French Please

Out and back in again. Today we continue our daily rhythm with what happens upon returning home. As we do each mini-lesson, there are requests that elicit responses, responses that make sense, and brilliant observations galore. 

If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of  the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you  desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

French from today:

Enlève tes chaussures, s’il te plait./Take off your shoes, please.

Enlevez vos chaussures, s’il vous plaît./Take off your shoes, please. (plural kids, not shoes)

Merci, mon cœur./Thank you, darling.

Veux-tu prendre un thé, ma poule?/Do you want a cup of tea, sweetie?

Veux-tu goûter, mon petit?/Do you want a snack, honey?

Oui, s'il te plait/Yes, please.

Une chocolatine/a chocolate croissant

Un pain aux raisins/a raisin bun

Are you over scrambling to put together a good French program for you and your partner or for your children? Have you been talking to a screen and not to another human? Would you understand if someone spoke to you in French today? If so, or if NOT, check out our class offerings below. 

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on courses. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

Today is a cultural break in our "learn a useful phrase today" podcast. Why do people give each other May Bell bouquets on May 1 in France? Charming but different, and why is it Labor Day that day? Find out all the historical details here. 

French Please gives you expressions you can use every day to add FRENCH to your day, easily, fuss-free and in joy! We base it all on one simple principle: A request that elicits a response. What is language for if not for getting done what needs to be done, the way you want it done, and with love...ma belle!

French from today:

La Fête du Travail/Labor Day

Bonne chance!/Good luck!

Bonne fête!/Happy Holiday!

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on French Please. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

Morning outings on one end of a leash. What is your morning routine like chez vous? Write us with requests, if you'd like! Email: [email protected]

We are back outside today, enjoying the fine fall weather. Requests that elicit responses, responses that make sense, and brilliant observations galore. 

If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of  the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

French expressions to add little bits of French to your day with ease and joy: from today:

une promenade/a walk  On prend la laisse, et les petits sacs à crotte, et le toutou./We grab the leash, the poo bags and the pup.

renifler/sniffing  faire pipi/going wee  saluer les autres chiens et les gens/greeting other dogs and people 

Regarde l’écureuil, la biche, l’oie/Look at the squirrel, the deer, the goose

Ramasse les crottes, s’il te plait/Pick up the poo, please.  

Mais maman, ça sent mauvais/But mom, it stinks.  Tant pis/Too bad

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written, and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, a practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick, and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on French Please. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

Learn French? We all know that being monolingual is a handicap in one way or another. I am talking to you, English speakers of the world who want more--- without spending more time on a screen.

Language that is used for the purpose of communicating something real is language that will be repeated day after day, and the repetition creates fluency. If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you  desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

A cultural conversation around cooking and family traditions in France (and even La Réunion). Thierry talks about cooking with his grandmother and more. 

French from today: 

une pastèque/mystery melon  un cake/pound cake sort of aigre/sour  épicé/spicy  piquant/spicy  

sucré/sweet  salé/savory (all adjectives used with a feminine noun will have an extra "e" at the end, except for "aigre")

bon appetit/enjoy your meal  à bientôt/see you soon

Check out our lessons for couples at home or French with kids, to learn, prepare for your dream trip and simply bring the joy of French into your life. Don't wait one day more!

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free!).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast or hit "follow" and

Sign up for our newsletter here!

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream

My blog on learning French: https://www.commenceledream.com/blog

And on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/

Learn French? We all know that being monolingual is a handicap in one way or another. I am talking to you, English speakers of the world who want more--- without spending more time on a screen.

Language that is used for the purpose of communicating something real is language that will be repeated day after day, and the repetition creates fluency. If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of  the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

Today's episode is in the kitchen...oui, again! People are hungry and dinner must be made, how about making it a little French?

Expressions from this episode: 

J’ai toujours faim, so oui!/I am always hungry, so yes!

Je ne sais pas./I don't know

Végétarien/vegetarian

Non, il fait trop chaud pour la soupe./No, it's too hot for soup.

un saladier/a big bowl   des tomates/tomatoes   des olives/olives  la ciboulette/chives

Que veux-tu dire par “easy”?/What do you mean by "easy"?

Va chercher la cuillère en bois, veux-tu?/Go find the wooden spoon, would you?

Remue/mélange, mais doucement, s'il te plait, mon amour. /Stir/mix, but gently, please, my love.

Et voilà, c’est fait./There we are, it is finished. 

Mets le couvert, mon chéri./Set the table, honey.

Tout de suite, papa./Right away, Daddy.

That was more French than usual, we get carried away in the kitchen sometimes! 

Check out our lessons for couples at home or French with kids, to learn, prepare for your dream trip and simply bring the joy of French into your life. Don't wait one day more!

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free!).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast or hit "follow" and 

Sign up for our newsletter here!

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream

My blog on learning French: https://www.commenceledream.com/blog

And on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/

The expression: "Il faut vivre pour manger et non pas manger pour vivre." (One must live to eat and not eat to live) expresses the role of cuisine in French culture. Socrates originally meant it to be a rebuke: Molière used it ironically and the French later put it backwards to remind all who do not revere meal time sufficiently. Today, we enter the kitchen and stay for a cozy moment of food, conversation and even a recipe. 

French Please gives you expressions you can use every day to add FRENCH to your day, easily, fuss-free and in joy! If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you  desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

French from today:

Que mange-t-on?/What are we eating?

Nous avons au menu une fricassée de tomates et oignons, servie pour accompagner un poulet rôti.

