French Your Way Podcast: Learn French with Jessica | French Grammar | French Vocabulary

Latest Episodes:

FYW 170 : French pronunciation (3) – How to sound like a native French speaker? Everything you need to know about French pronunciation, intonation and rhythm. May 09, 2018

Show notes

If you’re putting in a lot of time, effort and money to learn French, chances are that you also want to be able to SOUND it properly. If your pronunciation is poor, French people will struggle to understand you. Worse, they may understand something else – something potentially very embarrassing!

To sound like a native speaker,

You need to be able to hear and say every sound of the French language. Some of these sounds will be easy because they already exist in your language. Some will be different (U, R and the nasals are typical examples)

You must learn how to choose the right intonation for what you want to say and learn how to give the French language its unique rhythm and melody.

Check out my new online course! I believe that it is THE most comprehensive course you can find on the topic.
“How to sound like a native French speaker”: frenchyourway.com.au/nativespeaker

WHAT YOU GET WITH THE COURSE

Unlimited access to the course (28 lessons)
Downloadable notes for the lessons – very handy for quick reference
19 downloadable worksheets with over 60 exercises and their answers
downloadable MP3: over 5 hours of audio content!
24 videos (2.5 hours). All lesson videos also available in audio format so you can listen again when you commute, do the dishes or drive your car!
Quizzes at the end of each module to test yourself on what you’ve just learnt
Bonus #1: a downloadable list of tongue-twisters to practice all you’ve learnt and have fun!
Bonus #2: a downloadable list of links and resources to go the extra mile
Possibility to add comments and to contact me directly if you have any question
Possibility to send me a recording once you’ve completed the course to receive my personal feedback on your pronunciation!
More confidence, less self-consciousness and worry about sounding stupid when speaking French!
Full refund if not happy with the course (within 30 days)

SPECIAL OFFER (valid until May 21^st midnight – Melbourne Australia time):

In addition to the course, you’ll also receive:

My set of IPA flashcards to help you become more familiar with the phonetic symbols used in French language.
My French Spelling-to-Sound bookmark compiling the main combinations of letters which students of French need to remember

REMINDER:

I’ll be live on Facebook on Saturday May 19^th, 1.30pm Melbourne time AEST) to answer your questions about French phonetics ?

https://www.facebook.com/frenchyourway

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Tout(e) nu(e) = all naked

Deux nuits = two nights

Un aéroport = an airport

LINKS and RESOURCES!

My French pronunciation course “How to sound like a native French speaker”: frenchyourway.com.au/nativespeaker
My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/frenchyourway
French pronunciation (1) – How to know when the letter “S” is pronounced [s] or [z]: frenchyourway.com.au/podcast168
French pronunciation (2) – How to pronounce the letter “E” when it has an accent over it? : frenchyourway.com.au/podcast169

Thank You for Tuning In!

There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose mine, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the side or bottom of this page.

Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 170 : French pronunciation (3) – How to sound like a native French speaker? Everything you need to know about French pronunciation, intonation and rhythm. appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 169 : French pronunciation (2) – How to pronounce the letter “E” when it has an accent over it? May 02, 2018

Show notes

This is the second episode to help you with your French reading and French pronunciation and celebrate the upcoming launch of my online course, “How to sound like a native French speaker”, coming out next week! Stay tuned as there will be a special, limited offer!

Get updates about my upcoming course: frenchyourway.com.au/course

Last week’s episode: “How to know when the letter “S” is pronounced [s] or [z]?”: frenchyourway.com.au/podcast168

This time I’m answering a question from Tanya who would like to know how to pronounce the letter “E” when it has an accent over it.

Before listening to the episode, try to think about the answers!

