3 Minute French - Course 15 | Language lessons for beginners from Udemy

Welcome to course 15 :-)

This is the fifteenth instalment of the 3 Minute French series, and it's made up of lessons 126 to 134.

In this course, we're going to learn lots of new verbs, adjectives, nouns and adverbs, but we're also going to look in more detail at some of what we've already learnt.

With languages, it's often not a good idea to learn everything there is about a word or a phrase the first time you see it, as this can be overwhelming and you'll miss out on the beauty of discovering things at a more natural pace.

When we first learnt the verb "faire" back in course 2, we learnt that it means to make. We then practised with this meaning until it was part of our long-term memory. A few courses later, we learnt that faire actually has two meanings; it can mean to make or to do. We then practised with this new meaning until we became very familiar with it. Then, a bit later on, we discovered we can use faire with a verb to mean that we're getting something done.

If we'd learnt all of this in one go, it would have been too overwhelming and we wouldn't have been able to take it all in. However, because we spread it out, we were able to digest the small nuggets of information more naturally over time. This is what language learning is all about - learning small nuggets of information, becoming expert at them and then adding new information to it. When we were children, we didn't learn to speak in one weekend. Even though we were constantly surrounded by our mother language all day every day for years on end, our brains didn't let us take it all in in one sitting, and this is because it would have been too overwhelming. Instead, babies learn singular words first, then they start to put two or three words together, then they might be able to use them to ask a question, gradually acquiring, practising and mastering the language at a natural pace.

Well, in this course, we're going to be doing a lot of discovery. We're going to be expanding our knowledge in areas we're already familiar with. We'll learn new ways to talk about things, we'll look at nuanced differences between verbs such as connaître and savoir (which both mean to know) and we'll take a more detailed look at some seemingly simpler parts of the language.

By simpler parts of the language, I mean the words that we don't really give a lot of thought to: the articles. Articles are the words for "the", "a" and "some", and we're going to be looking at the rules that govern their usage. We'll look at the differences between how they're used in French and English, and we'll learn some new terminology, such as countable and uncountable nouns, to help us understand the article rules.

As well as the three types of articles, we're going to be looking at possessive adjectives (the words for my, your, his...) and possessive pronouns (the words for mine, yours, his...).

A very interesting and highly useful lesson in this course is the lesson in which we're focusing on something called cognates. Cognates are words that are the same (or similar) in two languages. For example, the word "restaurant" is a cognate, since it's the same in both French and English. We're going to learn lots of cognate rules that will allow you to translate thousands of English words into French.

As well as all this, there are also lots of new nouns, adverbs, adjectives and verbs, we're going to look at talking about sports in French and some new ways to give your opinion. There's much more, as well, but I've waffled on too much in this section already, so I'll let you click the "Start learning now" button, so you can get started with course 15.

Merci beaucoup :-)

What's inside

Learning objectives

New words and phrases to expand your conversations
Useful adverbs for talking about how often things happen
The two different ways to say “know” in french
Learn about the word “y” in french and all the expressions you can form with it
Talk about your favourite things
Learn vocabulary to talk about your hobbies and favourite activities
Learn the seasons in french

Get some new phrases you can use to give your opinion
Look at the word “pour” in more detail
Learn about possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns in french
Look at how to use definite articles, indefinite articles and partitive articles
Have a look at french-english cognates and learn some tricks for turning english words into french wordsmake sure that you are familiar with everything learnt i
Show more
Show less

New words and phrases to expand your conversations
Useful adverbs for talking about how often things happen
The two different ways to say “know” in french
Learn about the word “y” in french and all the expressions you can form with it
Talk about your favourite things
Learn vocabulary to talk about your hobbies and favourite activities
Learn the seasons in french
Get some new phrases you can use to give your opinion
Look at the word “pour” in more detail
Learn about possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns in french
Look at how to use definite articles, indefinite articles and partitive articles
Have a look at french-english cognates and learn some tricks for turning english words into french wordsmake sure that you are familiar with everything learnt i
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

Lesson 126c

Lesson 126

Lesson 126a

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Expands vocabulary related to hobbies, opinions, and everyday activities, which are useful for practical communication

Focuses on nuanced differences between similar verbs like 'connaître' and 'savoir', which helps learners refine their understanding

Explores French-English cognates, providing learners with strategies to quickly expand their vocabulary and comprehension

Continues from previous courses, which may require learners to complete earlier courses to fully benefit

Examines definite, indefinite, and partitive articles, which are essential for grammatical accuracy in French

Covers possessive adjectives and pronouns, which are crucial for expressing ownership and relationships in French

Reviews summary

Bite-sized daily french practice

According to learners, this course, part of the popular 3 Minute French series, offers a structured and accessible way to learn French for beginners. Many appreciate the bite-sized nature of the lessons, making it easy to fit daily practice into a busy schedule. Students feel it effectively builds vocabulary and grammar incrementally, solidifying concepts learned in previous courses while introducing new ones like articles, possessives, and cognates. Some note that while the lessons are short, true mastery requires consistent effort beyond just the 3 minutes, and it may need supplementary practice for speaking fluency. Overall, it's seen as a highly effective continuation for those following the series.

