Classes
French Conversation
Practise French with people of the same level, in a friendly atmosphere. Get to know French life and meet new friends!
Aimed at international residents of Montpellier and the surrounding area, this course is an excellent way to practice and develop your French in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced levels
- 1.5h face-to-face classes
- Up to 6 participants
What To Expect?
Each week, a small group of participants meets to discuss various topics and to review the notes taken and organized by Elodie.
Part 1: discussion (1 hour)
Our session begins with a drink. While we talk, Elodie takes detailed notes on new vocabulary, verbs, and phrases that come up, along with any recurring mistakes. To ensure context, all new words and phrases are presented in sample sentences taken straight from our chat.
Part 2: debriefing (30 minutes)
Following the discussion, we explore the notes from our conversation. We work together to correct and explain examples of errors, refine the pronunciation of specific words and expressions, and make quick points on grammar and conjugation—all based on what came up in our chat. These notes are emailed and can be printed on request.
Beginner Level | Thursday | 2 – 3:30 pm
Take your first steps in French conversation! In a relaxed and guided setting, practice what you learn in class with students who are as eager as you are to take all the small steps that lead to interacting in French.
Who is this class for?
This course is dedicated to absolute beginners & beginners in French, right from the very first basics.
It’s ideal for anyone looking for a supportive, low-pressure environment to start using the language. The group is intentionally limited to a maximum of 6 participants. This small setting ensures you get plenty of personalized practice time and all the space you need to speak comfortably.
What if I’m shy or nervous?
It is completely normal to feel a little shy when starting to speak a new language. We create a safe and non-judgmental space. You are never forced to speak or put on the spot. You can start by simply listening, using the ready-made answers, or even just translating a single word you need.
Our goal isn’t just to practice French; it’s to build your confidence. The small group size and the focus on shared notes mean we are all learning together, supporting one another, and focusing on effort, not perfection!
How does it work?
This is a 100% practical, hands-on workshop designed to bring your French into the real world. Over a warm or cool drink, participants meet, get to know each other, and share experiences, advice, recommendations, and ideas. During the class, Élodie (your instructor) takes notes on everything discussed — including key language points.
After about 45 minutes of conversation, we take another 45 minutes to go over these notes together. We go back over the conversation, clear up any tricky parts, and answer your questions. You’ll then receive these notes by email and in printed form to keep for your review.
How can you join the conversation as a beginner?
This is the best part—you can participate even with minimal French! Here’s how we encourage you to jump in:
- Use what you know: Employ the words and phrases you are already familiar with. Start small!
- Ready-made tools: Use the ready-made questions and answers provided in our documents.
- Adapt and customize: Take the ready-made Q&A and make small changes (e.g., J’adore la musique → J’adore le sport / l’art / les visites / la cuisine / la nature…). Be creative!
- Experiment and get feedback: Try out your own sentences! The course is a safe space to experiment and receive constructive feedback.
- Ask Elodie! Don’t hesitate to ask for translations in the moment to quickly learn the words you need to express your ideas.
What materials are provided?
You will receive a set of helpful documents containing:
- Examples of simple, common questions to get to know and interview the other participants.
- Examples of responses to help you actively participate in the conversation.
- After each session, you’ll then receive the notes by email and in printed form to keep for your review.
Get ready to put your French skills into action!
|| Wednesday | 2:45 – 4:15 pm ||
This course is designed with one key aim: to help you practice French freely and gain ease and confidence in speaking.
Who is this class for?
This course is dedicated to Intermediate Level speakers who have a foundation in French grammar and vocabulary but want to maximize their speaking time.
It’s ideal for anyone looking to transition from structured learning to spontaneous conversation, increasing their fluency and comfort in expressing everyday thoughts. The group size is intentionally kept small to ensure everyone has ample time to speak and engage actively.
What if I still hesitate or make mistakes?
It is completely normal to hesitate or make mistakes when pushing your fluency! Our goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental space where you feel comfortable taking risks and experimenting with the language.
The aim is to speak as much French as possible, prioritizing communication over perfection. We focus on building your ease and confidence so you can chat naturally about various topics without feeling pressure.
How does it work?
