Quirky French Podcast

EP53: How do you prepare and condition your brain for listening?

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0000

How do you prepare before listening to spoken French? How you prepare before listening, and how you use your brain while listening plays a major role in your overall comprehension. Answer these 6 questions to discover gaps in your preparation. Subtitles available!

In today's episodes, discover:
🎯 how those 6 questions improve your preparation and better condition your brain for listening tasks
🎯 how to uncover existing gaps in your preparation and conditioning
🎯 why focusing on learning vocabulary and grammar is not enough to improve your listening skills

For today's show notes, transcriptions and vocab, c'est par ici:
https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode53

🎧 What is Quirky French Podcast about?
Quirky French podcast helps you feel more confident, more focused and more in control of your learning journey. In this podcast, you'll learn:
🎯 tools and tips to get over your fear of speaking French
🎯 techniques to improve your learning routine and methodology
🎯 strategies to develop your own voice, your own fluency, and your own style in French

I will help you be on the right track no matter your level or language goal so that you can study on your own terms, whatever that means to you. For more info about my philosophy, head on to: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/philosophy

EP52: Quirky French Podcast is changing!

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Time for a new challenge. The podcast will be in French from now on. But fear not, I've specifically designed future episodes for learners who struggle with listening overwhelm and anxiety. Check out today's episode to discover the new features of Quirky French Podcast.

In today's episodes, you'll learn about:
- the resources you'll use to understand future episodes and learn new vocabulary
- the listening challenges you'll complete each week
- the new podcast collections available on QuirkyFrench.com

Check out the new podcast collections here!
For today's shownotes, c'est par ici!

EP51: Overcome speaking anxiety in French - Best of the podcast

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Scared to speak in French? Does this feeling of fear get in the way of talking to people? Listen to today's episode as I share with you the most helpful and actionable tips of the podcast so far to boost your confidence and overcome your fear of speaking French. This episode will help you narrow your focus to what matters most now. But remember: it's one thing to know what to do in theory, and it's another to actually take action. So enjoy the episode, but more importantly, apply the tips, and the rest will follow!

In today's episode, you'll learn about:
- the difference between your proficiency level and your confidence level
- the reason why you don't feel like you're progressing even though you truly are
- the hidden mental block that prevents you from reaching your full potential
- the two areas to focus on to build up confidence
- the one question that instantly boosts your confidence each time you answer it

For the show notes and links to mentioned episodes, c'est par ici!

EP50: Listening skills - Best of the Podcast

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0100

What are the most important habits you should develop to become great at listening comprehension? Confident listeners know there’s more to listening than watching movies and videos online. In fact, there are several key elements of good listening skills that I've compiled in this very special episode to help you take your listening skills to the next level.

In today's episode, you'll learn:
- how to prepare for listening
- what to do to listen effectively
- how to choose appropriate listening materials
- how to handle listening when you feel overwhelmed
- how to kickstart your listening journey with the free 7-day course UHD listening skills.

For the show notes and links to mentioned episodes, c'est par ici!

EP49: Speaking skills - Best of the Podcast

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0100

In this special episode, you'll hear la crème de la crème on all things speaking. If improving your speaking skills and confidence is your main focus, don't overwhelm yourself with too many tips and tricks. This compilation of the best tips from the podcast will help you focus on what matters most. Apply the steps from these selected episodes (don't just try once, but truly incorporate them into your routine!), and your speaking skills will completely transform. Yes, it can be that simple :)

In today's episode, you'll learn:
- that fluency is only one of the 3 elements of speaking development, and what that means for your own learning routine
- how to develop fluency by simplifying your French
- how to develop accuracy and convey meaning through your intonation
- how to recentre and stop getting stuck if you tend to freeze
- how to optimise your routine if you cannot seem to ever speak fluently
- how to speak fluently when you use complex sentences structures

For the show notes and links to mentioned episodes, c'est par ici!

EP48: Stop saying "Je ne sais pas"

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Stop saying "je ne sais pas" and start using the following phrases instead. In today's episode, you're going to learn fun phrases that add a lot more depth and nuance to your speech. Start incorporating those phrases progressively and spice up your vocabulary! On y va!

In today's episode:
- replace "je ne sais pas" with more expressive phrases
- use informal and formal synonyms depending on the context
- hear the vocabulary in context with authentic movie quotes
- bonus: discover the quirky little sound we French make when we don't know the answer to a question

For a recap of the phrases and show notes, c'est par ici!