Submit your questions for the live session: http://frenchyourway.com.au/contact

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Un téléphone

participes passés : je suis allé, j’ai mangé, il a parlé

La mère (the mother), la tête (the head), Noël (Christmas)

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Get updates about my upcoming French pronunciation course: frenchyourway.com.au/course
Submit your questions for the live session: http://frenchyourway.com.au/contact
French pronunciation (1) – How to know when the letter “S” is pronounced [s] or [z]: frenchyourway.com.au/podcast168

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 169 : French pronunciation (2) – How to pronounce the letter “E” when it has an accent over it? appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 168 : French pronunciation (1) – How to know when the letter “S” is pronounced [s] or [z] Apr 25, 2018

Show notes

I’m really excited to start a short series of episodes dedicated to French pronunciation to mark the achievement of over 2 years of creating, testing and refining the online course that I’ve been working really hard on for you!

“How to sound like a native French speaker – Everything you need to know about French pronunciation and intonation” will officially open on May 9^th, 2018.

Save the date because it will come with a special and limited offer!

I’ll also do a live session on Saturday May 19^th, at 1.30pm (Melbourne Australia time). You can send me your questions about French pronunciation and intonation now and I’ll try to answer them during the session.

Submit your questions for the live session: http://frenchyourway.com.au/contact

To receive updates and reminders about the course and the live session: frenchyourway.com.au/course

In this episode, I’ll answer to Joanne’s question: “How to know when the letter “S” is pronounced [s] or [z] ?”

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Le silence, un serpent, septembre, sourire (smile)

un aspirateur (a vacuum cleaner), un best of, du persil (parsley)

une rose, un désert, un poison, un cousin, un prisonnier (a prisoner)

un dessert, un poisson (a fish), un coussin (a cushion/pillow)

Jésus

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Get updates about my upcoming course: frenchyourway.com.au/course
Submit your questions for the live session: http://frenchyourway.com.au/contact
French Voices Podcast: http://frenchyourway.com.au/category/frenchvoices
“How to Improve your French Conversation Skills” (eBook and audiobook): http://frenchyourway.com.au/improve-french-conversational-skills

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 168 : French pronunciation (1) – How to know when the letter “S” is pronounced [s] or [z] appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 167 : French verbs – agreement of the past participle with ETRE (compound tenses, part 3) Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

Did you know that the past participles may need to take an extra “E” and/or “S” in some cases? That is when they are being used as adjectives, but also in some specific situations in compound tenses. In this episode, I’ll clarify the rules of agreement of the past participle with ETRE.

In the next part dedicated to this series about compound tenses, we’ll see the rules of agreements of the past participles with the auxiliary AVOIR.

Previous episodes in the series:

Episode 164: French verbs: past participles (compound tenses, part 1): frenchyourway.com.au/podcast164
Episode 165: French verbs: how to choose between ETRE and AVOIR (compound tenses, part 2): frenchyourway.com.au/podcast165

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Je suis allé (masc.sing.), je suis allée (fem.sing.), il est allé (masc.sing.), elle est allée (fem.sing.), nous sommes allé.e.s (masc/fem plur.), ils sont allés (masc.plur.), elles sont allées (fem.plur)

Naître à née

Mourir à Simone Veil est morte le 30 juin 2017.

Exercise:

Les rennes sont arrivé__ sur le toit et le Père Noël est descendu__ dans la cheminée.
Maria est venu__ en discothèque mais elle a refusé__ de danser.
Les bébés ont pleuré__ un peu mais sont resté__ dans leur lit.
Toutes les filles sont allé__ acheter une robe pour la fête de l’école.
Est-ce que vous êtes sorti__ samedi dernier ?

Answers:

Les rennes sont arrivés sur le toit et le Père Noël est descendu dans la cheminée.
(rennes = masc.plur)
Maria est venue en discothèque mais elle a refusé de danser.
(Maria = fem.sing) (refuser : NOT a verb taking auxiliary ETRE!)
Les bébés ont pleuré un peu mais sont restés dans leur lit.
(pleurer : NOT a verb taking auxiliary ETRE!) (bébés = masc. plur, even if they are girls)
Toutes les filles sont allées acheter une robe pour la fête de l’école.
(les filles = fem.plur.)
Est-ce que vous êtes sorti/ sortie/ sortis/ sorties samedi dernier ?
(polite “vous” form of address to a male or female, or plural form of address to males or females)

