Belle Terre Academy

ABOUT FOUNDER & INSTRUCTOR: Rachele DeMeo was born in Nîmes (Languedoc-Roussillon), Southern France where she spent the first nineteen years of her life. Raised by an American-Italian father and a British mother, Rachele grew up in a bilingual, multicultural environment. From a young age, she knew she wanted to teach. Passionate about languages and other cultures, she knew her career would involve both other languages and other cultures. She graduated with a French Baccalaureate majoring in languages (French, English, Italian), Philosophy & Literature. After a year of studying in a private College (while working different jobs) in Southern France, she moved to Maryland to complete a B.A. in Christian Education, intern for Congressman Chris H. Smith and teach. She taught at a variety of institutions including Berlitz Language Centers, Sylvan Learning Centers and Northrop Grumman hired her to teach their engineers French and translate as well as do some administrative work. After graduating with her undergraduate degree, she moved to California for a teaching position (teaching French to middle schoolers and high schoolers) and furthered her education graduating with a M.A. Additionally she pursued a (second) Masters in Education specializing in Teaching and Learning. Rachele is also AFAA certified as a group fitness instructor. Over the last 15+ years, she’s had experience teaching K-2, 6-12 and College (MiraCosta College (8 years) & Palomar College). (View student ratings here.) She specializes in teaching predominantly French (all levels) but has also taught Italian (beginner’s) and English (as a Second Language). She founded Belle Terre Academy in 2019, offering online language courses. She currently teaches, does weekly YouTube videos, writes books (3 have been published so far) and speaks at a variety of workshops and conferences she's regularly invited to (for speaking inquiries, click here). She is, additionally, on the executive board of the American Association of Teachers of French (San Diego Chapter), as president. She genuinely enjoys helping others--from students, professors to other members in the community. She also serves as president for FLAM San Diego which provides French classes for French-speaking children in the San Diego region. Aside from her passion for languages and cultures, Rachele enjoys doing humanitarian work. From helping out Haitian refugees in Tijuana a few years ago to other trips (including visiting orphanages in India) in a variety of countries. Rachele sponsors Orphans First--a non-profit organization helping suffering children worldwide. Rachele enjoys cooking, loves extreme sports (surfing, snowboarding, longboard skateboarding), singing and playing the piano. She has composed her own songs. Rachele absolutely loves traveling. Rachele is married, has two children (she’s raising bilingual) and many pets.

Virginie was born and raised in Paris. She spent most of her life and completed her education in France. After high school, she decided to explore new horizons and she moved to Chicago as an au pair. This experience reinforced her English and she realized she wanted to work with children. At the end of her time there, she went back to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. She now lives in San Diego with her husband--who is American. She has experience teaching and tutoring children so they could learn French. Now, as a mother, sharing her French language and culture is just as important to her. She enjoys teaching French to children at Belle Terre Academy and at FLAM San Diego.