EP47: From speaking slowly to speaking fluently

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Most learners want to reach fluently: no hesitation, spot-on pronunciation, fast, seamless speeches... The dream! But as you try to speak quickly, you may also forget the number one truth about true fluency: it's all about comfort. Fluency is first and foremost about feeling at ease when you speak. So today, instead of practising speaking quickly, you're going to practise speaking slowly and comfortably, and you'll learn to move from speaking slowly to speaking fluently.

You're going to learn:
- why speaking quickly hinders your overall speaking performance
- how slowing down improves your accuracy and confidence
- how to practise slow speech

More information on this episode's webpage!

EP46 Why you're still not fluent in French... and what to do about it

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0100

This question stings: why are you not fluent by now? In today's episode, discover what separates fluent learners from average learners. I know that topic stings, but this episode is going to help you expand your learning and move from "average" to "great". So let's go!!!

In this episode:
- discover why trying to get things right is not enough to become fluent
- discover what to focus on to build fluency
- discover the three stages of learning

More info on this episode's webpage!

EP45: Design your French immersive experience with Radio Garden

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0100

One word: immersion. You don't need to travel abroad to experience it. In today's episode, discover Radio Garden, a free tool that allows you to design your own immersion environment. Radio Garden allows you to tune in to any radio in the world, and I’ll show you how you can use it for your own learning experience.

In this episode:
- discover how to use Radio Garden
- find out the 3 ways of using Radio Garden
- learn how to create an immersive experience using Radio Garden
- guess 5 Francophone accents in the final quizz!

For more info, and to get the answers to the accents quizz, c'est par ici!

EP44: Intonation carries meaning

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Intonation is everything: how you say what you say can completely transform the meaning of your words. So if you often misunderstand spoken French, check out today's episode to discover the power of intonation and the benefits of practising intonation.

You're going to discover:

the power of intonation
the benefits of studying intonation
how intonation impacts meaning
how to practise intonation on your own

More info and show notes on this episode's webpage!

EP43: "J'ai la flemme..." When you don't feel motivated to learn

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0100

How do you keep going even when you don't feel learning French? This is what separates unsuccessful from successful learners. It's not down to talent. But let's start with a major idea: motivation is overrated!

You're going to learn:
- why feeling demotivated is nothing to feel guilty about
- why motivation is overrated
- how to keep going when your heart is not 100% in it

More info and show notes: par ici!

EP42: Est-ce que tu comprends? How to choose listening materials

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut!

Identify and choose listening materials (songs, videos, podcasts, audiobooks...) that are perfect for your level and goal. Not too hard, not too easy. If you spend a lot of time looking for audio materials and if you are never sure that what you're listening to is appropriate to you, then listen to this special episode - entirely in French, on purpose! - to help you navigate the endless amount of resources out there.

You're going to learn:
- how to check the level of any resource you come across
- how to spot which ones are ideal for you
- bonus: apply this very technique to today’s episode, recorded entirely in French

The full transcript is available on this episode's webpage: c'est par ici!

EP41: Say “au revoir” to hesitations with this fluency exercise

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Today, we're tackling hesitating, mumbling, and getting stuck (and frustrated)! If you often get stuck when you speak, or if you feel tense and struggle to use varied sentence structures and vocabulary, chances are you need the following fluency-boosting exercise.

In this episode, going to learn:
- how to build fluency using storytelling
- what to concentrate on when doing fluency exercises
- how to apply those tips according to your current level

More info at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode41

EP 40: Confidence: it's not about your level

Sat, 20 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0100

If you thought you'd become more confident when you improve your French, think again. Confidence is not about your level. It starts with how you feel and think, not with what you say. Not convinced? Try today's confidence experiment involving counting to 20. Listen to this episode to find out more!

In this episode, going to learn:
- how to build up confidence by changing what you focus on
- how your emotions and intonation fuel your confidence
- how to practice confidence by counting to 20

More info at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode40

EP39: Speak French like an expert in 10 minutes

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Do you want to impress and sound like an expert when you speak French? Well, I'm sure you've tried learning tons of vocabulary and complex grammar rules. Still, you probably noticed it's one thing to learn vocab, but it's another to build up your "complexity muscle" when speaking. So today, I'm going to show you one super simple exercise to help you elevate your French in under 10 minutes. You're going to summon the expert in you, so give me all you got in today's interactive episode, and you'll upgrade your French in no time!

