To help you with thorough proofreading of your French essays, I have created a proofreading checklist so you can correct most of your mistakes yourself. If you prepare for a French exam (DELF, DALF) or for any written French assignment, I strongly recommend you get into the habit of using the following proofreading checklist so that you are familiar with it when you need it most: on exam day! You can download my free proofreading checklist from my website: https://frenchyourway.com.au/proofreading-checklist-french-essay-writing Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this … Read More →
FYW 084 : A few French punctuation rules… and why I’ve been inconsistent! (sorry)
Have you ever noticed that there is a space in French before the question mark sign? One of my listeners did and asked about it so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to go over a few major differences between the French and English punctuation rules. Also, if you’ve read some of my articles (www.frenchyourway.com.au), you may have noticed some inconsistencies, with my use of the quotation marks for instance. I’m going to tell you everything about them and why I’ve been making mistakes! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Point = period, full … Read More →
FYW 078 : How to Use Your French Dictionary Efficiently
A dictionary is an indispensable tool that everyone should have on a shelf...on in their pockets. But you need to use it well: you wouldn't believe how many times I've seen students say (or write) things that were not understandable - or worse: very, very embarrassing !- because of an improper choice of word! Understand when and how to use you French dictionary to help you with French language! This episode is an adaptation of my article "How to use your French dictionary efficiently", which comes with a free practice worksheet. Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this … Read More →
FYW 077 : “Zero confidence when speaking French!”
How to improve your confidence to speak French with others ? One listener of French Your Way Podcast wrote to me: "I get so caught up on the grammar mistakes that I'm making and worry a lot about what the other person is thinking of me (i.e. "She's dumb", "She's wasting my time"..." If this sounds like it could be you too, don’t miss this episode. I’m sharing my thoughts and tips on how to improve your confidence when speaking French. I hope this will help! LINKS and RESOURCES Institut de Français: http://www.institutdefrancais.com "How long does it take to learn French?" … Read More →
FYW 075 : France Travel Tips (PART 3): Driving
Travelling around France by car is by far the best option to get to see the most beautiful villages, secret gorges and most picturesque sceneries my country has to offer. Plus, you stop when you want for a break, a coffee or to take photos and make unplanned detours, decide to change your itinerary or just stay in a lovely location just a bit longer! So, if you feel comfortable with driving a manual car on the right-hand side of the road, I would strongly recommend you hire a car and France will be your oyster! Before you hit the road though, please be aware of some rules that may be different … Read More →
FYW 074 : France Travel Tips (PART 2): Taking the Train
Are you travelling through France by train this summer? Lucky you! Taking the TGV ("Train à Grande Vitesse", i.e fast train) in France is simple but here are my 10 tips on how to take the train in France to make your trip even easier. In this episode, you’ll find out where to get your ticket, how to ensure you’re not getting onboard the wrong train (especially when it splits on the way), how you can avoid having to run like crazy on the platform with your luggage to find your carriage door before your train leaves and much more! This is an audio version of my article "10 tips on how to … Read More →
FYW 073 : France Travel Tips (PART 1): General Tips
To celebrate summer I’ve prepared for you a series of 3 episodes with my best travel tips for your stay in France! In this episode I’ll cover: how to plan your itinerary and avoid being stuck in traffic, how many "bises" (kisses) you should smack on French people’s cheeks, and much more. Learn false friend words that may cause confusion to English speakers visiting France. Also, are you aware of the most popular scams where people may try to fool you and get a hand on your money? Do you know which types of flowers you should NOT bring to your French host? It’s all in this episode! Stay … Read More →
My 5 core beliefs about language learning
When I used to teach in various traditional French schools and centres, I noticed some problems and inconsistencies which made me increasingly frustrated (that’s actually how I became independent and created French Your way and my two podcasts!). I observed, listened and tried to address these issues so I could make the whole experience of learning French more relevant and meaningful: What wasn’t being done in bigger schools that should be? What did students complain about? So, here are my 5 core beliefs about language learning (not just French!) 1. Confidence is key I met Robbie … Read More →
Emmener, amener, emporter, apporter ?
Emmener, amener, emporter, apporter ? Emmener, amener, emporter, apporter are four French verbs which trigger nightmares for some of my students…but also for some French people! In this article, I hope to clarify things enough for you to feel confident about using them properly :-) So, keep reading then test yourself with my free practice exercises! “Porter” vs “-mener” “Porter” means “to carry” (and, when referring to clothes, “to wear”). Example: un porte-clé (= a keyring, literally “a key-carrier/holder”) It’s used with things, because things can’t walk or move themselves and need to … Read More →
FYW 065 : Futur Simple vs Futur Proche
Discover some popular French expressions with body parts words. Can you guess what "having a hair on one’s tongue" mean? Or "not having one’s tongue in one’s pocket"? Find out now! Enrich your vocabulary and get a fun insight into French culture as well :-) Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode L’année prochaine, je vais étudier le français en France. = Next year, I’m going to study French in France Pour ma retraite, je vais acheter une maison au bord de la mer. = For my retirement I’m going to buy a house by the beach. Nous débiterons 200 dollars de votre … Read More →