# Foundational knowledge
## Coucou
### Coucou’s mission, vision and values
#### Mission
Coucou challenges the conventional language school model with a culturally savvy, community-forward approach that takes learning French from hobby to lifestyle .
#### Vision
To make language learning a lifestyle, fostering personal growth and human connections. Coucou aims to be the premier French cultural hub, redefining learning as exciting, authentic, and multi-dimensional.
#### Values
COMMUNITY
Coucou classes are a means to form meaningful relationships. Students come for French but stay for the people. We believe in the importance of a warm, convivial learning and working environment, where students and employees alike can grow, share, and connect.
PASSION
Behind the business opportunity Coucou is above all a passion project. We take pride in having such a passionate and dedicated team that makes Coucou what it is today.
QUALITY
Striving for perfectionism, intelligence and excellence in every aspect of our work. Our teachers are carefully selected for their expertise and creativity, and our curriculum is designed with up-to-date, real-world applications in mind.
AUDACITY
We embrace our irreverent, rebellious spirit. This manifests in our willingness to challenge conventional teaching methods and our courage in choosing employees with unique profiles.
OPEN-MINDEDNESS
We are committed to inclusivity and empathy, ensuring our classes are a place where people are encouraged to express their singularity regardless of their background or prior language experience. At Coucou, we aim to treat each other with care and respect.
AUTHENTICITY
The promise of the Coucou method is to teach an authentic, modern French, just like you would hear on the streets of Paris. We’re committed to staying up-to-date to the most current French trends.
HUMOR
It’s in Coucou’s DNA to be a little “cuckoo” and to not take ourselves too seriously. We wish to lighten up the daily life of our students and community by bringing a cheerful energy in all our mediums of communication. At the end of the day, we can bring nothing but positivity into people’s lives!
### The Coucou Method
### 6pm in Paris, Coucou’s sister company
In 2023, Coucou cofounder Léa, alongside longtime Coucou team members Éléonore, Julien, and Nina, embarked on an exciting new venture. They launched 6pm in Paris (https://6pminparis.com/home) , a startup aimed at creating an innovative platform—think Netflix meets Masterclass, but entirely focused on learning French. The platform features lessons, short films, original fiction, and more—offering a fun and engaging way to learn and practice French.
Given the shared vision, team members, and cofounder, it was only natural for Coucou and 6pm in Paris to form a close partnership. As sister companies, we complement each other by following different paths to the same goal: teaching French language and culture. That’s why many of our teachers appear in 6pm’s videos, and why Coucou even offers a special Expert class (https://6pminparis.com/coucou) using content from 6pm!
### Little Paris, a Coucou initiative
“Little Paris” is the project of Léa and Marianne Perret, founders of French language and cultural center Coucou. From the beginning, community-building was at the core of Coucou’s mission. The school was designed to give New Yorkers access and fluency in contemporary French Culture. These very same goals motivate the ambition behind the “Little Paris” initiative.
Léa and Marianne’s goal is not only to rename the neighborhood but also to officially bring together a community of French Businesses, Francophiles & Francophones in Lower Manhattan.
## Coucou’s product offering
### Locations
We offer classes and private lessons in 5 locations :
NYC, in SoHo (253 Centre Street, 10013 New York), our main space in New York
NYC, in SoHo too, on the same block (407 Broome Street, NY 10013, New York) we have a secondary space called Le Loft where classes, lessons and events take place. There is however no permanent reception, so users should not be directed to this address unless they specifically ask for it.
LA, in Silver Lake (2400 Hyperion Avenue, CA 90027, Los Angeles), our main space in Los Angeles
LA, in Culver City (Blankspaces Culver, 9415 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232). This is a secondary space where we don’t have a permanent presence, so users should not be directed there unless they specifically ask for this address.
We also offer online classes and private lessons.
### Classes
#### Levels
The Coucou curriculum is made up of 8 levels detailed below.
Level 0 through 5 are grammar levels: they follow a specific curriculum with coursebooks and optional exercise books.
Level 6 and 7 are conversational levels. Level 6 is the entry conversational level, has no specific curriculum and comprises open conversation, activities, games, videos, etc. Level 7 is advanced conversation level and has a rotation of themes.
Here is the full breakdown of the levels with their names: Intro to French (level 0), Débutant (level 1), Grand Débutant (level 2), Apprenti (level 3), Intermédiaire (level 4), Confirmé (level 5), Spécialiste (level 6), Expert (level 7).
Identifying your level
Students can take our placement test using that link https://coucou324400.pro.typeform.com/to/yvijAd0I?typeform-source=coucoufrenchclasses.com to situate themselves in the Coucou levels.