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Episode 164: French verbs: past participles (compound tenses, part 1): frenchyourway.com.au/podcast164
Episode 165: French verbs: how to choose between ETRE and AVOIR (compound tenses, part 2): frenchyourway.com.au/podcast165
My article “Introduction to French grammar: what type of word is this?”: http://frenchyourway.com.au/introduction-french-grammar-type-word
Episode 69: Introduction to French Grammar (Part 1): articles, nouns and verbs: frenchyourway.com.au/podcast69
Episode 70: Introduction to French Grammar (Part 2): adjectives, adverbs, pronouns: frenchyourway.com.au/podcast70
Episode 148: “Inclusive writing”: what is it and how does it work? : frenchyourway.com.au/podcast148
Episode 105 : A must-see in Paris: le Panthéon: frenchyourway.com.au/podcast105

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 167 : French verbs – agreement of the past participle with ETRE (compound tenses, part 3) appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 166 : How to write the plurals of French compound nouns? Apr 11, 2018

Show notes

Spelling the plurals of French compound nouns is the perfect blend of logic and grammar notions. It can seem tricky or daunting at first but actually isn’t that hard! And, again: it’s logical. So, take your French writing skills to the next level by listening to this episode!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

un laissez-passer, des laissez-passer = pass
un mange-tout, des mange-tout = snowpea, mangetout
Un chou-fleur, des choux-fleurs = cauliflower
un court métrage, des courts métrages = short film
un porte-serviette, des porte-serviette / des porte-serviettes = towel rack
un abat-jour, des abat-jour = lamp shade
un lave-vaiselle, des lave-vaisselle = dishwasher
un tire-bouchon, des tire-bouchons = corkscrew
un porte-monnaie, des porte-monnaie = purse (for coin)

New Spellings rules (!990)
des portemonnaies, des mangetouts
des abat-jours

Un anti-douleur, des anti-douleur(s) = analgesic, painkiller
Un micro-onde(s), des micro-ondes = microwave
Un Franco-Australien, des Franco-Australiens
un prie-Dieu, des prie-Dieu ;
Un hors-la-loi, des hors-la-loi = outlaw, bandit
un trompe-la-mort, des trompe-la-mort = daredevil, cheat death
une demi-heure, des demi-heures = half hour

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 166 : How to write the plurals of French compound nouns? appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 165 : French Verbs – How to choose between ETRE and AVOIR (compound tenses, part 2) Apr 04, 2018

Show notes

how to choose between ETRE and AVOIR auxiliaries when you want to conjugate a French verb in the passé composé…or any other compound tense! There’s an easy way to know and get it right every time you conjugate those dreaded French verbs!

In the next part dedicated to this series about compound tenses, we’ll see the rules of agreements of the past participles with the auxiliary ETRE.

Previous episode in the series:

Episode 164: French verbs: past participles (compound tenses, part 1): frenchyourway.com.au/podcast164

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Aller, venir (venu)
Arriver, partir (parti)
Entrer, sortir (sorti)
J’ai sorti la poubelle/le chien.
Monter, descendre (descend)
Passer, retourner
Rester
Naître (né), mourir (mort)

LINKS and RESOURCES

Episode 164: French verbs: past participles (compound tenses, part 1): frenchyourway.com.au/podcast164
Episode 31: How to say “to run up”, “to run down”, “to swim past”, “to crawl through”, etc. in French? frenchyourway.com.au/podcast31
(article and video) “Aller”, “venir”, “revenir”, “retourner”: Don’t Mix them Anymore! http://frenchyourway.com.au/aller-venir-revenir-retourner-dont-mix-them-anymore
Episode 39 : Aller, venir, revenir, retourner : frenchyourway.com.au/podcast39
Episode 106 : Je me lave, vous vous appelez, etc.: what are reflexive verbs ? frenchyourway.com.au/podcast106
(article) The 7 Most Common French Tenses Made Easy (Recipes): http://frenchyourway.com.au/7-common-french-tenses-made-easy-recipes

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 165 : French Verbs – How to choose between ETRE and AVOIR (compound tenses, part 2) appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 164 : French verbs: past participles (compound tenses, part 1) Mar 28, 2018

Show notes

Find out why it is important to know the past participles of your French verbs. I’ll also, of course, give you tips to help remember past participles form more easily. In the next part dedicated to this series about compound tenses, we’ll see how to choose between the ETRE and AVOIR French auxiliaries.

