Let the Coach choose your next practice Start with a random practice Coming to you from the heatwave! This update has been months in the making. “How’s it going? Cuyler here. Uh, so I finally added something that I’ve wanted to add for a long, long, long time, and it’s—it’s live now. It’s version one….
(and What to Do Instead in 2026) If you open almost any major language app in 2026, you’ll see a familiar promise hiding behind a friendly button: Level this content. Make it comprehensible. Simplify with AI. One click later, a raw, messy French interview from the streets of Lyon becomes something clean, smooth, and classroom-ready….
It’s How We Ask Learners to Interact With It There is a long-running conversation There’s a long-running conversation in WL education that feels like it’s entering a new phase rather than repeating itself. It’s the debate around Authentic Resources (#AuthRes): when to use them, how to use them, and whether beginners are “ready.” If you…
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…