DELF, DALF or TCF: which official French exam to choose
DELF, DALF and TCF compared: levels, validity, fees and what each official French exam is for. A guide from a native French teacher.
Blog to learn French
French grammar, vocabulary, the DELF and DALF exams and methods to learn French, explained by a native teacher.
DELF B2: exam format, scoring and how to prepare
What the DELF B2 looks like: the four papers, their length, how they are marked, and a native teacher's advice on preparing each part to pass first time.
DELF B1: what the exam is like and how to pass it
DELF B1 papers, timing and scoring, the level required, and a native teacher's practical tips for the letter, the speaking test and comprehension.
DELF A1 and A2: what the exams are like and how to pass them
What the DELF A1 and DELF A2 look like: papers, timing, scoring, fees and a native teacher's tips for passing your first French diploma.
DALF C1 and C2: what they involve and how to prepare
DALF C1 and C2 explained: synthesis, essay, speaking test with one hour of preparation, scoring, and a native teacher's advice for passing.
Passé composé vs imparfait: when to use each one
When to use the passé composé or the imparfait in French: a simple rule, clear examples and the typical mistakes English speakers make.
The French subjunctive: when to use it and how to form it
The French subjunctive for English speakers: how to form it, irregular verbs, when it is required and the classic traps (espérer, quand, penser).
The French pronouns y and en: when to use each one
When to use the French pronouns y and en: what they replace, where they go and the mistakes English speakers make, with examples and an exercise.
French articles: definite, indefinite and partitive
Le, la, les, un, une, des, du, de la: how to use French articles, when to use the partitive and the typical mistakes English speakers make, with examples.
French negation: ne… pas, ne… jamais and the rest
How French negation works: ne… pas, ne… jamais, ne… plus, ne… rien, ne… personne, word order and how negation sounds in spoken French.
French linking words: a useful list for writing and for the DELF
A list of French linking words to order ideas, add, contrast, give causes and consequences and conclude, with examples, English meanings and grammar.
French object pronouns: le, la, lui, leur (direct and indirect)
When to use le, la, les, lui and leur in French: direct vs indirect objects, where the pronouns go and the mistakes English speakers make.
The French future tense: futur proche, futur simple and futur antérieur
How to talk about the future in French: when to use the futur proche (je vais partir), the futur simple (je partirai) and the futur antérieur, with examples.
The most common French irregular verbs
The most common French irregular verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire, pouvoir…) with their present tense, past participle and tips to memorise them stress-free.
25 French expressions that real French people use
The most common French expressions in everyday life, with their literal meaning, their English equivalent and examples to use them in context.
French numbers from 1 to 1,000,000 (and why 80 is "4 × 20")
Learn French numbers from 1 to a million: 70 to 99, the rules for hyphens, vingt and cent, Belgian and Swiss forms, and tips to avoid mistakes.
30 French–English false friends you need to know
The trickiest false friends between French and English, with their real meaning and examples, plus the genders that catch English speakers out.
How to learn French: a realistic 6-step method
How to learn French effectively as an English speaker: a 6-step method, daily study time, which resources to use and the mistakes that waste months.
How long does it take to learn French? Hours per level
How many hours you need to reach each French level (A1 to C2), how long it takes at your weekly pace, and why English speakers can progress faster.
The best apps to learn French (and what they can't do)
Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, Anki, Memrise or Rosetta Stone: what each app to learn French is good for, its limits and how to combine them to make real progress.
French pronunciation: a guide for English speakers
How to improve your French pronunciation: u vs ou, nasal vowels, the French r, silent letters, liaison and stress, with exercises for English speakers.
Job interview in French: questions, answers and vocabulary
How to prepare for a job interview in French: the most common questions, sample answers, useful vocabulary and the mistakes to avoid.
How to write a formal email in French (with templates)
How to write a formal email in French: greeting, structure, polite phrases and sign-off, with ready-to-use templates and typical English speakers' mistakes.