« La culture nous apparaît d’abord comme la connaissance de ce qui a fait de l’homme autre chose qu’un accident de l’univers. » — André Malraux in Les Voix du silence, 1951
“Culture first appears to us as the knowledge of what has made man something other than an accident of the universe.”
French INTERPRETER
Qualified Health Care Interpreter – OREGON
I am a qualified French Health Care Interpreter, providing accurate, ethical, and culturally responsive interpretation for medical and behavioral health settings. My work supports clear communication between French-speaking patients and healthcare providers, ensuring understanding, dignity, and trust in sensitive contexts. I adhere to professional standards of confidentiality, neutrality, and accuracy, with particular attention to cultural nuance and patient-centered care.
Services include: Patient-centered, trauma-informed communication, medical and behavioral health, social interpretation
In-person and remote (as applicable)
French tutor
Private Classes, Café Littéraire & En Plein Air Conversations
I offer French instruction rooted in conversation, culture, and lived experience, tailored to both personal and professional goals. Drawing from my background in higher education and cultural facilitation, my teaching emphasizes a syncretic learning process—weaving together language, literature, art, place, and reflection.
Private French Classes (One-to-One)
Personalized sessions designed to help you develop, refine, or strengthen your French at your own rhythm.
- Conversational focus
- Context-specific language (travel, work, culture)
- Adapted to your learning style and goals
©️Marcia Stanley Cuendet – February 2026
GROUP FRENCH EXPERIENCES IN PORTLAND, OR
at L’École Buissonnière
Hosted at Mother Foucault’s Bookshop, Portland
☕ Café Littéraire
First Sunday of each month (until May)
A cozy French-language gathering where conversation, literature, and reflection unfold over coffee in an intimate setting. Inspired by the French tradition of cafés as places of thought and debate, these monthly sessions invite participants to practice French through short literary texts, guided conversation, and gentle creative prompts. More than a class, it is a shared moment to slow down, listen, and let language emerge naturally.
Open to curious learners who wish to engage with French beyond textbooks — through culture, emotion, and lived experience.
🎨 Carnets de Voyage
6-Week Immersive Workshop (April 8th–May 13th)
A deeper creative journey into French language, art, and imagination.
Over six weeks, participants explore travel writing, visual inspiration, poetry, and reflective practice — building confidence through artistic expression and meaningful conversation.
Designed for learners ready to immerse themselves in language as both intellectual inquiry and artistic experience.
Small group format. Limited enrollment.
No need to be fluent but B1 level recommended—only curiosity and a love for words.
Spots are limited.
Academic & Institutional Collaborations
Creative Expressions Through Art & Francophone Culture
I design and facilitate creative, interdisciplinary workshops for universities, colleges, and schools with French departments, inviting students to explore the French language and Francophone cultures through artistic expression and visual literacy.
My workshops, Creativity & Art History | Créativité et Histoires d’Art, offer an immersive experience that weaves together the richness of art history with the boundless possibilities of creativity. Through mediums such as collage, watercolor, photography, and poetry, students engage with French and Francophone cultural references while developing their own creative voice.
Rooted in cultural immersion rather than academic abstraction alone, these workshops encourage students to:
- Deepen their understanding of Francophone art, history, and cultural contexts
- Practice French in an embodied, intuitive, and expressive way
- Explore creativity as a form of learning, reflection, and cultural connection
Each workshop can be adapted to complement:
- French language courses
- Art history or visual culture curricula
- Interdisciplinary programs combining language, humanities, and the arts
I am proud to collaborate with esteemed partners, including: Alliance Française de Portland, Pacific University, Clackamas Community College, and L’École Buissonnière.
CREDENTIALS
★★★★★
” Clara-Julia is more than you could ever wish in a French tutor. I had private lessons with Clara-Julia to get up to speed for work as our portfolio was expanding into the French speaking Sub-Saharan Africa. Clara-Julia was extremely agile, practical, and patient with me as we navigated the specific impact investment contractual vocabulary as well as phrases for day-to-day email communication. She is much more than a French tutor, but a coach and fellow collaborator that happens to be speaking with you in French. I very much look forward to our weekly lessons and cannot put into words how much she has improved my life.”
Caitlin McCrone
Investment Operations Officer at
Global Partnerships
★★★★★
“In seeking a French translator, I wanted someone with appropriate academic credentials, who is experienced in the French culture, someone who is trustworthy, caring and easy to work with. I can attest unequivocally that Ms. Peru exceeds my expectations concerning each of those important characteristics. Moreover, Ms. Peru demonstrates a sincere interest, care and concern for the nature and issues that I need communicated. I trust her explicitly, whether it involves translating
personal matters with French family members or technical/professional matters relating to my work.“
Ed Galligan
President & CEO at Galligan Consulting Group
★★★★★
“Clara-Julia is exactly the French teacher I hoped to find. After years of studying French in school, independently, on platforms like Lingoda, and watching French video, I could read and understand fairly well, but I didn’t speak with the natural fluidity I wanted to achieve. Clara-Julia has been supportive of this goal and adaptable, allowing me to practice unscripted conversation at my level, noticing the areas where I could benefit from structured grammar lessons, and arriving at a place that challenges me just the right amount. I continue to learn a lot and always look forward to our lessons.”
Megan Hansen
UX Consulting & Plant Lust Founder
★★★★★
“I wanted to improve my conversational French and Clara-Julia’s classes ended up being exactly what I was looking for. She is an experienced educator and a native speaker, and above all she is patient, kind, encouraging, and a joy to spend time with. I feel very lucky to have her as an instructor.”
Tonia Kovtunovich
Development Director at
Portland YouthBuilders
★★★★★
“Clara-Julia involvement in the arts as a watercolorist, photographer, and poet enhance her teaching in courses involving French culture, and she developed special workshops in French to share the arts with her students. She has continued her professional development at every opportunity and approaches all assignments with great initiative and enthusiasm.”
Sherry Charles
Director of Alliance Française of Portland
★★★★★
“Clara-Julia Peru conducted two wonderful events at Pacific University in 2023-2024, bringing together various student clubs for inspiring hands-on art workshops: a watercolor, inspiration Sakura – Ume print working workshop, and another workshop with techniques inspired by the greatest movements in French art. Clara-Julia is very knowledgeable and shares her passion for art in creative ways. It’s always fun and our student clubs will keep having her back for more! Simply wonderful!”
Jeanne-Sarah De Larquier, PhD
Professor of French, Chair of the French Program at Pacific University
Clara-Julia Peru 