You're going to learn:
- the difference between developing speaking fluency vs speaking complexity
- how to talk about anything like an expert using the 5 levels approach
- how to incorporate this approach into your learning routine

More info and show notes at: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode39

EP38: 7 essential summertime French phrases

Sat, 06 Aug 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Are you enjoying the hot weather? This week, let's explore 7 essential phrases to boost your vocabulary and talk (and complain) about the hot weather like a true native speaker!
In this episode, you'll learn:
- 7 essential phrases for the hot weather,
- when to use them in context
- some key informal phrases to use in casual conversations
For more information about this episode, c'est par ici: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode38

EP37: Finding the best resources?

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0100

With so many blogs, videos, and learning apps out there, it's only normal to want to pick the best French-learning resources. However, trying to find the best materials can also hinder your learning. So in today's episode, you’ll discover why trying to find the best materials is sometimes a red flag, and you'll learn how to make the most of the resources you already use.

In today's episode, you'll learn:
- why looking for the best resources too early hinders your learning
- how to select materials that will help you reach your goal
- how to make the best of any resources, even if you don't like them

More info and show notes available at: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode37

EP36: Quantity over quality

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0100

If you're afraid of speaking French, I want to share an idea that will help you reframe the way you think about your French: it's more about quantity than quality. In today's episode, you'll learn:
- why quantity is more important than quality when developing fluency
- how quantity can help you overcome nerves when speaking French
- how to rethink your routine to focus on quantity instead of quality
More information and show notes available at: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode36

EP35: Instantly improve French accent with tongue twisters

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Pronunciation is important. Build up your speech muscles with French tongue twisters to improve your accent and sound (more) like a native. Today you're going to feel the burn: I've chosen 5 tongue twisters to work on some of the most common pronunciation issues French learners meet. Tackle these, and you can tackle anything. Trust me, I find them hard too!! In today's episode, you're going to learn:
- why tongue twisters should be an important part of your routine
- how to monitor your pronunciation if you don't have native speakers to get feedback from
- how to improve your pronunciation with 5 challenging French tongue twisters
More info and show notes at https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode35

EP34: French R: How to nail the pronunciation every single time

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut! In episode 33 you learned the 3 different R sounds. But those three sounds are not equal! So this week, we'll continue and practise the pronunciation in more detail and you'll discover when to use each of those three sounds in context. In today's episode, you're going to learn:
- to engage the right mouth muscles for each R sound
- when to use each sound according to the location of the R in the word
- how to develop your phonetics skills further with the free Ultra HD listening skills course
More info at: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode34
Free course: https://www.quirkyfrench.con/uhdlistening

EP33: French R: you already pronounce it without realising it

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut! Is the French R really that hard to pronounce? No, it's not, because you already produce the R effortlessly - you just don't realise it! In the next 8 minutes, you're going to see what perfect R sounds you already make naturally. In today's episode, you're going to learn:
- why most pronunciation tips don't work
- how to produce three different kinds of R sounds instead
- which sounds you already make can help you nail it every single time
For more information about this episode, c'est par ici: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode33

EP32: Stop saying Oui and Non

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut! Could you stop saying Oui and Non? In this new interactive series called Stop Saying, you're going to stretch your speaking skills and develop a stronger, more sophisticated vocabulary. What better way to get started than with a little game called Ni oui ni Non. In today's interactive episode, I'll ask you a series of questions that you cannot answer using Oui and Non. You're going to learn:
- Why using Oui and Non can become a problem
- Alternative ways to say Oui and Non
- How to practise this game by yourself with the episode's freebie: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode32

EP31: Do you understand these weird "Frenglish" words? Discover fake anglicisms

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Do you understand this statement:
"Wow! J’adore ton relooking! L’ensemble smoking baskets, ça fait baba-cool, et ton brushing de people est génial ! Parfait pour le shooting ! Ça m’inspire pour mon dressing ! Bon, moi je file au pressing récupérer mes slips et jogging. Allez salut !"?
Discover 11 fake anglicisms we use in French - Frenglish words - words that we use in English but don't mean anything to English speakers!

