Stumbling on cobblestones, but soaring in French. --  Sacred heart, sacred learning -- Your French rising like Montmartre's hill. 

Trébuché sur les pavés, envolé en français. — Cœur sacré, apprentissage sacré — Votre français s'élève comme la butte Montmartre.

It’s iconic. But I have mixed feeling about ‘The Meringue’.
See if you can tell from today’s lesson.

A 💜

Dialogue d’hier 💭

New is great, review is even better! Quickly review the last dialogue to double your learning (and see your progress). 👂🏻 Want to review with your ears? Listen here 🎧

Read more

Coucou ☕️🇫🇷🥐 I'm Amélie Laurent and this is a 💎 subscriber-only edition 💎 of my newsletter. Go beyond beginner with me – colloquial french awaits!

Salut les copains! Ensemble, on va rendre le français génial! 👍

Solved all of society's problems during my morning métro ride. Then realized I was on the wrong line. Maybe that's a metaphor for humanity's direction. Time to explore big questions in small sentences.

J'ai résolu tous les problèmes de la société pendant mon trajet en métro ce matin. Puis j'ai réalisé que j'étais sur la mauvaise ligne. C'est peut-être une métaphore de la direction que prend l'humanité. Il est temps d'explorer les grandes questions en petites phrases.

Gros Bisous
A 🫶🏻

Dialogue d'hier 💭

New is great, review is even better! Quickly review the last dialogue to double your learning (and see your progress). 👂🏻 Want to review with your ears? Listen here 🎧

Noah : Camille, tu sais comment éviter les pickpockets à Paris ?

Camille : Ah oui, ils ont une vraie arnaque bien rodée hein ! Ils sont très doués. Faut toujours faire gaffe. T'as des astuces?

Noah : Déjà, faut pas mettre son portefeuille dans la poche arrière. Trop risqué. Mets-le plutôt dans une poche intérieure de ton manteau.

Camille : Ouais, et puis si quelqu'un te bouscule, fais attention. C'est souvent une technique pour te choper ton portefeuille.

Noah : Exactement ! Et méfie-toi des gens qui te demandent des directions avec une carte. Ils peuvent être deux, et pendant que tu regardes la carte, l'autre en profite pour te voler.

Camille : J'ai entendu parler de ceux qui font semblant de t'aider à enlever quelque chose de ton manteau. C'est louche. Si quelqu'un insiste trop, dis-lui fermement de te laisser tranquille.

Noah : Oui, et surtout, évite de sortir ton téléphone ou ton argent dans les endroits bondés. Ça attire les pickpockets comme des aimants.

Camille : Tu sais, j'ai lu que parfois ils te distraient en faisant tomber quelque chose devant toi. Pendant que tu aides, ils te piquent tes affaires. Faut être vigilant !

Noah : Et si quelqu'un te demande de signer une pétition dans la rue, méfie-toi. C'est souvent une arnaque pour te détourner.

Camille : En tout cas, j'espère qu'il ne m'arrivera rien de tout ça. Faut vraiment rester sur ses gardes.

Noah : T'inquiète pas trop, Camille. Si on fait attention et qu'on reste méfiant, on devrait éviter les embrouilles.

Camille : Ouais, t'as raison. Allez, on y va, mais on reste prudents!

Noah : Bien sûr. Et si jamais on croise un pickpocket, je te couvre. Tu verras, ils n'auront aucune chance avec nous. ♡ Like below 👇

✪ My Notes, Exercises and everything else for this one are here.

Tu penses qu’on va dans la bonne ou la mauvaise direction en tant qu’humanité ? 🌍 ⚖️ 🤔

Dialogue Audio 🎧

▶️ The first minute, on me. Members get the full dialogue audio.

Slower Audio 🐢

The slow pass is where comprehension clicks. One of the most-loved member perks.

À la parisienne ⚡

Parisians won’t slow down for you. Members train for that here, one dialogue at a time. Train your ear →

Dialogue du Jour

Paul: Dis-moi, Léna, tu penses que l'humanité va dans la bonne direction ? Tout n'est pas rose ➹, en toute franchise ➹.

Léna: C'est une question épineuse ✪, Paul. D'un côté, on voit des avancées technologiques incroyables, mais de l'autre, on fait face à des défis environnementaux sans précédent. C'est comme si on avançait à reculons ✪.

Paul: Je vois ce que tu veux dire. On a l'impression de faire du sur-place ✪, voire de régresser sur certains aspects. Prends le changement climatique, par exemple. On en parle depuis des décennies, et pourtant, on continue à traîner des pieds ✪.

Léna: Exactement ! C'est à se taper la tête contre les murs ✪. Mais ne soyons pas trop défaitistes. Il y a quand même des raisons d'espérer. Regarde les énergies renouvelables, elles gagnent du terrain.

Paul: C'est vrai, mais est-ce que ça suffit ? J'ai l'impression qu'on met un pansement sur une jambe de bois ✪. Et ne parlons même pas des inégalités sociales qui ne cessent de se creuser.

Léna: Tu marques un point. C'est comme si on faisait du rafistolage au lieu de s'attaquer aux problèmes de fond. Cela dit, je trouve qu'il y a une prise de conscience croissante, notamment chez les jeunes.

Paul: Peut-être, mais j'ai peur que ce ne soit qu'un feu de paille ✪. Il faudrait que cette prise de conscience se traduise en actions concrètes pour que ça change vraiment la donne.

Léna: Je suis d'accord. Il est grand temps qu'on arrête de tourner autour du pot ✪ et qu'on prenne le taureau par les cornes. Mais pour ça, il faudrait que nos dirigeants aient le courage de prendre des décisions impopulaires.

Paul: Et c'est là que le bât blesse ✪. Tant qu'on restera dans une logique de court terme, je doute qu'on puisse réellement inverser la tendance. C'est à se demander si on n'est pas en train de scier la branche sur laquelle on est assis.

Léna: Tu as raison, c'est frustrant. Mais que veux-tu qu'on y fasse ? On ne peut pas baisser les bras non plus.

Paul: Non, bien sûr que non. Il faut continuer à se battre, même si parfois on a l'impression de pédaler dans la semoule ➹. Après tout, qui sait ? Peut-être qu'un jour, on arrivera à redresser la barre ✪.

Léna: J'espère que tu as raison. Il faut garder espoir, même si ce n'est pas tous les jours facile. Qui vivra verra ✪, comme on dit.

♡ 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇

✪ Notes

So I’ve gone mad with this one. How many colloquial expressions can you fit in one intermediate dialogue? Today we’re trying to find out. All in good fun. I count 14!

un pansement sur une jambe de bois 🧩= mesure inefficace ou insuffisante = paper over the cracks. French cynicism at its finest. "Proposer plus de parkings pour réduire la pollution, c'est comme mettre un pansement sur une jambe de bois."

I mark every phrase worth stealing with a ✪. The explanations live down here, for members. Steal them all →

Translation

Every dialogue, fully translated, always right below. One of those things you don’t know you need until you have it. Get the translations →

Et Amélie ? 💃

The other day, I was having this kind of discussion at my local café when something beautiful happened. A group of students were organizing a community garden project, right there at the next table. They were solving climate change and social isolation in one go, trading Instagram handles with elderly neighbors who wanted to help. It reminded me that sometimes the biggest solutions start small, over a cup of coffee and a shared dream. Maybe that's what we need – less global summits and more local cafés where real people solve real problems together.

Writing Prompt ✍️ Tu penses qu’on va dans la bonne ou la mauvaise direction en tant qu’humanité ?

All answers are welcome. One word.. or one sentence.
Write me your answer in the comments. I can’t wait to read them! 👇🏼

Leave a comment

Exercise 1 - Fill in the blank 💪

Quickly test your comprehension, accelerate your learning. 🚀

The blanks are easy to skip — and exactly why members progress faster. Answer key included. Fill the blanks →

Exercise 2 - Translate ⚡

If you can translate each of these sentences after the lesson then you’re making real progress. They can also me used as flashcards.

This is the hard one — and the one that shows you’re improving. Members get it every lesson. Rise to it →

𝔻𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 ♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜👇

Help me make this better: what’s ONE thing you’d change? Reply and tell me straight.

Je te laisse retourner à ta journée, mais garde un petit coin de français dans ta poche pour plus tard.

Amélie x

Read more

Learned "Stop, thief!" the hard way -- Keep your grammar close, and your dictionary closer. -- And beware of false linguistic friends!

Appris "Arrêtez, au voleur !" à la dure.-- Gardez votre grammaire à portée de main, et votre dictionnaire encore plus près.-- Méfiez-vous des faux amis… linguistiques ! 

Nothing worse in Paris than suffering at the hands of pickpockets. But I intend to make sure none of my students ever do.

Thanks why I wrote this dialogue. 😊
A✨

Dialogue d'hier 💭

New is great, review is even better! Quickly review the last dialogue to double your learning (and see your progress). 👂🏻 Want to review with your ears? Listen here 🎧

Théo: T'as vu le dernier rapport sur le tourisme de masse à Paris? C'est hallucinant - plus de 40 millions de visiteurs par an. Je commence à me demander si notre ville peut vraiment supporter cette affluence.

Louise: Je comprends ton inquiétude, mais il faut voir les deux côtés de la médaille. Le tourisme fait vivre des milliers de personnes. Sans ces visiteurs, de nombreux commerces locaux mettraient la clé sous la porte.

Théo: Certes, mais à quel prix? Les loyers grimpent en flèche à cause des Airbnb, les quartiers historiques se transforment en parcs d'attractions, et les Parisiens sont chassés vers la banlieue. Si ça continue comme ça, Paris va perdre son âme.

Louise: Tu exagères un peu, non? Regarde le Marais - oui, il y a des boutiques pour touristes, mais il reste authentique. Et puis, sans le tourisme, qui financerait la restauration de nos monuments?

Théo: On pourrait trouver d'autres solutions. Si j'étais maire, je limiterais le nombre de locations touristiques et j'imposerais une taxe plus élevée aux grands groupes hôteliers.

Louise: Et tu penses que ça suffirait? Le tourisme de masse est un phénomène mondial. Il faudrait plutôt miser sur un tourisme plus durable, encourager les séjours plus longs, promouvoir les quartiers moins connus.

Théo: Tu marques un point. Mais comment faire quand Instagram transforme chaque coin pittoresque en attraction touristique? L'autre jour, j'ai vu une file d'attente de deux heures devant une simple boulangerie!

Louise: C'est vrai que c'est parfois absurde. Mais reconnais au moins que cette diversité culturelle apporte aussi une certaine richesse. Sans les touristes, Paris serait peut-être plus authentique, mais aussi plus provinciale.

Théo: Mouais, je préfère une ville vivante qu'un musée à ciel ouvert. Mais t'as raison sur un point - il faut trouver un équilibre. Le tourisme n'est pas près de disparaître, alors autant essayer de le rendre plus supportable. ♡ Like below 👇

✪ Notes, Exercises and everything else for this one are here.

Pickpockets 🥷

Dialogue Audio 🎧

▶️ The first minute, on me. Members get the full dialogue audio.

Slower Audio 🐢

Every lesson comes with the calm version — members never leave a line behind.

À la parisienne ⚡

⚡ The full-speed version is where members go from “I studied French” to “I survived Paris”. Survive Paris →

Dialogue du Jour

Noah : Camille, tu sais comment éviter les pickpockets à Paris ?

Camille : Ah oui, ils ont une vraie arnaque bien rodée ✪ hein ! Ils sont très doués. Faut toujours faire gaffe ✪. T'as des astuces ✪?

