Never too late to learn another language. My first encounter with learning French dates back to college days. I took the requisite number of language credits unfortunately fluency was not required. As with any skill if you don't keep in practice it goes stale without use. Twenty five years after collage I vacationed in France for 3 weeks. Some of my French was awakened as I spent most of the time bicycling though southwestern France from Paris to Bordeaux and back along the Atlantic coast. I was able to book hotels, order dinner and ask directions mostly in French. Again there was a long gap, until the summer of 2014 when I was preparing for a trip to Montreal. This time I wanted to have a better understating of French. I hopped to be able engage in a least simple conversation. An internet search led me to Dr. Melissa Kerley who said that she specializes in teaching a lot of French quickly (that turned out to be very true). My original intent was to take 5 or 6 lessons to bring back and improve on my long lost French before heading off to Quebec. Thanks to Melissa's skill as a teacher and patience, the lessons were tailored directly to my needs, plus her enthusiasm for French the 5 or 6 lessons have now continued for 4 years and still going. My goal is to be bilingual not just translate as I speak but to think in French. Benefits: There is the joy of learning the culture as well as the language as they not separate. In addition my general awareness has improved , I don't forget where I left my coffee as often as I used to. I can go to the grocery store for few items without a list and get everything I needed. Most important learning has added to my self- esteem at age 75 I don't feel so old after all. To keep the mind and body limber stretching and exercise is essential. read more

I found Melissa on the Internet while I was searching for the best French language tutor in the DC-NOVA metro area. After researching and speaking with several potential French instructors, I chose Melissa. I have never regretted that choice, and here's why. Melissa knows her stuff. She is personable, friendly, and committed--a consummate professional who truly cares. I particularly like Melissa's approach/technique: she combines grammar, vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, conversation (speaking, listening and comprehension) and dictation (writing, listening and comprehension), making sure that the learning experience is both educational and enjoyable. Her technique is immersive, and she spends time making you understand grammatical, spelling and pronunciation nuances. The process is not superficial, and it's not rote memorization (although part of any language learning is memorization). It is transformative. After a few sessions, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to understand, and converse in, basic French. A few more sessions hence, I'm now able to construct and deconstruct relatively complex sentences and phrases--and my confidence is growing with each session! I am so pleased with Melissa that I intend to continue my French tutoring for as long as my professional and personal circumstances permit. I would highly recommend Melissa to people who are interested in learning French. Whether French is your first foreign language or your sixth, or whether it's for work or for sheer personal pleasure, I strongly believe from my personal experience with Melissa that she can help you learn it--and learn it fast. This is my 4th language, and I'm exceedingly happy to have found Melissa who makes learning French such a joy. Merci bien et à bientôt, Melissa. read more

When I first started tutoring with Dr. Kerley, I was coming off a year were I had received a B in my French class the year prior and was worried about the possibility of not getting into the Honors level the following year. After a couple months of working with her and Marcelin, her assistant teacher, I was stunned with my progress and had successfully passed my placement test for my honors class. Now in the class, I hold a 95 average and have one of the higher grades in the class, something that would not have been possible without Dr. Kerley! A few things to highlight 1) Her teaching style has been my favorite out of all the French teachers of had. She was able to guide me through the material in a way I could understand the material and apply to conversations and writing very quickly. She prepared me with all sorts of tools that I'm still using even after our classes have ended. 2) Her assistant teachers are amazing and always ready to work with you when you need it. At the start of our sessions, I had really struggled with holding conversations in French. But Marcelin was patient with me and guided me through words I didn't know until our conversations were entirely in French by the time I finished. 3) Dr. Kerley is one of the nicest and kindest people you'll ever meet. She's the perfect balance of pushing you to reach your goals while also being friendly and making you laugh throughout every class Hands down the BEST French teacher I've ever had! read more

Melissa is an inspiring and engaging teacher who meets you where you are in your French journey and helps you jump to the next level. I study French because I love the language and for travel to French-speaking countries so I was looking for someone to hone my communication skills. Melissa not only tailored our sessions to fit my needs, but she was flexible in her approach. Her enthusiasm is definitely contagious. We formed a two-person French Club de Lecture and have read and discussed nearly 50 books. She encouraged me to write essays, which she reviewed. Both of these activities have greatly improved my grammar and communications skills. Melissa sincerely cares about her students and their progress and she makes learning fun. Her knowledge of French grammar, culture and literature are extensive, Seriously, Melissa is the person you want if you are eager to learn and refine your French. Bonne chance! read more