In today's episode, you're going to learn:
- 11 fake anglicisms and their English translations
- French alternatives you can use instead
- how to practise pronunciation using the shadowing technique
- how to step up your listening game with the free course "Ultra HD listening skills": https://www.quirkyfrench.com/uhdlistening

More information at:
https://www.quirkyfrench.com/uhdlistening
https://www.quirkyfrench.com/episode31

EP30: 7 tips to listen (much) better in under a week

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Stop guessing, stop tuning out, and instead start listening. Discover the 3 secrets to unlocking your French listening skills and step up your listening game in just 7 days for free in my new 7-day course: Ultra HD listening skills. If you often feel overwhelmed when you listen to your favourite shows, this episode will show you exactly what to do to improve your listening skills and how to grab the free course today.

In this episode, you're going to learn:
- why listening regularly isn't enough to improve your listening skills
- what 3 elements you need to adjust to listen and understand better
- how to step up your listening game with the free course "Ultra HD listening skills": https://www.quirkyfrench.com/uhdlistening

More information at:
https://www.quirkyfrench.com/uhdlistening
https://www.quirkyfrench.com/episode30

EP29: Local Accents: Marseille with Marie Pt2

Sat, 04 Jun 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut!

Last week, Marie (from Marseille) and I (from Paris) had an informal conversation in French. But could you spot our accents? If not, don't worry because I have a little surprise for you! In today's episode:
- learn how studying accents helps you fine-tune your listening skills and pronunciation
- train your ear and spot the differences between Marseillais French and Parisian French
- discover the surprise I've got for you!
- read and play each extract again on this episode's webpage (click to open)

References mentioned in today's episode (click to open):
Ultra HD French listening Skills FREE COURSE
EP28 Local Accents: Marseille with Marie
EP21 Written French vs Spoken French (Pt 4)

SPECIAL EDITION: Local Accents: Marseille with Marie

Sat, 28 May 2022 18:00:00 +0100

In today's special episode, I'm interviewing my friend Marie, who speaks with a beautiful and warm Marseillais accent. Listen to her pronunciation, can you spot her accent at all? In this two-part exclusive episode, you'll listen to our informal interview in French, and next week, I'll break down the interview in more detail to help you pinpoint the main features of our respective accents.

In this episode, you'll learn :
- why studying accents improves your listening and speaking
- the main accent differences between Paris and Marseille
- how we perceive other francophone accents
Show notes and transcript available at https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode28

EP27: This one question will make you confident in French

Sat, 21 May 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Answer this question each time you practise and you will become a confident speaker. It's as simple as that. Today I'm going to ask you one question. A question you probably don't ask yourself often (never?), yet when you know the answer, everything about your confidence changes.

What you will learn in today's episode:
- why looking for advice online to become a confident French speaker is a problem
- why focusing on overcoming your fear of speaking French doesn't work
- what one question you need to start asking yourself to become genuinely confident when you speak and practise your French
For more info and show notes, check out the episode's webpage!

EP26: Boring is the new fluent

Sat, 14 May 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut, would you rather be a bit boring yet fluent, or seemingly interesting yet unable to articulate your thoughts? Today I want to show you how to pave your way to fluency through boring conversations!! 😴

In this episode, you will learn:
- why trying to sound smart and interesting will cause you to get stuck
- how to simplify your French to get your point across
- how using boring French will help improve your fluency AND style in French

For the show notes, c'est par ici: https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode26

EP25: A fun 5 minute game to understand better and boost your focus

Sat, 07 May 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut! What if the key to better listening skills had nothing to do with language skills? In today's interactive episode, you're going to discover a game that will show you how you can condition your brain to focus better, so you can understand better! Minimum level: A2.
In this episode, you will learn:
- why improving your concentration skills is a must
- how to train your brain to focus more
- how to incorporate this game into your learning routine to improve your concentration skills overtime
More info at https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode25

EP24: Mistakes in French: the good, the bad and the ugly?

