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Scott McElroy

The course is audio based using a bilingual speaker (myself) and it will be supported with on-screen transcripts for easier learning and better retention. There are also printable vocabulary guides to take with you wherever you go.

Latest Update: 2 days

'Each lecture gives so much detail, without it sounding too overwhelming. It really is a must have for mastering a good, solid foundation of spoken French. It's good to keep referring to various modules as you like. Very well presented, likeable tutor, easy to follow online course. 5/5. ' Catherine Holder

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The course is audio based using a bilingual speaker (myself) and it will be supported with on-screen transcripts for easier learning and better retention. There are also printable vocabulary guides to take with you wherever you go.

Latest Update: 2 days

'Each lecture gives so much detail, without it sounding too overwhelming. It really is a must have for mastering a good, solid foundation of spoken French. It's good to keep referring to various modules as you like. Very well presented, likeable tutor, easy to follow online course. 5/5. ' Catherine Holder

'Having been to college to learn French and spent lots of cash on books, this has to be the easiest course by far. Navigation of the online content is both enjoyable and simple. The ability to access the course when you want makes my first foray into online learning a joy. many thanks this is the helping hand I needed.' Frank Phipps

'The BEST thing about this course (apart from it being really helpful. ) is that the content is up to date and contemporary. My classes (I am a French teacher) sometimes have to learn from outdated text books but the language in this course is modern, fresh and above all it is USABLE. Thank you for your hard work. ' Charlize Afolayan

'This course has made learning French so accessible and easy that I can actually feel myself progressing. Honestly, you won't regret signing up. ' James Marsh

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What's inside

Syllabus

Why choose to learn another language?
The benefits of learning another language.

A look at what the French language entails, from masculine and feminine nouns to the different tenses. Contains some important information on the course layout.

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A round-up of this section, covering greetings, numbers and your likes and dislikes.

Let's see what we have learned from this section.

A review of the things we have learned throughout this section.

A roundup of the body parts and illnesses lecture content.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses audio-based instruction with bilingual support and on-screen transcripts, which is helpful for learners who prefer auditory and visual learning styles
Includes printable vocabulary guides, which allows learners to study and practice new words offline and on the go, reinforcing their learning
Covers greetings, personal profiles, directions, dining out, and body parts, which are practical topics for everyday conversations and travel
Includes bonus flashcard videos, which can help learners memorize vocabulary and phrases in a fun and engaging way
Focuses on conversational French, which is ideal for learners who want to develop practical speaking skills for real-life situations
Includes a downloadable full course presentation, which allows learners to review all the material in one document and use it for future reference

