Don't get me wrong: the year that's almost over has been a great year! I had two weddings, went on two honeymoons, enjoyed seeing my family and friends from Europe, learnt a lot, read a lot, cooked new dishes, met and worked with great people! But if you’re looking for a Christmas gift idea for a friend who loves French culture (or for yourself!), I can only recommend Stephen’s Clark “A Year in the Merde”. The novel is in English (with some French words), so it’s above all for entertainment, and it IS doing the job very well! When I read it, I burst out laugh many times – which is probably … Read More →
Recommended Reading List : French Literature Within Your Reach!
I have created a reading list of French books that I have personally read and recommend to my students. Discovering French literature really is within your reach! I have rated the books in this list by difficulty on a scale of 1 to 5 as follows: Beginner – ideal to start Intermediate – language/style is accessible and the book is short or clearly cut into parts/short stories. Intermediate Plus – language/style is moderately hard and the book is short or standard length. Advanced – language/expressions are more advanced and/or book is long. Very Advanced – the language and … Read More →
FV 004 : Cycling Around the World – An Inspirational Journey (Part 2)
Eric and Christine are an amazing couple who have been cycling around the world for ten years, and they’re still going! But what happens when bad luck strikes? And not just once, but multiple times? Can you pick yourself up, or do you give up? Eric really opened his heart to share some vivid, hard memories that he and his wife went through while on their adventure. Note: this is the second episode of Eric and Christine’s story. If you haven’t heard the first part yet, I suggest you start by listening to episode 3 of French Voices. Episode Timeline [04 min 07 sec] A very unfortunate series … Read More →
How to Add French to Your Daily Life
Here are tips on how you can add a bit of French language and culture outside formal lessons, in your everyday life. I’ve been inspired to write this article by Dennis, a student of French who recently asked me this question: “Right now I am learning French with 'study sessions' (I sit down, I study French), but then outside of that I'm not really 'using' French in my life - so I was wondering if there were things you would recommend for making it more a part of my life, even when I am not studying”. Thanks Dennis for the question! So, here are ideas about how you can improve your French by … Read More →
The 7 Most Common French Tenses Made Easy (Recipes)
French verbs and their conjugation seem to be the most exasperating part of French grammar for students. There are quite a number of French tenses and moods (I will write about those in a future article) and it is very easy to feel overwhelmed. As a result, many students buy dictionaries specifically dedicated to French verbs. Honestly, if I were a French student, the mere sight of these dictionaries would discourage me! Do I have to learn all that??! Good news : the answer is NO. There is an easy way you can dramatically reduce the amount of memorisation (and headaches!) to learn the … Read More →
Reading French books: where to start?
Once you've got some bases in French, I recommend you start trying reading French books and magazines. Why read French books? Reading French books will help you reinforce and learn French: as you see the sentences, you will passively absorb French grammar with the way sentences are structured/worded. I encourage my students to read, and I did notice dramatic improvements in every French skill among those of them who have picked up reading as a regular activity. You will expand your French vocabulary, learn new words. It is entertaining. As you gain confidence with reading French books … Read More →
Improve your French pronunciation: Ask Siri !
In this fun activity, you will work on: how to ask questions in French your French pronunciation the pace of your speech / your oral fluency : if you pause for too long, Siri will think that you were done asking your question and you will have to start again! Instructions 1. Set Siri to French language Go to: Settings > General > Siri > Language > French 2. Try to answer the questions below. Find out the information using only your voice! Download and print out my free PDF French pronunciation worksheet. Includes the answers. Hold down the main button … Read More →
How to Write The Perfect French Essay For Your Exam
Here are tips to help you write a great French essay with exam requirements in mind. Once you’re done, I strongly suggest you proofread your text using my checklist. Note: if you're preparing for the French VCE, there is an updated version of these exam tips in my guide "How to Prepare for the French VCE & Reach your Maximum Score". Exam Tips While supervising exams or tutoring for exam preparation, I’ve seen too many students writing straight away on their exam copies. Stop! Resist the urge to jump on your pen and take a step back to make sure that you will be addressing all the exam … Read More →
FV 003 : Cycling Around the World – An Inspirational Journey (Part 1)
Eric and Christine have been touring the world by bike for 10 years, embracing a nomadic lifestyle. They have met incredible people and crossed breathtaking and challenging landscapes along the way. This is the story of a journey that is not only physical, but also deeply spiritual. Come on board and listen to their inspirational story. Episode Timeline [03 min 57 sec] Ten years on the road [05 min 32 sec] How the idea came [07 min 53 sec] Why travelling by bike [09 min 55 sec] Some very special bikes [12 min 20 sec] A trip that became a lifestyle [13 min 56 sec] Travelling: an … Read More →
FV 002 : La Licorne – The Authentic “Savon de Marseille” Manufacture
Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Serge Bruna took over century old factory La Licorne and continues with passion the tradition of authentic soap-making. Embark on a fascinating journey through the Ages and the beautiful Provence region. You will almost smell the lavender while learning about the many properties and uses of the iconic Savon de Marseille, and even which soap is best for your skin. If you travel to Marseille, the visit of this factory- which is also the only one in the city centre- really is a must do, AND, exclusively for the listeners of French Voices, La Licorne … Read More →