We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Kieran Ball

Welcome to course 2 :-)

This is is the second course in the 3 Minute French series, and it consists of lessons 10 to 18. If you're familiar with all the words and phrases you learnt in course 1, then you're ready to jump straight in.

Read more

Welcome to course 2 :-)

This is is the second course in the 3 Minute French series, and it consists of lessons 10 to 18. If you're familiar with all the words and phrases you learnt in course 1, then you're ready to jump straight in.

The good thing about the 3 Minute French courses is that everything you learn is recapped in later lessons, so you don't have to worry about going back to the start to refresh your memory (although you can if you want; it won't harm you. ). Just like with the first course, at the end of every lesson are some recap practice exercises to make sure words and phrases you learnt previously are still secure in your memory.

In this course, you'll start to look at some different sentence structures in French. You'll be looking at some ways to ask questions and then you'll get an introduction to a very useful part of the language: verbs. All of this will open up the French language to you, giving you many more things to say. Don't worry if you've never come across verbs before, or if you've had a bad experience with learning grammar; everything in this book is explained in a simple and easy to understand way.

As well as the new structures, we'll be exploring some new topic areas including telling the time in French, booking taxis and asking where things are. We'll also look at an interesting linguistic feature in English called the Saxon Genitive, and we'll discover that it doesn't exist in French so we'll need ways to get around it.

The best way to tackle the trickier features of any language is to spread them out rather than looking at them all at once. Sometimes, when you open a foreign language instruction book, all the linguistic features of the language are introduced on the first page, and it can often be very off putting. In the 3 Minute French courses, I have broken them down and spread them about. We look at each particular feature when it crops up naturally in the order of the course. In this course, there are a few such features that need explaining in order to understand how some of the French structures work.

In this course, there are also some more Vocabulary Expansion Sheets for you to boost your French vocabulary.

I hope you enjoy :-)

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn some useful question phrases you can use in lots of situations
  • Learn some verbs and start to add different structures to your language
  • Learn some time phrases, money phrases and mealtime phrases to add more details to your french
  • Learn to tell the time in french
  • Learn how to book a taxi in french
  • Get to grips with french pronunciation
  • Understand the structure of the french language
  • Understand and use grammatical and linguistic features of the french language with ease
  • Build a solid base vocabulary of words and phrases you can use straight away in the real world
  • Speak french confidently and comfortably in everyday situations
  • Understand what's being said back to you
  • Be more than just an average tourist when travelling to french speaking countries
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Lesson 10a
Lesson 10b
Lesson 10c
Introduction
Read more

Here are two worksheets that briefly recap the trickier parts of this course.

Firstly, a sheet on telling the time in French:

Recap Notes 3

Secondly, a sheet recapping how to get round apostrophes in French and also recapping all those little contractions:

Recap Notes 4

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds a solid base vocabulary of words and phrases that learners can use straight away in real-world, everyday situations, such as booking taxis and asking for directions
Explores new topic areas, including telling the time in French, booking taxis, and asking where things are, which are useful for travel and everyday conversation
Introduces verbs and different sentence structures, opening up the French language and giving learners more ways to express themselves and ask questions
Requires familiarity with the words and phrases learned in the first course of the series, suggesting a sequential learning path for building proficiency
Includes recap practice exercises at the end of every lesson to reinforce previously learned words and phrases, ensuring information is retained in the memory
Provides vocabulary expansion sheets to boost French vocabulary, which can be helpful for learners looking to expand their knowledge

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Bite-sized french for beginners

According to learners, this course is an excellent continuation of the '3 Minute French' series, building effectively on the first course. Students praise the perfect pace for beginners and the short, bite-sized lessons, which make learning manageable and easy to fit into a busy schedule. The course is noted for introducing concepts like verbs and sentence structures in clear, digestible chunks. Reviewers appreciate the practical focus, providing useful phrases for real-world use and travel. While many find it effective for building a solid foundation and increasing confidence, a few reviewers mention that it remains quite basic and may lack depth for those seeking more rapid progression or comprehensive grammar.
Breaks down new structures simply.
"this one introduces verbs and more complex sentence structures in manageable chunks. The pace is perfect for beginners..."
"Introducing verbs felt daunting but he broke it down perfectly. The recap sections are a lifesaver."
"The grammar explanations are simple, which is good, but sometimes I felt they could be a little more detailed, especially with verbs."
Focuses on practical real-world use.
"The practical focus is great for real-world use."
"A solid course, continues the easy-to-follow format of the first. I appreciate the focus on practical language for travel."
"It's not an intensive course, but perfect for building confidence and picking up essential phrases for holidays or basic interactions."
Easy to fit into schedule & digest.
"The pace is perfect for beginners and the practice exercises are very helpful. I feel much more confident using French now..."
"The 3-minute format is great for fitting learning into a busy schedule. Sometimes I wish there was a bit more depth..."
"Excellent for beginners. The lessons are short and digestible, making it easy to stay motivated. The exercises help reinforce..."
"As someone completely new to French, this course (and Course 1) has been invaluable... The short lessons are key to fitting it in."
Effective continuation but can feel basic.
"Building on the first course, this one introduces verbs and more complex sentence structures in manageable chunks."
"Good continuation from course 1. Covers essential topics like telling time and asking questions. The 3-minute format is great..."
"It's fine for absolute basics but you won't get much beyond simple phrases. If you want conversational fluency or a deep dive..."
"Still feels very basic, rehashing a lot from the first course. Didn't feel like much progression from Course 1. Disappointing."