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Coucou!
Your attitude towards making mistakes is one of the most determining factors of success. You might not even realise that your fear of making mistakes is holding you back. So in today's episode, I'll show you how to find out if you have unhelpful beliefs about making mistakes and how to turn them into your driving force to reach your dream language goal! In this episode, you will learn:
- how your fear of making mistakes can creep up in invisible ways
- why striving for perfection will lead to worse results than accepting mistakes
- how to rethink the activities you dread the most into powerful learning goals
Find out more at https://www.quirkyfrench.com/episode24

EP23: Vocabulary that sticks with 1 super easy tip

Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Coucou! Here's why you keep forgetting (and relearning) the same vocabulary over and over again: you're studying recognition instead of retrieval. In today's episode, I'll show you what that means and how to learn vocabulary that sticks with one super easy adjustment. In this episode, you'll learn:

why you keep learning vocabulary but it never sticks
how to train your brain and improve your memorisation
how this will help you reach fluency a lot faster.

Find out more at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode23

EP22: A listening technique that actually works!

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0100

This week we are still working on the special sounds of spoken French. However, you may still not understand spoken French after the last three episodes. So today we're going to do a little interactive episode to help you understand what to do first if you do. I'm going to help you train your ear to perceive French sounds more accurately. This episode will be very quirky, but trust me, it is as quirky as it is effective!

In this episode you will learn:
- why the listening exercises you are doing are not working,
- what to look out for when listening to French,
- and how to break down the sounds you hear to understand them better.

More information on https://www.quirkyfrench.com/quirkyfrenchpodcast

EP21: Written French vs Spoken French (pt4): the mute E

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Coucou!

In this fourth part of the series, we'll explore the mute E, (called E muet, E caduc, or E instable in French). This episode will show you how some E's disappear completely when pronounced informally.

This episode, along with the last two, represents about 80% of what you need to know to master informal pronunciation patterns. You're almost there! Learn today's material and see how much your listening skills will improve!

In this episode, you'll learn:

which E's can be omitted
how and when to remove the E's
how to progressively apply those rules into your own speech
how to train your ear and pronunciation using today's freebie

EP20: Written French vs Spoken French (pt3): negation

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 18:00:00 +0100

Salut!

Let's continue our special series dedicated to informal spoken French. In this episode, you're going to learn everything you need to know about informal negations. You already know that in order to form and negative sentence, you need to use NE + (verb) + PAS, but did you know that we often remove the NE altogether? Do we do that all the time? Does it work on every sentence? When can French learners do that as well? Find out everything you need to upgrade your spoken French skills.

In this episode, you'll learn:
the realistic pronunciation of NE in everyday speech
how and when to remove NE
what you should know about informal negations before you apply them yourself
how to train your ear and pronunciation using today's freebie

Download the full transcript and exercises for free here:
https://www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode20

EP19: Written French vs Spoken French (pt2): Elisions

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Salut!

This episode is very special! In part 2 of this special series, I'll start to unpack some of the biggest differences between written French and spoken French, to help you improve your listening comprehension and speaking skills. But, I really wanted to be as clear as possible with my examples so you can follow this week's episode as a video podcast on Youtube too (link below)! Apologies for the poor sound quality, I ran into problems with my mic... Désolée :)

In this episode, you'll learn:
what areas of language to focus on when listening to spoken French
what informal elisions are
how elisions are formed with subject pronouns (je, tu, il, elle...)

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/udrN3ApgDW8
Download the free exercises and the transcript here: www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode19

EP18: Written French vs Spoken French (pt1)

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Salut!

This week, I'm starting a new series (entirely in French) that will help you decipher spoken French. A lot of learners learn textbook French, and although it is correct, it's also very different from everyday French, the "real" French you'll hear in conversations.

In this new podcast series, you'll train your ear and learn about the most common differences between written and spoken French. This week is all about observation. Observe and record the differences you come across this week, and we'll explore them in more detail in the next episode! Make sure to follow the series in the correct order, as I'll be incorporating those differences in the following episodes and will speak more and more informally. Download today's transcript at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode18

EP17: Say it like Ze French!

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Bonjour!
Let's tackle pronunciation this week! Do you sometimes get confused looks from people when you speak? "Comment?" "Hein??"
Or perhaps as soon as you start to speak people immediately switch to English because they spot your accent and you never get to practise your French? 😩
Let's remedy that! This week, you'll learn:

my two tips to improve your pronunciation alone
how to spot your pronunciation flaws
how to monitor your progress and challenge yourself over time
the difference between perfect speech and natural speech

More info at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast

EP16: Rethink your routine and learn smarter

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Salut, salut!

