- There’s a gap between the words you use and what you truly mean, which leaves you uncomfortable and frustrated.
- What you really want is to feel understood and to understand others. You want to enjoy using the language to create meaningful connections.
- You feel blocked by your fears (the fear of making mistakes, of being judged, of sounding ridiculous, of being rejected and humiliated, of not being enough, of not being capable, of not being worthy, etc.)
- You are disheartened not to be able to speak confidently in spite of all the time you’ve spent studying French.
- Making the same mistakes over and over again presses on your doubts of ever being able to reach your goals.
- You tend to forget everything you’ve learned when you’re in the rush of a real conversation in French.
- The traditional learning methods have left you uninspired. Most learning activities feel like a chore, but you don’t know what else to do because that’s “the way we learn”.
I’m Jessica Tefenkgi Ruelle. I teach introverts to find and express their true voice in French through journaling, mindfulness and self-discovery.
My Story
I was raised in Brussels, Belgium in an adoptive family from Italy. In this multilingual setting, I grew up very aware of the different ways we feel and act in the languages we use. As an adopted child, I quickly learned that I had to conform to who my family expected me to be in order to be loved and to belong. The fears of abandonment and rejection made me act in a way so that I’d always be safe from suffering the same wounds again.
Until my mental health took a toll, that is. That’s when I decided it was time for a change. I started journaling in English, I read inspirational books, used art and performance to express myself, and discovered mindfulness. Languages soon became my favorite instruments, the ones I could use to voice and express everything that I had repressed.
This is how I started my journey of self-healing and was finally able to incarnate my truth and live my life with authenticity. And this is why I’m here: to help others like you on this path. To empower you to authentically express who you are through the languages you love and create a life filled with purpose and joy.
My Values & Beliefs
Freedom
The languages we learn give us unique opportunities to freely explore and express ourselves, far from the expectations and projections of our environment.
Courage
Together we build up the courage to being vulnerable so that we can open doors to understanding ourselves and to creating real connections with others.
Healing and Growing
We use the language as a safe playground to tell our stories, heal the wounds that have hindered us, and write the future we want to live, with our own chosen words.
Empowerment
I help develop the mindset and the habits so that you become the main actor of your own journey. My programs are designed to empower you to create your own success story.
My Approach
I believe that everything is interconnected.
That’s why I design unique programs for all levels of French that combine language acquisition techniques with self-expression and self-development. In this way, I help you overcome your blockages and frustrations with French, and also in your life.
When you work with me, you’re not just learning the language. You’re learning about yourself.
When you work with me, you open doors to your heart and soul to find your French voice, so that you can express yourself with real and sustainable confidence.
Featured Publications
Articles
- City Lights, a poem in The Tip of the Iceberg: An anthology of stories, poems, illustrations and photography from around the world.
- Learning Languages in Our Modern World: The Mindful Approach for Maria Ortega Garcia
- How to Learn without Stress for Speakita
- How Language Learning Heals me for Hitoritabi
- How to Speak French Better, Faster (and some Dancing Tips) on Medium
- Learning French? 4 Ways Mindfulness can Help on Medium
- Journaling in your Target Language on Medium
- Grow your Mindset, Change your Destiny on Medium
Podcast Interviews
- Language Hacking Podcast – Episode 27: Jessica Tefenkgi Ruelle on Mindfulness in Language Learning with Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy (Fluent in 3 months)
- The Speaking Tongues Podcast – Episode 14: Speaking French with French Sunny Side with Elle Charisse.
- Conversations with Kate – Episode 86: Mindful Language Retreats
- Conversations with Kate – Episode 85: Mindful Language Journaling for Self-Discovery
- Teach Languages Online – An interview with Jess, French Sunny Side with Lindsay Williams
Where to start?
Tired of learning French as if it was a race for quick results? Want to fall in love with the language, and be able to express your true feelings and emotions with ease and confidence?
The Mindful French Learner's Guide will get you started on your journey to a sustainable, deep and mindful approach to French and to life. You'll learn:
- How to journal to develop fluency and self-awareness;
- What mindfulness can bring to your language practice;
- How creativity and self-expression help you reconnect within and enjoy the process.