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Reviews summary

Accessible conversational french for beginners

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation for conversational French, making learning accessible and easy. Students highlight the ease of navigation and the use of up-to-date, usable language, contrasting it with potentially outdated traditional methods. Reviewers found the content well-presented and the tutor likeable. It is considered a great starting point for beginners.
Content is clear and easy to follow
"Very well presented, likeable tutor, easy to follow online course."
"Navigation of the online content is both enjoyable and simple."
"The structure and presentation make the course very easy to follow along with."
Builds a good speaking base
"It really is a must have for mastering a good, solid foundation of spoken French."
"Each lecture gives so much detail, without it sounding too overwhelming."
"The course provides a strong base to begin speaking conversational French."
Focuses on contemporary French
"the content is up to date and contemporary... the language in this course is modern, fresh and above all it is USABLE."
"My classes... sometimes have to learn from outdated text books but the language in this course is modern, fresh and above all it is USABLE."
"I appreciate that the language taught feels relevant for modern conversations."
Learning French is made easy
"This course has made learning French so accessible and easy that I can actually feel myself progressing."
"Having been to college to learn French... this has to be the easiest course by far."
"It makes learning French feel very accessible and achievable for beginners."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learn to Speak: Conversational French - French For Beginners with these activities:
Review Basic French Grammar
Strengthen your understanding of fundamental French grammar concepts before starting the course. This will make it easier to grasp new vocabulary and sentence structures.
Show steps
  • Review verb conjugations for 'être' and 'avoir'.
  • Practice forming simple sentences with correct gender agreement.
  • Complete online quizzes to test your knowledge.
Read 'French for Dummies'
Supplement the course material with a beginner-friendly guide to French. This book offers clear explanations and practical exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on basic grammar and vocabulary.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Use the book as a reference when you encounter difficulties in the course.
Practice French Pronunciation
Improve your pronunciation by practicing common French sounds and words. This will help you speak more confidently and be better understood.
Show steps
  • Use online resources to listen to native speakers pronounce French words.
  • Record yourself speaking French and compare your pronunciation to the native speakers.
  • Focus on difficult sounds like the 'r' and nasal vowels.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a French Vocabulary Flashcard Set
Reinforce your vocabulary learning by creating your own flashcards. This active learning technique will help you memorize new words more effectively.
Show steps
  • Choose 20-30 new vocabulary words from the course.
  • Write the French word on one side of the flashcard and the English translation on the other.
  • Use the flashcards to quiz yourself regularly.
Explore 'Living Language French'
Deepen your understanding of French with a structured language learning program. This book provides a comprehensive approach to grammar, vocabulary, and culture.
Show steps
  • Work through the lessons in the workbook.
  • Listen to the audio CDs and practice your pronunciation.
  • Complete the quizzes and tests to assess your progress.
Write a Short French Diary Entry
Practice your writing skills by keeping a short diary in French. This will help you use new vocabulary and grammar in a meaningful context.
Show steps
  • Write a few sentences each day about your daily activities.
  • Focus on using vocabulary and grammar learned in the course.
  • Use a dictionary or online translator to help you find the right words.
Practice Conversational French with a Language Partner
Improve your speaking skills by practicing with a language partner. This will give you the opportunity to use what you've learned in real conversations.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in person.
  • Schedule regular practice sessions.
  • Discuss topics related to the course or your personal interests.