We always recommend the placement test as the first step
If students are still unsure, they can sign up for a trial class.
#### Formats
Signature Classes
Take your French from beginner to conversational with Coucou’s original group class offering
Intensive Classes
Discover our Biweekly and Daily class formats for a faster, more intense pace.
Speaking Practice
Join a three-week breather session to enhance your speaking skills as you transition between levels. Refine your verbal communication techniques, gain confidence, and practice with peers in a supportive environment.
Grammar Refreshers
Our Grammar Refresher is a two-hour crash course that focuses on reviewing the essential grammar topics from each level. Consolidate your understanding of key concepts so you can feel ready to tackle future challenges.
This session is designed to consolidate your understanding of key concepts, ensuring you feel confident in applying them. Through a combination of interactive exercises and targeted explanations, you’ll reinforce your knowledge and clarify any lingering doubts. By the end of the course, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle future challenges with ease.
Please note that this module does not serve as a replacement for a full-length group class at the corresponding level.
Grammar Bootcamps
Our Grammar Bootcamps, recommended for level 5 students (Confirmé) and above, are designed to refresh and boost your skills in key grammar topics from levels 1-5 of the Coucou curriculum. This workshop meets once a day for two hours over the course of five days, and is perfect for students who have just completed level 5, or for those in levels 6 and 7 who are looking to go back to the basics. Accelerate your language-learning journey with this new intensive workshop series!
Webinars
We’ve introduced a new French Webinar series: French Unlocked to offer bite-sized learning at a low price point! For prospective students, these webinars are a great way to get acquainted with the Coucou style of teaching–one that’s informative, culturally relevant, and fun! For current students, they offer a deep-dive into topics not covered at length in our regular group class curriculum. Our webinars consist of roughly 30-35 minutes of presentation–in the signature playful Coucou style, with a focus on real-world applications–followed by 10-15 minutes of Q&A so students get a chance to ask the teacher some questions. The sessions will be conducted mostly in English, so students of all levels are encouraged to join.
The webinars cover common French pronunciation pain points and other topics that often mystify French learners, such as the masculine and feminine, formal and informal greetings and the common prepositions “à” and “de”. Watch your confidence grow once you master these topics! These webinars are taught by our team of highly knowledgeable, highly entertaining teachers, many of whom are actors or performers and make the material come to life.
Private Lessons
The Coucou curriculum will be adapted to your pace and can also be made to fit your specific needs and interests – whether you need to prep for a language exam or a future trip to France.
Standard private lessons
Our Standard Private Lessons are suitable for:
any day of the week, subject to availability
Online or at one of our physical locations in NYC and LA
Following the standard Coucou curriculum or practicing basic conversation skills
For one student of any level
To purchase standard private lessons, you can purchase lesson credits , choosing between a single hour or a 12 hour package of lessons.
Then, fill out the short private lessons form in your student portal to give us some information so we can best match you with one of our instructors.
Once you’ve been matched with a teacher, you can access the same private lessons section of your Student Portal to use the booking calendar for your assigned teacher(s) to book your lessons.
Premium private lessons
Premium Private lessons can take place any day of the week online, or in NYC or LA, subject to availability. The content of the class is completely tailored to your needs. Premium private lessons are an option for students looking to cover material which is outside of the normal Coucou curriculum.
Premium Private lessons include:
Lessons for 2 students
Exam preparation, accent coaching, live translation, preparing for a job interview, an acting role in French, or any other specific request.
To request premium private lessons, email [email protected]
Semi-private lessons
Workshops and Events
### Store products
#### Course books
#### Exercise books
#### Flashcards
Coucou Flashcards pack 2 is a fun and super effective way to learn French vocabulary! Guess the meaning of the word in context with 2 easy-to-understand examples in French. Flip the card and then use the illustrations as a hint. Memorize the gender of each noun at a glance: the cards are color-coded. Learn full verb conjugations. Write your own examples directly on the card!
Our “Vocab Pack 2” contains 320 cards divided into 8 different themes and is geared towards students of levels 0-3, but is also a great way for more advanced students to solidify their vocabulary.
Check out the Themes of Coucou Flashcards Pack 2:
La vie quotidienne (daily life)
Les loisirs et les hobbys (leisure and hobbies)
Le mobilier et la maison (furniture and home)
Les voyages et les déplacements (travel)
Le corps humain (human body)
La géographie et la nature (nature and geography)
Les métiers (jobs)
Les émotions et les sentiments (emotions and feelings)
#### Gazette
## Offers, sales and promo codes
#### Flash sales
We occasionally have flash sales. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively. People can make sure to stay in the know by signing up for our newsletter. They can do so at the bottom of the home page ( www.coucoufrenchclasses.com )
#### Social Media
Be sure to follow us on social media for our latest deals, promo codes, French learning content, fun events, and more!