This is a 100% practical, hands-on workshop focused on real-world conversation. The core of the class is conversation revolving around everyday topics according to the participants’ interests. We also talk about the city and its current events, and we exchange tips and recommendations. In short, the session is structured to give you maximum speaking time on diverse, relevant subjects.
During the class, Élodie (your instructor) takes notes on key language points, interesting vocabulary, and common phrases that arise from the conversation. We’ll dedicate time to review these notes together, clarifying any tricky points and answering your questions. You’ll then receive these notes by email and in printed form to keep for your review.
How can you master the conversation at an Intermediate Level?
This is the level where you start connecting words and phrases into longer, more natural-sounding speech. Here’s how we encourage you to jump in:
Embrace spontaneity: The goal is to talk freely. Don’t overthink; just use the French you know to express your ideas about the topic at hand, whether it’s travel, food, or local events.
Share your life: Talk about your experiences, your favorite things, and your recommendations. This helps anchor the language in your personal reality.
Discuss local events: Actively participate in discussions about the city and its current events, which helps you learn vocabulary relevant to local life and culture.
Prioritize fluency: Focus on maintaining the flow of conversation. It’s better to speak with a few mistakes than to stop and search for the perfect word. The goal is to gain ease and confidence.
Ask Elodie: Don’t hesitate to ask for the French for a phrase or concept you need in the moment to keep the conversation flowing naturally.
What materials are provided?
The materials are designed to support your spontaneous speaking practice:
We focus on current, relevant topics and interests that fuel genuine discussion.
After each session, you’ll then receive the notes taken during the conversation (including vocabulary, common phrases, and corrections) by email and in printed form to keep for your review.
Get ready to speak French freely and gain the confidence you’re looking for!
|| Forming group ||
This course is designed to be the perfect place for you to expand your vocabulary and strengthen your argumentation skills while discussing interesting and relevant topics.
Who is this class for?
This course is dedicated to Advanced Level speakers ready to tackle complex discussions in French. It’s ideal for anyone looking to go beyond everyday conversation, engaging with prepared material, and refining their expressive abilities.
The group size is intentionally kept small to ensure a dynamic, focused discussion where everyone has the opportunity to fully articulate their ideas.
What if I’m nervous about complex topics?
It’s natural to feel challenged by specific, in-depth topics. The goal of this class is to create a safe, non-judgmental, and *bonne humeur* environment for expanding your knowledge and pushing your boundaries.
To help you prepare, documents are sent in advance by Elodie related to the chosen topic. You are encouraged to review these materials to be ready to discuss.
The focus is on effort and development, providing a space to experiment with sophisticated language and argumentation without the pressure of perfection.
How does it work?
This is a 100% practical, hands-on workshop focused on deep conversation. The session begins with a warm-up where we discuss the week’s news.
After the warm-up, we move on to the specific topic chosen for the week. This is your chance to articulate complex thoughts, defend a point of view, and engage in nuanced discussion.
During the class, Élodie (your instructor) takes notes on everything discussed — including advanced vocabulary and key language points related to argumentation.
We’ll take time to go over these notes together, clarifying any tricky grammatical or vocabulary points that arose, and answering your questions. You’ll then receive these notes by email and in printed form to keep for your review.
How can you master the conversation at an Advanced Level?
This level is all about taking your French proficiency to a higher degree of precision and fluency. Here’s how to make the most of the class:
Preparation is key: Use the documents sent in advance to familiarize yourself with the week’s topic, vocabulary, and potential arguments.
Expand your lexicon: Actively work to incorporate new, complex vocabulary and idiomatic expressions into your speech.
Strengthen your argumentation: Focus on using logical connectors, sophisticated structures, and nuanced language to clearly express and defend your points of view.
Engage with the news: Take the opportunity during the warm-up to discuss current events, practicing your ability to react spontaneously to real-world topics.
Experiment and refine: This is a safe space to try out complex sentence structures and receive constructive feedback to hone your rhetorical skills.
What materials are provided?
You will receive:
Documents sent in advance by Elodie to help you prepare for the week’s specific topic.
After each session, you’ll then receive the notes taken during the discussion (including advanced vocabulary, key language points, and argumentation strategies) by email and in printed form to keep for your review.
Get ready to put your French argumentation skills into action!
