Tony Simonneau

Orléans, France

Bio

Born and raised in Orléans (a city close to Paris, and whose saint protector is none other than Joan of Arc!) Tony always had a passion for history, literature and languages. He studied Classics at La Sorbonne in Paris (Latin, ancient Greek, French), earning a pre-doctoral degree in Latin Stylistics. He also studied at the École du Louvre (art history), Sciences Po Paris (political sciences) and the Paris Goethe Institut (German). After two years at Reporters Sans Frontière working to promote press freedom in sub-Saharan Africa, he spent most of his career in the branding industry, as a creative director and linguist. Tony moved to the US in 2008 (living first in Long Beach, CA, then Cambridge, MA) where he started to develop a taste for antique collecting and reselling, as well as to privately tutor French to a wide variety of profiles.

Classes Recently Taught

B1+ | Grammar: Tackling Difficult Tenses with Emma Bovary| In Person

Intermediate

Starting October 21, 2026 1.5 hours per week for 5 weeks

The course aims to make reading classical French literature more accessible while also giving participants the opportunity to use these tenses themselves through guided writing exercises. Class is taught by Tony.

B2+/C1 | Literature: Mother Figures - l'image de la mère à travers des œuvres majeures du 20ème siècle | In-Person

Advanced

Sessions starting September 17, 2026, September 17, 2026, and October 22, 2026 1.5 hours per week for 10 weeks

Join Tony in a 5- or 10-week exploration of how the figure of the mother has served as a fundamental pillar of both human experience and literary history. This course traces the growing awareness of this crucial relationship in French culture, examining how shifting social dynamics and the rise of 20th-century psychoanalysis revolutionized the way we understand family ties.

B1+ | The Language of Emotions | In Person

Intermediate

Starting September 16, 2026 1.5 hours per week for 5 weeks

This course explores the expression of emotions, thoughts, and inner experiences in French through a selection of literary masterpieces. Class is taught by Tony.

B2+/C1 | Je t'aime — moi non plus ! 250 ans de relations passionnées entre la France et les États-Unis | In-Person

Advanced

Sessions starting September 15, 2026, September 15, 2026, and October 20, 2026 1.5 hours per week for 5 or 10 weeks

Through historical documents, photographs, film excerpts, anecdotes, and lively discussions, this course offers an easy-to-understand introduction to the rich dialogue between France and the United States, two nations whose histories have been closely intertwined for over two centuries. Class is taught by Tony.

C1-2 | Proficient French 2 SLOW Part 2 | Online

Starting September 14, 2026 1.30 hours per week for 10 weeks

Perfect your pronunciation, solidify your mastery of grammar and learn additional vocabulary—then apply your learning to demanding tasks like transcribing audio documents, criticizing political campaigns or debating the salaries of different professions.

A1-1 | Beginner French 1 | In-Person

Beginner

Sessions starting September 12, 2026, September 15, 2026, and September 15, 2026 3 hours per week for 10 weeks

Are you ready to kick-start your French education? Learn to Ask for and give directions, understand an itinerary, get around using public transportation, and much more!