TikTok
tiktok.com/@coucoufrenchclasses
instagram.com/coucoufrenchclasses
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@coucoufrenchclasses
facebook.com/coucoufrenchclasses
Threads
threads.net/@coucoufrenchclasses
## Student Support
### Contacting us
#### Via email
Email is the best way to get an answer from us, and we always do our best to reply within 48 hours. That is why you should always suggest email before phone contact.
If students request to contact someone at Coucou, you can suggest the following options, depending on their request:
[email protected] for support for existing students enrolled in group classes, trial classes, make up classes.
[email protected] for inquiries or problems related to private lessons.
[email protected] for general inquiries.
[email protected] for sending resumes or enquiring about open positions. Open positions can be found at www.coucoufrenchclasses.com/jobs
#### Via Phone
Email is the best way to contact us and should always be suggested first. If students insist, they can call us in case of an emergency or time sensitive concern.
NYC school: (917) 675-6191 between 12pm and 8pm Monday through Thursday, 12pm to 5pm on Fridays, 11am and 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
LA school: (323) 522-6947
### Student portal
The Student Portal ( www.coucoufrenchclasses.com/account ) is a central hub for students to access content and information related to their classes, purchases, etc. Among other things, they can find:
Information about classes: the Classes and Workshops tab (https://coucoufrenchclasses.com/account/classes/) summarizes the dates and time of a student’s class, as well as its Zoom link (if applicable), or any session skipped due to a holiday, if applicable.
Make-up recordings (level 0 to 5). In the classes and workshops tab, if students miss a class, they can access a video recording of the same lesson by clicking “Missed this class?”, up to 30 days after the end of their level.
Make-up class requests (levels 6 & 7). In the classes and workshops tab, still, conversation class students will get access to a make-up request form instead of videos.
Answer keys for the exercise and homework for each lesson
Audio files for each level
A PDF copy of their course book
The Private Lessons tab (www.coucoufrenchclasses.com/account/lessons) allows them to purchase credits and book private lessons.
Digital Resources: a list that includes podcasts, websites, apps and more to help students practice outside the classroom, organized by level.
End of level quizzes: a great tool for our students to refresh at the end of a level and to make sure they are ready for the next one.
A feedback form, which allows students to let us know about their experience at Coucou.
The dashboard feat ures various announcements, such as new products, sales and offers, upcoming events, holiday closure reminders, etc.
The purchase history tab ( https://coucoufrenchclasses.com/account/orders/ ) displays past orders and invoices for students with questions on transactions, orders or
### Missed Classes, make-up classes, and recording
We do NOT offer live makeup classes for students in level 0 (Intro to French), 1 (Débutant), 2 (Grand Débutant), 3 (Apprenti), 4 (Intermédiaire), or 5 (Confirmé). We ONLY offer live make-up classes for conversation levels, that is 6 (Spécialiste) and 7 (Expert).
For grammar levels, students can watch a make-up recording of the exact same lesson, taught in a Zoom class and are encouraged to ask any question they may have to their teacher when they come back to class.
Whether students are eligible for make up classes or only make up recording, they will find it in the exact same place: in the student portal, in the “classes and workshops” section (direct link: https://coucoufrenchclasses.com/account/classes/), by clicking the “missed this class?” button.
## Recurring questions
### Offering
#### Trial classes
We offer trial classes to get a taste of the Coucou experience. Students should first identify their level using the placement test. For $40 they can then sign up for a one off lesson in an existing group, to experience the Coucou curriculum, the teaching style, and confirm their level. At the end of the trial, they will receive a $40 coupon to sign up for a group class, effectively making the trial free for those who sign up!
#### Classes for children and teens
All Coucou group classes are for adults 21 and up. We do not offer classes for children at all. Teens 15 and older can take private lessons during daytime (before 5pm) but cannot join group classes.
### Working with us
#### Open positions
Candidates interested in working at Coucou can look for open positions on our jobs page: www. coucoufrenchclasses.com/jobs
#### Working as a teacher
We are always looking for native French speakers to join our team! We only hire native speakers to teach. Candidates must be knowledgeable about contemporary French culture and society, available at least two evenings and one weekend day, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and willing to learn.
We provide extensive training to get you up to speed on how we do things at Coucou and how to teach French as a second language. Previous teaching experience is appreciated but not required—we are looking for unique personalities and people who are passionate about sharing their culture and knowledge.
Open positions can be found at: www.coucoufrenchclasses.com/jobs
## Policies
Group classes
Private lessons
## Email templates
If required to answer an email, use the below templates when possible.