The Rebel French Teacher Behind a Boutique Micro-Empire
Bonjour, I’m Yasmine Lesire — a Paris-based polyglot, French teacher, and entrepreneur.
For over 20 years, I’ve helped professionals and ambitious adults feel truly at home in French.
What began as a frustrated language student became the creation of a refined French-learning ecosystem designed for modern learners worldwide.
My journey didn’t begin in a chic Parisian coworking space.
It began in a classroom where I felt lost, disconnected, and overwhelmed by traditional grammar-focused learning. That experience shaped everything. I built the school I wish I had found when I first started learning languages — human, refined, ambitious, and designed for real-life fluency. Today, this vision has grown into a thriving ecosystem: digital courses, private coaching, a premium book club, live events in Paris, New York, and Brussels, a private podcast, and a global community of dedicated learners. It’s the result of two decades of work, creativity, rebellion against outdated methods, and deep passion for meaningful language learning.
From Terrible Student to Global French Coach
People often assume I was a brilliant student.
I wasn’t. At all.
And maybe that’s why so many adults trust me.
I know what it feels like to freeze while speaking, to forget words, to feel embarrassed, to feel too old, too tired, too busy… and still want to become fluent.
I’ve lived in Belgium, Brazil, Spain and France.
I speak French, Spanish, Portuguese, English and I’ve dabbled in Hebrew, Dutch and Italian.
I’ve learned languages the messy way, the human way, the real way and I teach exactly what works because I’ve been there before.
- FRENCH
- ENGLISH
- DUTCH
- PORTUGUESE
- ARABIC
- HEBREW
➡️1,000+ students coached ➡️+1M podcast downloads ➡️20+ years of experience ➡️Students from over 30 countries
3,200
Happy Francophones
21
Years Teaching
64
Embrassies & International Organisations
398
Companies
A Rebel Approach to Teaching
I’m not a traditional French teacher.
I don’t hide behind rules I don’t even agree with.
I don’t teach fossilised grammar that nobody uses in real life.
I don’t pretend that speaking like a native should be your goal.
I teach modern French, used French, human French, the language people actually speak in Paris, in Brussels, in Marseille, in Montréal.
I break rules when the rules are ridiculous.
I explain them when they matter.
I’m here to help you communicate, not to turn you into a walking grammar book.
With me, you won’t speak like a book.
The Voice Behind “Le Français avec Yasmine”
If you’ve found me online, chances are it’s through my podcast “le français avec Yasmine”.
1M+ downloads. 200+ episodes.
A private feed. Books of transcripts.
A community spread across 100+ countries.
My podcast started during a moment of crisis (March 2020) and turned into a global movement.
Every week, thousands of learners tune in not only to improve their French, but to understand France, French culture, French people, and everything in between.
A few fun facts about me
I live in Paris (and I’m never without coffee).
I’m obsessed with books and always reading several at once.
I speak five languages — French, English, Dutch, Portuguese, and Arabic.
I have three cats who think they run my business.
The Boutique School I Built — All By Myself
I founded I Learn French, my boutique Paris-based school, with zero money, zero network, and zero safety net.
I grew it.
Scaled it.
Managed a team of 28 teachers.
Crashed. Pivoted. Rebuilt.
And today, I run a thriving premium ecosystem entirely on my terms.
My clients include Google, the United Nations, Toyota, OECD, Air France-KLM, and hundreds of extraordinary individuals across the world.
I work with:
- C-level executives
- Diplomats
- High-achievers
- Entrepreneurs
- Passionate lifelong learners
…people who take their personal growth seriously and who want French to be part of their identity.
What I Believe About Learning French
You don’t need to be “good at languages.”
You don’t need to be gifted.
You don’t need to live in France.
You don’t need to start young.
What you need is:
- regular practice
- the right structure
- a safe space
- a teacher who understands adults
- and a community that motivates you
This is what I create for my students — online, offline, in Paris, in New York, in Brussels, in your earbuds, in my courses, and in the spaces I design for you.
If You’re Here, You’re in the Right Place
You’re here because you want more from French.
More than Duolingo green dots.
More than memorising lists.
More than the same old exercises.
You want meaning.
Clarity.
Real progress.
A teacher who sees you.
A community who supports you.
A system that respects your brain, your time, and your life.
Welcome to my world.
Bienvenue dans le vôtre.
Let’s build your French together — powerfully, beautifully, rebelliously.
— Yasmine
What my students say
Ready to start learning with me?
Join I Learn French and discover a new, empowering way to speak French with confidence. Whether you prefer private lessons, group programs, or digital courses, you’ll find an approach designed for ambitious adults ready to grow.