A chat with Charlie Whitesides from Street French, who learned French from scratch and speaks with an unmistakable Parisian accent. We tackle:

• Are immersion experiences worth it?
• What should you do when you get stuck?
• What should you focus on to make real progress with your French, starting today?

Are you really asking if that jam has preservatives, or did you just say something super embarrassing?

Welcome to the word of les faux amis or false friends! In this episode of Let's Speak French!, we break down 21 words that sounds like an English counterpart but meaning something totally different, including le conservateur vs le préservatif and les stores vs les magasins.

Here are your action steps:

1️⃣ Access your False Friends Flashcards to make sure these words stick

2️⃣ Tap "Follow" where you're listening to make sure you never miss an episode

3️⃣ Interested in private lessons? A few spaces have just opened up!

When should you use ne plus, ne jamais, ne guère, ne rien, personne ne vs. ne personne?

We're breaking down 10 negation structures that go beyond ne...pas and will help you to communicate with more fluency at the B1 and B2 Intermediate levels.

Your action steps:

1️⃣ Take the Negation Quiz

2️⃣ Check out the French transcript for this episode

3️⃣ Tap the "Follow" button where you're listening to make sure you never miss an episode!

Private French lessons are now open! Spaces are limited. Click here to apply.

For more French tips for intermediate learners and rusty beginners, follow along with Dr. Nat @elevatefrench on Instagram and Facebook.

Breaking down the hardest words to pronounce for intermediate learners, including the U vs. OU, U vs EU, and UI sounds.

Your action steps:

1️⃣ Grab the10 Intermediate Tongue Twisters to Improve Your Pronunciation

2️⃣ Tap the "Follow" button where you're listening to be in the loop for your weeklyLet's Speak French! lesson.

3️⃣ Follow Dr. Natalie for more French lessons @elevatefrench on Instagram & Facebook

Boost your intermediate French by reading novels in French. In this episode, I chat with Frédéric Patenaude, founder of French with Frédéric and the podcast Learn Quebec French. We break down the best reading habits and strategies to learn more French.

Follow along with the⁠ transcript of our French conversation and the vocabulary lesson here⁠.

We break down:

• What book should you read in French first?
• How many words should you look up per page?
• What are good strategies for reading in French at the intermediate level?
• The best Québec French novels you should be reading

Ready to read? Grab your curated reading list by level here.

Explore La Chandeleur, the delightful French holiday celebrated on February 2nd. Discover the history behind this tradition, why crêpes are the star of the day, and learn how to bring a little French culture into your kitchen.

What You’ll Learn:

• The origins of La Chandeleur and its connection to light and prosperity.

• The difference between sweet crêpes and savory galettes.
• Essential French vocabulary related to crêpes and the holiday.

Action Items:

1. Try your hand at making crêpes! Download a free, easy crêpe recipe with step-by-step instructions at elevatefrench.com/episode16.
2. Share this episode! Send it to a friend learning French to help them discover this fun tradition.
3. Leave a review! Support the podcast by rating and reviewing on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help more learners find us.

Celebrate La Chandeleur and enjoy the fun and flavor of this beloved French holiday. Bon appétit!

How to conjugate the most common irregular verbs in the present, passé composé, imparfait, futur, conditionnel, and subjonctif.

Your action steps:

1. Choose your level

2. Sign up for Beginner French Foundations Reboot

or

Intermediate French

Classes start soon and only open for enrollment twice per year!

Your action items to start thinking in French:

1️⃣ Enroll in the Intermediate French Class with Elevate French January-April 2025 cohort for the support and momentum you need with your French.

2️⃣ Let me know on Instagram which technique you're going to try out this week to think in French! I'm just @elevatefrench on Instagram and I can't wait to hear from you

Bonne continuation, mon ami.e!