FROM
STUDENTS
"Jessica is blessed with a host of true teaching gifts: sensitivity, intuition, creativity and compassion. If you’re looking for a teacher who really takes the time to understand you, and help you reach your goals… stop searching! She’s right here."
Avi Lewis
Filmmaker, Climate Activist, Educator, and the 2021 NDP Candidate in West Vancouver-Sunshine CoastClasses with Jessica have helped me increase my confidence, express myself better with my team at work, and integrate vocabulary and expressions that are more appropriate to my corporate environment. Her knowledge of the art world and of project management is an asset that makes classes much more appealing. Jessica uses context and work-related situations to create customized content, which adds value to her teachings.
David Rodriguez
IT Manager"Jessica’s lessons positively impacted my performance and communication with my French clients, and generated growth for my business. She gave me the confidence to speak to Quebeckers, and enter the Quebec market in a pleasant way. She helped me clarify the message I want to convey to my audience. A professional, patient, and creative teacher! "
Andrea Villa
Photographer, Filmmaker" Jessica coached me in conversational French. I appreciated her way of integrating lessons with my everyday and professional life experiences in International Development. She got me to enjoy practicing and refining my language skills. Jessica cleverly creates ways to serve a student’s specific needs keeping the study fun and interesting. "
Stephanie Tholand
Director of Program & Partnership Development" Coming from Berlin, my classes with Jess helped me to express myself more freely in French, broaden my vocabulary, and provided a great setting to talk and learn about Montreal culture and arts. Jess also gives great recommendations on what magazines, shows and artists to check out and discuss in class. Highly recommended! "
Janna
Copywriter, Editor, Academic" Jessica is a great resource for artists learning french. She is very patient, knowledgable, and most importantly she understands the art world! She offered specific and customizable learning plans that center around my work in grant writing and theatre creation. "
Jesse Stong
Educator, Dramaturge Artist"Jessica was a great help and really encouraged me. There was plenty of time for conversation and work on the pronunciation of the words. She helped me with the expressions and grammar I needed to learn for my work. She suggested videos and exercises which allowed me to practice between sessions, and she answered any questions I had about the language. Classes were very informative, varied and fun. Jessica was always on time and had the sessions planned for me as well as being open to my needs and questions. I really recommend Jessica as a French coach and tutor."
Heather Markgraf
Certified Nonviolent Communication TrainerI have been struggling for years with the right way to approach learning French and had very little success with group courses. Jess has been the answer to my problem! With her "tailored to you" approach, getting a grasp on the French that suits your exact life requirements is a snap. She is fun to talk to and finds interesting ways of presenting learning so that it doesn't feel like work. I enjoyed our time working together and look forward to bettering my skills in the future under her tutelage.
Simon reid
Sr. Animator" A very professional, polite, and welcoming tutor. As a queer person, I felt comfortable and respected, and I was able to learn the terminology that is often used within the LBGTIQIA2+ community. She takes time to customize and deliver material in a way that matches your learning style, and she is flexible if things need to change. "
Gustavo
Adjunct Professor, Sociopolitical Coordinator" Vocabulary and grammatical rules found in textbooks do not reflect how the language is used in day to day life when communicating (speaking or writing) with real, live, native Francophones, knowing colloquialisms and idioms is as important as knowing how to conjugate your verb tenses. Jess covers all these bases! "
Nicholas Ryan
Production Manager, Composer, Multi-media Artist" After lessons with Jessica, I’m finally confident and comfortable what I’ve learned outside of the classroom! I’m able to represent myself professionally in French, and am participating in 100% French meetings where I volunteer. Huge steps up from where I was years ago! "
Anonymous
Developer" Jess is magic! I had specific goals to broaden my vocabulary and to find a job in French. By week three, I had already completed my goals! If you’re looking to complete specific goals, go to Jess!!! She will be a wonderful support, and I have no doubt that whatever you want to accomplish, you can accomplish with her. "
Feliz Tupe
3D Artist & Facilitator" French classes with Jess really helped give me a boost, with a better perspective on my language learning process and tools for continuing to practice. Thank you Jess for helping me bring down that anxiety! "
Bailey
Danse & Gymnastics Instructor" Jess’ background as an artist and musician made it easy to relate to each other and helped me learn new vocabulary to talk about my own artistic practice in French. Jess has a non-judgmental and encouraging attitude, which helped me gain confidence in speaking outside of our weekly lessons. "
Max
Sound & Media Artist" Jessica offers a level of imaginative pedagogy that acknowledges and embraces my interests, and my learning needs: neuro-diverse, over-excitation, with a kinesthetic and visual learning style. Learning with Jessica is a highlight of my week due to her enthusiasm, creativity, and ability to meet me where I am in the moment. She celebrates wins with me as I progress, and has a keen eye for where I'm in need of a redirection or a push! "
Anonymous
" Learning French with Jessica is a blast! She puts a lot of care into making sure our time together is engaging, and just the right level of challenging. My knowledge of, and confidence in the language, improved right away! Her enthusiasm helps me stay motivated and focused. Learning with Jessica is a sure way to improve your French! "
Ryan Backer
Age ActivistFROM
COLLABORATORS
Sika came to us with specific creative notes and a direction that was personal to her. She was easy to communicate with, and very open and responsive to our various inputs. It's always enjoyable working with artists who have such a passion for what they do. A pleasure to work with and we really admire her talent. Working with Sika on "Vini Vini" was a unique experience for us as this was the first time we attempted to creatively embody the Haitian culture and make a video using the Creole language. Thank you Sika.
