Advertise on podcast: Let's Speak French! with Dr. Natalie Amgott

Think you know what sensible, rester, or une pièce mean in French? Think again! In episode 103 of Let's Speak French!, we're diving into 12 faux amis (French false friends) — words that look or sound familiar in English or Spanish but have completely different meanings in French! In this interactive French listening lesson, you'll: Discover 10 common French-English false friends (plus 2 bonus French-Spanish ones!). Test your French comprehension by guessing each word's meaning from context. Learn how to avoid common vocabulary mistakes and speak French more confidently. Understand why your brain mixes up words from different languages. 🎁 Get your FREE Faux Amis Flashcards to review these tricky words and learn even more false friends: https://elevatefrench.com/episode103 🎧 Want more faux amis? Listen to Episode 20, where we explore 13 more French false friends, including some that can lead to pretty embarrassing misunderstandings! https://elevatefrench.com/episode20 The main lesson is in French, with an English introduction and conclusion. Perfect for intermediate French learners (B1/B2) looking to improve their listening comprehension and expand their vocabulary. Bonne écoute ! P.S. Learn something new today? Consider leaving a rating and review! That helps this podcast to reach more intermediate learners like you. Created by Natalie Amgott, Elevate French LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

Reading is one of the most important things you can do to improve your French vocabulary. In this episode, you'll receive a few book recommendations for each French level, as well as some strategies to help you read with more confidence. You'll also learn which books are overrated so that you can save time by focusing on books that will actually make you better at French. Voici tes prochaines étapes (Here are your next steps) 1. Access your reading list and the transcript of this episode. 2. Let me know which French book you're planning on reading, or let me know once you finish! Reading a book in French is a huge accomplishment and I can't wait to cheer you on. You can send me an email at [email protected] 3. Reading with a friend can make it easier to get through your first French novels. Share this episode with a friend from French class so that you can pick a book to read and chat about together! As an Amazon Affiliate, I receive commission from qualifying purchases. Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott | Elevate French, LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

Make your French sound a lot more natural with this phrase that can mean: anyway, wow, no way, seriously! "Quand même" means more than just one word in English, and it can be used to express surprise, frustration, or contrast, depending on the context. You'll hear it all the time while listening to the radio and communicating with French speakers. Voici tes prochaines étapes: 1. Check your understanding of each of the three uses with the transcript. 2. Try using quand même in your stories on Instagram or Facebook. Tag me @elevatefrench and I'll give you feedback on how you're using it, and personally will cheer you on! 3. For more lessons on these untranslatable, useful French phrases, make sure to tap "Follow" wherever you're listening, so that you never miss an episode of Let's Speak French! Produced by Natalie Amgott | Elevate French, LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

Can 5 weeks of French immersion really equal 5 years of French classes? For Episode 100, I’m joined by a very special guest: my husband, Ryan! 🇨🇦 He shares how he went from speaking zero French to using it confidently at work every day—and the unconventional strategies that helped him get there. We talk immersion, pronunciation, Québec French, building confidence, and why sometimes you just have to start speaking before you feel ready. Tes prochaines étapes: 1. Follow along with the French transcript of the episode here. 2. Share this episode with your friends learning French, so that you can talk or text about it next time you're chatting en français! 3. Tap "Follow" so that you never miss an episode of Let's Speak French! Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott | Elevate French, LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

Still mixing up aussi and autant? Both can translate to “as…as” in English, but they’re used differently in French. In this short lesson, you’ll learn when to use aussi with adjectives and adverbs, autant with verbs, and autant de with nouns. Then, test yourself with a quick quiz at the end of the episode! Once you've listened once through, check your understanding by listening through a second time with the transcript and English translations at elevatefrench.com/episode99. Have a friend learning French? Share this episode with them so that they know exactly when to use autant and aussi! Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott | Elevate French, LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

Have you been telling people you smell bad, instead of that you feel bad?! In this lesson, you'll learn exactly how to use three French verbs to talk about feeling and smelling: sentir, se sentir, and ressentir Tes prochaines étapes: 1. Check your understanding and the English definitions with the transcript after listening. 2. Try using sentir, se sentir, and ressentir to talk about how you're feeling. Send it in a message to Dr. Natalie @elevatefrench on Instagram or Facebook. I LOVE hearing from you! 3. Learn something new? Share this episode with your French class pal! Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott, Elevate French LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

What happens when you take your French practice offline? In this episode, I’m chatting en français with Benni Kunz, creator of TandemMate, a free app designed to help language learners find people nearby for in-person language exchanges. We talk about why real conversations are so important for improving your French, Benni’s favorite strategies for learning languages, and how to get more speaking practice with real people. Plus, you’ll get to listen to an authentic French conversation and hear all those little words like alors, du coup, en fait, and mais bon in action! Tes prochaines étapes: 1. Download the TandeMate app to get started finding other people who speak French near you. 2. Listen once without the transcript, then ⁠follow along with the transcript here⁠. If you enjoyed this episode, your rating and review are appreciated! Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott Edited by Paroma Banerjee

Should you use LUI or LE? To start sounding less repetitive in French, COD and COI (direct and indirect object pronouns) are essential! Learn exactly how to determine which one to use in this lesson. To take your French further: 1. Sign up for the Intermediate French Class with Elevate French 2. Not ready for Intermediate? Reboot your French with Beginner French Foundations Reboot.