Noah : Déjà, faut pas mettre son portefeuille dans la poche arrière. Trop risqué. Mets-le plutôt dans une poche intérieure de ton manteau.

Camille : Ouais, et puis si quelqu'un te bouscule, fais attention. C'est souvent une technique pour te choper ✪ ton portefeuille.

Noah : Exactement ! Et méfie-toi des gens qui te demandent des directions avec une carte. Ils peuvent être deux, et pendant que tu regardes la carte, l'autre en profite pour te voler.

Camille : J'ai entendu parler de ceux qui font semblant de t'aider à enlever quelque chose de ton manteau. C'est louche ✪. Si quelqu'un insiste trop, dis-lui fermement de te laisser tranquille.

Noah : Oui, et surtout, évite de sortir ton téléphone ou ton argent dans les endroits bondés. Ça attire les pickpockets comme des aimants.

Camille : Tu sais, j'ai lu que parfois ils te distraient en faisant tomber quelque chose devant toi. Pendant que tu aides, ils te piquent tes affaires. Faut être vigilant !

Noah : Et si quelqu'un te demande de signer une pétition dans la rue, méfie-toi. C'est souvent une arnaque pour te détourner.

Camille : En tout cas, j'espère qu'il ne m'arrivera rien de tout ça. Faut vraiment rester sur ses gardes.

Noah : T'inquiète pas trop, Camille. Si on fait attention et qu'on reste méfiant, on devrait éviter les embrouilles ✪.

Camille : Ouais, t'as raison. Allez, on y va, mais on reste prudents ✪!

Noah : Bien sûr. Et si jamais on croise un pickpocket, je te couvre. Tu verras, ils n'auront aucune chance avec nous.

♡ 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇

✪ Notes

Fais gaffe! ✨ = Be careful! Watch out! But really colloquial. 

Ever wonder when French people actually say these things? That’s exactly what the rest of the Notes are for. Read them all →

Translation

Stuck on what they just said? Members scroll straight to the answer. Stop guessing →

Et Amélie ? 💃

It's all about the art of distraction, darlings! I carry a decoy wallet filled with expired cards and a few small bills. It's my little gift to any aspiring pickpocket. Once on the metro, I felt a hand slip into my bag. Instead of panicking, I turned around with a smile and said, "Ah, vous cherchez ceci?" holding up the decoy wallet. He was so confused lol. 

Writing Prompt ✍️ Quelle est la mesure de sécurité la plus importante que tu prends quand tu voyages ? Pourquoi penses-tu qu'elle est si efficace ?

All answers are welcome. One word.. or one sentence.
Write me your answer in the comments. I can’t wait to read them! 👇🏼

Leave a comment

Exercise 1 - Fill in the blank 💪

Quickly test your comprehension, accelerate your learning. 🚀

The blanks are easy to skip — and exactly why members progress faster. Answer key included. Fill the blanks →

Exercise 2 - Translate ⚡

If you can translate each of these sentences after the lesson then you’re making real progress. They can also me used as flashcards.

If Exercise 1 was the warm-up, this is the match. Members play it every lesson. Step up →

𝔻𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 ♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜👇

Got a question, a suggestion, or a strong opinion about cheese? All welcome — hit ‘reply’.

Bisous, mes amis. Go forth and sound casually French.

Amélie x

Read more

Coucou ☕️🇫🇷🥐 I'm Amélie Laurent and this is a 💎 subscriber-only edition 💎 of my newsletter. Go beyond beginner with me – colloquial french awaits!

Nous voici à une nouvelle édition de Français avec Amélie! 💜

Walked into my old favorite café yesterday. Couldn't find a seat among the selfie sticks and travel guides. But found a hidden spot in the back, behind a towering stack of tourist postcards. Let's talk about the changing face of our beloved Paris.

Je suis entrée dans mon café préféré hier. Impossible de trouver une place parmi les perches à selfie et les guides touristiques. Mais j'ai trouvé un coin caché au fond, derrière une pile imposante de cartes postales touristiques. Parlons du visage changeant de notre Paris bien-aimé.

Gros Bisous
A 🫶🏻

Dialogue d'hier 💭

New is great, review is even better! Quickly review the last dialogue to double your learning (and see your progress). 👂🏻 Want to review with your ears? Listen here 🎧

Nolan: Regarde ça, Célia! Versailles, c'est à couper le souffle, non?

Célia: Franchement, Nolan, je suis sans mots. La symétrie est parfaite, chaque haie, chaque allée, tout est si bien entretenu. On dirait presque un rêve.

Nolan: Oui, tout est tellement grandiose et bien ordonné. Imagine le temps et l'argent qu'ils ont dû dépenser pour entretenir tout ça.

Célia: C'est clair! Et dire que tout ça, c'était juste pour quelques personnes. C'est un peu obscène quand on y pense, non?

Nolan: Absolument. Les rois et les reines devaient vivre comme des dieux ici. Rien que les fontaines, c'est incroyable. T'imagines avoir ça dans ton jardin?

Célia: Ça passe crème, sans aucun doute! Mais sérieusement, comment ils faisaient pour gérer tout cet espace? Ils avaient sûrement une armée de jardiniers et de serviteurs.

Nolan: Ouais, et les fêtes qu'ils devaient organiser ici, ça devait être de la folie! J'aimerais bien assister à une de ces soirées, juste pour voir.

Célia: Oh là, moi aussi! Si je pouvais remonter le temps, je voudrais voir une journée typique à la cour de Versailles. Qu'ils aient tant de richesse et de pouvoir, c'est incroyable.

Nolan: On dirait presque un film. Et ces miroirs dans la Galerie des Glaces, tu les as vus? Ils reflètent toute la lumière, c'est magique.

Célia: Oui, et ce plafond peint, c'est tellement détaillé. Chaque coin de ce palais est une œuvre d'art. Je me demande combien de temps ça a pris pour tout terminer.

Nolan: Des années, sûrement. Mais bon, je me dis qu'ils avaient tout leur temps. Quand on est roi, on n'a pas vraiment de soucis quotidiens, hein?

Célia: Exactement. C'est une autre époque, un autre monde. En tout cas, ça me donne envie de lire plus sur leur histoire. Qui sait, peut-être qu'un jour, on vivra nous aussi dans un endroit aussi impressionnant.

Nolan: On peut toujours rêver! Allez, on continue notre visite? J'ai entendu dire que les appartements royaux sont tout aussi incroyables. ♡ Like below 👇

✪ Notes, Exercises and everything else for this one are here.

L'impact du tourisme 🗺️ 🤳🏼

Dialogue Audio 🎧

▶️ The first minute, on me. Members get the full dialogue audio.

Slower Audio 🐢

🐢 Same dialogue, unhurried, nothing lost. It’s in every lesson for members. Take it slow →

À la parisienne ⚡

✨ NEW — the dialogue at frankly ridiculous speed. Nobody is expected to understand all of this. Press play once, count what you catch, and report your score in the comments 👇

Dialogue du Jour

Théo: T'as vu le dernier rapport sur le tourisme de masse à Paris? C'est hallucinant ✪ - plus de 40 millions de visiteurs par an. Je commence à me demander si notre ville peut vraiment supporter cette affluence ✪.

Louise: Je comprends ton inquiétude, mais il faut voir les deux côtés de la médaille ✪. Le tourisme fait vivre des milliers de personnes. Sans ces visiteurs, de nombreux commerces locaux mettraient la clé sous la porte ✪.

Théo: Certes, mais à quel prix? Les loyers grimpent en flèche ✪ à cause des Airbnb, les quartiers historiques se transforment en parcs d'attractions, et les Parisiens sont chassés vers la banlieue. Si ça continue comme ça, Paris va perdre son âme.

Louise: Tu exagères un peu, non? Regarde le Marais - oui, il y a des boutiques pour touristes, mais il reste authentique. Et puis, sans le tourisme, qui financerait la restauration de nos monuments?

Théo: On pourrait trouver d'autres solutions. Si j'étais maire, je limiterais le nombre de locations touristiques et j'imposerais une taxe plus élevée aux grands groupes hôteliers.

Louise: Et tu penses que ça suffirait? Le tourisme de masse est un phénomène mondial. Il faudrait plutôt miser sur un tourisme plus durable ✪, encourager les séjours plus longs, promouvoir les quartiers moins connus.

Théo: Tu marques un point. Mais comment faire quand Instagram transforme chaque coin pittoresque en attraction touristique? L'autre jour, j'ai vu une file d'attente de deux heures devant une simple boulangerie!

Louise: C'est vrai que c'est parfois absurde. Mais reconnais au moins que cette diversité culturelle apporte aussi une certaine richesse. Sans les touristes, Paris serait peut-être plus authentique, mais aussi plus provinciale.

Théo: Mouais, je préfère une ville vivante qu'un musée à ciel ouvert. Mais t'as raison sur un point - il faut trouver un équilibre. Le tourisme n'est pas près de disparaître, alors autant essayer de le rendre plus supportable.

♡ 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇

✪ Notes

mettre la clé sous la porte 🧩= faire faillite = to go out of business. A colorful way to describe economic doom. "Sans les touristes, la moitié des cafés mettraient la clé sous la porte."

Psst — five more ✪ Notes are just behind this line: the phrases you’ll actually hear in France, explained properly, with examples. Come inside →

Translation

The complete English version sits right here for members. No tabs, no dictionary, no doubt. Read the whole thing →

Et Amélie ? 💃

Having spent time in both overtouristed hotspots and hidden gems, I've come to believe responsible tourism isn't just possible - it's essential. The key? Slow down. Rent apartments in residential neighborhoods, shop at local markets, learn basic phrases in the local language.

Writing Prompt ✍️ Existe-t-il un 'tourisme responsable' ? Partagez vos réflexions sur la façon dont nous pouvons voyager tout en minimisant notre impact négatif sur les communautés locales.

All answers are welcome. One word.. or one sentence.
Write me your answer in the comments. I can’t wait to read them! 👇🏼

Leave a comment

Exercise 1 - Fill in the blank 💪

Quickly test your comprehension, accelerate your learning. 🚀

The blanks are easy to skip — and exactly why members progress faster. Answer key included. Fill the blanks →

Exercise 2 - Translate ⚡

If you can translate each of these sentences after the lesson then you’re making real progress. They can also me used as flashcards.

Five sentences to translate, answers below. If you can do these, today’s lesson is truly yours. Test yourself →

𝔻𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 ♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜👇

Enjoyed this one or have feedback? Do reply. It’s motivating. I’m not a robot, I talk back.

Que ta journée soit remplie de sourires et de bonnes vibes.
On se retrouve ici même la semaine prochaine pour la suite de nos aventures.

Amélie x

✅ A quick, simple (dare I say, fun?) window into how your French is doing.

All the colloquial phrases were included in this month’s dialogues, so it should keep you accountable and fit in a nice bit of review.

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Mark your answers and use the scoring guide at the end to determine your level. 👍🏼

Newer to French? 6+ is a genuinely good score here — this test is calibrated for where you’re heading, not where you started. 🌱

👂🏻 Compréhension orale

Ecoutez l’extrait suivant et répondez aux questions.

Question 1: Pourquoi la narratrice a-t-elle paniqué le matin du mariage ?

a) Elle s’était trompée d’heure pour la cérémonie
b) Elle avait oublié ses chaussures à Paris
c) Elle avait perdu l’alliance de sa meilleure amie
d) Elle avait raté son train pour la Provence

Question 2: Comment la mariée a-t-elle réagi au problème ?

a) Elle est restée calme et lui a prêté des sandales
b) Elle a envoyé quelqu’un acheter des chaussures
c) Elle a demandé à la narratrice de rentrer se changer
d) Elle s’est mise à paniquer elle aussi

Question 3: Comment les mariés se sont-ils rencontrés ?

a) Dans une boulangerie de leur quartier
b) À une fête d’anniversaire en Provence
c) Pendant une croisière en Méditerranée
d) Dans une file d’attente à l’aéroport

Question 4: Pourquoi la narratrice s’est-elle installée à côté des tantes au dîner ?

a) Pour les aider à servir le repas
b) Parce qu’il n’y avait plus de place ailleurs
c) Pour éviter d’avoir à danser
d) Pour écouter les potins de la famille

Question 5: Quel est le bilan de la journée pour la narratrice ?

a) Malgré tout, c’était la plus belle journée de son été
b) Elle regrette d’avoir dansé toute la nuit
c) La chaleur a complètement gâché la fête
d) Elle aurait préféré rester à Paris

📋 Grammaire et vocabulaire

Did more of July sink in than you think? Eight more questions — the subjunctive, a si-clause, and one sneaky trap. Take the full test →

📖 Compréhension de la lecture /👂🏻 Compréhension orale [avancée]

There’s audio and text for this one. If you choose to use only the audio, give yourself x2 points per answer.

🎧 L’article — vitesse normale

⚡️ Défi : à la Parisienne — la même chose, au débit d’une vraie conversation parisienne. Franchement très difficile — c’est le but. Un défi un peu fou : tu suis ?

You’ve heard it — but how much did you actually catch? The article itself, plus five questions on what your brain gets up to at night. Read it and find out →

🎯 Answers

Eighteen answers, one verdict. Check yours and see exactly where your French stands this month. Reveal the key →

✅ Scoring Guide

So… how did you do? The scoring guide and this month’s class poll are just through here. Find your level →

📈 Note your score somewhere you’ll find it — we do this again on the first Saturday of next month.
👊 Want a rematch? All past tests live here.

💬 Quelle question était la plus difficile pour toi ? Post its number in the comments — the most-missed question gets its revenge in August’s test.

*👂🏻 Listening Comprehension Text:

📄 Read the wedding story word for word. The full listening text, to catch the lines that slipped past. Follow along →

July’s Lessons:

See you here soon for another lesson :)

À plus tard, mes chers élèves!
Amélie 💜

Please Remember! Take what’s useful, leave the rest

These tests will help some students - help them stay motivated and help them see their progress.

But if it does the opposite… I encourage you to just move on! “Take what’s useful, leave the rest” is great advice in life and language-learning. Please do not under any circumstances get discouraged — whatever allows you to keep going is the most important thing of all.

*If you want to unsubscribe from just these ✅ Monthly Level Tests, I’ve made that possible here. Simply switch off this button:

Big news from my little atelier: Series Tests are here. 🎉

And because I clearly had too much coffee this month: July’s Level Test goes out today too — you’ll find it here. Two series tests and a monthly test in one day.
It’s a test bonanza. 🎉

From now on, every series comes with a proper test every ten lessons or so — a checkpoint where you prove (to yourself, mostly) that the phrases actually stuck.

I didn’t want anyone waiting, so the backfill has already begun: Paris Series 🗼, Conversation Starters ☕️ and French 101 🇫🇷 have their tests attached today, with the rest of the library close behind. All available instantly for members. :)

First up: French 101 🇫🇷

So many of you finished the series this month that it gets the honours.
Twenty lessons, two tests: Test A covers lessons 1–10, Test B 11–20.
Listening, grammar, and a real French article to wrestle with.

Count your points, note your score, and tell me in the comments which question got you — every one gets read.

Curious how far you’d get? The first section of each test is open to everyone — go and see. The answers are where membership starts ;)

Et ensuite ? 💜

A warm bienvenue to everyone who joined as a paid member for Bastille Day — you’ve picked a good moment 🇫🇷

I’m investing more in French with Amélie this year than I ever have, and series tests are only the first thing on the list. It’s going to be a very good year to be learning French here! 😊

Allez — Test A is waiting. Go and show it who’s boss.

Amélie x

Coucou ☕️🇫🇷🥐 I'm Amélie Laurent and this is a 💎 subscriber-only edition 💎 of my newsletter, where I where I insure your intermediate progress through authentic dialogues. Your support means the world.

Share French with Amélie

Salut les copains! Ensemble, on va rendre le français génial! 👍

Your French? Fit for a king. -- Accent? More polished than Versailles floors -- Vocabulary? Richer than Louis XIV. -- Let them eat conjugations! 

Votre français ? Digne d'un roi. -- Votre accent ? Plus poli que les parquets de Versailles. -- Votre vocabulaire ? Plus riche que Louis XIV.-- Qu'ils mangent des conjugaisons ! 

Gros Bisous
A 💜

Dialogue d'hier 💭

New is great, review is even better! Quickly review the last dialogue to double your learning (and see your progress). 👂🏻 Want to review with your ears? Listen here 🎧

Léna : Paul, il faut qu'on parle...

Paul : Ah... d'accord. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

Léna : Écoute, ces derniers mois ont été vraiment difficiles pour nous deux. Je pense... Je pense que c'est mieux si on arrête tout ça. Ce n'est pas toi, c'est moi.

Paul : Quoi ? Non, Léna, s'il te plaît ! Je peux changer, je ferai tout et n’importe quoi ✪ pour toi !

Léna : Paul, je sais que tu es sincère, mais c'est pas une question de ce que tu fais ou ne fais pas. J'ai juste besoin de temps pour moi.

Paul : Mais Léna... Sans toi, je suis dans la merde ✪. Ma vie n'a aucun sens sans toi !

Léna : Paul, je sais que c'est dur, mais parfois, c'est mieux comme ça. Tant mieux ✪ pour nous deux à long terme.

Paul : "Tant mieux" ?! Tu te moques de moi ? Après tout ce que nous avons partagé, c'est comme ça que tu me laisses ?

Léna : Je suis désolée, Paul. Vraiment.

Paul : Tu vas le regretter, Léna. Tu vas voir.

Léna : [en colère] C'est fini ! On casse! Ne laissez pas la porte frapper votre cul en sortant ! ✪ [sort en trombe ✪

Paul : Oublie-moi ! ♡ Like below 👇

✪ Notes, Exercises and everything else for this one are here.

Versaille ⚜️

Dialogue Audio 🎧

▶️ The first minute, on me. Members get the full dialogue audio.

Slower Audio 🐢

Members replay the whole dialogue at 75% speed until every liaison makes sense. Hear every word →

À la parisienne ⚡

Parisians won’t slow down for you. Members train for that here, one dialogue at a time.

Dialogue du Jour

Nolan: Regarde ça, Célia! Versailles, c'est à couper le souffle ✪, non?

Célia: Franchement, Nolan, je suis sans mots. La symétrie est parfaite, chaque haie, chaque allée, tout est si bien entretenu ✪. On dirait ✪ presque un rêve.

Nolan: Oui, tout est tellement grandiose et bien ordonné. Imagine le temps et l'argent qu'ils ont dû dépenser pour entretenir tout ça.

Célia: C'est clair! Et dire que tout ça, c'était juste pour quelques personnes. C'est un peu obscène quand on y pense, non?

Nolan: Absolument. Les rois et les reines devaient vivre comme des dieux ici. Rien que les fontaines, c'est incroyable. T'imagines avoir ça dans ton jardin?

Célia: Ça passe crème ✪, sans aucun doute! Mais sérieusement, comment ils faisaient pour gérer tout cet espace? Ils avaient sûrement une armée de jardiniers et de serviteurs.

Nolan: Ouais, et les fêtes qu'ils devaient organiser ici, ça devait être de la folie! J'aimerais bien assister à une de ces soirées, juste pour voir.

Célia: Oh là, moi aussi! Si je pouvais remonter le temps, je voudrais voir une journée typique à la cour de Versailles. Qu'ils aient ✪ tant de richesse et de pouvoir, c'est incroyable.

Nolan: On dirait presque un film. Et ces miroirs dans la Galerie des Glaces, tu les as vus? Ils reflètent toute la lumière, c'est magique.

Célia: Oui, et ce plafond peint, c'est tellement détaillé. Chaque coin de ce palais est une œuvre d'art. Je me demande combien de temps ça a pris pour tout terminer.

Nolan: Des années, sûrement. Mais bon, je me dis qu'ils avaient tout leur temps. Quand on est roi, on n'a pas vraiment de soucis quotidiens ✪, hein?

Célia: Exactement. C'est une autre époque, un autre monde. En tout cas, ça me donne envie de lire plus sur leur histoire. Qui sait, peut-être qu'un jour, on vivra nous aussi dans un endroit aussi impressionnant.

Nolan: On peut toujours rêver! Allez, on continue notre visite? J'ai entendu dire que les appartements royaux sont tout aussi incroyables.

♡ 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇

✪ Notes

➹ Ça passe crème ✨= Ça passe très bien = It goes down smoothly/It's perfect. This colloquial gem is as smooth as the cream it references. Use it when something fits perfectly or when a situation is going well. "Mon nouveau job? Ça passe crème, je m'entends super bien avec toute l'équipe!"

Five more phrases, five more little doors into real French. The key is on the other side of this box. Get the key →

Translation

The complete English version sits right here for members. No tabs, no dictionary, no doubt. Read the whole thing →

Et Amélie ? 💃

Château de Chenonceau for me. While everyone else was oohing and aahing over the grand halls, I was fascinated by the massive fireplace and the copper pots bigger than my bathtub in the kitchens. I couldn't help but imagine the bustling activity, the aromas, the gossip exchanged. Made me realise that even in such a grand place, life happened in these intimate spaces. The most relatable parts of history are found in the most unexpected places!

Writing Prompt ✍️ As-tu déjà visité un château ou un palais historique ? Qu'est-ce qui t'a le plus impressionné et pourquoi ?

All answers are welcome. One word.. or one sentence.
Write me your answer in the comments. I can’t wait to read them! 👇🏼

Leave a comment

Exercise 1 - Fill in the blank 💪

Quickly test your comprehension, accelerate your learning. 🚀

Reading French is step one. Producing it is where it sticks — that’s what this exercise is for. Do the exercise →

Exercise 2 - Translate ⚡

If you can translate each of these sentences after the lesson then you’re making real progress. They can also me used as flashcards.

Members end each lesson proving they’ve got it. Answers included, ego optional. Prove it →

𝔻𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 ♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜👇

Your feedback matters! Just hit ‘reply’ and let me know.

À bientôt, mes petits croissants. Restez croustillants.

Amélie x

Read more

Hey mes chers abonnés 😎

You can access all 20 lessons from this series instantly if you want.

Access the French 101 🇫🇷 Series

Today’s lesson. My love story ended and I still can't open pickle jars. Heartbreak hotel? More like a heartbreak hostel. Relationship status: It's complicated with my Netflix account… I’ve mastered talking to houseplants.

Histoire d'amour terminée, toujours incapable d'ouvrir les bocaux de cornichons. Hôtel du chagrin d'amour ? Je suis dans l'auberge du chagrin, lits superposés. Statut relationnel : C'est compliqué avec mon compte Netflix. Maîtrisé l'art de parler aux plantes d'intérieur.

We might associate break ups with the young, but they’re devastating to us at whatever age we have to endure them.

Let’s learn some classic vocabulary you’ll need to navigate this tricky situation… or understand the argument you’re overhearing! 🙊

French 101 🇫🇷 : Une rupture pénible 💔

Dialogue du Jour

Léna : Paul, il faut qu'on parle...

Paul : Ah... d'accord. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

Léna : Écoute, ces derniers mois ont été vraiment difficiles pour nous deux. Je pense... Je pense que c'est mieux si on arrête tout ça. Ce n'est pas toi, c'est moi.

Paul : Quoi ? Non, Léna, s'il te plaît ! Je peux changer, je ferai tout et n’importe quoi ✪ pour toi !

Léna : Paul, je sais que tu es sincère, mais c'est pas une question de ce que tu fais ou ne fais pas. J'ai juste besoin de temps pour moi. 

Paul : Mais Léna... Sans toi, je suis dans la merde ✪. Ma vie n'a aucun sens sans toi !

Léna : Paul, je sais que c'est dur, mais parfois, c'est mieux comme ça. Tant mieux ✪ pour nous deux à long terme.

Paul : "Tant mieux" ?! Tu te moques de moi ? Après tout ce que nous avons partagé, c'est comme ça que tu me laisses ?

Léna : Je suis désolée, Paul. Vraiment.

Paul : Tu vas le regretter, Léna. Tu vas voir.

Léna : [en colère] C'est fini ! On casse! Ne laissez pas la porte frapper votre cul en sortant !  ✪

[sort en trombe ✪]

Paul : Oublie-moi !

♡ 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇

✪ Notes

tout et n’importe quoi ✨🧩 = anything and everything. The ultimate promise of flexibility – a bit like a Swiss Army knife of willingness! Think of it as a superhero saying, "I'll do whatever it takes!"

je suis dans la merde ✨ = être dans le pétrin, avoir des ennuis = i’m in deep trouble. Ah, the French way of saying "I'm up the creek without a paddle"! It's a bit crude, but oh-so-descriptive. It captures that sinking feeling when you're really in a mess."Après avoir raté mon examen, je suis vraiment dans la merde."

tant mieux ✨ =  so much the better. This phrase is like finding a silver lining in a cloud. "Il pleut dehors ? Tant mieux, j'avais besoin de rester à la maison pour étudier."

ne laissez pas la porte frapper votre cul en sortant ! ✨ = don't let the door hit your ass on the way out. The verbal equivalent of a mic drop. Oh how I hope each one of us as the chance to use this at some point in our lives, what a great line.

sortir en trombe = partir précipitamment, quitter rapidement = leave in a huff / goe out with a bang. Imagine a cartoon character storming out of a room so fast their feet are just a blur – that's "sort en trombe." It's the grand finale of exits! Example: "Il a entendu la nouvelle et est sorti en trombe de la pièce." (He heard the news and stormed out of the room)

*✨ = especially ‘Frenchie’ words/phrases you should try and use more
*🧩 = ‘canned’ expressions or phrases that are best learned as a whole, like puzzle-pieces.

Key Phrases 🗝️

Il faut qu'on parle - We need to talk.

Qu'est-ce qui se passe ? - What's happening?

Ce n'est pas toi, c'est moi - It's not you, it's me.

C'est fini ! On casse ! - It's over! We're breaking up!

Dialogue Audio 🎧

Slower Audio 🐢

Translation

L: Paul, we need to talk...

P: Ah... okay. What's happening?

L: Listen, these last few months have been really difficult for both of us. I think... I think it's better if we stop all this. It's not you, it's me.

P: What? No, Lena, please! I can change, I'll do anything and everything for you!

L: Paul, I know you're sincere, but it's not about what you do or don't do. I just need time for myself.

P: But Lena... Without you, I'm in deep trouble. My life has no meaning without you!

L: Paul, I know it's hard, but sometimes, it's better this way. So much the better for both of us in the long run.

P: "So much the better"?! Are you mocking me? After everything we've shared, this is how you leave me?

L: I'm sorry, Paul. Really.

P: You're going to regret this, Lena. You'll see.

L: [angrily] It's over! We're breaking up! Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

[leaves in a huff]

P: Forget me!

Writing Prompt ✍️ Alors, As-tu déjà vécu une rupture difficile ? Comment as-tu géré tes émotions dans cette situation ?

All answers are welcome. One word.. or one sentence.
Write me your answer in the comments. I can’t wait to read them! 👇🏼

Leave a comment

Exercise 1 - Fill in the blank 💪

Quickly test your comprehension, accelerate your learning. 🚀

1. Quand tout va mal, je me dis souvent, "__."
   When everything goes wrong, I often tell myself, "I'm in deep trouble."

2. Si ça fonctionne pour toi, alors __.
   If it works for you, then all the better.

3. Il est prêt à dire __ pour impressionner ses amis.
   He's ready to say absolutely anything to impress his friends.

4. Après une longue dispute, elle a crié : "__!"
   After a long argument, she yelled, "It's over! We're breaking up!"

5. "Ne te soucie pas de __, concentre-toi sur ce qui compte vraiment," lui conseilla son mentor.
   "Don't worry about your ego, focus on what truly matters," his mentor advised.

If you’re struggling the ✪ Notes section is always a good place to look. 😉 The answers are all in the dialogue or notes section.

[NO PEEKING] Answer Key: 1. je suis dans la merde  2. tant mieux  3. tout et n’importe quoi  4. C'est fini ! On casse!  5. votre cul

Exercise 2 - Translate ⚡

If you can translate each of these sentences after the lesson then you’re making real progress. They can also me used as flashcards.

1. Après une dispute intense, elle est sortie en trombe de la pièce, laissant un silence pesant derrière elle.

2. "Oublie-moi si c'est plus facile pour toi," murmura-t-il, les yeux remplis de larmes.

3. Lors de leur dernière conversation, il a commencé par "Il faut qu'on parle", ce qui a immédiatement créé une atmosphère tendue.

4. Tout ça pour finir ici, pensa-t-il amèrement, en regardant les photos de leur bonheur passé.

5. Cette relation est devenue trop pénible, réalisant qu'il était temps de tourner la page.

1. After an intense argument, she stormed out of the room, leaving a heavy silence behind her.
2. "Forget me if it's easier for you," he whispered, tears filling his eyes.
3. At the start of their last conversation, he began with "We need to talk," which immediately created a tense atmosphere.
4. All this to end up here, he thought bitterly, looking at the photos of their past happiness.
5. This relationship has become too burdensome, and I realized it was time to turn the page.

✉️ Votre invitation en France cet été

𝔻𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 ♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜👇

À plus tard, mes chers élèves!

Amélie x

Series Tests ✅
Prove Your French, One Series at a Time

✅ One test per ~10 episodes · 🎧 built from the series itself · 📈 see your progress

A French series test is a short, scored test built from one of Amélie’s story series — its own dialogues, its own vocabulary, its own voices. Finish a stretch of episodes, then prove you actually got it: listening, comprehension, the words that series taught you. A taste is free; the full scored test is for members.

⛓️‍💥 Progress if often impossible to feel from the inside

You listen, you read, you nod along — and one day you realise you understood a whole dialogue without reaching for the translation. But that day is quiet. It sneaks up on you. From the inside, learning a language can feel flat even when you’re climbing fast, and that flat feeling is exactly what makes people quit right before it clicks.

A series test is a mirror. You finish a run of episodes, you sit the test, and you see your progress — the words you now know, the accents you can now follow. Same idea as the monthly level test, aimed at one story instead of one month: proof.

The lessons have been really helpful in improving my understanding and providing a good challenge to test my grammar — Lux

👀 Who it’s for

For anyone who’s worked through a series — the Paris Series 🗼, French 101 🇫🇷, Conversation Starters ☕️ — and wants to know it landed before moving on.
If you like a bit of a challenge and a clear “yes, you’ve got this,” these are for you.

Not there yet?
If you haven’t started a series, start with the episodes first — the test only makes sense once you’ve heard the stories. Pick a series from the 🌱 Start Here

Not sure of your level?
Head to the 🌱 Start Here to find where to jump in.

📚 What a series test covers

Every series test is drawn straight from the series it belongs to — nothing generic, nothing you haven’t already met in the dialogues:

• 🎧 Listening from the series — real clips in Amélie’s voice, including the ⚡ à la parisienne fast speed, so you’re tested on French as it’s actually spoken.

• ✪ The series’ own vocabulary — the expressions and idioms those episodes taught you, back to check they stuck.

• 🧠 Comprehension — short questions on what was actually said and meant, not textbook trivia.

• 📈 A score band at the end — a clear read on where you landed, and a nudge toward what’s next.

🧭 How it works

1. Finish a block — roughly every ten episodes of a series comes with its own test.

2. Sit the test — listening, vocab and comprehension, all from that stretch of the story. Take it the moment you finish, or come back to it.

3. See your score, then keep going — pass, and you’re pointed at the next series to take on. Progress you can feel, and a clear next step.

✅ Live tests

The first tests are live now — both built from the Paris Series 🗼. More are being written as you read this and they’ll drop in here as they publish:

Want a broader check-up?

Every month there’s a fresh test built from that month’s new lessons — the one people screenshot.

🚀 Ready to prove it?

Finish a series, prove you mastered the content, and jump on to the next with a little boost of confidence . That’s the idea — and it’s how you finally understand real, spoken French, in months, not years.

The full scored tests, the whole library, the private podcast and every member-only series come with membership — normally $24/month (or $240/year), with a 7-day free trial to see if it’s for you.

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite…
Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — new series tests join this page as they publish.

← Back to Start Here 🌱 · The Monthly Level Test 🧪 →

The Monthly French Level Test 🧪

🧪 A new test every month · 📈 Built from that month’s lessons · 💎 Members

The monthly French level test is a full listening-and-comprehension test, published the first Saturday of every month. Each one is built from that month’s actual dialogues — a story read aloud, a grammar-and-vocabulary round, and a real French article — then scored out of 18. It’s a members’ feature. Same month, everyone, one shared benchmark.

🙉🙈🙊 The one thing every learner secretly wants to know

Here’s the honest problem with learning a language: from the inside, you can’t feel yourself getting better. You do the lessons, the weeks blur together, and one quiet Tuesday the old thought creeps in — am I actually improving, or just… busy? That thought is where most people quietly quit. So I built the mirror. On the first Saturday of every month, you sit the same kind of test — listening, grammar, a real article — drawn entirely from the lessons you just did. You get a number. Next month you get another one. And somewhere around the third month you stop wondering whether you’re improving, because you can see it.
(It’s also, for what it’s worth, the thing people screenshot most.)

My comprehension has soared since I found French with Amélie. — Alison

👀 Who it’s for

This is for the member who wants proof, not vibes.

If you’ve been doing the dialogues and you want to know — really know — how much is sticking, the monthly test is the check-up. It’s calibrated for where you’re heading, not where you started: Newer to French? These tests are meant to stretch you. 🌱

If you like a bit of friendly pressure to keep the habit alive, one standing appointment a month with your own progress does the job better than any streak counter.

🥗 The recipe for a test

Eighteen questions, three sections, about fifteen minutes — all built from that month’s own lessons, so it only ever asks what you’ve actually been taught:

• 👂🏻 Section 1 · Listening — a short first-person story, read aloud in my voice, then five questions on what you caught. You listen first, like real life.

• 📋 Section 2 · Grammar & vocabulary — eight questions built around the month’s key phrases and the grammar underneath them. No trick questions, just the useful stuff at a real B1 stretch.

• 🗞️ Section 3 · Reading & advanced listening — a genuine French article, read at natural speed — plus the ⚡️ à la Parisienne clip: the same text at the deliberately, comically fast pace of a real Parisian in a hurry. (It’s meant to be almost impossible. That’s the fun.)

• 🎯 A score out of 18 and a class poll — mark your answers, find your band, and vote. You’ll see exactly where you land against everyone else who sat it.

🧭 How to take ‘em

1. Do the month’s lessons first. The test only asks what those dialogues taught — that’s the whole point of it.

2. Open the newest test — it lands the first Saturday of every month, right here and in the ✅ Level Tests section.

3. Listen before you read. Play each clip once through before you look at the questions. One pass, like a real conversation.

4. Answer all eighteen, then tally your score and write it down somewhere you’ll find it next month.

5. Vote in the poll — and come back for the rematch. Same time next month. Watching that number climb is the entire game.

⏪ Every past test

Check out the latest test here →
It lands the first Saturday of every month — and every past test lives in the test archive, so you can start with any month you like.

Finished a whole series, not just a month? There’s a test for that too — a short one on exactly what that series taught, so you can close it out and move on to the next with proof in hand.

🚀 One of the reasons to be a member

You can’t find this anywhere else. The monthly test is bespoke and current — not a static quiz off a shelf, but a fresh one built from the exact lessons you just did, every single month.

The answers, the grammar and reading rounds, and every past test are for members — normally $240 a year ($24 a month), with your first week free to try the whole thing.

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite — et bon test !
Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — a new test joins this page the first Saturday of every month.

← Back to the 🌱 Start Here · Series Tests ✅ →

The best night of a life (backstage, no less), a pickup line that earned a legendary râteau, and what science actually says about why we dream at all. It could only be... Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 — Test B. 🎤🌙💫

✅ A quick, simple (dare I say, fun?) window into how your French is doing.

All the colloquial phrases were included in these episodes, so it should keep you accountable and fit in a nice bit of review.

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Mark your answers and use the scoring guide at the end to determine your level. 👍🏼

Newer to French? 6+ is a genuinely good score here — this test is calibrated for where you're heading, not where you started. 🌱

👂🏻 Compréhension orale

Ecoutez l'extrait suivant et répondez aux questions qui suivent.

Question 1: Quel était le plus beau jour de la narratrice ?

a) Le jour de sa remise de diplôme
b) Son mariage
c) Un voyage à l'étranger
d) Un concert, avec un accès en coulisses

Question 2: Comment se sentait-elle au début, en coulisses ?

a) Elle avait sommeil
b) Elle flippait, elle était très nerveuse
c) Elle s'ennuyait déjà
d) Elle était en colère

Question 3: Une fois sur place, comment s'est-elle sentie ?

a) Malade
b) Toujours aussi timide
c) Comme un poisson dans l'eau, très à l'aise
d) Pressée de rentrer

Question 4: Qu'est-il arrivé au garçon avec sa phrase de drague ?

a) Il s'est pris un râteau, il a été rejeté
b) Il a réussi à la séduire
c) Il est parti sans un mot
d) Il a chanté sur scène

Question 5: Comment la soirée s'est-elle terminée ?

a) Le concert a été annulé
b) Elle a perdu ses amis
c) Le chanteur leur a dédié une chanson
d) La police a fait évacuer la salle

📋 Grammaire et vocabulaire

Did Conversation Starters Phase 3 stick more than you think? Eight grammar traps from Conversation Starters Phase 3 Test B turn those colloquial phrases into a quick checkpoint. Start my 7-day trial →

📖 Compréhension de la lecture /👂🏻 Compréhension orale [avancée]

There's audio and text for this one. If you choose to use only the audio, give yourself x2 points per answer.

🎧 L'article — vitesse normale

⚡️ Défi : à la Parisienne — la même chose, au débit d'une vraie conversation parisienne. Franchement très difficile — c'est le but. Un défi un peu fou : tu suis ?

The headline has a few traps. The advanced reading questions reveal whether you caught the detail behind the story. Start my 7-day trial →

🎯 Answers

Ready to see what Conversation Starters Phase 3 kept hidden? Open the key and compare every answer while the scenes are still fresh. Start my 7-day trial →

✅ Scoring Guide

• 🦾 16-18 correct answers: Advanced level. You have a strong grasp of intermediate French and can handle more challenging material. You have made amazing progress.

• 💪 12-16 correct answers: Intermediate level. You have a great understanding of French, better than 95% of learners - more colloquial phrases and complex grammar structures might help you improve. But these will come naturally with patience. Whatever you're doing… keep doing it!

• ⭐️ 8-12 correct answers: Lower-intermediate level. You are in the top 10% of learners. These questions are *hard* and designed for to test all levels. A few more months of study would see you become a solid intermediate level.

• 🌱 4-8 correct answers: Beginner level. No one should be discouraged by this level. Intermediate is just on the horizon! Some of your mistakes may give you a hint of where you might need study.

How did everyone else do? Vote and see how your score stacks up against the class — members only. Start my 7-day trial →

📈 Note your score somewhere you'll find it — series tests like this drop after every ten episodes of a series. Want a rematch? All past tests live here.

💬 Quelle question était la plus difficile pour toi ? Post its number in the comments — the most-missed question gets its revenge in the next test.

🔮 What's next?

Scored 12+? That's all of Phase 3 behind you — chapeau ! You've finished the Conversation Starters. Ready for opinions with real stakes?

Not a member yet? Every lesson, test and the private podcast come with membership — Start my 7-day trial → and step straight into the debates of Hot Issues. 💜

*👂🏻 Listening Comprehension Text:

That first clip is worth a second pass. Read the transcript line by line and catch the turns that slipped past your ear. Start my 7-day trial →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 — Lessons 14–25:

See you here soon for another lesson :)

À plus tard, mes chers élèves!
Amélie 💜

Please Remember! Take what's useful, leave the rest

These tests will help some students - help them stay motivated and help them see their progress.

But if it does the opposite… I encourage you to just move on! Take what's useful, leave the rest is great advice in life and language-learning. Please do not under any circumstances get discouraged and rundown because of the results of this test. That's an order!

*If you want to unsubscribe from just these ✅ Level Tests, I've made that possible here. Simply switch off this button:

← Back to the Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3     ·     ✅ Hot Issues 🔥 →

A girls' night worth pulling out all the stops for, the truth about why your horoscope always seems to "get" you, and a theory or two that's a little tirée par les cheveux. It could only be... Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 — Test A. 💃✨🔮

✅ A quick, simple (dare I say, fun?) window into how your French is doing.

All the colloquial phrases were included in these episodes, so it should keep you accountable and fit in a nice bit of review.

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Mark your answers and use the scoring guide at the end to determine your level. 👍🏼

Newer to French? 6+ is a genuinely good score here — this test is calibrated for where you're heading, not where you started. 🌱

👂🏻 Compréhension orale

Ecoutez l'extrait suivant et répondez aux questions qui suivent.

Question 1: De quoi la narratrice en avait-elle marre ?

a) De la routine métro-boulot-dodo et des journées chargées
b) De ses amies
c) De faire du sport
d) De la ville

Question 2: Qui lui propose une soirée en ville ?

a) Sa collègue de bureau
b) Sa voisine
c) Sa sœur
d) Sarah, sa pote d'enfance

Question 3: Que veut dire « sortir le grand jeu » ici ?

a) Faire des économies
b) Sortir un jeu de société
c) Rentrer très tôt
d) Se faire très belle : robe, talons, maquillage

Question 4: Comment a-t-elle vécu la soirée ?

a) Elle est partie tôt
b) Elle s'est disputée avec Sarah
c) Elle a adoré, elle a kiffé chaque minute
d) Elle s'est ennuyée

Question 5: Dans quel état a-t-elle repris le travail le lundi ?

a) Le sourire aux lèvres, de bonne humeur
b) En retard et stressée
c) Malade
d) Épuisée et de mauvaise humeur

📋 Grammaire et vocabulaire

Did Conversation Starters Phase 3 stick more than you think? Eight grammar traps from Conversation Starters Phase 3 Test A turn those colloquial phrases into a quick checkpoint. Start my 7-day trial →

📖 Compréhension de la lecture /👂🏻 Compréhension orale [avancée]

There's audio and text for this one. If you choose to use only the audio, give yourself x2 points per answer.

🎧 L'article — vitesse normale

⚡️ Défi : à la Parisienne — la même chose, au débit d'une vraie conversation parisienne. Franchement très difficile — c'est le but. Un défi un peu fou : tu suis ?

The headline has a few traps. The advanced reading questions reveal whether you caught the detail behind the story. Start my 7-day trial →

🎯 Answers

Ready to see what Conversation Starters Phase 3 kept hidden? Open the key and compare every answer while the scenes are still fresh. Start my 7-day trial →

✅ Scoring Guide

• 🦾 16-18 correct answers: Advanced level. You have a strong grasp of intermediate French and can handle more challenging material. You have made amazing progress.

• 💪 12-16 correct answers: Intermediate level. You have a great understanding of French, better than 95% of learners - more colloquial phrases and complex grammar structures might help you improve. But these will come naturally with patience. Whatever you're doing… keep doing it!

• ⭐️ 8-12 correct answers: Lower-intermediate level. You are in the top 10% of learners. These questions are *hard* and designed for to test all levels. A few more months of study would see you become a solid intermediate level.

• 🌱 4-8 correct answers: Beginner level. No one should be discouraged by this level. Intermediate is just on the horizon! Some of your mistakes may give you a hint of where you might need study.

How did everyone else do? Vote and see how your score stacks up against the class — members only. Start my 7-day trial →

📈 Note your score somewhere you'll find it — series tests like this drop after every ten episodes of a series. Want a rematch? All past tests live here.

💬 Quelle question était la plus difficile pour toi ? Post its number in the comments — the most-missed question gets its revenge in the next test.

🔮 What's next?

Scored 12+? You're breezing through Phase 3 — and the conversations don't stop here. Two more episodes are queued up to keep your streak alive.

Not a member yet? The tests are a members' perk, but the door's open — Start my 7-day trial → and keep the momentum going. 💜

*👂🏻 Listening Comprehension Text:

That first clip is worth a second pass. Read the transcript line by line and catch the turns that slipped past your ear. Start my 7-day trial →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 — Lessons 1–13:

See you here soon for another lesson :)

À plus tard, mes chers élèves!
Amélie 💜

Please Remember! Take what's useful, leave the rest

These tests will help some students - help them stay motivated and help them see their progress.

But if it does the opposite… I encourage you to just move on! Take what's useful, leave the rest is great advice in life and language-learning. Please do not under any circumstances get discouraged and rundown because of the results of this test. That's an order!

*If you want to unsubscribe from just these ✅ Level Tests, I've made that possible here. Simply switch off this button:

← Back to the Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3     ·     ✅ Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 — Test B →

An old university crush, a plate of pasta worth taking your time over, and the truth about whether the French really are all fleeing the city for the countryside (spoiler: pas vraiment). It could only be... Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B — Test B. 🍝🏡❤️

✅ A quick, simple (dare I say, fun?) window into how your French is doing.

All the colloquial phrases were included in these episodes, so it should keep you accountable and fit in a nice bit of review.

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Mark your answers and use the scoring guide at the end to determine your level. 👍🏼

Newer to French? 6+ is a genuinely good score here — this test is calibrated for where you're heading, not where you started. 🌱

👂🏻 Compréhension orale

Ecoutez l'extrait suivant et répondez aux questions qui suivent.

Question 1: Depuis combien de temps n'avait-elle pas vu Théo ?

a) Depuis la veille
b) Depuis une semaine
c) Ils se voyaient tous les jours
d) Depuis très longtemps, ça faisait un bail

Question 2: Quel secret gardait-elle depuis la fac ?

a) Elle lui devait de l'argent
b) Elle avait menti sur son âge
c) Elle ne l'aimait pas du tout
d) Elle avait craqué sur lui sans jamais le dire

Question 3: Pourquoi a-t-elle failli annuler la soirée ?

a) Elle était crevée et débordée de travail
b) Le restaurant était fermé
c) Elle s'était disputée avec lui
d) Il pleuvait trop

Question 4: Qu'ont-ils fait au restaurant ?

a) Ils ont regardé un match
b) Ils ont pris leur temps pour déguster les pâtes et discuter
c) Ils se sont disputés
d) Ils ont mangé en vitesse

Question 5: Comment se sentait-elle en rentrant ?

a) Encore plus fatiguée
b) En colère contre Théo
c) Déçue de la soirée
d) Bien plus légère qu'à l'aller

📋 Grammaire et vocabulaire

Did Conversation Starters Phase 2B stick more than you think? Eight grammar traps from Conversation Starters Phase 2B Test B turn those colloquial phrases into a quick checkpoint. Start my 7-day trial →

📖 Compréhension de la lecture /👂🏻 Compréhension orale [avancée]

There's audio and text for this one. If you choose to use only the audio, give yourself x2 points per answer.

🎧 L'article — vitesse normale

⚡️ Défi : à la Parisienne — la même chose, au débit d'une vraie conversation parisienne. Franchement très difficile — c'est le but. Un défi un peu fou : tu suis ?

The headline has a few traps. The advanced reading questions reveal whether you caught the detail behind the story. Start my 7-day trial →

🎯 Answers

Ready to see what Conversation Starters Phase 2B kept hidden? Open the key and compare every answer while the scenes are still fresh. Start my 7-day trial →

✅ Scoring Guide

• 🦾 16-18 correct answers: Advanced level. You have a strong grasp of intermediate French and can handle more challenging material. You have made amazing progress.

• 💪 12-16 correct answers: Intermediate level. You have a great understanding of French, better than 95% of learners - more colloquial phrases and complex grammar structures might help you improve. But these will come naturally with patience. Whatever you're doing… keep doing it!

• ⭐️ 8-12 correct answers: Lower-intermediate level. You are in the top 10% of learners. These questions are *hard* and designed for to test all levels. A few more months of study would see you become a solid intermediate level.

• 🌱 4-8 correct answers: Beginner level. No one should be discouraged by this level. Intermediate is just on the horizon! Some of your mistakes may give you a hint of where you might need study.

How did everyone else do? Vote and see how your score stacks up against the class — members only. Start my 7-day trial →

📈 Note your score somewhere you'll find it — series tests like this drop after every ten episodes of a series. Want a rematch? All past tests live here.

💬 Quelle question était la plus difficile pour toi ? Post its number in the comments — the most-missed question gets its revenge in the next test.

🔮 What's next?

Scored 12+? That's the whole second half of Phase 2B behind you — chapeau ! You're ready for the next stretch of conversations.

Not a member yet? Every lesson, test and the private podcast come with membership — Start my 7-day trial → and carry the momentum straight into Phase 3. 💜

*👂🏻 Listening Comprehension Text:

That first clip is worth a second pass. Read the transcript line by line and catch the turns that slipped past your ear. Start my 7-day trial →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B — Lessons 12–22:

See you here soon for another lesson :)

À plus tard, mes chers élèves!
Amélie 💜

Please Remember! Take what's useful, leave the rest

Th

ese tests will help some students - help them stay motivated and help them see their progress.

But if it does the opposite… I encourage you to just move on! Take what's useful, leave the rest is great advice in life and language-learning. Please do not under any circumstances get discouraged and rundown because of the results of this test. That's an order!

*If you want to unsubscribe from just these ✅ Level Tests, I've made that possible here. Simply switch off this button:

← Back to the Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B     ·     ✅ Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 →

A case of the blues cured by a film you almost skipped, a butter croissant that owes its shape to a 1683 siege, and a coup de foudre or two along the way. It could only be... Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B — Test A. 🎬🥐❤️‍🔥

✅ A quick, simple (dare I say, fun?) window into how your French is doing.

All the colloquial phrases were included in these episodes, so it should keep you accountable and fit in a nice bit of review.

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Mark your answers and use the scoring guide at the end to determine your level. 👍🏼

Newer to French? 6+ is a genuinely good score here — this test is calibrated for where you're heading, not where you started. 🌱

👂🏻 Compréhension orale

Ecoutez l'extrait suivant et répondez aux questions qui suivent.

Question 1: Comment se sentait la narratrice depuis une semaine ?

a) Elle était très en colère
b) Elle était surexcitée
c) Elle n'avait pas le moral, elle avait le cafard
d) Elle était malade

Question 2: Que lui propose sa colocataire ?

a) De faire du sport
b) D'aller au cinéma le soir même
c) De partir en week-end
d) D'aller au restaurant

Question 3: Pourquoi finit-elle par accepter de sortir ?

a) Le film la passionnait
b) Elle voulait impressionner quelqu'un
c) Sa sœur insistait
d) Elle se dit « pourquoi pas », l'important est de sortir

Question 4: Comment était le film, en réalité ?

a) Une bonne surprise qui l'a fait rire aux larmes
b) Interrompu avant la fin
c) Trop triste pour elle
d) Ennuyeux du début à la fin

Question 5: Que fait-elle le lendemain ?

a) Elle rappelle enfin sa sœur
b) Elle déménage
c) Elle retourne au cinéma
d) Elle reste au lit toute la journée

📋 Grammaire et vocabulaire

Did Conversation Starters Phase 2B stick more than you think? Eight grammar traps from Conversation Starters Phase 2B Test A turn those colloquial phrases into a quick checkpoint. Start my 7-day trial →

📖 Compréhension de la lecture /👂🏻 Compréhension orale [avancée]

There's audio and text for this one. If you choose to use only the audio, give yourself x2 points per answer.

🎧 L'article — vitesse normale

⚡️ Défi : à la Parisienne — la même chose, au débit d'une vraie conversation parisienne. Franchement très difficile — c'est le but. Un défi un peu fou : tu suis ?

The headline has a few traps. The advanced reading questions reveal whether you caught the detail behind the story. Start my 7-day trial →

🎯 Answers

Ready to see what Conversation Starters Phase 2B kept hidden? Open the key and compare every answer while the scenes are still fresh. Start my 7-day trial →

✅ Scoring Guide

• 🦾 16-18 correct answers: Advanced level. You have a strong grasp of intermediate French and can handle more challenging material. You have made amazing progress.

• 💪 12-16 correct answers: Intermediate level. You have a great understanding of French, better than 95% of learners - more colloquial phrases and complex grammar structures might help you improve. But these will come naturally with patience. Whatever you're doing… keep doing it!

• ⭐️ 8-12 correct answers: Lower-intermediate level. You are in the top 10% of learners. These questions are *hard* and designed for to test all levels. A few more months of study would see you become a solid intermediate level.

• 🌱 4-8 correct answers: Beginner level. No one should be discouraged by this level. Intermediate is just on the horizon! Some of your mistakes may give you a hint of where you might need study.

How did everyone else do? Vote and see how your score stacks up against the class — members only. Start my 7-day trial →

📈 Note your score somewhere you'll find it — series tests like this drop after every ten episodes of a series. Want a rematch? All past tests live here.

💬 Quelle question était la plus difficile pour toi ? Post its number in the comments — the most-missed question gets its revenge in the next test.

🔮 What's next?

Scored 12+? You're breezing through — and the conversations don't stop here. Two more Phase 2B episodes are queued up to keep your streak alive.

Not a member yet? The tests are a members' perk, but the door's open
Start my 7-day trial → and keep the momentum going. 💜

*👂🏻 Listening Comprehension Text:

That first clip is worth a second pass. Read the transcript line by line and catch the turns that slipped past your ear. Start my 7-day trial →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B — Lessons 1–11:

See you here soon for another lesson :)

À plus tard, mes chers élèves!
Amélie 💜

Please Remember! Take what's useful, leave the rest

These tests will help some students - help them stay motivated and help them see their progress.

But if it does the opposite… I encourage you to just move on! Take what's useful, leave the rest is great advice in life and language-learning. Please do not under any circumstances get discouraged and rundown because of the results of this test. That's an order!

*If you want to unsubscribe from just these ✅ Level Tests, I've made that possible here. Simply switch off this button:

← Back to the Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B     ·     ✅ Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2B — Test B →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 3 — Real B2 French Conversations

🌳 Level: B2 · 🎧 25 episodes · ▶️ 4 free to try

Advanced French conversation practice for learners who’ve outgrown the textbook: Conversation Starters Phase 3 is 25 B2 dialogues that trade small talk for the real thing — your oldest memory, whether anyone can truly be trusted, what you’d make illegal if you could. Every episode comes with full-speed audio, a transcript and colloquial notes; four are free to sample.

🎧 A word from Amélie

Press ▶️ — 33 seconds, in my voice, before you dive in.

« Bienvenue dans la phase trois — le niveau B2, le sommet des Conversation Starters ! Ici, on ne parle plus de la pluie et du beau temps. On parle de tes rêves, de tes convictions, de tes souvenirs les plus anciens... les vraies conversations, celles qu’on a à table à deux heures du matin. C’est là que ton français devient TON français — avec tes opinions, ton humour, ta personnalité. Alors viens, assieds-toi, et dis-moi tout ! »

⛰️ Welcome to the summit

Phase 3 is where we’re done with small talk. These are the two-in-the-morning conversations: your oldest memory, whether people can really be trusted, what you’d make illegal if you had the power for an afternoon (I have opinions about scooters on pavements — I’ll keep most of them to myself).

Here’s what makes this level different: it’s where your French stops being the French and becomes YOUR French. Your opinions, your humour, your way of hesitating and doubling back — all of it, finally happening in another language. Watching a student cross that line is the best part of my job.

I’ve been listening to podcasts, reading books and taking one-on-one lessons for several years, and I enjoy the addition of Amélie’s casual dialogues between young people. I’m in my 70’s and not likely to use argot or even extremely familiar language when I’m in France, but it’s good to know... and fun to use with my husband, who also speaks French.

— Pam

👀 Who it’s for

Confident intermediates ready to be stretched. The audio is fully natural — speed, fillers, interruptions, the lot — because at this level the flattering slow version would just be lying to you.

Not there yet? Start one rung down with Vivre en France 🥖 and come back when small talk feels easy.

Not sure where you land? Find your level in a few minutes on the 🌱 Start Here page.

📚 What you’ll learn — advanced French conversation practice, one real expression at a time

You’ll leave this phase armed with the colloquial, opinion-shaping French that native speakers actually reach for in a debate at the dinner table:

• je pencherais plutôt pour — I would lean towards (hedging an opinion).

• tu marques un point — you have a point (conceding gracefully).

• tiré par les cheveux — far-fetched.

• ça ne tient pas la route — it doesn’t hold up, it doesn’t make sense.

• faut pas se leurrer — let’s not kid ourselves.

• plus facile à dire qu’à faire — easier said than done.

• les carottes sont cuites — it’s all over (literally: the carrots are cooked).

• se prendre un râteau — to be turned down, rejected (literally: to take a rake to the face).

🧭 How to take this course

1. Any order you like — pick the question you can’t resist answering.

2. Write your answer with the writing prompt, every time. B2 is built in your own sentences, not mine.

3. Argue with the dialogue. Disagree with someone in it? Say why, out loud, in French. That’s the exercise.

🎬 The episode guide

Twenty-five conversations, the whole B2 spread of advanced French conversation practice — beliefs, memories, hypotheticals and a fair bit of nonsense. The first, and three more along the way, are free to try.

25 episodes · 🌳 B2 · 💸 4 free to try

🌱 Start free

Four full conversations are open — dialogue, writing prompt and a taste of the audio, no membership needed:

Get a new free dialogue in your inbox every week — subscribe free.

✅ Lesson Series Tests

Next in the journey: Hot Issues 🔥 — where the opinions get stakes and the debates get real.

🚀 Ready to start?