Best for those following the series.

"This is course 15, so it really assumes you've taken the previous 14 courses in the series."

"Not a standalone course; you need the foundation from the earlier lessons to keep up."

"Definitely follow the courses in order for the best learning experience."

"If you're starting fresh, begin with course 1."

Instructor is easy to follow.

"The instructor is very clear and easy to understand, his explanations make sense."

"I find the way the lessons are presented really engaging and simple to grasp."

"He breaks down difficult grammar points into simple, manageable steps."

"Excellent teaching style that keeps you motivated to learn."

Builds knowledge incrementally.

"This course builds brilliantly on the previous ones, reinforcing what I know and adding new layers step by step."

"I appreciate how it revisits concepts before introducing new complexities, like with the verb 'faire' or different articles."

"The progression through the lessons feels very logical and helps solidify understanding over time."

"Great continuation of the series, it feels like a natural next step in my French journey."

Short lessons are easy to fit daily.

"I love that the lessons are only 3 minutes long, it makes it so easy to squeeze in a quick study session every day."

"The bite-sized format is perfect for my busy schedule, I can do a lesson on my commute or during a break."

"This course structure is fantastic for building a daily learning habit without feeling overwhelmed."

"Makes learning French feel very manageable with its short, focused videos."

May need extra practice for fluency.

"While the grammar and vocabulary are great, you'll definitely need other resources for speaking practice."

"The 3-minute format is for the lesson, but you need to put in much more time practicing outside the course to become fluent."

"Good for learning the rules and words, but don't expect to be conversational without additional exercises."

"It's important to use this as a foundation and seek out opportunities to use the language in real situations."

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 15 | Language lessons for beginners with these activities:

Review Basic French Grammar

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of fundamental French grammar concepts before starting the course. This will help you grasp new concepts more easily and build a solid foundation.

Show steps

Review verb conjugations for present tense.
Study basic sentence structure.
Practice using articles and pronouns.

Read 'French for Dummies'

Show steps

Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to French language basics. This book will provide a broader context and deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the chapters on grammar and vocabulary.
Complete the practice exercises.
Review the key concepts and examples.

Practice Verb Conjugation Drills

Show steps

Strengthen your understanding of French verb conjugations through repetitive exercises. This will improve your fluency and accuracy when speaking and writing.

Show steps

Choose a set of common French verbs.
Conjugate each verb in different tenses.
Check your answers and correct mistakes.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Create Flashcards for New Vocabulary

Show steps

Reinforce your vocabulary learning by creating flashcards for new words and phrases encountered in the course. This will help you memorize and recall vocabulary more effectively.

Show steps

Write the French word on one side of the card.
Write the English translation on the other side.
Review the flashcards regularly.

Practice Conversational French with a Partner

Show steps

Improve your speaking skills and build confidence by practicing conversational French with a partner. This will give you the opportunity to apply what you've learned in a real-world setting.

Show steps

Find a language exchange partner.
Choose a topic to discuss in French.
Practice speaking and listening to each other.

Write Short French Stories

Show steps

Enhance your writing skills and creativity by writing short stories in French. This will help you solidify your understanding of grammar and vocabulary in a practical context.

Show steps

Choose a simple topic for your story.
Write a short draft in French.
Revise and edit your story for grammar and vocabulary.

Read 'Short Stories in French for Beginners'

Show steps

Expand your vocabulary and improve your reading comprehension by reading short stories in French. This will expose you to different writing styles and help you solidify your understanding of grammar.

View Short Stories in French for Intermediate... on Amazon

Show steps

Choose a story to read.
Read the story carefully and look up unfamiliar words.
Answer the comprehension questions.

Career center

Learners who complete 3 Minute French - Course 15 | Language lessons for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Language Teacher

A language teacher educates others on the rules, structure, and culture of their chosen language. A language teacher often needs to have an expert understanding of the language. This course may be useful for a language teacher, as it reviews the fundamentals and introduces advanced principles of grammar. In particular, this course's focus on articles, possessive adjectives, and pronouns may help in teaching these concepts to others. A language teacher should have a very strong vocabulary, and this course helps to expand the number of words the learner knows.

See salaries and explore the career path for Language Teacher

Translator

A translator converts written material from one language to another, ensuring accuracy and fluency. This course may be helpful for anyone interested in translating French to English, as it builds vocabulary, improves familiarity with French grammar and sentence structure, and explores the nuances of the language. This course’s focus on cognates and how to use them to translate from English to French is particularly useful for a translator. This course introduces complex grammatical concepts like the use of articles and possessive pronouns, which a translator needs to understand well.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people through tourist sites, providing information and context about what they are seeing. This job requires excellent communication skills in the relevant language, in this case French. This course builds a foundation by introducing French vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure, which a tour guide could use to communicate with French-speaking tourists. As a tour guide often gives their opinion on a historical site or cultural attraction, the lessons on expressing your own sentiments would be especially helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tour Guide

