No nursery rhymes.
No baby talk.
Real language.
Real music with live musicians & original songs.
Hello Martin Avril offer a bold, creative way to introduce young children to languages through a unique blend of theatre, live music with guest musicians and original compositions.
Martin Avril is no ordinary character and these are no ordinary classes!
Developed by Donia, an artist & educator, my classes are designed to awaken musicality, language & confidence with quite a unique combination...
Following careful observation of how children interact and thrive in class,
I have recently made the decision to limit group sizes to a maximum of 9 children.
This ensures a calm, focused environment where each child can feel safe, supported and engaged.
bienvenue!
You've probably heard about Martin Avril but have you heard about it's purpose and how he was born? From my vivid imagination!
Martin...& Donia
I first arrived in London on a very cold day in January 2016, as an Au Pair — but it wasn’t my first time working with children.
In fact, I had started much earlier, at the age of 16, after earning my BAFA and working in children’s centres, always with a strong focus on theatre and music as I went on graduating from theatre school in Paris and did various theatre/singing related jobs throughout my life.
Over the years, I have been a babysitter, a nanny, a Kids Club manager in a luxury resort… and eventually, I created Martin.
At the time, I was still working part-time as a nanny, “testing” this new character with the children I cared for.
At the beginning, my idea was to wear a different costume every week. But I soon realised, after taking children to various classes and doing theatre and music with them at home, that they learn and adapt much more easily when you meet them where they are.
Children want to have fun. They want to explore the world, and they see it through completely different eyes than we do.
Full of excitement, constant discovery, and surprise.
Sadly, as adults, we often lose that sense of wonder.
For me, children live in a different world. It’s up to us to step into it and adapt.
That’s why I created Martin — a friendly character who serves as a bridge between the adult world and the child’s. When children come to my classes, they look forward to seeing him… not me (sniff). Because Martin speaks their language. Curiosity, imagination & play!
A MIX OF PASSION & CREATIVITY
What started as simple classes soon grew into a rich variety of activities — events, private lessons, birthday parties, school and nursery sessions — and even the release of a children’s book in 2023, telling Martin’s adventures in both French and English.
Over time, the format evolved from stage performances to creative, interactive classes designed especially for the French-speaking community. My aim is to help parents introduce their children to French in a lively and artistic way, combining theatre and music.
Apart from a few much-loved French classics we sing together at the end, all the songs are original, written either by me or by the talented musicians I collaborate with.
In my classes, parents are not just spectators, they are active participants and I do really emphasize the important of this.
I encourage full engagement in the learning process, both during and beyond the class.
Families are added to a dedicated WhatsApp group where I share resources to support language learning at home.
I value group cohesion and give priority to families who are truly committed to creating a warm, motivated and privileged learning atmosphere. To keep our sessions fully focused and connected, phones are strictly forbidden during class.
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