Still translating everything in your head before you speak French? In this episode, you’ll learn simple strategies to start thinking more en français and make French feel more automatic, without expecting yourself to switch off English completely. Plus, enrollment is officially OPEN for Elevate French Fall group classes! Choose your level: 1. The Intermediate French Class: Build your confidence, speak more fluidly, and put your intermediate French into practice. 2. Beginner French Foundations Reboot: Rebuild your French foundations and finally feel confident with the basics. Classes start September 14, and enrollment closes September 10, 2026. Have a question about French classes? Email Dr. Natalie at [email protected]. Podcast created and produced by Dr. Natalie Amgott, Elevate French, LLC Edited by Paroma Banerjee

After 12 years of teaching French to more than 1,400 students, I’ve learned a few things about what actually helps language learners make progress. In this episode, I’m sharing 11 of the biggest lessons and mindset shifts I’ve learned—from why the intermediate level takes so long to why speaking imperfectly is one of the best things you can do for your French. To put them into practice: 1. Attend the Live Intermediate Workshop to learn Slang and Idioms useful for the intermediate level. 2. Review the transcript to check your understanding of the French part of the episode.

Sometimes what you need to get momentum with your French isn’t a whole new grammar lesson! In this lesson, Dr. Natalie Amgott walks you through 6 easy ways to sound more natural in French. 5 of them involve subtracting something that you know rather than adding anything new! You'll learn: When to drop the NEWhether to use NOUS or ONHow to use filler wordsWhen to use ÇA vs CECI and CELAPronunciation shortcuts to sound more naturalAnd a speaking strategy that they don't teach you in apps or textbooks Voici tes prochaines étapes: 1. Download the Filler Word Guide to sound less stiff and more natural. You'll learn filler words for France and Québec and how to pick which ones to actually use in conversation.

You’ve learned that the final S is usually silent in French, but not always! In this episode, you’ll learn 14 common French words where you SHOULD pronounce the final S, including ours, bus, vis, cactus, fils, and more. We’ll also look at a few words where both pronunciations are accepted. These small pronunciation details can make a big difference in how natural and confident your French sounds.  Luckily, this is one list of exceptions that’s pretty easy to learn! So if you're feeling burned out on conjugation tables or grammar rules, you'll love how easy it is to apply what you learn from this episode.  Voici tes prochaines étapes (Here are your next steps):  1️⃣ Listen once without the transcript, then listen again and follow along with the transcript to check your understanding and see the English translations of the words that end in -S. 2️⃣ Practice to make these words stick! I’ve also created a FREE flashcard set with all 14 words from today’s episode, plus a few bonus words. Access your flashcards here to hear the pronunciation and get comfortable with each word where you can pronounce the final -S. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend or classmate who’s learning French. Chances are, they’ve been silently dropping some of these final S sounds, too! Podcast created by Dr. Natalie AmgottEdited by Paroma Banerjee

What does "le bac" mean? When do you use "le collège," "l'université," and "le cégep?" In this lesson, you'll learn how the school systems work in France and Québec, including the specific vocabulary for schooling from ages 2-22. You'll also learn how the vocabulary differs for schooling in France vs. Québec! Voici tes prochaines étapes: 1. Check out the comparison tables with all the vocabulary for the French, Québécois, and US / Canada systems. 2. Listen again and follow along with the French transcript. 3. Learning French for France or Québec? Join the waitlist for Elevate French group classes. Podcast Credits Podcast created and hosted by Dr. Natalie Amgott Audio editing by Paroma Banerjee

If you're freezing up in conversation because you keep stopping to conjugate your verbs, then what you need is a grammar reset. In this science-informed episode for A2, B1, and B2 intermediate French learners, you'll learn exactly what to do when it feels like you're hitting a wall with your French. You'll learn why you sometimes forget verb conjugations while speaking and how to make them more automatic. Tes prochaines étapes: 1. Download the French Grammar Reset that accompanies this episode. 2. Block out 60 minutes in your calendar for your French Grammar Reset. 3. Review the transcript of the French part of today's lesson for anything you may have missed. Bonne continuation et à la prochaine!

Why does French feel so hard all of a sudden? Are you really getting worse at French? Why does it feel like you forgot all of the basics? Today we're diving into the science behind the questions you're asking yourself about why you have some days where you feel like your French gets worse. You'll learn six reasons that your French might feel worse as an intermediate learner and six easy things to do about it. If you're having a bad day with your French or want to be prepared for the next time it happens, this lesson is for you! Tes prochaines étapes 1️⃣ Map out your goals and track your progress with the French Fluency Roadmap. 2️⃣ Review your understanding with the transcript for today's lesson, which includes English translations of some of the intermediate and advanced vocabulary in the lesson. If you're loving the Let's Speak French! podcast, would you consider leaving a rating and review wherever you're listening? It helps to reach more intermediate learners like you!