Académie de Bernadac

Private Coaching & Trainer Certification

Académie de Bernadac offers private etiquette coaching and trainer certification for individuals. Elegant Outstanding is a three-day programme in social, business and dining etiquette, deportment and public speaking; Etiquette Trainer is a five-day train-the-trainer certification, open to all. Both are customisable, in person or online, and lead to AdB certification recognised by AIPE.

Your situation

Some moments call for more than good intentions

Our founding programme since 2014, for women and men who want to feel at ease in every setting, and for those who want to teach it.

  • A new role

    More clients, more dinners, more eyes on how you carry yourself.

  • An international life

    New countries, new codes, and no one to explain them.

  • A special occasion

    A gala, a wedding, a first speech. You want to be ready.

  • A new profession

    You master etiquette and want to teach it, win clients and run your own sessions.

Two programmes

Ready-made, and customisable

Both programmes run in person or online, as agreed with you, in Chinese, English or French. Topics can be adapted to your objectives.

Private coaching · 3 days

Elegant Outstanding

Our founding private programme: three days to build international etiquette from the ground up. It introduces the codes of high-end lifestyle, refines personal elegance, and teaches etiquette through practice, tutorials and role play.

  • Private or small group
  • Written and practical exam
  • AdB certification recognised by AIPE
Participants practising posture and deportment in a salon
Day 1Foundations and deportment

Social and business etiquette

  • Greetings
  • Titles and correct forms
  • Introducing other people
  • First impression
  • Your own elevator pitch
  • Phone etiquette

Table manners (1 of 2)

  • Table posture
  • Beverage knowledge
  • French table settings
  • English table settings
  • Setting up the table

Elegant deportment

  • Body postures
  • Standing
  • Walking
  • Sitting
  • Book exercise

Confident public speaking (1 of 2)

  • Getting prepared
  • Stage fright
  • Starting a speech
  • The breath
  • The voice
  • Elocution and diction
Day 2Presentation and connection

Dress code

  • Body shapes
  • Colour protocol
  • Formal dress code
  • Smart casual
  • Cocktail dress code
  • Shoes
  • Accessories

Table manners (2 of 2)

  • Polite behaviour at the table
  • Cutlery
  • Napkin etiquette

Confident public speaking (2 of 2)

  • Eye contact
  • Facial expressions
  • Meaningful gestures
  • Holding attention
  • Speaking while walking
  • Speaking with emotion

Networking etiquette

  • Who to talk to first in a room
  • Starting small talk
  • Joining and leaving a group
  • Meeting important people
  • Including bystanders
Day 3Refinement and certification

Table plan

  • Different styles
  • Place of the hosts
  • Place of guests of honour
  • Placing guests by gender, age and rank

Wine etiquette

  • Wine basics
  • Glasses
  • Opening a bottle
  • Tasting
  • Pairing wine with food
  • Serving and refilling

Review and test

  • Deportment test
  • Practice and written test
  • Table manners test
  • Speech test

Certification

  • Written and practical examination
  • AdB certification, recognised by AIPE
  • Certificate with a unique serial number
OptionalTopics on request

Photo posing

  • General rules
  • Your face shape and your smile
  • Posing for different occasions

Afternoon tea

  • History and tradition
  • Dress code
  • Table setting
  • Holding the cup and stirring
  • Pastries

Jewellery etiquette

  • Ground rules
  • Jewellery for each occasion
  • Matching jewellery and outfit
  • Rings, necklaces and tiaras

Travel etiquette

  • Preparation
  • Packing and unpacking
  • Public transport
  • Respecting other cultures and customs

Optional topics can replace standard modules, according to your objectives.

Train the trainer · 5 days

Etiquette Trainer

For people who want to go from mastering etiquette to teaching it: creating content, winning clients and delivering training on their own. Five intensive days of teaching skills, deportment, sales and professional practice, with interactive practice, video tutorials and role play. Open to all, with no prerequisites.

  • Mock-teaching exam
  • AdB certification and AIPE certification
  • Announcement on the AIPE platforms
Trainer taking notes during a train-the-trainer session in a boutique
Day 1Protocol, presence and voice

Business protocol and social etiquette

  • Greetings
  • Protocol titles and correct forms
  • Introductions
  • First impression
  • Elevator pitch
  • Phone etiquette

Table manners

  • Cutlery
  • Beverages
  • Western table settings
  • Behaviour and posture at the table
  • Napkin etiquette
  • Wine tasting

Elegant deportment

  • Body postures
  • Standing, walking, sitting
  • Sitting in flat shoes and in heels
  • Book exercise

Your image when speaking (1 of 2)

  • Mastering your image
  • Preparation
  • Stage fright
  • Starting a speech
  • Breath and voice
  • Elocution and diction
Day 2Image, hosting and sales

Dress code and outfit image

  • Body shapes
  • Colour protocol
  • Controlling your image through your outfit
  • Formal, semi-formal, smart casual and cocktail dress codes

