One real question, answered properly
Grammar that never quite clicked, exam logistics, and how French actually works outside a textbook.
What does ça marche really mean in French?
Ça marche can mean okay, deal, it works or are you free? Learn the four meanings, when to use each one, and why je ne marche pas has nothing to do with walking.
Avoir or être? The six French verbs that take both
Sortir, monter, descendre, rentrer, retourner and passer take être or avoir depending on the sentence. Here is the rule, with examples.
How do you read a French lease before you sign it? The words and clauses that matter
Understand a French bail before signing: deposit limits, lease length, notice periods, the état des lieux and the key vocabulary, with translations.
What does B1 in French actually feel like day to day?
B1 is the third of six CEFR levels. Here is what you can really do in French at B1, what still goes wrong, and how to tell whether you are there.
How to structure a DELF B1 production écrite in 45 minutes
A minute-by-minute method for the DELF B1 written test: 10 minutes to plan, 30 to write, 5 to check, and a structure built on the official marking grid.
How do you disagree politely in French? Ten phrases for work
Ten French phrases to disagree politely at work, how to push back with a manager or client, and the blunt phrases that sound ruder than you mean.
Faux amis: French words that don't mean what English speakers think
Actuellement, librairie, excité, éventuellement: the French false friends English speakers trip over most, what they really mean and what to say instead.
What French do you need at the doctor? Phrases for symptoms, pain and appointments
Describe symptoms, book an appointment and understand a prescription in French. The phrases you need at a French doctor, with translations and a few traps to avoid.
The biggest mistakes English speakers make in French (and how to fix them)
Dropped articles, avoir and être mix-ups, wrong prepositions and word-for-word translations: the French mistakes English speakers repeat most, and the quick fix for each.
How many people speak French, and is it worth learning in 2026?
The OIF counts 396 million French speakers in 2026, making it the fourth most spoken language. Here is what that means if you are deciding whether to learn it.
DELF B2 speaking: what the examiner is actually marking
How the DELF B2 oral is graded: the 30-minute preparation, the 5 to 7 minute monologue, the debate, and the criteria examiners score you on.
How do you introduce yourself in a French business meeting?
The exact phrases, formality rules and order of introductions for a French meeting, from first names to job titles to the handshake.
Sacré bleu: where does it come from, and does anyone still say it?
Sacré bleu is a 17th-century way of swearing without saying God's name. Here is where it comes from, why nobody says it now, and what French people say instead.
Bon vs bien: the difference, and why the mistake lingers
Bon is "good", bien is "well", until c'est bon and c'est bien both appear. How to choose, with the exceptions that trip up even advanced learners.
Savoir or connaître: which French verb means "to know"?
English has one verb for "to know," French has two. Here is when to use savoir, when to use connaître, and the mistakes that give learners away.
Depuis, pendant, il y a: which time word do you actually need?
Depuis, pendant and il y a all translate as English time words like "for" or "ago," but they follow different rules. Here is how to choose correctly.
When Do You Use the Subjunctive in French, Really?
A clear guide to French subjunctive triggers: which verbs, expressions and conjunctions call for it, and why native speakers barely think about the rule.
How long does it take to learn French?
The Foreign Service Institute puts French at roughly 750 class hours to professional working proficiency. Here is what that means for an adult learning part time.
Le vs la: is there any logic to French gender?
French noun gender looks random, but a corpus study found word endings predict it correctly about 80% of the time. Here is the actual pattern.
Tu or vous: which one do you actually use?
French makes you choose a pronoun before you have said anything. Here is the rule that works in real life, at work, and the moment the switch happens.
Imparfait vs. passé composé: stop guessing
The difference isn't about time. It's about how you frame the action, and once you see that, the choice stops being a coin flip.
What does du coup mean, and why is it everywhere?
The Académie française has published guidance against it. Everyone says it anyway. Here is what du coup means, when to use it, and the four words it replaces.
TCF IRN: what the exam tests and how to prepare
The TCF IRN is the French test used for residency and nationality files. Here is what it contains, how it is scored, and what preparation actually changes.
How do you write a professional email in French?
French business email kept the closing formula that English dropped. Here is the structure, the phrases that work, and the ones that make you sound translated.
Why can't I understand spoken French?
You know the words on the page and hear nothing in conversation. That gap has three specific causes, and all three are trainable.
Common questions
How long does it take to reach B2 in French?
From a true A0 start, most learners studying twice a week with regular practice between lessons reach B2 in roughly two to three years. From B1 it is usually six to twelve months. The variable that moves fastest is not talent, it is how much French you use between lessons.
Which French exam do I need for French naturalisation?
Naturalisation files are built on the TCF IRN or the TEF IRN. Since 1 January 2026 the required level is B2, spoken and written, according to service-public.fr, and the result must be less than two years old. Residence permits have their own thresholds, so confirm the rule for your exact procedure before you book the exam.
Are the lessons online or in person?
All lessons are online by video, with every document shared digitally so you keep the materials. Evening and early-morning slots are available across US and European time zones.
Do I need to speak some French already to start?
No. The curriculum starts at complete beginner level and the trial lesson runs in English, French, or both, depending on where you are. Beginners usually hold a short real conversation within the first few lessons.
What happens in the free trial lesson?
We talk, I get a real read on your current level, you explain what you need French for, and I show you how the curriculum maps onto that. You leave with a plan whether or not you book again.