Topic outline
Topic 1
Let's Count!
This is a short lesson, for beginners, to recap on one of the basics – numbers and counting. we'll focus on the numbers 1 to 10 and discuss a few points of pronunciation we’ll need to watch out for in relation to these numbers. allons-y!…
Topic 2
Let's Count! [part II]
This short lesson is a follow-on from lesson 93 on the numbers from 1 to 10. This time, we'll proceed as far as the number 69. From 70 onwards, there are another few twists which we’ll deal with in a later lesson. Allons-y!...
Topic 3
A look at the alphabet!
Whether you're opening a new bank account, or sending something by registered mail, chances are that someone is going to ask you to spell your name, your address, or whatever. but, how do you do that in French?! let's find out.
Topic 4
Introducing yourself
In this first lesson you'll find some very basic expressions, including how to say who you are, where you live and what you do. you'll also be introduced to three verbs. you can take a test, too, by downloading the accompanying pdf guide which contains a complete trascript and lots of extra, useful information.
Topic 5
Discussing family
In this lesson, learn how to say you get on well with someone. speak about things in general and talk about playing musical instruments. learn about adjectives ending in "-if", as well as the key verb "avoir".
Topic 6
Discussing your interests
In french, there are many ways of discussing the things that interest us. in this lesson, we'll meet a variety of verbs which will allow us to do that. we'll also look at "faire", a key verb in a wide range of activities.
Topic 7
Talking about work
Saying where and for whom you work. talking about colleagues. interesting french acronyms. introduction to the adverbs "bien" and "mal". learn how to used the verb "pouvoir" in a variety of situations. are the french hard workers? find out now.
Topic 8
Problem at the airport!
Martin arrives in Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris. His luggage doesn't, however! Can you follow the directions he receives? Learn about "devoir", the pronoun "y", "le passé composé", and more. it's all in this lesson.
Topic 9
Talking About The Future
In our previous lessons, we've confined ourselves mainly to the present tense. but how do we talk about what we'll be doing next week, or for our summer vacation? we'll find out in this lesson.
Topic 10
Making a suggestion
How do we propose going to the cinema, or the theatre? or choosing between thai or chinese food? for that matter, how do we say "i don't mind - that's up to you." let's find the answers and learn a few colloquial expressions, too.
Topic 11
Discussing a sports event
You watched a match on TV last night with friends and everybody is talking about it today. Your team played well and deserved their victory. But how do we talk about it all in French? Let's learn how to describe last night's atmosphere as well as some sports-specific vocabulary.
Topic 12
Discussing A Movie You've Seen
Learn how to talk about a movie you saw last night - what it was about, where it was filmed, some adjectives to describe the plot, the way in which it was filmed - it's all in this lesson. if you haven't seen a particular movie, study the questions you'll need to put to someone who has.
Topic 13
Talking About The Weather
Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, the weather seems to have an effect on our general state of mind. in this short lesson, we'll meet some expressions which will provide the basics, whether it's a beautiful day or raining cats and dogs.
Topic 14
A Visit To The Doctor
You're on vacation in france but, unfortunately, you develop an earache while you're there. there's nothing for it but a visit to the doctor. but how will you explain the problem? furthermore, will you be able to understand what the doctor is saying to you?! let's find out.
Topic 15
Let's Cook!
Whether you're an avid creator of wonderful four-course dishes or incapable of boiling an egg, you'll find in this lesson a range of vocabulary which will take a meal through from preparation to completion. don't worry - amélie will tell us what to do!
Topic 16
May I Have One Of Those, Please?
If you've been in France or another french-speaking country, chances are that you've found yourself asking for something in a shop, in french. It sounds so simple, but how, in fact, do we say "I'll have that one... no, sorry... the one on the right..."? In this lesson, let's learn some of those essential phrases.
Topic 17
She's not here right now - would you like to leave a message?
You make a phone call but the person you're looking for isn't there. Should you leave a message? Or maybe that's not necessary. Let's see, in this lesson, how the conversation might unravel.
Topic 18
A return ticket to Toulouse, please...
In this lesson, let's find out how to buy a train ticket. The vocabulary we'll meet will be just as useful when purchasing inter-city bus tickets, plane tickets, and so on. Let's see, also, how to say we'd prefer a window or aisle seat, or travel in the smoking or non-smoking section. Allons-y!
Topic 19
I need something for these mosquito bites!
A trip abroad can often lead to some unexpected physical condition – an upset stomach, itching from insect bites, blistered feet, and more. That, in turn, can lead us to the local pharmacy. But, what do we say when we get there? Let’s find out in this lesson.