Finally understand real, spoken French — in months, not years. Phase 3 is where the everyday, opinionated, at-speed French clicks into place — and it’s just one corner of everything a membership opens up.

Here’s exactly what’s free and what comes with membership:

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite dans la première conversation !

Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — new episodes join this guide as they publish.

← Vivre en France 🥖 · 🌱 Start Here · Next: Hot Issues 🔥 →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2 — Intermediate French Conversation Practice

🌿 Level: Intermediate (B1) · 🎧 40 episodes

Intermediate French conversation practice, one real question at a time: Phase 2 is 40 B1 dialogues about your worst holiday, your dream job, the last time you got in trouble at work. Longer, more personal exchanges at natural speed, each with a full transcript and colloquial notes. Many episodes are open free — start reading today.

🎧 A word from Amélie

Press ▶️ — 30 seconds, in my voice.

« Bienvenue dans la phase deux des Conversation Starters ! Ici, on passe aux choses sérieuses — enfin, sérieuses... on parle de tes vacances ratées, de ta glace préférée et de la dernière fois que tu as eu des ennuis au boulot ! Les conversations sont plus longues, l’audio est plus rapide — comme dans la vraie vie. C’est exactement le niveau où on arrête de traduire dans sa tête et où on commence à penser en français. Prêt ? Prête ? Allez, viens, on papote ! »

☕️ The level where French becomes a habit

Phase 2 is my favourite moment to watch in a student: it’s where French stops being a subject and starts being a habit. The questions get more personal — your dream job, the last time you got in trouble at work (we’ve all been there) — and the dialogues stretch out and speed up to how people genuinely talk. Somewhere around the middle of this phase, something quietly magical happens: you catch yourself understanding a whole exchange without translating it in your head first. That moment is the entire point of this series.

I like trying to understand real conversation, and that in itself is interesting. I can see you put a lot of time in to make this interesting, and I enjoy it. Thank you.

— Sharon

👀 Who this series is for

You’ve done the basics — Phase 1, French 101, or their equivalent elsewhere — and you can hold a simple exchange. Now you want range: opinions, stories, past tenses that come out on their own.

Who should skip it: brand new to French, or still building your first sentences? Start one level down with French 101 🇫🇷, then come back here.

Not sure this is your level? Find where you fit in a couple of minutes at the 🌱 Start Here page.

📚 What you’ll learn

Every dialogue leaves you with real, spoken French you can drop into your next conversation — the kind that rarely makes it into textbooks. A taste of what’s inside:

• métro, boulot, dodo — the Parisian way of describing the daily grind: commute, work, sleep.

• bien dans sa peau — feeling content, good about oneself (literally “well in one’s own skin”).

• j’ai le cafard — to feel down, to have the blues.

• laisse tomber — forget it / never mind.

• je m’en fiche — the colloquial way to say “I don’t care.”

• pas mal — “not too bad”, used anywhere and everywhere in conversation.

• Bref… — in short / anyway — the very French way to cut a long story short.

🧭 How to take this course

1. Roughly in order — the turns get longer and quicker as you go.

2. Tell your own version. After each dialogue, answer the question with YOUR story, out loud or in the writing prompt. Borrowed sentences become yours that way.

3. Lean on the slow audio less and less. By the end of this phase, try natural speed first.

🎬 The episode guide

Forty dialogues of intermediate French conversation practice, roughly in the order they build. The free episodes are open without a subscription; the rest open with a trial.

40 episodes · 🌿 Intermediate (B1) · best taken roughly in order

🌱 Start free

You don’t need a subscription to begin — here are a few episodes to try free, transcript and colloquial notes included:

Like them? A free subscription brings a new dialogue to your inbox every week — no card, no catch.

✅ Lesson Series Tests

Finished the series? Prove it!

🚀 Ready to start?

Finally understand real, spoken French — in months, not years. Phase 2 is where it stops being study and starts being second nature.

Here’s exactly what’s free and what members get:

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite dans la première leçon !

Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — new episodes join this guide as they publish.

← Back to the 🌱 Start Here · Next: Paris Series 🗼 →

Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 1 — French Conversation Practice for Beginners

🌱 Very early beginner · 💬 45 dialogues · 📜 44 free to read

French conversation practice for beginners starts right here — with the 45 short dialogues that were the very first French with Amélie lessons. Each one turns an everyday question (“do you have pets?”, “coffee or juice?”) into real, spoken French. These early episodes are unmaintained now, but I keep them free to read — 44 of the 45, open to anyone.

🎧 A word from Amélie

Press ▶️ — 30 seconds, in my voice. (No audio on the episodes themselves — this is just me saying bonjour.)

« Bienvenue dans les Conversation Starters, phase un — là où tout commence ! Chaque leçon part d’une petite question toute simple : t’as des animaux ? C’est quoi ta boisson préférée ? Des questions de tous les jours... mais posées en vrai français, celui qu’on parle vraiment. Et le plus beau ? Presque toute cette phase est gratuite. Alors installe-toi, prends un café, et réponds-moi — oui oui, à voix haute, personne ne t’écoute ! On commence ? »

☕️ Where French with Amélie began

This is the shelf where it all started. Before the polished lessons, before the podcast, there was just me and a small question every few days: what are you scared of? what’s the last thing you do before bed? — the questions French people actually ask each other, answered in the French we actually speak.

You can almost watch the format invent itself as you scroll. The earliest ones are literally titled “Dialogue 17/02 : …” — me finding my feet. A couple of questions I even loved enough to record twice, a year apart (Quel est ton jour de fête préféré ? shows up young, then again once the format had grown up) — so you get to see the before and after in the same series.

These lessons are unmaintained: no audio on most of them, a few rough edges I’ve left exactly as they were. I keep them free because this is the newsletter’s photo album, and photo albums should be open.

[French with Amélie] makes me feel like I can do this.

— French with Amélie reader

👀 Who it’s for

This is beginner French conversation practice at its gentlest — for anyone with a little French who wants to stop reciting and start answering. If you can read a simple sentence, you can start here, and almost all of it is free, so you can settle in before deciding anything.

Already comfortable with everyday questions? Don’t linger on the archive — skip up the ladder to French 101 🇫🇷 (the survival-scenario course) or straight into Conversation Starters ☕️ Phase 2 for a real step up.

Not sure where you land? Find your level on the 🌱 Start Here page — it takes a couple of minutes.

📚 What you’ll learn

Even in these first lessons, I was smuggling in the little words that make you sound French. A handful you’ll pick up here:

• je vois — “I see”, as in I understand. Very common. Use it!

• des fois — sometimes, occasionally — the casual cousin of parfois.

• quoi de neuf ? — what’s up? Laid back and familiar — real-life freshness for your stuffy textbook French.

• d’accord — okay — the universal nod of approval, and a universal filler.

• c’est vrai ! — it’s true! Use it to agree with someone enthusiastically.

• je viens de… — I just… — your trump card for talking about recent actions (“je viens d’arriver”).

• pas mal — “not too bad” — a French person’s default state; there is nothing they can’t use it to answer.

🧭 How to read the early days

1. Read them in order if you can. It’s a chronicle — the difficulty creeps up so gently you won’t notice, because you’re watching me learn to teach in real time.

2. Answer each question yourself, out loud, first. Before you read my dialogue, say your own answer. That ten seconds of effort is where the learning actually lives.

3. Don’t treat it like a course to “finish.” It’s an archive to wander. When the questions start feeling easy, that’s your cue to move up to French 101 🇫🇷.

🎬 The episode guide

Forty-five dialogues, oldest first — the actual order they were written, so the series reads as a chronicle. 44 are free to read; one (the very last) is a members’ episode.

45 dialogues · 🌱 Very early beginner · 💸 44 free to read

🌱 Start free

Here’s the lovely part: there’s almost nothing to unlock. 44 of these 45 dialogues are free to read — transcripts and notes included — so just start anywhere that catches your eye. If you’re not sure, begin at the top and let the chronicle carry you. A few doors in:

Reading along isn’t a commitment — subscribing free just means the next dialogue lands in your inbox.

🚀 Ready to move up?

This shelf is the beginning — and it’s free to keep. But when you’re ready for the real climb, the full maintained program is waiting: two full dialogues a week, slow and fast audio, my annotated notes, exercises, the private podcast 💜 and monthly level tests.

Finally understand real, spoken French — in months, not years. Here’s exactly what’s free, and what membership adds:

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite dans les premières leçons !

Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — this is an archive; the early dialogues stay exactly as they were.

← Back to the 🌱 Start Here · Next: French 101 🇫🇷 →

The Hot Issues Series 🔥 — B2 French Debates on Current Events

🌳 Level: B2 · 🎧 25 episodes · ▶️ 1 free to try

Hot Issues is the B2 finale of French with Amélie — 25 debate-style French dialogues on the current events France actually argues about: climate, AI, immigration, screens, the future of work. Each episode is a real, fast-paced conversation, with transcripts and colloquial notes. One episode is free to try; the rest come with membership.

🎧 A word from Amélie

Press ▶️ — 30 seconds, in my voice, on why this series bites a little.

« Bienvenue dans Hot Issues — la série qui pique un peu ! Le climat, l’intelligence artificielle, l’immigration, les réseaux sociaux... Les Français adorent débattre — c’est notre sport national, juste après râler ! — et si tu veux suivre un dîner en France, il te faut ce français-là. Chaque épisode, c’est un vrai débat, avec des opinions qui se bousculent. Écoute, forge-toi un avis... et viens le défendre dans les commentaires. Allez, on débat ! »

🔥 France’s real national sport is arguing

A warning before you come in: this series has opinions. Climate, AI, immigration, social media, the future of work — every episode is a proper debate between people who don’t quite agree, because that’s what French sounds like once the pleasantries are over.

You need to know something about us: debating is the French national sport, narrowly behind complaining — we train year-round for both. Survive a French dinner party and you haven’t just eaten well; you’ve refereed three arguments and joined two. This series is your training camp for exactly that French: fast, idiomatic, full of « oui, mais… » and « justement ! ». I built it for the moment you stop reading French and start disagreeing in it.

Reading small little stories in colloquial French is wonderfully helpful and something too often overlooked in courses. Most of us want to learn so that we can one day converse with native speakers, and for this we need to understand their everyday speech. Merci beaucoup!

— Eulalee

👀 Who it’s for

This is for B2 learners who want the French of the news, the café terrace and the family dinner — where people talk over each other, change their minds mid-sentence, and enjoy every second of it. If you can already follow a normal-speed conversation and you’re itching to have an opinion in French, you’re home.

Not ready for real-speed debate yet? No shame at all — drop back down to Conversation Starters Phase 3 ☕️ or Vivre en France 🥖, and come back when the fast lane feels fun rather than frightening.

Not sure this is your level? Find your level on the 🌱 Start Here page first — it’ll point you to the right series in a couple of minutes.

📚 What you’ll learn

Debate has its own toolkit — the phrases you reach for to concede a point, push back, soften a blow or land the winning line. Here are a few you’ll walk away using, straight from the episodes’ notes:

• ne te méprends pas — don’t get me wrong (for softening before you disagree).

• tiré par les cheveux — far-fetched (dismiss a weak argument in one phrase).

• tout n’est pas rose — it’s not all rosy (the classic “yes, but…” nuance move).

• suivre ta logique — to follow your logic (concede a step before you counter it).

• tenir la route — to hold up, to make sense (as in « son explication ne tient pas la route »).

• rester les bras croisés — to stand idly by (for the “we can’t just do nothing” argument).

• prendre du recul — to step back, take stock (when you need to cool a debate down).

🧭 How to take this course

1. Pick the topics that provoke you — annoyance is a fantastic teacher.

2. Listen for the debate moves: how speakers concede, counter and interrupt. Steal those phrases — they’re the real curriculum.