Don't we all wish we had more hours in the day to get more things done? In today's episode, I'll be talking about a key study habit idea that will help you manage your time better, and learn smarter. If you wonder how to fit studying around your busy schedule, this idea will help you rethink how to use your time to study. This approach is going to help you focus, learn more effectively and in a relaxed manner. In this episode, you'll learn:

the difference between study time and study task
why studying for a certain period of time doesn't necessarily guarantee that you're learning effectively
how to organise and plan your study tasks

More information at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast

EP15: Unlock your listening skills

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Coucou! Let's talk about listening. Most learners want to improve their oral comprehension but fail to address the essential initial work and skills involved in the process. As a result, you try tons of tips and tricks to improve your listening, but not only does it not improve, but your confidence also takes a hit and you feel discouraged. Fortunately, there are things you can do to unlock your listening skills, and I will help you uncover them in today's episode. You'll learn why everything you learn will fail until you address your mindset, what three skills you need to work on to unlock your listening comprehension, and what 5 essential coaching questions you should ask yourself when you work on your listening skills. Make sure to download this episode's bonus at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode15

EP14: Boost your fluency with this vocab workout

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Bonjour, bonjour!

Today, I'm introducing a new interactive episode where I'm going to show you how you can boost your vocabulary, your fluency, and your confidence with this one simple exercise. This exercise is going to teach you compensation skills: the essential skills you need to develop to express your ideas efficiently even when you don't know the exact word you have in mind.

Do this every day for 5 minutes and you'll start to speak fluently in no time! But that's just one of the benefits! In today's episode, I'm going to tell you the other awesome "secret" benefit that you'll get from incorporating this exercise into your routine.

Are you ready to boost your fluency? On y va! More info at www.quirkyfrench.com/quirkyfrenchpodcast

EP13: Storytime: Le Petit Prince

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Hey! Salut, salut!

What if you could improve your listening skills and discover French culture at the same time? This week, I'm launching a new series called Storytime. I will read you the first chapter of a classic French book, followed by some comprehension questions, and will give you all the answers as well as vocabulary and grammar insights in the chapter's guidebook downloadable for FREE here: www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode13

If you like the sound of the story and want to discover more, you'll also receive the following chapters, guidebooks, and transcripts in your inbox each week as well as slowed-down recorded audios. Get your freebies now at: www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode13

EP12: How to fail brilliantly

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 18:00:00 +0000

We are taught to believe that failing is bad, making mistakes is wrong, we are constantly judged on our performance and this can often lead to fear. In today's episode, I want to explore the concept of mistakes and failure and offer a different perspective on the subject. If you're afraid to speak up for fear of making mistakes or looking like a fool, and if your self-confidence is at an all-time low, this new perspective could help you regain control and power over your fear. This week, I'll invite you to redefine what it means to make mistakes and invite failure and mistakes into your learning journey for real growth. More information at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode12

EP11: Embracing the dread of the intermediate plateau

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Salut! How do you know you're progressing when everything gives you the opposite impression? You put in the work, the time, the money, and yet you're still left wondering if any of it is worth it. Introducing... the intermediate plateau! This week, I'll discuss what the learning plateau is, how to know whether you're progressing or not and how to stay motivated when you feel like giving up. For more content and resources, visit www.quirkyfrench.com/quirkyfrenchpodcast

EP10: In 15 minutes, you'll speak better French

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Coucou!
The title says it all: within the next 15 minutes, you'll find out how much better your French can be! If you tend to freeze up when you start to talk, if you get that awful ball of nerves and tend to get stuck out of panic, you're going to want to listen to this very special interactive episode.
This week, we're going to do an activity together, you're going to experience improvement in your speaking, and it's going to happen live! First I'm going to talk about what happens in your body when your mind goes blank, and then I'll show you how to recenter and become grounded in spite of your nerves using two very simple steps that will help you speak clearly and efficiently every time you use those tips. You'll see for yourself as we do this exercise together.
As always, to take things even further, make sure to download your free bonus at www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode10. Let's get started!

EP9: Focus on this, ignore the rest

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Coucou!
You want to develop your confidence and grow as a learner. But where should you start? There are so many options out there, and you don't really feel like any of them really works. The answer is simple: you don't need to do everything. In fact, all you need to do is focus on the two areas I'm going to talk about this week, you can safely ignore everything else for now! Be sure to download your FREE bonus to help you take things even further and apply those two tips to your own situation. Just head to quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode9.

EP8: Stress less, learn more Pt2

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

Salut and welcome back to part two of Stress less, learn more! This second part is all about creating the mindset shift you want to get closer to your goal. If you're stuck in a vicious cycle, this episode is going to teach you a powerful technique to take control of your learning. It will help you feel better so you can learn better. In this episode, you're going to learn how to choose emotions that serve you and bring you closer to your goal, how to concretely create a positive thinking pattern, and how to ensure this thinking pattern actually sticks and works in the long run. I'm going to be walking you through the FREE workbook activities so make sure to download it on www.quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode8 and follow along as you listen to this episode.

EP7: Here's to your accomplishments!

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 18:00:00 +0000

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022!!!!
Today, on the first day of this new year, I simply want to wish you a happy new year and invite you to start the year by considering everything you've achieved and how far you've come. While some may want to start the new year with resolutions, I want to start it with gratitude. We learners often get carried away with wanting to achieve more, perform better, and reach our goals, and so I want to remind you to celebrate your successes as you start this new year. As for me, I want to send a big shoutout to you for tuning in each week. I want to thank my fantastic team and my dear family and friends for supporting me and helping turn this project into a reality.
Here's to you all, your accomplishments, past, and future! Bonne année 2022!!! For more episodes and resources, head over to quirkyfrench.com!

EP6: Stress less, learn more

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Salut, salut!

Don't we all wish we could spend more time learning and less time overthinking, feeling overwhelmed, confused, frustrated..? Episode 6 is the first of a very special, two-part series dedicated to mindset. You're going to learn that everything you do stems from your mindset, which therefore affects your ability to learn effectively. So if you want to gain confidence and improve your French, this two-part series is going to teach you a powerful method that will help you develop the mindset you need to generate real progress in your learning journey.

This episode will teach you how your thoughts and emotions impact your ability to learn effectively, how to develop self-awareness, study your own thoughts, and identify how they are affecting your learning, and how to identify mental blocks, limiting beliefs, and negative cycles you may be stuck in right now.

Be sure to download your FREE workbook to put everything into action and apply those concepts to your own learning right now. Just head to quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode6.

EP5: Your own path to fluency

Sat, 18 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Bonjour! This week, I'm going to talk about how to DIY your way to fluency. If you're plateauing right now, or if you don't know how to improve your speaking, then this episode is going to help you carve your own path to fluency. In the episode I'll dispel some myths about fluency, I'll explain the three dimensions of fluency and what that means to you and your learning, and I’ll walk you through the free worksheet you can download with today’s episode so that you can create your own techniques and strategies to develop your speaking. Make sure to download the FREE worksheet at quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode5

EP4: Goal-setting

Sat, 11 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Salut toi!
In this week's episode, I'll be talking about goal-setting and will discuss: why goals are important, why you shouldn't be afraid to aim for an ambitious goal if your dream is big, why having a clear goal is paramount to achieving that goal, and how to break down your overall goal into actionable steps to fit into your routine.
Make sure to head onto this episode's webpage and download the workbook that will help you break down your goal into smaller learning goals at quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode4.

EP3: Step into your confidence

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Coucou! In this episode, I'll give you the foundation of my coaching approach to building your confidence as a speaker. If you feel like your lack of confidence is getting in the way of your French, and if you've tried to increase your confidence in the past and not succeeded, then this podcast episode will help you reframe and redefine confidence and you'll learn how to think about this concept in a whole new way. Make sure to download this episode's quiz at quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode3.

EP2: Let's dive in and talk fear

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Salut! This week we're going to talk about the fear of speaking French: I’ll go through some key principles about the work needed to overcome it, I’ll also talk about why trying to get rid of it too early can hurt your learning, and then we’ll start to explore your speaking anxiety in more detail. I’ll show you that to overcome your fear you need to identify the root cause that triggers it in the first place. Make sure to download this episode's worksheet at quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode2.

EP1: Welcome to Quirky French Podcast!

Sat, 13 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +0000

This is the very first episode, YAY! In this episode I'll talk about what the podcast is all about, I'll discuss the three areas of work needed to reach fluency confidently and I'll talk about the term "foreign language anxiety". For more info, head down to quirkyfrench.com/podcast/episode1