Topic 20
How was your holiday?
You're just back from a fantastic holiday. The first question you'll be asked, of course, is "How did it go?" There's so much to talk about: the weather, the food, the people, the location. Let's try out some of the vocabulary you're likely to need.
Topic 21
How was your holiday? [II]
In the second part of this two-part episode we'll meet the verb "profiter (de)", we'll use the verb "devoir" to say things like "it must have been [difficult, shocking, fantastic]" and we'll revise the verb "prendre" in the perfect tense, in relation to food.
Topic 22
Is this a vegetarian dish?
You're in a restaurant, looking forward to your meal. That menu, however, is a little confusing: what about all those ingredients? And the names of all those dishes! How can we make sense of it?… We'll need to know how to ask about ingredients. Let's find out.
Topic 23
Do you have the internet at home?
In this lesson, we'll be dealing with some internet-specific vocabulary. We'll meet some other useful expressions, too, including "I don't want to complicate my life!", "I'm not promising anything" and "it would be good if...". This last expression will require the subjunctive (hence the "intermediate" level of this lesson). Let's take a closer look...
Topic 24
Tell me about your hometown...
Let's listen to Xavier tell us a little about his home town in this lesson. We'll work with a number of useful expressions which could be used in a wide variety of situations. we'll discover the verb 'appartenir à', the expression 'à la rigueur', as well as the prepositions 'loin de' and 'près de'.
Topic 25
Excuse me... would you have the time?
Whether we like it or not, our modern lives are ruled by the clock. In this lesson, let's study one of the basics: how to tell the time. We'll also meet the expressions: "I'm going to be late!", "I'm going to be early!" and "I'm going to be on time!"
Topic 26
I'd like to buy phone credit, please...
Some people choose to pay their mobile phone bills by monthly standing order. Many others, however, simply choose a pay-as-you-go option, buying credit whenever necessary. In this lesson, let's see what vocabulary we'll need in order to purchase that phone credit.
Topic 27
I'm starving! When can we sit at the table?!
Our food is almost prepared. But we want to ask when exactly it will be ready and when we should sit at the table. Let's see how to do that in this lesson. We'll meet the expressions 'je meurs de faim!' and 'passer à table'.Topic 28
I'd like to book a room for this evening, please...
We'll learn how to carry out a common task in this lesson - to book a hotel room. We'll see how to ask the receptionist how we should pay, if we can have our luggage taken up to our room, if we can be called early for breakfast, and more.
Topic 29
I'd Like To Reserve A Table For Four, Please
In this lesson, lesson 51, our task is a simple but common one - to make a restaurant reservation. we'll learn to recognise some common questions which are likely to be put to us by the receptionist and we'll revise how to spell some words, including one or two surnames.
Topic 30
I Saw Something Interesting On Tv Last Night
We'll discover how to discuss a programme from last night's tv schedule in this lesson. in particular, xavier talks about a documentary he saw on the life of henri troyat, a prolific french writer. we'll meet - and practice - new expressions including 'passer à la télé', 'être décédé', 'être crevé' and 'rester éveillé jusqu'à'. allons-y!
Topic 31
How are you?...
A listener recently asked us: "Which lesson deals with 'Ça va?'!… Though it's a simple expression, it's an essential one. As it’s been a while since we’ve had a beginner lesson, let's visit some of the basics in this short lesson. We’ll see how to ask how someone is, we’ll learn a little about the weather, and we'll see examples of 'tout' and 'toute'. Let's get going.
Topic 32
Tu Veux Du Café?
In this lesson we’ll learn how to simply ask if someone would fancy a cup of coffee that we’re about to make. and, while we’re at it, we’ll learn some trivia about a former phillipine first lady!…
Topic 33
How to say 'my', 'your', 'his', 'her'...
In this Beginner lesson, lesson 108, we talk about possessive adjectives, that is, words like ‘my’, ‘your’ and ‘his’ in English. We'll discover that, like regular adjectives, possessive adjectives also must agree in number and gender with the nouns they qualify. Let's go ahead and see how they work.
Topic 34
Shopping for clothes
One of our listeners asked for a lesson which would help when buying clothes. In this Beginner lesson – lesson 114 – that will be the topic conversation. We'll discover how to ask for a garment one size larger or smaller, how to ask if we may try something on, how to say something suits or not, and more. Let’s start with a role-play between a shop assistant and a customer. Allons-y!
Topic 35