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 3 Minute French - Course 2 | Language lessons for beginners with these activities:
Review French Greetings and Basic Phrases
Reinforce foundational French greetings and basic phrases from Course 1 to ensure a solid base for Course 2.
Show steps
  • Review notes from previous lessons.
  • Practice pronunciation of key phrases.
  • Test yourself with flashcards or quizzes.
Follow French Pronunciation Tutorials
Improve your French pronunciation by following online tutorials and practicing with native speakers.
Show steps
  • Find tutorials on French pronunciation online.
  • Focus on sounds that are difficult for you.
  • Practice repeating the sounds and words.
  • Record yourself and compare to native speakers.
Review 'Easy French Step-by-Step'
Supplement the course with a structured grammar guide to reinforce sentence construction and verb conjugations.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to verbs and questions.
  • Complete the exercises in the book.
  • Compare the book's explanations with the course's.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Verb Conjugation Drills
Practice verb conjugations to improve fluency and accuracy in forming sentences.
Show steps
  • Select a few common French verbs.
  • Conjugate them in present tense.
  • Repeat with past and future tenses.
  • Use the verbs in simple sentences.
Read 'French for Dummies'
Expand your knowledge with a general overview of French language and culture.
Show steps
  • Browse the chapters on grammar and culture.
  • Focus on sections related to course topics.
  • Use the book as a reference for vocabulary.
Create a Short French Dialogue
Solidify your understanding of French by writing and practicing a short dialogue.
Show steps
  • Choose a scenario (e.g., booking a taxi).
  • Write a dialogue using learned phrases.
  • Practice the dialogue with a partner.
  • Record yourself speaking the dialogue.
Practice French Conversation with a Partner
Enhance your speaking skills by practicing conversations with a language partner.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in person.
  • Choose topics from the course to discuss.
  • Take turns speaking and listening.
  • Provide feedback to each other.

