If you've ever heard La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, you may have thought:

"Wait...did they really just sing that?"

In this episode, we're breaking down the history, vocabulary, and meaning behind one of France's most recognizable national symbols.

You'll learn:

• Why French people don't say "Happy Bastille Day!"
• How La Marseillaise got its name

• The story behind France's national anthem
• Why French songs sometimes pronounce silent e's

Vos prochaines étapes (Your next steps)

1️⃣ Episode transcript + English translations

Complete lyrics to La Marseillaise

3️⃣ Sing along to the lyrics video

4️⃣ Join my free weekly French email lessons

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 training your ear to become a more confident French speaker.

Tes prochaines étapes: Your next steps

1. Practice the minimal pairs with the French Minimal Pairs Flashcards.

2. Listen to the episode a second time and repeat each minimal pair out loud.

3. Choose one of today's minimal pairs and use both words in your own French sentences this week.

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 transcript to listen again and pick up any vocabulary you may have missed the first time.

2. Check out Janelle's social accounts on Instagram and TikTok.

3. Explore Acadian French and Chiac through Janelle's recommendations:

• Literature: Antonine Maillet & France Daigle
• Music: 1755 & Hay Babies

4. Share this episode with your friends learning French so that they learn more about the understudied Acadian French and Chiac!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 get the most out of today's lesson:

1. Listen once through to the lesson.

2. Check your understanding and the English translations in the transcript.

3. Download your Filler Word Guide to help you sound more natural in your next French conversations.

Merci d'être là, mon ami.e! To make sure you never miss an episode of Let's Speak French!, tap the "Follow" or "Subscribe" button wherever you're listening.

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 once en français. Then, check the transcript here to decide which one or two of the skills you're going to incorporate into your daily routine.

Useful resources:

• Line A Day Journal
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The transcription of this episode
• Email me to let me know how your new habit is going! You can reach me at natalie@elevatefrench.com

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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 POUR in French, and what to say instead when you're talking about looking for something, waiting for someone, or asking for something.

Voici tes prochaines étapes:

1️⃣ Practice writing one phrase for each of the phrases that do require pour and for those that do not require pour. Check out the transcript for inspiration and some English translations.

2️⃣ Send me your sentences for feedback! I'll give feedback to the first 20 folks I hear from. You can send them to natalie@elevatefrench.com

3️⃣ Learn something new today? Could you tap the "subscribe" button so that you never miss an episode or leave a rating and review? Merci d'être là, mon ami.e!

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 words and make sure you know which ones are masculine by reviewing the transcript as you listen.

2️⃣ Learn the 11 Rules to Determine if French Words are Masculine or Feminine. Add your exceptions to the guide as you go.

3️⃣ Tap the "share" button to share this with a friend learning French so that they never have to wonder whether these everyday words are masculine or feminine.

Bonne continuation et à la prochaine!

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 the pronunciation breakdown and English definitions of each of the 9 words here.

2️⃣ Download your 10 Intermediate Tongue Twisters to improve your pronunciation of vowels like U and OU.

3️⃣ Next on your playlist: 4 Sounds to Improve your Intermediate French

Learn something new today? Rate and review the podcast to let me know. It's one of the most helpful things you can do to help podcast creators and to help me with my goal of reaching as many French learners as possible!