Your image in photos

  • A real smile
  • Smile exercises
  • Confident poses
  • Glamorous poses
  • Casual poses
  • Posing with others

Reception protocol and hosting

  • Table protocol
  • Western table plan
  • The role of the host
  • Choosing a menu
  • Sending an invitation
  • Wine pairing
  • Faux pas to avoid

Sales techniques

  • Push and pull strategies
  • Building your marketing
  • Choosing partners
  • Types of clients
  • Client enquiries and decision points
Day 3Networking and client relations

Networking etiquette

  • Networking protocol
  • Who to talk to first
  • Small talk
  • Joining and leaving a group
  • Meeting important people

Client relations

  • Welcoming
  • Understanding needs and client types
  • Difficult situations
  • Creating desirability

Traditional English afternoon tea

  • History
  • Clothing and hosting
  • Sugar and milk
  • Pastries
  • Holding the cup and stirring
  • High and low tea

Review and test

  • Deportment
  • Table setting
  • Table plan
  • Photo posing
  • Role play
Day 4Teaching practice

Food etiquette

  • Finger food
  • Fruit
  • Tricky food: soup, pasta, oysters, lobster, artichokes
  • International specialities

Training staff

  • Sales, fashion, hotel, beauty and jewellery staff
  • Universities and institutions

Your image when speaking (2 of 2)

  • Eye contact
  • Facial expressions
  • Gestures
  • Holding attention
  • Speaking with emotion

Running a training session

  • Time control
  • Types of participants
  • Involving and satisfying participants
  • Interpreters, assistants and materials
  • Frequent problems
Day 5Service, business and certification

Table service

  • Official and private table plans
  • Silver, butler, hostess and family-style service
  • Clearing the table

Organising your business

  • Creating programmes
  • Pricing
  • Brand strategy
  • Weekly routine
  • Hiring
  • Finance

Review and test

  • Deportment
  • Written test
  • Table service
  • Speech
  • Role play

Certification

  • Trainer qualification test
  • AdB certification and AIPE certification
  • Announcement on the AIPE platforms
  • Certificate with a unique serial number

Bespoke private coaching

Prefer a pathway without an exam? A single private session, preparation for a specific event or a programme over several months, designed one to one or for a family.

Certification

Certificates recognised by AIPE

AIPE, the Association Internationale des Professeurs d’Étiquette, headquartered in Paris, is the certifying body behind every credential Académie de Bernadac issues, validated through a combined written and practical examination. Each certificate carries a unique serial number and can be checked at any time.

CertificationTrainingRequirements
AdB internal certification1 day or lessCompletion of all training
AdB certification, recognised by AIPE1 to 3 daysCompletion of all training and assessment
AdB certification and AIPE certificationMore than 3 daysCompletion of all training and all assessments

In their words

What our participants say

  • “Guillaume Rué de Bernadac is the most talented European etiquette teacher. I am so grateful that I have learnt a great deal from his ‘Train the trainer’ course. I feel equipped to teach my students as he does.”

    Elizabeth SoosAuersmont School of Etiquette, Melbourne, Australia

  • “Académie de Bernadac helped me subtly with elegance in every gesture, every step. I am regarded now as a confident, charismatic and charming woman after the training. The teachers are very professional.”

    Leva DangCEO of URA Vietnam, organisers of Miss Vietnam International

  • “The training with Académie de Bernadac is very refined and informative. It definitely helped me with my life and career.”

    Jocelyn ChengCabin Crew Trainer and Recruiter

  • “The training with Académie de Bernadac is very enjoyable and inspiring. I will always remind myself to keep good manners and stay elegant.”

    Rose LinCEO of Purmulti

  • “The training from Académie de Bernadac helped me adapt with ease in international environment. It always reminds me to stay elegant and professional in my personal and career life.”

    Lily Li

  • “The class helped me a lot on how to be more confident and elegant socially and professionally. Hope Académie de Bernadac could help more people to become the best of themselves.”

    Ms Liu

Questions

Private coaching and certification: questions

Which programmes does Académie de Bernadac offer to individuals?

Two ready-made programmes, both customisable: Elegant Outstanding, a three-day private etiquette programme, and Etiquette Trainer, a five-day train-the-trainer certification. Bespoke private coaching without an exam is also available.

Do I need experience to join the Etiquette Trainer programme?

No. The train-the-trainer programme is open to all, with no prerequisites.

Are the programmes in person or online?

Both are possible. The format is agreed with you when you contact us.

In which languages are the programmes taught?

Chinese, English and French. Other languages are available on request.

How can someone check my certificate?

Every certificate has a unique serial number. Anyone can check it with the certificate lookup on this site.

Can I enquire on behalf of someone else, or for a child?

Yes. The form asks who the enquiry is for. For a person under 18, a parent or legal guardian makes the enquiry and confirms it in the form.

Private coaching · Trainer certification

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Prefer email? info@acdebernadac.com

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