This week on September 16th, I celebrated my first full month in Paris, and wow looking back, was it packed with wonderful & exciting adventures! I want to share some of my first impressions as a brand new parisienne with you in French so you can practice at the same time.

 

And before we begin, I just want to say: Don’t feel bad if / when people talk to you in English when you are visiting Paris. I’ve heard so many students say to me: “I guess my French must be bad because as soon as I open my mouth, Parisians answer back in English.” To this I always advised not to feel bad because the truth is les gens ici adorent pratiquer leur anglais, whether your French is limited or advanced, they don’t care, they just want to practice their English. Donc il vous faut juste insister et expliquer que vous êtes venu ici pour pratiquer votre français. S’ils veulent parler anglais, ils peuvent faire le voyage ha!

 

But now here’s something I did not know before this first month in Paris. Lots of them just speak English, period, I guess because there are so many tourists it’s just easier. And maybe also because it makes them feel cool? Listen to this: They speak English TO ME THE FRENCH GIRL all the time! C’est fou, non? Last time I was in a café with my friend, we were both speaking French, the waiter could hear it, he still spoke to us in English. Nous avons répondu en français mais il continuait à parler en anglais, c’était vraiment très bizarre, et rigolo! Et ce n’est pas la seule fois que ça m’est arrivé! All of this to say, don’t feel bad and just speak French if that’s what you want to do, no matter how they answer you!

 

First day – Premier jour: le 16 août

 

French immersion course

 

Il y a un petit peu plus d’un mois, j’ai pris le TGV de Lyon à Paris, puis un taxi, afin de me rendre à mon nouvel appartement que je n’avais vu que son Internet… un peu fou, n’est-ce pas? Le manager, absolument adorable, m’attendait en bas de l’immeuble, à la grande porte d’entrée rouge, pour m’aider à porter mes valises. Je me rappelle ce premier moment de rêve! J’avais l’impression d’être en vacances dans un airbnb super chic, pas chez moi! Et pourtant, j’étais bel et bien chez moi!

 

First impressions – Premières impressions

 

French immersion course

 

Après ça, tout est allé très vite en fait: des amies sur place pour m’accueillir dans ma nouvelle ville, des rencontres avec de nouveaux amis, des balades, des musées, des nouvelles activités, plein de découvertes et de recherches, l’arrivée de ma colocataire, des amies qui viennent me rendre visite de Seattle, d’autres amis qui se marient sur un bateau sur la Seine… c’était magnifique et si romantique, regardez:

 

French immersion course

French immersion course

 

Et bien sûr avant le mariage, il ne fait pas oublier l’enterrement de vie de jeune fille (that’s a bachelorette party!) passé dans un petit village médiéval qui s’appelle Provins à environ une heure et demie de Paris. La prochaine fois que vous passez à Paris et que vous avez envie d’un petit voyage original, allez à Provins, c’est superbe! Et je vous conseille même de vous rendre dans le même appartement que nous avons loué. Un endroit magique parce que la propriétaire, Caroline, est magique aussi! C’est elle qui a entièrement peint et décoré ce petit sanctuaire que vous pouvez trouver sur booking.com au nom de “l’élégance au coeur du médiéval”.

 

French immersion course

 

Caroline est venue nous chercher à la gare de Provins, nous a fait visiter le village, nous a emmenées au supermarché pour que nous puissions acheter du Champagne, avant de nous faire découvrir “notre” appartement d’une nuit. Ses deux filles nous attendaient là et en fait tout le monde s’est tellement bien entendu qu’elles sont restées avec nous et nous avons toutes partagé nos histoires, nos cocktails, nos chansons, et nos danses. Quelle soirée! Nous sommes devenues tellement proches que Heather (la mariée) a invité Caroline et ses filles au mariage! Génial, non?