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

avoir (eu)
Ouvrir (ouvert), souffrir (souffert), offrir (offert)
Mourir (mort)
Un enfant attendu/désiré
Des devoirs finis
Un cahier jauni par le temps
Une ville bien équipée et aménagée
Des feuilles mortes

LINKS and RESOURCES

xxxxx

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 164 : French verbs: past participles (compound tenses, part 1) appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 163 : What’s on the French euro coins and bank notes? Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

This episode is a great opportunity for you to learn some French vocabulary and facts about French euro coins and bank notes, whether you live in the Euro zone yourself or not. Have you ever held French euro coins in your hand? Are you able to tell what’s on them? Find out in this one of a kind episode!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

un billet (de banque)
une pièce (de monnaie)
Un pont
Un portail
Le drapeau
une étoile
Le recto vs le verso
La face = side (of a coin)
Un arbre
la devise républicaine « Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
Semeur, semeuse = sower, seed sower

LINKS and RESOURCES

PDF “L’Euro, notre monnaie – Les billets et les pièces en euros” (source : Banque Centrale Européenne)
Article Banque de France
Episode 8 : “Monnaie vs Money“
Episode 118 : “PART 3 – 10 Common False Friends (= Faux Amis) in French and English

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 163 : What’s on the French euro coins and bank notes? appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 162 : “Jouer à” vs “jouer de” Mar 14, 2018

Show notes

Do you know for sure when to use the preposition “à” and when to use the preposition “de” in French, after the verb JOUER? If not, you won’t hesitate anymore after listening to this episode !

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Jouer à la pétanque, jouer au foot / au basket, aux cartes, aux fléchettes, etc

Jouer de la musique, jouer de la guitare, de la batterie, du piano / du violon, des castagnettes, etc.

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 162 : “Jouer à” vs “jouer de” appeared first on French Your Way.

FYW 161 : French Homonyms (3) – lait, laid, laie (and more) Mar 07, 2018

Show notes

When two words have a different meaning even though they sound alike or have the same spelling, they are called homonyms. In today’s episode, find out the different meanings of the words pronounced [lɛ]

Also listen to

Episode 142: “French homonyms (1): vert, ver, vers, vair“
Episode 151: “French homonyms (2): mère et père“

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Le lait = milk

La laie (femelle du sanglier) = (wild) sow

Le sanglier, la laie, le marcassin

Laid, laide (adj) = ugly

Les Crocs sont des chaussures TRES laides !

I saw him/her = je l’ai vu.e

Gentil? Il l’est, mais pas avec moi.

Exercise: Fill the blanks with the correct spelling of [lɛ].

Un café au _____, s’il vous plait
Nous avons vu une _____ dans la forêt, j’ai eu peur !
Est-ce que la _____ est grosse ? Oui, elle _____!
Les marcassins boivent le _____ de la _____.
Ne grimace pas ainsi, c’est très _____ !

Answers:

Un café au lait, s’il vous plait
Nous avons vu une laie dans la forêt, j’ai eu peur !
Est-ce que la laie est grosse ? Oui, elle l’est !
Les marcassins boivent le lait de la laie.
Ne grimace pas ainsi, c’est très laid !

LINKS and RESOURCES

Episode 142: “French homonyms (1): vert, ver, vers, vair“
Episode 151: “French homonyms (2): mère et père“

Thank You for Tuning In!

Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!

The post FYW 161 : French Homonyms (3) – lait, laid, laie (and more) appeared first on French Your Way.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

French Your Way Podcast: Learn French with Jessica | French Grammar | French Vocabulary | French Expressions

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES!

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

Thank You for Tuning In!

Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode

LINKS and RESOURCES

Thank You for Tuning In!

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected