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Private Online French Lessons: The Complete Guide (2026)
What online French lessons really cost, whether you need a teacher at all, how marketplaces compare to independent teachers, and how to tell a good French teacher from an expensive conversation partner. Written by a teacher, including the parts that aren't in my interest.
COD, COI & Pronoms Toniques: Me, Te, Le, Lui Explained
Me, te, le, la, lui, leur... French object pronouns trip up learners at every level. Here's the complete guide to COD, COI and pronoms toniques, plus a free cheat sheet.
French Pronouns 'En' and 'Y': The Complete Guide
Two tiny words that confuse almost every French learner. Here's exactly when to use 'en' and 'y': with clear rules, real examples, and the logic that makes it stick.
Passé Composé vs Imparfait: The Guide That Finally Makes It Click
The #1 grammar question from every adult learner. Here is the method I use with all my students: clear, direct, with examples that actually stick.
How to Learn French Vocabulary, and Actually Remember It
Flashcards alone won't cut it. Here's the science-backed method I recommend to all my students for building lasting vocabulary.
50 French False Friends (Faux Amis) That Trip Up English Speakers
They look like English words, they sound like English words, and they mean something completely different. Here are the 50 French false friends that catch out learners most often, sorted by how badly they can embarrass you.
Qui, Que, Dont, Où: The Test That Always Works
Qui, que, dont, où: four small words French learners mix up constantly. Here's the one test that settles it every time, with real examples and a quick practice quiz.
30 Common French Idioms and Expressions (With English Translations)
Poser un lapin, avoir le cafard, appeler un chat un chat... French is full of idioms that make no sense translated word for word. Here are 30 you'll actually hear, grouped by theme, with what they really mean.
TCF vs DELF vs TEF: Which French Exam Should You Take?
Three exams, three sets of letters, and one important decision. Here's exactly what TCF, DELF and TEF are for, how they differ, and which one actually matches your goal: studying in France, French citizenship, or immigrating to Canada.
French Citizenship in 2026: The New B2 Requirement and the Interview, Explained
Since 1 January 2026, applicants for French nationality must prove a B2 level in French, not B1, and pass a new civic exam. Here's what changed, which certificates count, and what B2 actually means in practice.
All articles
Private Online French Lessons: The Complete Guide (2026)
What online French lessons really cost, whether you need a teacher at all, how marketplaces compare to independent teachers, and how to tell a good French teacher from an expensive conversation partner. Written by a teacher, including the parts that aren't in my interest.
French Citizenship in 2026: The New B2 Requirement and the Interview, Explained
Since 1 January 2026, applicants for French nationality must prove a B2 level in French, not B1, and pass a new civic exam. Here's what changed, which certificates count, and what B2 actually means in practice.
France Is Not Only Europe: The Overseas Territories, Explained
Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte and more: twelve territories across four oceans make France the country with the most time zones on earth. Here's what l'outre-mer is, and what it means for your French.
Which Countries Speak French? The Francophone World in 2026
French is official in 29 countries and spoken by 396 million people, according to the OIF's March 2026 report. Here's where French is actually spoken, what francophone really means, and which French you should learn.
L'Agence (The Parisian Agency): The Netflix Hit That Teaches You Everyday French
The Kretz family turned a Boulogne-Billancourt estate agency into one of Netflix's biggest global hits. It is also, quietly, one of the best listening resources for intermediate French learners. Here's why, plus the vocabulary to take from it.
English Words That Are Secretly French: Bacon, Fashion, Curfew and More
Bacon, fashion, curfew, denim, budget, tennis: dozens of everyday English words arrived through French, and most learners never notice. Here's where they came from, and how to turn that into free vocabulary.
The Best French Podcasts and YouTube Channels for Listening Practice (by Level)
Listening is the skill that lags behind for most learners. Here are the French podcasts and YouTube channels I actually recommend to my students, sorted from A1 to C1, plus the method that makes them work.
Love Is Blind France: What the Netflix Show Teaches You About Dating in French
Netflix called it Pour le meilleur et à l'aveugle, not L'amour est aveugle, and that choice is a French lesson in itself. Here's what the show reveals about dating, tutoiement and relationship vocabulary in France.
Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent!): How the Netflix Hit Is Inspired by Real French Actors' Lives
Call My Agent! is one of the most authentic looks at the French entertainment industry ever made, co-created by a real talent agent, with real French stars playing themselves. Here's the true story behind Dix pour cent.
TCF vs DELF vs TEF: Which French Exam Should You Take?
Three exams, three sets of letters, and one important decision. Here's exactly what TCF, DELF and TEF are for, how they differ, and which one actually matches your goal: studying in France, French citizenship, or immigrating to Canada.
30 Common French Idioms and Expressions (With English Translations)
Poser un lapin, avoir le cafard, appeler un chat un chat... French is full of idioms that make no sense translated word for word. Here are 30 you'll actually hear, grouped by theme, with what they really mean.
Faire le Pont: The French Custom of Turning One Holiday Into a Four-Day Weekend
Faire le pont is the French habit of turning a single public holiday into a four-day weekend, and it's taken seriously enough to reshape the office calendar. Here's how it works, and when the next one falls.
French Work Culture: What to Actually Expect in a French Office
The 35-hour week, a formal vous, and a lunch break you're not allowed to skip: French work culture runs on rules most outsiders never see coming. Here's what a real French workday looks like.
French Homophones That Trip Up Every Learner: À/A, Ou/Où, On/Ont and More
They sound identical but mean completely different things in writing. Here's the substitution trick that instantly tells you which French homophone to use, plus the 8 pairs that cause the most mistakes.
Je Serai or Je Serais? Futur Simple vs Conditionnel
One letter turns 'I will be' into 'I would be.' Here's the simple rule for futur simple vs conditionnel: formation, irregular stems, and exactly when to use each.
The French Subjunctive (Le Subjonctif): When and How to Use It
Il faut que, je veux que, bien que... The subjunctive shows up everywhere in French and terrifies learners at every level. Here's exactly when to use it, how to form it, and the one-subject rule that makes the whole thing click.
Emily in Paris vs. Real Life in Paris: What the Show Gets Right (and Wrong)
Netflix's Emily in Paris turned the city into a global fantasy. As a French teacher who's lived it, here's what the show gets right, what it invents, and what daily life in Paris is actually like.
How Long to Learn French? Real Timeline by CEFR Level
Six months? Two years? Here's what CEFR levels A1 through C1 actually require in study hours, what speeds it up, and a realistic month-by-month plan.
Qui, Que, Dont, Où: The Test That Always Works
Qui, que, dont, où: four small words French learners mix up constantly. Here's the one test that settles it every time, with real examples and a quick practice quiz.
French Numbers 70–100: Why They're So Weird (Full Chart)
Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf: why does 99 turn into a maths problem? The real history behind France's strangest numbers, plus the full 70–100 chart and tricks that make it stick.
COD, COI & Pronoms Toniques: Me, Te, Le, Lui Explained
Me, te, le, la, lui, leur... French object pronouns trip up learners at every level. Here's the complete guide to COD, COI and pronoms toniques, plus a free cheat sheet.
50 French False Friends (Faux Amis) That Trip Up English Speakers
They look like English words, they sound like English words, and they mean something completely different. Here are the 50 French false friends that catch out learners most often, sorted by how badly they can embarrass you.
Tu vs Vous in French: When to Use Each (Simple Rules)
One of the first questions every French learner asks, and one that native speakers answer automatically without thinking. Here's the simple logic behind tu and vous, with examples that make it click.
French Pronouns 'En' and 'Y': The Complete Guide
Two tiny words that confuse almost every French learner. Here's exactly when to use 'en' and 'y': with clear rules, real examples, and the logic that makes it stick.
Passé Composé vs Imparfait: The Guide That Finally Makes It Click
The #1 grammar question from every adult learner. Here is the method I use with all my students: clear, direct, with examples that actually stick.
8 Tricks to Remember French Noun Genders
Masculine or feminine? There's no perfect rule, but there are patterns. These 8 tricks will help you guess correctly most of the time.
How to Learn French Vocabulary, and Actually Remember It
Flashcards alone won't cut it. Here's the science-backed method I recommend to all my students for building lasting vocabulary.
10 Things About French Culture Every Learner Should Know
Language and culture are inseparable. Understanding these 10 cultural nuances will make you sound, and feel, far more French.
DELF Exam: 7 Tips to Maximise Your Score
Preparing for the DELF? These 7 strategies, from a teacher who has prepared hundreds of students, will help you walk in feeling ready.
The Best French Shows on Netflix to Learn French (By Level)
Watching French TV is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn, and Netflix's French catalogue has picks for every level, from complete beginner to advanced.