3. Then come argue. Leave your opinion in the comments, in French. I read them all — and yes, I sometimes argue back.

🎬 The episode guide

Twenty-five debates on the current events in French that France can’t stop talking about — in the order I’d take them. Each links to its own episode with audio, transcript and notes.

25 episodes · 🌳 B2 · 💸 1 free to try

🌱 Start free

One full episode is open to try — audio, transcript and notes included. It’s one of my favourites in the whole series: the debate about whether AI is a real threat or all hot air.

Subscribe free and a new dialogue lands in your inbox every week — no card, no catch.

✅ Lesson Series Tests

Finished the series? Prove it!

Series tests for Hot Issues are on the way — short, focused checks built from these exact debates, so “I think I’m keeping up” becomes “I know I am.” I’ll add them here the moment they’re live. And since you’ve reached the very top of the library, the ✅ monthly level tests are what keep you sharp from here — plus every new episode lands in your podcast feed the morning it publishes.

🚀 Ready to start?

This is the French you actually want: the fast, opinionated, real-life French people speak once they stop being polite. Members get all 220 lessons, the private podcast feed, exercises with answer keys, and monthly level tests — Hot Issues included, from episode one.

Here’s exactly what’s free and what’s premium, side by side:

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite — et n’oublie pas de venir défendre ton avis dans les commentaires.

Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — new episodes join this guide as they publish.

← Back to the 🌱 Start Here · Explore the whole library 🌱 →

The Vivre en France 🥖 Series — French Dialogues About Daily Life in France

🌿 Level: Intermediate (B1) · 🎧 36 episodes · ▶️ 2 free to try

Vivre en France 🥖 is a series of everyday French dialogues about daily life in France — 36 intermediate (B1) episodes, from the supermarket checkout to the broken heating in January. Each one comes with audio, a full French transcript and my colloquial notes. Two episodes are completely free to try; the rest are for members.

🎧 A word from Amélie

Press ▶️ — 30 seconds, in my voice…

« Bienvenue dans Vivre en France ! Visiter la France, c’est bien. Mais y vivre — faire les courses, prendre le train, appeler le plombier quand le chauffage tombe en panne en janvier... — ça, c’est une autre histoire ! Trente-sept scènes de la vraie vie quotidienne, avec le vocabulaire que personne ne pense à t’apprendre. C’est ma série la plus utile, je te le garantis. Un jour tu me remercieras — probablement un jour de panne de chauffage. Allez, on y va ! »

🥖 Living in France — or dreaming of it

Visiting France is one thing. Living it is a completely different sport. Nobody warns you that the real tests of your French aren’t at the Louvre — they’re at the supermarket checkout, on the phone with the train company, and above all the day the heating dies in January and you have to explain that to a plumber who talks like a TGV.

This is my most useful series, and I’ll defend that claim over dinner. Thirty-six scenes of genuinely ordinary life — the laundry, the market, the never-ending paperwork — full of the vocabulary no textbook bothers to teach you, because it’s too busy telling you the monument is beautiful. One day you’ll thank me. Probably on a heating-breakdown day.

Reading small little stories in colloquial French is wonderfully helpful and something too often overlooked in courses. Most of us want to learn so that we can one day converse with native speakers, and for this we need to understand their everyday speech. Merci beaucoup!

— Eulalee

👀 Who it’s for

This is for intermediate learners who don’t just want to visit France — they want to live in it. Whether you’ve moved to France, you’re planning to, or you simply want the French that real life runs on, these are your scenes. If the Paris Series was the holiday, this is the life after it.

Just here for the trip? Start with the Paris Series 🗼 and come back when daily life starts happening to you in French.

Not sure this is your level? Find it in a couple of minutes over on the 🌱 Start Here page, then come straight back.

📚 What you’ll learn

By the end you’ll have the everyday French that textbooks skip — the words French people actually reach for when the day goes sideways. A taste of what’s inside:

• on se les pèle — “it’s freezing” (literally we’re peeling ourselves — pure winter-apartment French).

• se débrouiller — “to manage, to make do, to sort yourself out” — the single most useful verb for surviving life in France.

• ça me fout en rogne — “it makes me furious” — for the day your phone bill has hidden fees.

• patauger dans la semoule — “to spin your wheels, to get nowhere fast” (literally to paddle around in the semolina — my all-time favourite).

• c’est du gâteau — “it’s a piece of cake” — because some of this really is.

• un sac à roulettes — “a wheeled shopping trolley” — the very French answer to lugging the groceries home.

• du coup — “so, as a result” — the little filler word spoken French genuinely runs on.

🧭 How to take this course

1. Every scene stands alone — go in order, or grab whatever life is currently throwing at you.

2. Steal the scripts. These dialogues are templates: swap the details and they become your phone call to the plumber.

3. Listen in the podcast feed while you run errands. Doing the shopping while hearing the shopping episode is comically effective. Try it.

🎬 The episode guide

Here’s the full run of everyday French dialogues about daily life in France, in the order I published them — press play on whichever scene matches your week.

36 episodes · 🌿 Intermediate (B1) · 💸 2 free to try

🌱 Start free

Two full episodes are open to try — audio, transcript and notes included:

Subscribe free and a new dialogue lands in your inbox every week — no card, no catch.

✅ Lesson Series Tests

Series tests are on their way for Vivre en France — every ten episodes, a short check on exactly what you’ve just studied, so “I think I’m improving” becomes “I know I’m improving.” I’ll drop them into this slot the moment they’re ready.

🚀 Ready to start?

Here’s the promise: finally understand real, spoken French — in months, not years. Vivre en France gives you the 20% of French you need to understand 80% of daily life here, the way people actually speak it.

And here’s exactly what’s free. Two full episodes above, plus a new dialogue every week if you subscribe. Members get all 220 lessons, the slow and fast audio, the annotated notes, the exercises with answer keys, the private podcast feed and the monthly level tests.

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite dans la première scène !

Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — new episodes join this guide as they publish.

← 🌱 Back to Start Here · Next series: Conversation Starters Phase 3 ☕️ →

French 101 🇫🇷 — Basic French Dialogues for Everyday Situations

🇫🇷 Level: 🌱 Beginner (A2+) · 🎧 21 episodes · ▶️ 4 free to try

French 101 is a series of 21 basic French dialogues for beginners, one per everyday situation: ordering at a restaurant, the pharmacy, the doctor, a job interview, a first date. Each episode gives you the conversation at real speed, the transcript, and my notes on the phrases French people actually use. Four episodes are free.

👄 A word from Amélie

Press ▶️ — 30 seconds, in my voice, on why I built this one.

« Bienvenue dans French 101 — ta trousse de survie en France ! Commander au restaurant, expliquer tes symptômes à la pharmacie, survivre à un entretien d’embauche... Chaque leçon, c’est une situation réelle, avec les phrases exactes qu’il te faut. Parce que le jour où tu es malade à Paris, crois-moi, ce n’est pas le moment de chercher tes mots ! Choisis la situation qui te parle, ou suis l’ordre — c’est toi le chef. Allez, c’est parti ! »

🧰 Your survival kit, one situation at a time

Think of this series as your survival kit. Each lesson is one real situation — ordering at a restaurant, explaining your symptoms at the pharmacy, getting through a job interview — with the exact phrases you’ll need, at the speed you’ll actually hear them.

Why does this matter so much? Because the day you’re ill in Paris is not the day to be hunting for vocabulary. I’ve watched students freeze at the pharmacy counter with the word for “tablet” sitting somewhere just out of reach. I built every one of these episodes from situations my students actually walked into — sometimes gracefully, sometimes... well, that’s why the lessons exist.

Textbook French tells you what to say. This series tells you what you’ll hear back.

“As a beginner, it is helpful to me to read the dialogues out loud and then compare my pronunciation to the audio. I also get very encouraged when I understand more week-by-week. It’s a great way to gauge my progress!”

👀 Who it’s for

French 101 is for beginners (A2+) who want French with an immediate job to do. If Conversation Starters Phase 1 taught you to chat, French 101 teaches you to cope — and there is no better feeling than the first time a real transaction in French just... works.

⚠️ Skip this one if you’re still building your very first sentences. Start with Conversation Starters Phase 1 ☕️ instead — it’s the gentler door in, and French 101 will still be here when you come back.

Not sure where you land? Find your level on the Start Here page — it takes a minute and it saves you months of studying at the wrong altitude.

📚 What you’ll learn

These basic French dialogues are built around the expressions French people reach for without thinking — the ones no textbook bothers to teach you. A taste of what’s waiting in the ✪ Notes:

• ça marche — that works / sure, deal. The little yes that ends half the plans made in France.

• il pleut des cordes — it’s raining cats and dogs (literally: it’s raining ropes).

• faire un courant d’air — to make a through-draft. Not a phrase, a national institution: shutters, windows and timing, the way the French keep a flat cool all summer.

• ce que ça donne — what comes of it / how it goes. Literally “what that gives” — and I love it for that.

• en liquide — in cash. Say en liquide rather than en espèces and the till stops hearing a tourist.

• ce n’est pas la porte à côté — it’s not exactly next door; it’s a long way.

• plein à craquer — packed, full to bursting. My favourite one to teach, and you’ll need it for every Friday-night café in France.

• enfin, bref — long story short / anyway. Two concluding words stacked into one very French shrug.

Nothing on that list is decoration. Every one of them earns its place in a real conversation this month.

🧭 How to take this course

1. Dip in by situation. Flying to France in a fortnight? Do the restaurant, the pharmacy and the travel episodes first. Or go straight through in order — every scenario stands on its own, so both routes work.

2. Learn the phrases as phrases, not word by word. “Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez ?” is one tool. Grab the whole thing, don’t take it apart.

3. Both audio speeds, every time. 🐢 Slow to understand it, native speed to survive it. The gap between the two is exactly the distance you’re closing.

4. Read the dialogue out loud before you look at anything else. Your mouth learns faster than your eyes, and it’s the only way to catch what you can’t yet hear.

5. Come back to the ✪ Notes a week later. The expressions that felt like decoration on day one are the ones you’ll suddenly hear everywhere on day eight.

🎬 The episode guide

Here are all 21 basic French dialogues in order — every one a situation you’ll walk into sooner or later.

21 episodes · 🌱 Beginner (A2+) · 💸 4 are free to try

🌱 Start free

Four full episodes are open to try, transcript and notes included:

A new dialogue lands in your inbox every week, free. Subscribe and start with whichever of the four above is closest to the situation you’re dreading.

✅ Lesson Series Tests

Finished the series? Prove it!

Finished the block? Prove it — fifteen minutes on exactly what you’ve just studied:

Scenarios feeling comfortable? Move up to Conversation Starters Phase 2 ☕️ — longer, faster, more personal.

🚀 Ready to start?

Finally understand real, spoken French — in months, not years. French 101 gives you the 20% of French you need to understand 80% of what’s actually said to you, in the situations where it counts. It’s how French people really speak, not how a textbook says they should.

Here’s exactly what’s free and what isn’t. Four French 101 episodes are open to everyone, and a new dialogue reaches every free subscriber each week. Members get two full lessons a week, both audio speeds, the ✪ Notes, the exercises, the private podcast feed 💜, the monthly level test — and the whole 220-lesson library, French 101 included. It’s $24/month, or normally $240 for the year.

Start my 7-day trial →

À très vite dans la première leçon !

Ton prof, ton amie,
Amélie x

Last updated: July 2026 — new episodes join this guide as they publish.

← Back to 🌱 Start Here · Next series: 💬 Conversation Starters Phase 2 →