Let's Speak French! with Dr. Natalie Amgott

When should you use retourner, rendre, rentrer, revenir, and renvoyer in your Intermediate French? These 5 verbs all mean something similar to “return” in English, but have different meanings and uses in French. Learn when to use each verb without confusion during today’s lesson! Your next steps:  Take the Return Verbs Quiz and check out the transcript for this lesson. Make sure to tap the “Follow” button where you’re listening to this podcast so that you’ll never miss a lesson!  Want more bite-sized French lessons? Subscribe to Dr. Nat’s weekly newsletter lessons or follow her on Instagram or Facebook!

Four simple mindset shifts to learn more French.  In this episode, you’ll learn what to do if you’re feeling unmotivated, isolated, or scared of making mistakes in French.  Access the French transcript for this episode and the French Fluency Roadmap at elevatefrench.com/episode6 To get to the bottom of your FAQs, I spoke with mindfulness teacher and intuitive growth coach Louise Fitzgerald. In this episode, I’ve translated her takeaways into four mindset shifts for you to learn more French and become a learner who’s more focused on the present and less concerned about others.  Your action steps after this lesson: Download the French Fluency Roadmap. Fill out the French Fluency Roadmap with your actionable and measurable goals to help you move forward with your intermediate French For more daily French learning tips, follow Natalie @elevatefrench on Instagram or Facebook! To gain more clarity and confidence with your French and other life goals, tune in to Louise's podcast or follow her on Instagram. Got a question about learning French? Drop me a line and I'll turn it into an episode! natalie@elevatefrench.com

Take the French Alphabet Soup Quiz and Access the French lesson transcript at elevatefrench.com/episode5 Ever heard of SMIC? SAMU? CDI? CDD?  In today’s episode, we’re going to dive into a survival guide for the alphabet soup that is the French language.  Understanding French acronyms is vital to increasing your listening comprehension and to engaging with the language and culture in France and in Québec.  You’ll learn everyday French acronyms for the education system, transportation, work, wine, and beyond!  For more step-by-step French lessons for intermediate learners, make sure to tap the Follow button for this podcast, Let’s Speak French!  Feeling stumped with a specific intermediate French topic? Feel free to drop me a line and I’ll turn it into an episode! Let me know what you’re struggling with at natalie@elevatefrench.com 

Access your flashcards to know when to use the H muet and H aspiré at elevatefrench.com/episode4 Learning these 21 words is a quick way to level up your French pronunciation. Certain words that start with H in French are categorized as “H aspiré” and require that we put the whole article (le or la) in front of them, instead of the l’. You’ll also learn where this rule comes from and how it affects our liaison, and whether your should be saying “les haricots verts” with or without the Z sound (liaison)!  To follow along with the French transcript for this lesson and access your flashcards to master these 21 words with H aspiré, head to elevatefrench.com/episode4 Studies show that it takes at least 7 times of repeating a new word to learn when and how to use it (and how to pronounce it, in this case!). Make sure to download this episode so you can listen and repeat to learn the 21 most common French words with H aspiré.  For weekly French lessons straight to your inbox, sign up here.

Access your 8-Step EN Workbook and this episode’s transcript at elevatefrench.com/episode3 Today we talk about EN, a small word in French that makes a big difference in your fluidity at the intermediate French level.  With an 8-step approach, we’ll talk about when to use it, how to use it, and how to get comfortable with using EN in your everyday French.  You’ll learn some vocabulary to help you understand this B1/B2 French lesson and you’ll listen to the lesson in French.  To follow along with the transcript and access your 8-Step Practical EN Workbook, head to elevatefrench.com/episode3 Love this episode? Tap “Follow” to add Let’s Speak French! to your podcast favourites. For more bite-sized French lessons for intermediate learners, follow Natalie on Instagram or Facebook @elevatefrench 

Access your French verlan quiz and this episode’s transcript at elevatefrench.com/episode2 Have you ever wondered why French people sometimes switch up the order of syllables? In this episode, you’ll learn about a specific type of French slang: le verlan.  What is verlan? When do you use verlan? And when shouldn’t you use verlan?  As an intermediate French learner, you’ll need to understand verlan so that you can consume more French media, such as Lupin on Netflix, as well as other French series, films, and music.  As always, you’ll learn some vocabulary to talk about slang en français and you’ll listen to the lesson in French. To follow along with the transcript and access your French verlan quiz, head to elevatefrench.com/episode2  Love this episode? Leave a review so that this podcast will help more intermediate learners like you!

Improve your intermediate French today! Access the French transcript and download your customizable study plan to overcome the intermediate plateau: elevatefrench.com/episode1 Bienvenue - welcome to the inaugural episode of Let's Speak French with Dr. Natalie Amgott! Like you’re doing now, I learned French from scratch, but it wasn’t always easy! For years, I sounded like a textbook when I spoke French and I felt so nervous speaking with French speakers. My mission is to help you overcome your French learning jitters with step-by-step lessons where we break down the structures, vocabulary, and cultural tidbits you’ll need to confidently speak French while traveling or working in France or Québec. Whether you’re an intermediate adult learner or feeling rusty with your high school French, you’re in the right place mon ami! All lessons feature an introduction in English followed by a lesson in French for intermediate learners. Today, we discuss: Vocabulary for talking about difficulties in French Your motivation for learning French Finding a study partner for French How to craft a study plan that will get you through the intermediate plateau Get your customizable template at elevatefrench.com/episode1 "Overcome the Intermediate Plateau: Customizable Study Template" Follow Dr. Natalie Elevate French https://www.instagram.com/elevatefrench/ https://www.facebook.com/elevatefrench Make sure to tap "Follow" so you're in the loop for next week's episode! Bonne continuation!