Let's Speak French! with Dr. Natalie Amgott

Are you telling people that you can or that you stink ? One small sound can make all the difference! In this episode, you'll discover minimal pairs —French words that differ by just one sound but have completely different meanings. You'll practice five of the most common sound pairs that English speakers struggle with, learn why your brain has trouble hearing these differences, and start t...

Did you learn that "plutôt" means "rather?" OUI et NON. Plutôt is one French verb that gets used all the time in conversation, but it doesn't only mean "rather." In today's lesson, you'll learn the five conversational contexts where you'd want to use plutôt , including how to use it as a strategy to elegantly correct yourself when you make a mistake speaking French. To get the most out of this les...

Did you know French in Canada extends beyond Québec? And that each variety brings a different history and different linguistic structures to the table? Today, you'll learn all about Chiac and Acadian French from Janelle Poirier! To get the most out of this episode, listen once through and slow down the speed on your podcast player if needed. Then, follow these steps: 1. Check out the transcrip...

Do you just repeat the same words in every French conversation? Although common words like "bon" and "très" get used all the time in French, it's helpful to know alternative so that you sound more like yourself and can express your personality in French! Today, you'll learn alternatives to five overly used words by French learners: bon, très, chose, avoir, and dire. To...

When you're short on time, how can you get the most bang for your buck with your French? In this episode, you'll learn 6 unusual but easy ways to improve your French that don't involve another workbook, class, or grammar lesson. Your goal? Listen through and pick one or two of these new habits to add to your routine. To get the most out of this episode, listen through the French lesson...

As English speakers, we use the word "FOR" all the time. But that doesn't always translate to "POUR" en français. It often translates to a different preposition or nothing at all. In today's lesson, you'll learn cases where we do need to use POUR in French to talk about duration, gift giving, and purpose. Then you'll learn several cases where we can't use PO...

Why is it LE problème and LE pique-nique? Today you'll learn words that sound feminine in French, but are actually masculine. Plus, you'll learn about the "baguette trick" (and how to avoid it). Finally, I share my gift to you - the 11 Rules to Determine if French Words are Masculine or Feminine . Tes prochaines étapes ( Your next steps) 1️⃣ Check the English definitions of the w...

You're spending too much time on the wrong words (l'écureuil). Today we break down the 9 words that are the hardest for my intermediate learners over the last decade of teaching. You'll walk away being able to use these 9 USEFUL words in everyday conversation, and will no longer avoid words just because the pronunciation is tricky. Here are your next steps to make it stick! 1️⃣ Check t...

In this episode, you’ll learn a simple system to finally understand where adverbs go in French. You'll learn what to do with short ( bien, mal, trop) vs long ( lentement, facilement) adverbs, what happens in the passé composé, and why words like probablement don’t follow the “normal” rules. If you’ve ever second-guessed where to put bien , souvent , or probablement … this one’s for you. Tes pr...

You know reflexive verbs like se lever, se réveiller, se laver, se coucher , but using them in the past tense can feel like a different story entirely. How do we say "I woke up"? Where does pas go in the negative? And why do so many learners freeze when they try to say these phrases out loud? In this episode, you’ll learn a simple framework for using everyday reflexive verbs naturally in...

Does "drôle" actually mean funny? And what's the difference between "drôle," "rigolo," "marrant," and "amusant"? In this French lesson, you'll learn 7 ways to talk about "fun" and "funny" things in French, using the appropriate words for France or Québec. You'll learn exactly which expression to use when a person is...

If you’ve ever thought about taking the DELF, you’ve probably wondered: Should I take it? What is it actually like? How do I prepare for B1 or B2? In this episode, I’m joined by one of my extraordinary students, Pami Banerjee, who recently passed the DELF B2. She shares her experience preparing for the exam, what surprised her on test day, and the strategies that helped her succeed. We also break...

