Words, connections, and the joy of sharing

In 2026, Les Zamis celebrates its 16th anniversary. Les Zamis is a small French language school run by my Japanese wife and me. My wife mainly takes care of the day-to-day running of the school and looks after our students, while I focus on the lessons, teaching materials, and curriculum.

My name is Jonathan, and I started teaching French over 20 years ago. My journey as a teacher is closely connected to Japan. After spending two years teaching French at a language school in Kyoto, I decided to study French as a Foreign Language (FLE) more formally. That experience confirmed something I already felt: teaching French was what I wanted to do.

Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching French to all kinds of learners, from children to adults, in both private and group lessons. Along the way, I’ve also had the opportunity to teach in companies, embassies, and EU institutions.

A long-standing connection with Japan

Japan has held a special place in my life for many years. One of the things that first brought me closer to the country was naginata, a traditional Japanese martial art, which I have practised since I was nine. Through naginata, I discovered Japanese culture, and little by little, my interest in Japan grew. I still practise today, alongside my work as a teacher.

This connection with Japan naturally became part of Les Zamis as well. The school is located very close to the Japanese School, and over the years we have built strong relationships with the school and its teachers. I regularly work as a substitute French teacher there, and I have also had the pleasure of getting to know many of the French teachers over the years.

My experience in Japan, my knowledge of Japanese, and the many years I have spent teaching Japanese students have helped me understand where Japanese speakers tend to struggle when learning French, and what they may find particularly challenging. This understanding plays an important part in the way I teach today.

Teaching in a way that feels like me

Ever since I was a child, drawing has been another important way for me to express myself, quite different from words. Alongside teaching French, I have also worked in illustration and graphic design. Over time, this instinct for communicating through images naturally found its way into my lessons.

I started creating my own teaching materials to make things easier to understand, adapting the content to each student and using illustrations to explain difficult points as clearly as possible. Today, I also make use of digital resources and interactive tools whenever they can make learning more engaging.

Even after more than 20 years of teaching French, I still believe there is no single way to learn that works for everyone. Children and adults learn differently, and someone learning French for pleasure will not have the same goals as someone who needs it for work.

That is why, at Les Zamis, we place great importance on getting to know each student and adapting to their needs. We want to remain a small school where we can offer something personal, warm and attentive — a place where everyone can learn French in their own way and at their own pace. That is what we want Les Zamis to continue to be.

And in 2026, a new chapter begins

As Les Zamis celebrates its 16th anniversary this year, there is something I am particularly excited about: the launch of the Les Zamis Method, an original learning method I developed especially for our children’s group lessons.

The Les Zamis Method combines digital resources with interactive activities in the classroom, so that children can enjoy taking part in the lessons and continue learning at home afterwards.

Over the past 20 years, I have met many students, created countless teaching materials, and kept asking myself the same question: how can I make learning French clearer, more enjoyable, and more engaging?

The Les Zamis Method grew out of all those years of experience, ideas, and experimentation. It is a new chapter for Les Zamis, and one I am very excited to begin.

I look forward to continuing to meet new students and sharing the joy of learning French with many more of you in the years to come.