Career center

Learners who complete 3 Minute French - Course 2 | Language lessons for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Tour Guide
A tour guide often needs to converse with people in their native language, and this course helps build a foundation in French. This role involves leading groups of tourists, offering information about local attractions, and ensuring they have a pleasant and informative experience. A tour guide with a knowledge of French can cater to a broader range of tourists. This course, which focuses on practical phrases for travel such as booking taxis, asking where things are, and telling the time, directly assists a tour guide in their daily interactions. The course also introduces sentence structure and verbs, which further enhances a tour guide's ability to communicate effectively and confidently with French speaking tourists. This course may be useful for aspiring tour guides.
Bilingual Teacher
A bilingual teacher instructs students in two languages, and this course can build a foundation in French. This role benefits from a strong understanding of French and how to communicate effectively. The course introduces grammar in an easy to understand way, which can help a teacher explain complex concepts to students. This course also teaches practical phrases, question formation, and basic verb usage. By understanding basic sentence structures and verbs, a bilingual teacher can better facilitate learning in a French language setting. This course may be beneficial for aspiring bilingual teachers.
Translator
A translator converts written text from one language into another, and this course helps build a foundation in French. Success in this role depends on a strong grasp of language structure and vocabulary. This course specifically teaches practical phrases, question formation, and basic verb usage, which are all key elements of effective translation. The course also builds vocabulary with expansion sheets. This course may allow a translator to work with French documents or materials. By understanding grammatical nuances and common sentence structures, a translator can convey meaning more accurately. This course may be useful for aspiring translators.
Language Tutor
A language tutor helps individuals learn a new language, and this course can be beneficial for those looking to tutor others in French. This course provides a structured approach to learning French, and it emphasizes simple explanations of grammar and usage, and it also reviews information to solidify concepts. Understanding these learning techniques may help with tutoring. This course helps a tutor understand what a new language learner needs. The course specifically covers sentence structures, verbs, and lots of common phrases which may be useful for tutoring. This course can potentially be useful for language tutoring.
Cultural Liaison
A cultural liaison works to bridge understanding between different cultures, and this course may build a foundation in French. This role is about effective communication and an appreciation of other cultures. This course teaches practical phrases, question formation, and the fundamentals of French grammar. It also introduces vocabulary that is useful for everyday conversations. These skills are all highly relevant for a cultural liaison engaging with French-speaking communities. This course may be useful for those who wish to become cultural liaisons.
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative interacts with customers, frequently assisting them with their inquiries and concerns. This course in French helps build a foundation in communicating in French for customer service needs. Being able to speak French fluently can greatly expand the customer base and improve customer satisfaction for companies communicating internationally. This course improves conversational skills through lessons about asking questions, using specific phrases, and understanding basic sentence structures. This course may allow a customer service representative to provide assistance to French speaking individuals. The practical skills taught in the course may be useful for customer service representatives.
Hotel Receptionist
A hotel receptionist is often the first point of contact for guests, and this course may help build a foundation in French. This course teaches practical phrases for common situations, such as asking questions, booking taxis, and understanding time phrases, all of which are relevant to interactions with French-speaking guests. The course introduces verbs and sentence structure, which enhances a receptionist's ability to understand and respond to guest requests. This course can aid a hotel receptionist in their daily duties, particularly in locations with French-speaking visitors. This course may be useful for a hotel receptionist role.
Social Worker
A social worker provides assistance as well as support to individuals and families, and this course may build a foundation in French. This role often requires communication with people from diverse backgrounds. This course focuses on building foundations in conversational French, teaching practical phrases, question formation, and basic verb usage. These skills are essential for a social worker engaging with French-speaking clients. By learning to communicate effectively, a social worker can build trust and provide better support. This course may be useful for a social worker.
Travel Blogger
A travel blogger documents their travel experiences and shares them with an audience, and this course in French helps build a foundation in the language. Those who are fluent in French can write about their travels in French-speaking areas. The course teaches practical phrases for booking taxis, asking where things are, telling time, and other aspects of daily life. The lessons on sentence structure and verbs are useful for writing about those travels. This course may be useful for those who travel blog. The course may allow the blogger to communicate effectively with locals, which enriches the experience and their writing.
Flight Attendant
A flight attendant ensures the safety and comfort of passengers during flights, and this course can help build a foundation in French. Speaking French enables a flight attendant to communicate with a wider range of passengers, enhancing their travel experience. This course teaches practical phrases, such as how to ask questions, tell time, and book a taxi. These skills are all highly relevant for interacting with French-speaking passengers. The course also introduces vocabulary related to common activities, which allows for more meaningful conversations in French. This course may be useful for aspiring flight attendants.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports on events in another country, and this course may build a foundation in French. This role requires a deep understanding of the language and culture. This course helps build a foundation in spoken French, teaching practical phrases, question formation, and basic verb usage. The course provides a foundation for understanding everyday conversations, which can enhance a correspondent's interviews and interactions. This course may be useful for those who seek to become a foreign correspondent in a French speaking area. A foreign correspondent may benefit by understanding French grammar and sentence structure.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer interacts with individuals entering a country, often needing to verify documents and understand their travel intentions, and this course may help build a foundation in French. This course provides training in basic conversation skills that can assist an immigration officer with individuals who speak French. The course focuses on practical language, verbs, and grammar, which may be useful in a variety of situations. Understanding key phrases and question structures can help an immigration officer handle initial interactions more effectively. This course may be useful for aspiring immigration officers working in areas with French speakers.
Human Resources Specialist
A human resources specialist is responsible for managing employee relations, and this course can build a foundation in French. A human resources specialist may need to communicate with employees from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This course focuses on basic conversational skills such as asking questions, understanding time phrases, and booking taxis. These skills may be beneficial for a human resources specialist who needs to interact with French-speaking employees. The course also introduces sentence structure, which further enhances a specialist's ability to effectively manage communications. This course may be helpful for a human resources specialist.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies consumer behavior and market trends, and this course may build a foundation in French. This role requires gathering and analyzing information from diverse sources. This course can help build a foundation in communicating with French-speaking markets by assisting with comprehending market data, customer feedback, and other relevant communications. By learning common phrases, asking questions, and understanding basic sentence structures, the market research analyst can improve their ability to assess French markets. This course may be useful for market research analysts.
International Sales Representative
An international sales representative works with clients in different countries, and this course helps build a foundation in French for sales settings. This role often requires strong communication skills and a knowledge of the client's culture and language. The course provides training in conversational skills that can be used in sales situations. By learning practical phrases, asking questions, and understanding French verb usage, a sales representative can engage with clients more effectively. This course can help a sales representative build rapport with French-speaking clients. This course may be useful for the role of international sales representative.

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 3 Minute French - Course 2 | Language lessons for beginners.
Provides a structured approach to learning French grammar and vocabulary. It's particularly useful for reinforcing the concepts introduced in the 3 Minute French course. The step-by-step format allows for gradual progression and mastery of the language. It serves as a valuable reference for grammar rules and sentence structures.
Offers a lighthearted and accessible approach to learning French. It covers a wide range of topics, including grammar, vocabulary, and cultural insights. It's particularly helpful for beginners who want a broad overview of the language. It can be used as a supplementary resource to the 3 Minute French course, providing additional explanations and examples.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser