Stop studying, start speaking.

French education and community to help you hold a conversation.

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Trusted by 20+ Students
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From Our Students

  • “I was pretty nervous about speaking French when I started, but Richie has been incredibly patient and encouraging. I’m definitely more comfortable speaking now, which feels like a big milestone!”

    Josslyn Z. | Fort Collins

  • "Sessions with Richie feel like a conversation with a friend. I leave each session feeling excited and empowered to tackle more of the language."

    Steffi H. | New York

  • "He tailored his lessons to what I was hoping to learn and helped me pass my AP French exam. I went from feeling insecure and embarrassed to feeling confident."

    Rue A. | Fort Collins | Fossil Ridge High School

  • "I struggled with pronunciation and confidence before working with Richie. The lessons are relaxed and conversational — I already feel more comfortable speaking French."

    Rodolfo R. | Fort Collins, CO

  • "My biggest challenge before working with Richie was holding a fluid conversation. I'm more fluid now. FoCo French is a must-try."

    Ian P. | Fort Collins, CO

  • "Richie is a fantastic teacher. Our daughter has learned a significant amount in a short time. I highly recommend him!"

    Dana S. | Windsor, CO

What FoCo French Offers:

  • For students who want a personalized path.


    One hour, focused entirely on your goals. In person in Fort Collins or online anywhere. Book a single session or a 5-lesson pack.

  • For students who want structure and community.


    Four-week conversational French cycles for beginner and intermediate levels. Small groups, real conversation, real progress.

  • For students who want to live the language.


    Monthly French Club in Old Town, French cooking classes with Ginger & Baker, and cultural evenings throughout Fort Collins.

Learning on your own time?

We have digital French resources written the way we teach — practical & conversational.

Take me there!

A little about us:

It’s not “typical” French teaching

My name is Richie (Founder of FoCo French) and I’ll be upfront: I’m not French and I don’t have a French degree.

I'm just an American, from Texas, who moved to France to get a Master's in Business Management from Audencia grande école in Nantes. When I got there, I didn’t speak the language. So I had to just figure it out by speaking. By the end, I completed my final semester entirely in French.

I didn’t learn French from a textbook at all. I learned it at the bars, on the street, and with friends who humored me into fluency. My informal immersion experience combined with a minor in Spanish from Colorado State University helps me understand and explain on various levels.

So I won’t just give you worksheets, I won’t make you memorize conjugation tables in isolation, heck I’ll even just ignore an entire pronoun. I teach real, conversational French that actually works when you're standing in a boulangerie in Paris or making friends in Belgium.

No matter if you're in Fort Collins or on the East Coast, my goal is always the same: I want to get you talking, and understanding French as it’s actually spoken!

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Most FoCo French students in Fort Collins reach conversational confidence in around 1–2 years of consistent study. French is one of the easier languages for English speakers but the biggest factor isn’t talent, it’s consistency. One lesson per week plus a little daily practice moves the needle faster than you’d expect. Two per week and you’re on the fast track!

  • One lesson per week is enough to make steady progress. Two per week accelerates things noticeably, great if you have a trip or exam coming up. Most Fort Collins students start once a week and add a second session once they hit their stride.

  • Not at all! Complete beginners are welcome at FoCo French. We start exactly where you are. If you took French years ago and feel rusty, that background comes back faster than you’d think.

  • Group classes build confidence in a social setting; private lessons move at your pace and produce faster results. FoCo French offers both in-person in Old Town Fort Collins, and many students do a mix of the two.

  • Less difficult than most people think! French and English share thousands of words, giving you a running start on vocabulary. Pronunciation and verb conjugation take practice, but at FoCo French we make those feel manageable from day one 😊