Here’s my very first video for you!! I’m giving you 3 tips on how you can create your own French vocabulary lists AND how I recommend you use them for your French revisions! This includes how I used to learn Chinese when I was living in China. I hope this will help and inspire you :-) Feel free to share your own techniques to learn French vocabulary in the comment section, I’m sure it can help other students of French! Behind the scenes story: Shooting the video was a lot of fun…but took me a while! Unlike podcast recordings where I can easily edit the blanks or my many “um” and … Read More →
FYW 021 : What are the different names for soups in French?
If it’s the middle of winter for you too (or simply if you love food!), this episode will be deliciously heart-warming (and mouth-watering). I’ll go over a few different names to describe soups in French. You’ll also discover some popular French expressions with the word "soupe". Let me know what your favourite soup is! Reminder for those of you who can make it to Sydney for the BBR French World Festival; I’ll be there in the language area next to the kids corner and the pétanque! (Sydney, Circular Quay, 10-12 July 2015) Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this … Read More →
FYW 018 : A la Maison, Chez le Docteur
Do you know how to say that you're at the doctor’s, at the hospital, or just at somebody's place? I hear confusions and mistakes more often than not, so I’d like to go over these today. Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Un médecin / docteur (nm) = doctor Un (médecin) généraliste = GP Une femme-médecin, doctoresse = female doctor La médecine = medicine (science field) Un médicament = a medicine, a drug Chez le docteur / chez le médecin à l’hôpital chez le dentiste chez mon ami(e) Le coiffeur = the hairdresser Le salon de coiffure = the … Read More →
FYW 017 : Common Mistakes When Talking About The Weather
Discover or rediscover the structures used to talk about the weather. Many students tend to mix them, so this episode will help you to nail it every time. After listening, write your description of the weather where you leave in the comment section! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Parler de la pluie et du beau temps = to make small talk La météo, le temps = the weather Quel temps fait-il ? Il fait quel temps ? (= What’s the weather like ?) Il fait beau / mauvais / gris / chaud / froid / doux / 30 degrés / moins deux (degrés) Il y a du soleil / de la … Read More →
FYW 016 : First Rest Then Stay
False friends are a common source of confusion and a common source of mistakes among English speakers who learn French. Today’s false friend is: "rester" vs "to rest". Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Rester = to stay, to remain Je reste ici ! = I’m staying here! Nous resterons toujours amis. = We’ll remain friends forever. Ils sont restés une semaine. = They stayed for one week. Nous sommes restés dans un petit hôtel à Paris. = We stayed in a small hotel in Paris. Il me reste quelques dollars. (= I have a few dollars left.) Il reste trois yaourts … Read More →
FYW 015 : Wine Glass or Glass of Wine
In today’s episode, I’m going to show you how the prepositions “à” and “de” are used, to describe the function of an item or what it contains. That should help you expand your vocabulary! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Une cuiller, une cuillère = a spoon Une cuiller à café, une petite cuiller = a teaspoon Une cuiller à soupe, une grande cuiller = a tablespoon Une cuiller à soupe d’huile = a tablespoon of oil Une cuiller à café de sucre = a teaspoon of sugar Un verre = a glass Un verre à vin = a wine glass Un verre de vin = a glass of wine Un … Read More →
FYW 013 : Crying in the Rain
In this episode I talk about the two words that students often get mixed up "pleuvoir" and "pleurer". Also discover some French expression related to these words. Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Pleuvoir = to rain Il pleut (indicatif présent), il pleuvait (imparfait), il pleuvra (futur), il a plu (passe composé) La pluie = rain Un pluviomètre = pluviometer, rain gauge Pleuvoir / Tomber des cordes Pleuvoir comme vache qui pisse Pleuvoir des seaux / à seaux Pleuvoir à verse Une averse = a shower (rain) Une averse de printemps Pleurer = to … Read More →
FYW 012 : Contact Detail – Finding Your Coordinates
In today’s episode, we’ll go through some basic vocab about contact details; basic but of course, I hope I’ll be able to teach you a few new tricks and false friends along the way! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Une carte de visite = contact card, business card Un C.V = a (work) resume Un résumé = a summary le résumé d’un livre Résumer = to sum up, to summarise Les coordonnées (fpl) = the contact details ; the coordinates Il a laissé ses coordonnées à l’accueil. = He left his contact details at the front desk. Je peux prendre vos coordonnées? = … Read More →
FYW 011 : French Words Derived From Numbers
Vocabulary is dripping from the ceiling in this episode where I give you many words derived from each of the French numbers, from one to ten! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Unique, une licorne (= a unicorn) un duo, un duel Bis ! = encore (musique concert) ; A (street number) Une bicyclette, un biscuit, un bipède, la bigamie, bipolaire Un tricycle, un triangle, un trio, des triplés, une triplette (team of 3 pétanque players), un trimestre Un quatuor, quarante, la quarantaine Un pentagone, un pentathlon Sexagésimal(e) : division of time into 60 … Read More →
FYW 010 : Je Pense Donc Je Suis
What’s the difference between "penser", "croire", "croire à", "croire en" ? Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Penser = to think Je pense donc je suis. Croire = to believe Je crois/pense que c’est une excellente idée de répondre a cette question! = I think that it is an excellent idea to answer this question! Croire (conjugation in the indicative present tense): je crois, nous croyons, ils croient Une croyance = belief, creed ; conviction Une croyance religieuse Croire = penser Je crois que vous faites une erreur. = I believe /think that you’re … Read More →