Welcome to the French In Real Life project. Whether it’s your first time here or you’re a daily-practice veteran, here’s a quick refresher. Read more about the inspiration for the project and my experience in language learning here or on the blog. Jump To: Get to know your quiz 🤔 On any practice exercise or “quiz” you will see…
Think you “can’t do accents”? You’re literally doing one every time you speak. Any language. Here’s how to unlock the French accent that’s been hiding in your voice all along. Jump to: The Accent Prison: Why You Think You’re Stuck “You think you ‘can’t do accents’? You’re literally doing one right now.“ Every time you speak,…
It’s getting warmer and the squares around Bordeaux are humming with evening conversation. There is something different about French sound than English sound. It is most clear on warm summer nights in the open squares, where everyone sits around small tables drinking their draft beers. The hushed hum hum hum of French has stood out…
Inside my real-world French listening routine: a repeatable, 15-minute practice that builds confidence, comprehension, and better ears for native French. Yesterday, I sent an email to you about one of the best takeaways from a recent blog post: How I make the most of the site and build it at the same time. One of my favorite takeaways from…
Here’s how I use FrenchIRL.com to actually improve my French — even while working on the site itself. Quick Guide, Jump to: My Inspiration for the project I created this project when I was really inspired. I was inspired thinking about my own Chinese journey. I was inspired by another project I had found for…
I’m a millennial dad. So that means my wife and I follow Dr Becky on Instagram. I love her opinions on parenting. One interesting thing that she has shared is “the Learning Space”. This has helped me immensely as a parent and as a learner of French and many other things. I know this isn’t…
Three moments in learning three languages stand out for me, even years on. First, I was in high school. Each year my family would go to Ensenada or Tijuana to build with Homes of Hope for a family who lived in a lean-to shack. And each year my family would ask me: “What did they just…
Discover effective strategies to immerse yourself in the French language from home. There’s no need to travel (further than the closest meetup). Learn how to incorporate French into your daily life through media, conversation, and more. I recently saw a poll in an expat group on Facebook asking: “What’s the best way to quickly become…
Listening skills are key “Learning a language is like unlocking a new world”. A cliché and, for sure, something you’ve heard before. There is something to it… When I dive into a new language, I find there is so much culture wrapped up in the language. Every expression comes from their “normal” culture. And it is…
Build your ear for French with slow-paced audio clips less than one minute long. Designed to improve your comprehension and confidence—perfect for A1–A2 learners. Enhance your French listening skills with 6 slow-paced, real-life audio clips—each under 120 WPM—designed for beginners to build comprehension and confidence. They are slow enough to follow along easily while still…