Career center

Learners who complete Learn to Speak: Conversational French - French For Beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Au Pair
An au pair lives with a host family in a foreign country, providing childcare and assisting with household tasks. This course helps build basic conversational skills in French, enabling effective communication with the host family and children. The emphasis on greetings, expressing likes and dislikes, and discussing daily activities is particularly beneficial. Knowing vocabulary related to family, food, and common phrases enhances the ability to integrate into the family and create positive relationships. The course helps in emergency situations.
Hospitality Professional
Hospitality professionals work in hotels, resorts, and other establishments to ensure guests have a positive experience. This course helps build a foundation in conversational French, allowing them to interact with French-speaking guests more effectively. The focus on greetings, ordering food, and understanding likes and dislikes is particularly beneficial. Knowing vocabulary related to directions, transport, and common phrases enhances their ability to provide excellent service. This course helps those individuals communicate in emergency situations.
Flight Attendant
Flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of passengers during air travel. This course helps build communication skills in French, allowing flight attendants to interact with passengers from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Knowing how to greet passengers, provide directions, and handle basic requests in French enhances the overall travel experience. The course’s focus on practical vocabulary related to travel, food, and common phrases is particularly relevant. Further, modules about body parts and illnesses can aid communication in emergency situations.
Tour Guide
A tour guide brings destinations to life for travelers. This role involves leading groups, sharing historical and cultural insights, and ensuring a memorable experience. This course helps build a foundation in conversational French, which is invaluable for engaging with French-speaking tourists or leading tours in French-speaking regions. The emphasis on greetings, directions, and cultural nuances is particularly beneficial. Knowing vocabulary related to landmarks, transport, and social interactions learned in this course enhances a tour guide's ability to provide informative and engaging tours. French is spoken as a first language in many countries where English is not, so this course will give you a leg up on your competition.
Cultural Exchange Coordinator
Cultural exchange coordinators facilitate programs that promote cross-cultural understanding and collaboration. These programs benefit by having an individual with basic French language skills. This course helps build a foundation in conversational French. The course’s focus on greetings, cultural nuances, and social interactions equips coordinators with essential skills for engaging with participants from French-speaking backgrounds. The modules on discussing hobbies, food, and social life are particularly relevant for fostering meaningful connections and facilitating cultural exchange.
International Sales Representative
International sales representatives promote and sell products or services to clients in foreign markets. This course helps build introductory conversational skills in French, which is valuable for engaging with potential clients in French-speaking regions. The course's emphasis on greetings, building rapport, and understanding cultural nuances enhances the ability to establish trust and build relationships. The modules on expressing likes and dislikes and discussing social events are particularly beneficial for networking and creating common ground.
Travel Blogger
Travel bloggers create content about their travel experiences, offering tips, recommendations, and insights to their audience. This course helps build conversational skills in French, which is useful for engaging with locals and exploring French-speaking regions more authentically. The course’s emphasis on greetings, directions, and understanding cultural nuances enhances the ability to immerse oneself in the local culture. Knowing vocabulary related to transport, food, and social interactions makes travel experiences more enriching and allows bloggers to create more informative and engaging content.
Brand Ambassador
Brand ambassadors represent a company or product and promote it to consumers. This course helps those who are interested in being a brand ambassador for a French brand or in a French-speaking region. This course helps build a foundation in conversational French. The emphasis on greetings, directions, and cultural nuances is particularly beneficial. Knowing vocabulary related to landmarks, transport, and social interactions learned in this course enhances a brand ambassador's ability to provide informative and engaging information.
Museum Docent
Museum docents guide visitors through exhibits, providing information and answering questions. This course helps docents who are interested in working at museums with French artworks or French-speaking patrons. The course will help build a foundation in conversational French by focusing on greetings and cultural information. In addition it gives a docent the ability to answer questions and interact with the museum visitors.
Customer Support Representative
Customer support representatives assist customers with inquiries, resolve issues, and provide information about products or services. This role benefits from the ability to communicate effectively in multiple languages. This course helps build basic French conversational skills, allowing representatives to assist French-speaking customers. The modules on greetings, common phrases, and expressing likes and dislikes are particularly useful for creating positive customer interactions. Further, understanding French cultural nuances, as emphasized in the course, helps in building rapport and trust with customers. This will help get your foot in the door with a multi-national customer service company.
International Aid Worker
International aid workers provide assistance to communities in need, often in developing countries. This may be useful as a starting point in building conversational skills in French, allowing them to communicate with local populations in French-speaking regions. The emphasis on greetings, understanding cultural nuances, and discussing basic needs is particularly relevant. Knowing vocabulary related to body parts, illnesses, and emergency situations is crucial for providing effective support. It is expected that you learn more French in such a role.
French Instructor
French instructors guide and teach students with the French language in a school or university setting. This course can help in sharpening the user's French conversational skills, which is important for those who are teaching others. The course will support the development of a solid foundation for this language by teaching greetings and cultural awareness, as well as simple vocabulary. This course is essential for new speakers of French who need to be conversational on the get-go.
Language Teacher
Language teachers instruct students in the grammar, vocabulary, and cultural aspects of a foreign language. This course may be useful as a refresher or introductory tool, even though language teachers typically require advanced knowledge of the language. The course's structure and focus on contemporary, usable language can inform teaching methods. The course makes learning accessible and easy. A French teacher can make use of the downloadable course presentation.
Translator
Translators convert written or spoken content from one language to another. They must possess a strong command of both languages and cultural understanding. This course may be useful by providing a foundation in conversational French. While professional translation often requires advanced linguistic training, the course's focus on practical vocabulary and everyday phrases helps with basic translation tasks. The course modules on greetings, likes and dislikes, and social interactions provide a base for understanding context and nuance, especially in informal content. This is a start to a career that requires advanced language skills.
Translator Assistant
A translator assistant provides support to translators by assisting with tasks such as terminology research, proofreading, and formatting documents. While this course may not qualify someone to be a translator, it allows you to work with French documents or French speaking translators as an assistant. The course focuses on vocabulary, greetings, and common French phrases thus helping you understand the language. You may learn a great deal from the translators you assist.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Learn to Speak: Conversational French - French For Beginners.
This comprehensive course provides a structured approach to learning French, including audio CDs and a workbook. It's suitable for learners who want a more in-depth learning experience. is often used in formal language courses and offers a wide range of exercises and activities.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the French language, covering grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. It's a great resource for beginners who want a solid foundation before or during the course. The book is commonly used as a supplementary textbook and offers practical exercises to reinforce learning.

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