Claire Comins

Claire is delighted to bring her experience teaching French in public and private elementary, middle, and high schools in the Bay Area to the in-person and online programs at Alliance Française de San Francisco.

Her passion for French began at age 13 in England through school language classes and student exchange programs. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in French and Russian, including a year of study at the University of Lyon. Claire loves France for its language, art, cuisine, and remarkable landscapes, and returns regularly to explore its coastlines, mountains, villages, and local markets.

Claire welcomes learners of all ages - from school-age beginners to adults learning for travel, work, personal enrichment, or the simple joy of speaking another language. 

She strives to create a supportive, engaging class where students build confidence and make steady progress.

As a credentialed World Languages teacher, Claire’s pedagogy is grounded in communicative language teaching and the five "C" goal areas: Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities. Claire's goal is to help every student develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing so they can use French confidently in real-world conversations, travel and academic studies. She believes language learning is not only about mastering vocabulary and grammar but also about connecting with people, cultures, and new perspectives.

What Claire’s students say:

‘Thank you for always being so kind, helpful, supportive, and sweet. I also want to thank you for making class fun, exciting, and overall a joy to be in. French class has become one of my safe spaces, and I’ll forever be grateful I got you as my teacher.’

Contact Claire