Kristen Phillips, a New Jersey French teacher for 22 years, has made teaching with French music her passion. A long-time lover of French popular music, from which she herself learned French, Kristen wrote a workbook on the music of GIMS (formerly Maître Gims) for intermediate learners titled Maîtrisez le français avec GIMS.

Phillips received a B.A. in French education from the University of Delaware in 2000 and then returned to UD and completed an M.A. in languages, literatures, cultures and pedagogy in 2003. Through hard work, persistence and some luck, she made the acquaintance of GIMS and his team in 2018. Since then, the artist has supported her efforts to teach French with his music in many ways, including talking about her work in a Canadian radio station interview, reposting her project on Instagram and doing an interview for the Manie Musicale group per her suggestion. In November 2024, he appeared at a free meet and greet event for teachers and students organized by Phillips before his concert at Madison Square Garden.

GIMS and his team have kindly invited Phillips to numerous concerts, including backstage access. "GIMS was blown away when he learned that my colleagues and I were teaching with his music,” said Phillips. “He understood immediately the enormous role that teachers and students of all levels play in the French-language music market in the United States. He remains extremely flattered by the interest in his music by educators, for whom he has great respect. As a fan of American music, he knows how much English he has learned by listening to his favorite artists over the years." 

Phillips believes music is a powerful tool for learning that takes language beyond the classroom and into a student's everyday life. "I learned so much French by listening to music, and when I started teaching, I knew I wanted to impart my love of music to my students. It just took finding the right artist to inspire me to write my workbook. GIMS is the best!"

GIMS holds many coveted musical records both as a solo artist and from his time with the rap group Sexion d'Assaut. He is the most viewed Francophone artist ever on YouTube, and in 2025 he won the prestigious Victoire de la Musique award for male artist of the year. If you'd like more information about Phillips’ work and her partnership with this international musical superstar, visit her Instagram page (@mme_phillips) or her website (www.fleavecgims.com), where you can request the files for her workbook for free.