 

French immersion course

 

First birthday – Premier anniversaire

 

Et puis le 18 septembre c’était mon anniversaire youpi! Et grâce à mes amies et grâce à Paris, le meilleur anniversaire de ma vie! Une journée parfaite du matin au soir:

 

-salle de sport pour commencer la journée en force et en pleine forme

-les filles nous rejoignent à la maison et j’ouvre mes cadeaux

-déjeuner dans mon restaurant vegan préféré Carmen Ragosta

 

French immersion course

 

-visite du Musée des Arts et Métiers

 

French immersion course

 

-promenade dans le Marais en discutant des “2020 democratic presidential primaries” américaines parce que j’avoue que je ne suis (du verbe suivre, pas du verbe être) plus vraiment la politique américaine depuis que je suis partie en septembre 2017.

-dîner léger + kir royal à la terrasse d’un magnifique café à côté d’une église

-direction Le Perchoir, un bar / club sur le toit du BHV avec une vue incroyable sur Paris, l’Hôtel de Ville, la Tour Eiffel, etc. On a dansé jusqu’à 1h30 du matin (j’aurais adoré continuer mais malheureusement le club a allumé toutes les lumières pour fermer. Zut! Dommage! Tant-pis! I highly recommend this place, the views were to die for, the drinks delicious, and the DJ fantastic! So good that I decided to go back yesterday night!

 

French immersion course

French immersion course

 

First favorites – Premières préférances

 

J’écris “First favorites” parce que peut-être que cela va changer à mesure que je découvre cette ville et il me semble que je pourrais la découvrir pendant dix ans tellement il y a de choses à faire et à voir ici!

 

As frustrating as it may be pour ma colocataire américaine qui préfèrerait être immergée dans la langue française toute la journée, j’adore qu’il y ait tellement d’Américains à Paris! J’adore entendre parler anglais tous les jours! Je suis franco-américaine et j’aime mes deux pays, j’ai besoin de mes deux pays, ce qui n’est pas toujours facile. En France, les États-Unis me manquent. Aux États-Unis, la France me manque! Mais ici du coup j’ai un peu les deux donc c’est mieux! Et puis je ne connais pas encore vraiment de Français ici à Paris et pretty much all my friends are American, apart from a British one, which again adds to this cosmopolitan feel that I love so much having in my life.

 

Une des soirées les plus surprenantes et les plus spontanées que j’ai passée à Paris… un samedi soir, je n’ai pas de plan et je me sens un peu seule, je décide d’aller étudier dans un café du coin. Plutôt idiot d’espérer trouver un endroit tranquille un samedi soir à Paris mais bon, on ne peut pas toujours avoir de bonnes idées! Turns out it was an excellent idea! Vous connaissez la rue Oberkampf?

 

French immersion course

 

Je l’aime beaucoup elle est pleine de vie… et j’y ai même trouvé une adorable petite librairie (now watch out for the faux ami this is not a library!) d’occasion qui s’appelle Le Livre à Venir au numéro 88. J’entre et le vendeur me pose la jolie question suivante: “Vous voulez quelque chose de particulier ou vous recherchez la surprise?” et bien sûr j’ai répondu que je préférais les surprises. Il me voit regarder les vieux livres de philosophie et de théologie, me demande si je les étudie, je dis oui, et nous commençons une longue discussion qui se finira une heure et demie plus tard! Moi qui voulais un samedi soir original, je l’ai eu! Et évidemment, je suis repartie avec cinq livres!

 

Et bien sûr j’adore mon appartement, ma coloc, et notre super quartier à la fois chic et populaire! J’adore qu’il y ait des librairies PARTOUT c’est incroyable! Il y a aussi de tonnes de restaurants ou cafés et des magasins vegan! J’adore la beauté tout autour de moi, je suis éblouie par la sublime architecture partout où je tourne la tête. Et évidemment je ne vais pas répéter toutes les choses que j’ai indiquées plus haut, mais j’avais tellement hâte de célébrer mon premier anniversaire à Paris et, grâce à mes merveilleuses amies, je n’ai pas été déçue, loin de là!

