A vs À (no accent vs accent) Core explanation: Quick explanation trick: Try to swap a with avait (had): Examples: Continue reading Tiny accent, big difference: are you making this mistake in your French writing?
One of the biggest challenges in GCSE French is remembering whether a noun is masculine or feminine. Even native speakers do not always know the gender. Watch the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, get it wrong! https://www.tiktok.com/@loicsuberville/video/7423373524074597665?lang=en-GB Warning: mild swearing. But here’s the good news: you don’t always have to guess or memorise everything. In many cases, the spelling (especially the ending) of a French … Continue reading Mastering French Noun Gender: Easy Patterns to Remember
If you’re learning French, you’ve probably come across ou and où and thought: They sound the same… so why are they spelled differently? You’re not alone! This is a very common point of confusion for GCSE and IGCSE students (and honestly, plenty of adults too 😄). The good news? The difference is actually very simple once you know what to look for. Let’s break it … Continue reading Ou vs Où in French: What’s the Difference?
French learners often wonder when to pronounce the s in plus. The answer depends on meaning and context — and it’s actually quite logical once you see the patterns! ✅ When You Do Pronounce the “S” 🚫 When You Don’t Pronounce the “S” In these cases, the s stays silent. 🎧 Pronunciation Summary Meaning or Context Pronunciation Example Translation “More” (positive) /plys/ or /plyz/ Je … Continue reading When to Pronounce the “S” in Plus
Part 3 – Try these activities to create good habits for learning French over the year. Improve French whilst having fun. Suitable for KS3 French, Common Entrance exams, GCSE amd IGCSE students and beyond. To get the full list to your inbox, pop your email below. 🗼Culture 🚲Watch a video about the Tour de France on the 1jour1actu website. The transcript appears below the video … Continue reading 🎉 Fun Summer French Activities Pt 3
Part 2 – Try these activities to practise your French over the summer and create a habit for September which will improve your French whilst having fun. To get the full list to your inbox, pop your email below. 📱 Play & Explore 🦉Play a language app for 10 minutes a day – like Duolingo, Gus on the Go, or Studycat. 📲Change your phone or … Continue reading Fun Summer French Activities Pt 2
Part 1 – No matter where you are on your French journey, one thing’s certain: the key to success is practice, practice, practice. This is the first in a series of fun activities – including books, music, podcasts and more – that I will be posting over the coming days. To get the full list to your inbox, pop your email below. 🎧 Listen & … Continue reading 🎉 Fun Summer French Activities
A strong vocabulary is one of the most powerful tools a French student can have — especially when preparing for GCSE or IGCSE exams. Whether you’re aiming for top marks or just want to feel more confident expressing yourself, expanding your word bank is key to success in speaking, writing, reading and listening. Here are some smart, manageable strategies to help you build vocabulary that … Continue reading Building a Robust French Vocabulary for GCSE & IGCSE Success
Want to improve your French speaking skills? Start with your ears! Many learners focus on speaking practice alone, but listening is just as important—if not more so—when it comes to sounding natural and confident. Why is listening so powerful? 1. You absorb pronunciation naturally French has tricky sounds that don’t always match how words are written. By listening to native speakers, you train your brain … Continue reading How Listening Practice Boosts Your French Speaking Skills
If you’ve ever struggled with understanding spoken or written French, paying attention to accents might just be the key to unlocking meaning. While accents in French can seem like an extra challenge, they often carry hidden clues about a word’s history, pronunciation, and even its English equivalent. One of the most fascinating accent-related patterns in French is how the circumflex accent (ˆ) replaces an “s” … Continue reading How French Accents Can Help You Recognise Words in Reading and Listening Tasks
