping students improve their oral communication—because language is ultimately about expressing yourself and connecting with others. Whether you’re navigating a French market, chatting with friends, or presenting in a meeting, being able to understand and be understood is everything.
What sets us apart is our innovative phonetics curriculum, developed in-house using research-based methods. We’re a bit obsessed (in the best way!) with the rhythm, melody, and sounds of French. That focus helps students sound more natural and feel more confident, faster. Of course, we also offer more traditional online French classes for all levels—but always with that signature emphasis on real, spoken French.
Outside the virtual classroom, we like to shake things up with fun, real-world activities like informal breakfast chats, happy hours, and even “walk and talk” sessions. These experiences give students the chance to practice in relaxed, real-life settings, and help build a community where people feel safe, supported, and excited to learn.
Whether you’re learning French to travel, connect with family, work with colleagues, or study abroad, we tailor our approach to your goals and interests. At Not So Boring French, we’re all about helping you speak with confidence—and actually enjoy the journey.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
For some, leaving behind stability to move from country to country or job to job might seem like a big risk—but for me, it’s been a conscious and joyful life choice, guided by passion and curiosity.
I’ve always believed that when you combine the thrill of learning something new with the support of loved ones, the leap doesn’t feel so risky—it feels exciting, even necessary. I’ve been incredibly lucky and privileged in my journey, and I see fully embracing these opportunities as a way of honoring everyone who has believed in me along the way.
In the end, taking risks has allowed me to grow, explore, and create a life that feels meaningful—and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Annie
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sparkly-halibut-561.notion.site/Not-So-Boring-French-15ebaab5bd08801ab9dbf1c75a096c28
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/not_so_boring_french/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotSoBoringFrench
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/not-so-boring-french
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Notsoboringfrench