Do you ever feel like you’re doing a lot in French… but not actually making progress? In this episode, I’m sharing the simple system I wish I had when I was learning French, and the exact one I’m using now to learn Italian faster and more effectively. If your French feels a little scattered, frustrating, or stuck, this will help you bring structure to what you’re already doing (without adding more...

Want to sound better in French this week, without studying for hours? In this episode, I’m sharing 9 of the most common mistakes I hear from intermediate (and even advanced) French learners, and how to fix them quickly so that you sound more natural and confident in French. These aren’t big grammar lessons or complicated rules. They’re small, high-impact tweaks that you can notice, practice, and i...

If you’ve ever arrived in Québec feeling confident in your French… and then heard people speaking and thought “Attends… c’est du français ça?” — this episode is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn 10 of the most common Québec French expressions you’ll actually hear in everyday life — whether you’re traveling, working, or chatting with Québécois friends and colleagues. From “Ça va-tu?” to “c’est...

What's it like to work in the US, from a French perspective? In this episode, my guest, Denis Gras, shares the cultural surprises he experienced while working in an American environment, especially when it comes to communication styles. We talk about politeness, directness, small talk, and the subtle differences between French and North American conversation norms. To get the most out of this...

The French verb PASSER doesn’t just mean “to pass.” In fact, it has so many meanings that it can completely change depending on context, and that’s exactly why it confuses intermediate learners. In this episode, you’ll learn 9 essential uses of PASSER , with clear examples and simple explanations (in French). Then we tackle the big grammar question: When does PASSER take AVOIR vs ÊTRE in the passé...

Learn exactly how to say "something, " someone," and "somewhere," and the grammar rules for quelque chose + de + adjectif. Voici tes prochaines étapes (Here are your next steps!): 1️⃣ Make it stick by reviewing the transcript . 2️⃣ Take the quiz to practice the negative forms of these words. 3️⃣ Check out episode #19 to work on advanced negative forms. Bonne continuation et à la prochaine! P.S. Le...

4 Strategies that take just 50 minutes per week to help you improve your vocabulary by leaps and bounds. To get the most out of this lesson: 1️⃣ Get your customized reading list here . 2️⃣ Use the double-play method to check what you learned . 3️⃣ Send a message to me (Natalie) @elevatefrench on Instagram or Facebook to let me know which book you're picking to implement these vocabulary strate...

And no, it doesn't mean "place" like you think it does! You'll learn 8 ways to use " la place " in your everyday conversation, and what to say when you're talking about the places that you go. 1. Access your Customizable Study Template to track the 8 uses of "la place" and all the vocabulary you're learning. 2. Check out the 8 uses and the examples (with English translations). 3. Tap "Follow" so t...

Have you been avoiding using DONT ? This lesson will hep you use it in your everyday speech to sound more natural and less repetitive. After you listen to the lesson, voici tes prochaines étapes: 1. Check the transcript to review expressions with DE. 2. Take the DONT Quiz to make it stick If you learned something new today, leave a rating or review to help this podcast reach more intermediate lear...

Take your intermediate French to the next level with the Intermediate French Class !

Sound more natural in your next French conversation with these everyday slang and idioms that you can use at work or in daily conversations. 1️⃣ Join the free workshop: Speak Real French - Slang & Idioms for Intermediate Learners 2️⃣ Review the 8 expressions you learned in this episode with the French transcript .

J'irai ou je vais aller? Learn how to stop overusing the futur simple and when to use the futur proche or the present tense instead. Tes prochaines étapes: 1. Follow along with the transcript to view the examples from today's lesson. 2. Download your French Fluency Roadmap to track your French goals, vocabulary, and progress in 2026. 3. Tap the "Subscribe" button so that you neve...

Your guide for setting a SMART French goal that you'll actually stick to. Tes prochaines étapes [Your next steps] 1. Download your French Fluency Roadmap to set and track your SMART French Goal, week by week. 2. Check the French transcript for this episode to make sure you're ready to set a SMART Goal. 3. Share this episode with a friend learning French so that you can keep each other assi...