All conversation at meals was in French. There were no beginners the week we were there, so the French only rule was pretty strictly enforced. When there’s a beginners group, the beginners sit at a separate table where English is allowed. There was always at least one staff member at the table at dinner – in this case, you see Valérie at the left. The staff member present could help with linguistic points that arose during the dinner conversation (and gently encourage us to not backslide into English).