FAQ
Non. This site is designed to progress with the student. Most of the beginning instructions are a combination of French and English, but we don’t translate everything into English, and we do this on purpose. When something is in French in an early exercise, it falls into one of three categories: 1) It is close enough to the English or clear enough from context, that the meaning can be figured out, 2) We have already given the English translation in an earlier exercise, or 3) It is not central to the exercise, and the exercise can be completed without understanding the French.
Read the French and try to think it through. Take your best guess at what it means, and put your guess into practice. Did the button take you where you thought it would? Was your answer right? No? What does that tell you about the French? Do you have another idea for what it means? Go back and try again!
Having to actually use your French for something real is one of the fastest ways to learn. Embrace the discomfort of not understanding, and celebrate in the triumphs when you get it right. While most language programs are very careful to limit the French that students see, to restrict the French to artificial, easy-to-understand vocabulary and grammar, we’ve worked hard to include real-world French and to use even beginning lessons to expose students to a wide variety of French vocabulary and grammar.
We think you’ll come to like it, but if you think we’ve left something too difficult, feel free to send us a message with the specific exercise or page that you think should be changed, and we’ll take a look.
This can happen if you are using a browser (Chrome often does this) that automatically translates webpages into English. Check your browser settings or try a different browser. Most exercise questions and content are in French, if you’re seeing something else – check your browser—this site will not work with an auto-translator turned on.
Accents are an essential part of the French language; they aren’t optional. Accents mark the difference between two words with the same spelling, they tell you how to pronounce a word, and they tie words to their historical roots.
We understand that our students want to use their French at work, with their families, or in any number of real-world contexts, so we make sure that our site prepares you to use French in the real world. Part of this means learning to use French accents.
For how to accent your letters, see below.
In Windows 10: Click and hold the mouse cursor over the letter you want to accent.
On a Mac: Use the Option key combined with the letters you need. For example, hold Option+i to type the cironflexe ˆ, hold Option+i and then type an o to get ô. Option + c = ç. Option+` and e = è. Option+e and e = é.
On an iPhone: Click and hold the letter you want to accent.
On an Android: Click and hold the letter you want to accent.
No. This is very far from all the information that will be on this site. We are adding new exercises all the time. We’re planning some very exciting additions, and we’re always happy to hear from our learners and hear what you are most interested in seeing. Request new content here.
We plan to add an app in the future. Currently, the only option is to save the website to your device’s home page. This way it will be readily accessible like an app would be, and will help you remember to study.
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