Localization Specialist

A localization specialist adapts products, content, or services from one language to another, considering cultural differences and audience preferences. This career requires a deep understanding of the target culture and language. This course may be useful for a localization specialist, as it provides a foundation in the French language and provides new words and grammatical concepts to explore. The course offers insights into the nuances of the French language, and focuses on language expansion, which are aspects that would assist a localization specialist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Localization Specialist

Interpreter

Interpreters convert spoken language from one language to another, often in real-time. This role requires not only excellent comprehension, but also the ability to immediately and fluently express complex ideas. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become an interpreter, as it exposes learners to new words, phrases, and grammatical concepts to expand their French conversational abilities. In particular, this course's focus on how to express opinions could prepare learners to work in situations where they are expected to interpret someone's sentiments or views.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Customer Service Representative

A customer service representative helps customers with questions, complaints, and requests. This position requires strong communication skills in the relevant languages. This course may be helpful to a customer service representative, as it builds communication skills in French and expands conversational abilities. This course introduces new ways to express yourself and convey your sentiment, which is very useful to a customer service representative, who must be able to connect with the customer and understand their needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Travel Writer

A travel writer crafts articles and other texts about travel experiences, often for magazines, newspapers, or websites. They require an understanding of the language of the places that they visit. This course may be useful to someone who wants to be a travel writer, as it introduces the French language and its grammatical structures. This course’s lessons on expressing opinions and talking about favorite activities will be especially helpful to this role, as travel writing can focus on personal experiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Travel Writer

International Sales Representative

An international sales representative markets products or services to clients globally. This career requires strong communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of the culture and language of potential clients. This course may be helpful for an international sales representative, as it focuses on language and communication skills in French, helping to build proficiency in the language. The course's focus on expanding vocabulary and grammar may be useful for international sales representatives when speaking with clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Sales Representative

Foreign Correspondent

A foreign correspondent reports on news and events from another country. This career requires strong communication skills, both written and verbal, in the target language. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a foreign correspondent, as it strengthens one's ability to comprehend and communicate in French. This course's focus on expanding vocabulary and learning how to express opinions may be especially helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Correspondent

Study Abroad Advisor

A study abroad advisor helps students plan, prepare for, and adjust to programs overseas. As the advisor is often in contact with program administrators and professionals from other countries, they should have strong proficiency in the relevant language. This course may be helpful to someone who wishes to become a study abroad advisor, as it builds proficiency in French. The course's focus on expanding vocabulary through conversational skills is likely be particularly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Study Abroad Advisor

International Relations Associate

An international relations associate works with a variety of organizations, including non-profits and governments, to manage their public affairs, diplomacy, and interactions with other countries. This role requires strong communication skills in the relevant languages. This course may be useful for anyone who wants to work in international relations as it develops conversational skills in French and expands the vocabulary of the learner. This course’s lessons on expressing opinions may be especially relevant.

See salaries and explore the career path for International Relations Associate

Bilingual Social Worker

A bilingual social worker provides social services to clients in two different languages. This role requires a strong understanding of the target language. This course may be helpful to anyone interested in becoming a bilingual social worker. The course helps to develop conversational skills in French and expand the vocabulary of the learner. A social worker must be able to understand a client's cultural background and needs, and this course, while not directly addressing that, introduces the learner to a foreign culture through language.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bilingual Social Worker

Immigration Officer

An immigration officer works for a country's government to help facilitate the legal entry of visitors and immigrants, monitoring borders. This role often requires working directly with people from other countries. This course may be useful for an immigration officer, as it develops one's ability to understand and communicate in French. It expands one's understanding of French grammar and vocabulary, which can aid communication with French-speaking individuals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Immigration Officer

Linguist

A linguist studies languages, including their structure, history, and development. This role often requires advanced education, such as a master's or doctoral degree. This course may be helpful to an aspiring linguist, as it introduces new vocabulary, grammatical concepts, and new ways of expressing oneself in French. The course offers insights into the structure of language and can expand one's understanding of linguistics in general, along with how one language compares to another.

See salaries and explore the career path for Linguist

Archivist

An archivist maintains, preserves, and organizes historical documents and records. An archivist who works with historical documents may need to read material written in other languages, including French. This course may be useful for archivists seeking reading proficiency in French. The course may help the user read and interpret documents written in French, making the user a more effective archivist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archivist

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 15 | Language lessons for beginners.

Short Stories in French for Intermediate Learners

Save

Offers a collection of engaging short stories designed for French learners. Each story is written in simple language and includes vocabulary lists and comprehension questions. Reading these stories will help you improve your reading comprehension, expand your vocabulary, and gain exposure to different writing styles. It's a great way to reinforce your learning and make the process more enjoyable. This book is best used as additional reading to supplement the course.

(Français) Short Stories in French for Intermediate Learners:...

Kindle Edition

Putting Knowledge to Work

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of French grammar and vocabulary, making it an excellent resource for beginners. It covers essential topics such as verb conjugations, sentence structure, and common phrases. 'French for Dummies' is particularly helpful for students who want a more structured and detailed explanation of the basics before diving into the course material. It can serve as both a reference guide and a source of additional practice exercises.

Putting Knowledge to Work

Paperback

Check price

Putting Knowledge to Work

Kindle Edition

Check price