Still translating everything in your head before you speak French? In this episode, you’ll learn simple strategies to start thinking more en français and make French feel more automatic, without expecting yourself to switch off English completely.

Plus, enrollment is officially OPEN for Elevate French Fall group classes!

Choose your level:

1. The Intermediate French Class: Build your confidence, speak more fluidly, and put your intermediate French into practice.

2. Beginner French Foundations Reboot: Rebuild your French foundations and finally feel confident with the basics.

Classes start September 14, and enrollment closes September 10, 2026. Have a question about French classes? Email Dr. Natalie at natalie@elevatefrench.com.

Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott, Elevate French, LLC

Edited by Paroma Banerjee

After 12 years of teaching French to more than 1,400 students, I’ve learned a few things about what actually helps language learners make progress.

In this episode, I’m sharing 11 of the biggest lessons and mindset shifts I’ve learned—from why the intermediate level takes so long to why speaking imperfectly is one of the best things you can do for your French.

To put them into practice:

1. Attend the Live Intermediate Workshop to learn Slang and Idioms useful for the intermediate level.

2. Review the transcript to check your understanding of the French part of the episode.

Sometimes what you need to get momentum with your French isn’t a whole new grammar lesson!

In this lesson, Dr. Natalie Amgott walks you through 6 easy ways to sound more natural in French. 5 of them involve subtracting something that you know rather than adding anything new!

You'll learn:

• When to drop the NE
• Whether to use NOUS or ON
• How to use filler words
• When to use ÇA vs CECI and CELA
• Pronunciation shortcuts to sound more natural
• And a speaking strategy that they don't teach you in apps or textbooks

Voici tes prochaines étapes:

1. Download the Filler Word Guide to sound less stiff and more natural. You'll learn filler words for France and Québec and how to pick which ones to actually use in conversation.

You’ve learned that the final S is usually silent in French, but not always!

In this episode, you’ll learn 14 common French words where you SHOULD pronounce the final S, including ours, bus, vis, cactus, fils, and more. We’ll also look at a few words where both pronunciations are accepted.

These small pronunciation details can make a big difference in how natural and confident your French sounds. Luckily, this is one list of exceptions that’s pretty easy to learn!

So if you're feeling burned out on conjugation tables or grammar rules, you'll love how easy it is to apply what you learn from this episode.

Voici tes prochaines étapes (Here are your next steps):

1️⃣ Listen once without the transcript, then listen again and follow along with the transcript to check your understanding and see the English translations of the words that end in -S.

2️⃣ Practice to make these words stick! I’ve also created a FREE flashcard set with all 14 words from today’s episode, plus a few bonus words. Access your flashcards here to hear the pronunciation and get comfortable with each word where you can pronounce the final -S.

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or classmate who’s learning French. Chances are, they’ve been silently dropping some of these final S sounds, too!

Podcast created by Dr. Natalie Amgott
Edited by Paroma Banerjee

What does "le bac" mean? When do you use "le collège," "l'université," and "le cégep?"

In this lesson, you'll learn how the school systems work in France and Québec, including the specific vocabulary for schooling from ages 2-22.

You'll also learn how the vocabulary differs for schooling in France vs. Québec!

Voici tes prochaines étapes:

1. Check out the comparison tables with all the vocabulary for the French, Québécois, and US / Canada systems.

2. Listen again and follow along with the French transcript.

3. Learning French for France or Québec? Join the waitlist for Elevate French group classes.

Podcast Credits

Podcast created and hosted by Dr. Natalie Amgott

Audio editing by Paroma Banerjee

If you're freezing up in conversation because you keep stopping to conjugate your verbs, then what you need is a grammar reset.

In this science-informed episode for A2, B1, and B2 intermediate French learners, you'll learn exactly what to do when it feels like you're hitting a wall with your French.

You'll learn why you sometimes forget verb conjugations while speaking and how to make them more automatic.

Tes prochaines étapes:

1. Download the French Grammar Reset that accompanies this episode.

2. Block out 60 minutes in your calendar for your French Grammar Reset.

3. Review the transcript of the French part of today's lesson for anything you may have missed.

Bonne continuation et à la prochaine!

Why does French feel so hard all of a sudden? Are you really getting worse at French? Why does it feel like you forgot all of the basics?

Today we're diving into the science behind the questions you're asking yourself about why you have some days where you feel like your French gets worse.

You'll learn six reasons that your French might feel worse as an intermediate learner and six easy things to do about it. If you're having a bad day with your French or want to be prepared for the next time it happens, this lesson is for you!

Tes prochaines étapes

1️⃣ Map out your goals and track your progress with the French Fluency Roadmap.

2️⃣ Review your understanding with the transcript for today's lesson, which includes English translations of some of the intermediate and advanced vocabulary in the lesson.

If you're loving the Let's Speak French! podcast, would you consider leaving a rating and review wherever you're listening? It helps to reach more intermediate learners like you!

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