On the menu is a tomato fricasé accompanying a roasted chicken. 

Comment comptes-tu faire le poulet?/How will I cook it?

Est-ce bien un poulet de la ferme?/Is it a farm chicken?

Le sel/salt   le poivre/pepper   l'huile d'olive/olive oil Un peu d'eau/a little water  

La cuillère à soupe/tablespoon  une cuillère à café/a teaspoon  une fourchette/a fork

Mets le couvert/set the table  bon appetit!

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on French Please. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

How different is the experience of going out between France and America? It may depend on how old you are. Thierry talks a bit about his first trip to the States. You will hear a tale of Angela's first Fêtes de la Madeleine and we help out with all the useful things to say when you do find yourself in a café, soaking up the warm weather, somewhere in France soon or a year from now. 

Make the language of your dreams part of the rhythm of your   day...specifically French with French Please! but if the hints we have for you help you with your Hungarian or your Mandarin, that is just fine by  us. Pick a time and remain faithful to it for a while; a week or maybe two, and see how French becomes a habit and begins to stick when you   stay faithful to using it each day at that time. Applicable,  stream-lined and fun!

If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

French from today:

Mademoiselle, je vous sers? (What can I bring you, miss?)

Voulez-vous bien me porter… (Would you please bring me...)

un café  (an espresso)

un crème (a café au lait)

une pression (a pint of draft beer)

une eau minérale (bottled water)

gazeuse? (fizzy)

plate? (flat)

un diabolo-menthe (listen to show for description)

un citron-pressé (freshly squeezed lemon juice and water)

un perroquet (green, dangerous drink)

une tomate (red, same danger)

Voulez-vous bien m'apporter l'addition, s'il vous plaît, monsieur?

(Would you please bring the check, sir?)

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free!).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on French Please. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

Let's get a few things picked up today...literally! Just after we finish up bathroom business for good. 

Make the language of your dreams part of the rhythm of your day...specifically French with French Please! but hey, if the hints we have for you help you with your Swahili or your Portuguese, that is just fine by us. Pick a time and remain faithful to it for a while; a week or maybe  two, and see how French becomes a habit and begins to stick when you stay faithful to using it each day at that time. Applicable, stream-lined and fun!

If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you  desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

French from today's show:

Le ménage                               Housework

Tu t’es lavé les cheveux?           Did you wash your hair?

As-tu bien frotté les ongles?     Have you scrubbed your nails?

As-tu tiré la chasse?                 Did you flush?

Ramasse tes chaussettes.         Pick up your socks.

Ramasse ton t-shirt.                 Pick up your shirt.

Ramasse ce pantalon.              Pick up this pair of pants.

Ramasse le téléphone.             Pick up the phone.

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on our classes. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

Make the language of your dreams part of the rhythm of your  day...specifically French with French Please! but if the hints we have  for you help you with your Italian or your German, that is just fine by us. Pick a time and remain faithful to it for a while; a week or maybe two, and see how French becomes a habit and begins to stick when you  stay faithful to using it each day at that time. Applicable, stream-lined and fun!

If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you  desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

What if we scheduled our time…or attempted to, between roommates, life mates or siblings to make sharing that precious resource known as ze bathroom that much easier? 

French from today's show:

À quelle heure vas-tu prendre ta douche? (What time are you going to take a shower?)

À 6h00 (6:00, presumed am, since a 24-hour clock is used too)

À 7h et demi (7:30 or half past seven)

À 8h et quart (8:15)

À 9h moins le quart (8:45)

Combien de temps vas-tu prendre?  (How long will you take?) 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes…

As-tu terminé? Are you finished?

C’est à moi maintenant! It’s my turn now. 

Vous avez bien partagé. Merci mes chéris. (You shared so well. Thank you my darlings.)

Que tu sens bon, mon cœur!  (Don't you smell good, sweetheart!)

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on French Please. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]

Bring French into your life, the fun, fast and effective way! Angela and  Thierry, a Franco-American duo who have raised a family of five in two  languages, share the secrets of learning to speak French. In our  podcast, we give you progressive ways to add French to your day through  dialogs, chosen moments, games and more.

If you know you will not take the plunge alone, but this lifestyle of  the two of you, hanging out and speaking together in French is what you  desire, let us make it easy, fun and immediate for you with our French at Home: a Conversation or French at Home: a Debut offerings. Start now, today, and fill your day with the French you've  always dreamed you would speak again...or for the first time.

Today’s moment of choice: the bathroom…la salle de bain.

Equal parts concern for sharing time and sharing the earth's resources, one place we could begin is with time, or the length of time someone has been under the shower or soaking in the bath. French requests and answers for today:

Tu vas finir toute froissée! You’re going to wind up all prune-like. 

As-tu pris ta douche, mon chéri? Have you had a shower, honey?

As-tu brossé les dents, ma petite? Have you brushed your teeth, sweetie?

Tu t’es lavé la figure, mon chou? Did you wash your face, darling?

Oui, maman, papa, tatie. I'm going. J’y vais. I'm going.

Lave-toi les mains. Wash your hands.

Numbers from one to twelve.

Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix, onze, douze

The song about the frog and the numbers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UISL8QT1eJc

Would you like your lessons all laid out, stress-free for you, audio, written and all?

Learn more about French with Kids and French at Home: a Conversation below:

French at Home: a Conversation (be ready for your next trip, practice now, together, never with a screen.):

French with Kids: Bring the joy of French into your family's day the fun, quick and easy way (screen-free).

Don't miss another episode, video, blog post or special offer on French Please. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Send letters here: [email protected]