Dr. Kerley is an incredible French teacher. Her mastery of French language combined with her innate knowledge of exam structure allowed me to build a solid foundation in French, excel at lightning speed and pass proficiency exams necessary for my graduate degree. Mme Kerley is an asset to any student ready to excel in French language, both professionally and personally. Mme Kerley has an unparalleled depth of expertise that she combines with both excellence and passion. Within three months of working with Mme Kerley I successfully passed advanced proficiency exams in French in reading, writing, speaking and listening at Johns Hopkins University SAIS. I have continued to use French professionally, and often recount my wonderful lessons with Mme Kerley. She is a gem within the world of linguistics and rigors of academia and is an absolute gift to her students all over the world. Merci, Mme Kerley!! read more

If you want to make substantive gains in your French language skills, commit to tutoring with Melissa! I've taken classes at three language schools in Washington, DC and one-on-one tutoring is hands down the best option. Melissa offers complete immersion in the language during every lesson. Even though you may not understand everything during the lesson (since it's all in French), Melissa finds a way to facilitate the learning process. Basically she has a natural gift for teaching. So far, I've taken five lessons with her and my French has radically improved since I started tutoring. She tailors my lessons to my line of work (public health) and she has been very flexible with my work schedule. I wish I could give her six stars to be honest! read more

Working with Melissa was one of the best decisions I've made as a graduate student. As Ph.D. in political science, I had no experience in French heading into my language exam. Not only were the lessons with Melissa really interesting (she tailors how you learn French to stuff you actually want to read), but our time together totally took the pressure off -- turning something that I was really dreading & really not looking forward to into a fun journey with a lot of fond memories. Plus she has a ton of old exams so there are no surprises heading into the test. Plus it gave me a great foundation to bolster my research capabilities. Melissa has continued to be a helpful resource for major papers and for some parts of my dissertation. read more

Melissa tutored by high school daughter for French. In her junior year, she worked with her for preparation for the AP. My daughter received a "5" on the AP exam. Melissa takes time to know her students and developed a terrific relationship with my daughter. Melissa is extremely professional, flexible in her approach, and always comes to the lessons very well prepared. Each lesson was carefully planned out, and there was the right amount of flexibility to accommodate questions, and going into more depth in certain areas. Melissa tailored and designed a curriculum to my student's needs. I highly recommend Melissa for all language levels!! read more

"I am a Ph.D. student at The Catholic University of America. Prior to meeting with Melissa, I had no knowledge of French. But after three months of private tutoring with Melissa, in person and via Skype, I passed my rigorous departmental language exam with high marks.  Thanks to Dr. Kerley's enseignement magnifique (magnificent teaching) method coupled with her patience I am now able to read and translate French fluently. In addition, she is an incredibly kind person and you just might end up with a friend after you achieve your goals!" ~ Ryan (Catholic University) read more

When we started working together, I had previously taken several classes and worked with another teacher, and I was looking for someone who would take a focused approach and prepare me to take the TEF. Melissa was very supportive of this goal. She obviously loves teaching French, and her extraordinary energy and enthusiasm make the lessons fun. She has an extensive library of texts and other teaching materials that she gladly lends to her students. She draws on her comprehensive understanding of French grammar to creatively speed the learning process. read more

Dr. Kerley taught me an incredible amount of French in a relatively short time, tailoring her instruction to my specific needs. She had a gift for teaching at a comfortable but effective pace that enhances your sense of accomplishment even if you're not a natural-born linguist. Her delightful personality makes the experience enjoyable as well as instructive. Besides her impeccable credentials, Dr. Kerley has an obvious passion for French and its culture that becomes contagious. I highly recommend her. read more

As a grad student at American University, I was required to pass a foreign language exam before I graduated. Only problem was I didn't know a foreign language. I emailed Melissa and she was very accommodating. In just a few sessions, I think less than 10, I was able to take and pass the Tool of Research exam on my first attempt. If you are interested in learning French in a way that will actually work, I definitely recommend Melissa! read more

Melissa is a very gifted teacher. She makes learning French less intimidating, easy and definitely crafts her time with you to suit your needs and methods of learning. I highly recommend Melissa and have been taking her classes for 6 years. She gives you resources outside of class to practice, improve, and learn. Melissa is worth every penny and more. read more