LyricVids
Animated Music Videos Agency" Working with Jessica on her EP Colour Your Walls was a distinct pleasure. While facilitating the production process (Montreal-Miami), her sense of direction combined with a desire to explore foreign territory and willingness to entertain new ideas was as remarkable as it was refreshing. For a new artist, accepting and giving constructive criticism is often associated with “growing pains,” but Jessica demonstrated a level of maturity and conciseness of thought that is rare in even seasoned artists " .
Andy Barrow
Music Producer, Sound EngineerThrough couple art projects, my experience working with Jessica was purely positive. In my opinion she is hardworking, creatively mature and devoted to honing the skills of her craft. Specifically in her album launch, she had a clear view for the shape it should take and was able to organize plus work well with her collaborators on the event, myself included.
Jodee Allen
Movement DesignerJessica was invited to Vanier College to facilitate a 15’x6′ collaborative art mural as part of a campaign celebrating our lgbtq+ communities at Vanier and beyond. She brought vision and passion to the project, invited students to help colour, and offered explanations on her piece. She was reliable and consistent in her work, communicated her needs clearly, and was very easygoing. Well-organized, she remained within the budget provided, and efficiently coordinated her team of two. The finished mural is both magnificent and meaningful now located inside the N building at Vanier.
Andrea Palmer
Social Worker, Lead OrganizerJessica Valmé occupe un rôle clé dans mon obtention du poste de Directrice à la programmation du Centre des Arts de la Maison d’Haïti. Intuitive, elle a vu un potentiel sous-estimé et a investi son savoir-faire pour m’accompagner, et m’aider à relever mon mandat mesurant son impact dans la communauté. Jessica est une personne ressource avec qui j’ai partagé idées créatives, et avec qui j’ai réfléchi sur comment atteindre mes objectifs en affaire. Tout est dans son style, Jessica est réellement à l’écoute, impacte mon travail et sa passion est contagieuse!
Keithy Antoine
Directrice, Fondatrice - Union UrbaineJessica is possessed of an organizational nature, perfect for unconventional settings, is capable of a grand overview, paying close attention to small details that amount to a coherent project. Colour Your Walls was not merely an album launch, but a complete art project: she maintains the ease to clearly express herself, makes certain her collaborators and volunteers are working with her on the same wavelength all while setting a pleasant atmosphere for those committed to her. Professional placidity that only experience can generate.
Aboudi Assoune
Architect, Director, Founder - Abnorm Studio Inc.Que des expériences enrichissantes avec Jessica! Massimadi est fier d’avoir collaboré mainte fois avec Jessica. Une personne méticuleuse qui sait ce qu’elle veut, encourage la créativité, favorise discipline et rigueur dans le travail. Sika fait preuve d’initiative artistique, a le sens des affaires tout en gardant un esprit communautaire.
Laurent Lafontant
Coordonateur général - Festival MassimadiI had the pleasure of working with Jessica on a couple of songs on the last Dead Messenger album entitled The Owl In Daylight. I was not only impressed with Jess’ ability to take direction, but also with how she took the material and made it her own. The songs (“The Glass Hotel” and “Small Devices”) really came to life thanks to her vocals and harmony work.
Roger White
Band Leader, Singer, GuitaristRespectueuse, professionnelle, novatrice et efficace de la conception à la réalisation au démontage, Jessica a gagné mon admiration, pas seulement comme artiste, mais aussi comme visionnaire et gestionnaire de projets. Sa conscience de ses points forts et faibles lui permet de s’entourer de personnes aux habiletés complémentaires, afin de pouvoir réaliser un projet de manière soignée.
Jennifer Laoun Rubenstein
Directrice du soutien aux arts et à la culture - George Laoun OpticienJessica was invited to Vanier College to facilitate a 15’x6′ collaborative art mural as part of a campaign celebrating our lgbtq+ communities at Vanier and beyond. She brought vision and passion to the project, invited students to help colour, and offered explanations on her piece. She was reliable and consistent in her work, communicated her needs clearly, and was very easygoing. Well-organized, she remained within the budget provided, and efficiently coordinated her team of two. The finished mural is both magnificent and meaningful now located inside the L building at Vanier.