 

That’s it for this week but more to come in the next blog posts! I love this new Paris theme, what do you think?

 

Did you know you could receive lots of free help from me every week? All you need to do is click on this link and get your free 3 step mini course to help you become a little bit French at the same time! 

 

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FRENCH IMMERSION COURSE – WEEKEND IN SEATTLE MARCH 2020

 

 

SEATTLE US
2020 March 7 & 8: This French Immersion Course is designed for intermediate level students – 4 SPOTS left
2020 March 14 & 15: This French Immersion Course is designed for beginner level students – 4 SPOTS left

If you’re unsure about your level, contact me to schedule a free Skype call

 

FRENCH IMMERSION COURSE – WEEK IN PÉLUSSIN APRIL & JULY 2020

 

 

PÉLUSSIN – FRANCE
2020 April 6 to 12: This French Immersion Course is designed for intermediate level students – 1 SPOT left
2020 July 20 to 26: This French Immersion Course is designed for intermediate level students – 3 SPOTS left

If you’re unsure about your level, contact me to schedule a free Skype call

 

100% French Experience

 

What inspired me to create this French Immersion Course? C’est très simple: how best to improve your French conversation skills than by being in France, surrounded with French culture and French people who will ONLY speak French to you? Yet so many times I have heard visitors express their disappointment at not really being given the chance to practice their French. Why? Because more & more French people, especially in big cities, speak English fairly well and are just so excited to practice their new skills with you! This ends up being nice and comfortable for you but not so satisfying or helpful for improving your French speaking ability! So to fix this and make sure you have the most enjoyable, and at the same time profitable, French learning experience, I decided to create the perfect environment for you by organizing this hands-on French Immersion Course.

 

Daily French Classes & Activities

 

This is the reason why I have created this 7 DAY FULL FRENCH IMMERSION COURSE for you, filled with daily classes & enriching adventures with French people who will only speak French with you. No English! It’s amazing how much you can learn and retain in such a conducive atmosphere in as little as 7 days. Mornings will be dedicated to French language classes and afternoons will be filled with interesting activities such as: visiting local artists or entrepreneurs workshops, meeting with local wine makers and farmers, guided hike in nature, cooking class, painting class, cinema, & museum… all in French!

 

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WANT TO TAKE YOUR FRENCH TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

RECEIVE VIRGINIE’S FREE COURSE to Help You Become a little bit French in 3 Steps.

Learn French Online with Virginie via the French Truly Online School

Learn French with Virginie via her French Immersion Courses in France, in London UK, and in Seattle US.

Watch Testimonials from Virginie’s Happy Students!

 

Learn French online with Virginie

Join French Truly’s online school, either by buying the French online course(s) of your choice or by becoming a monthly member. See more details about the membership at the bottom of this page 🙂

Each French online course is packed with video & audio files along with written material, to make it as fun, easy, and user friendly as possible for you! Come and learn French online with me!

 

French online course #1: 600 WORDS

learn french online

In this course, you will find 15 videos (+ 10 bonus ones) to help & accompany you every step of the way through the course + for each word, each sentence, each expression, each conjugated verb, I have created an audio file of my voice, slow and slightly faster speed. Your French language learning experience has never been so easy, fun, and fruitful. You can learn French online and benefit from the flexibility working at your own pace offers, while having me with you the whole time.

 

Did you know…

You can converse (speak + understand) in French with only 600 WORDS?

The average French person only uses between 300 & 3,000 WORDS?

This means that if you can master a relatively short list of words, you’ll be able to express yourself like the average French person! Plus you’re much more likely to understand the French when they talk back to you!

 

This course will teach you…

1- How to speak French

2- How to pronounce French

3- How to make French sentences

4- How to conjugate all the most common French verbs

5- How to polish your results

6- How to self evaluate your French

More info HERE

  • It should take you about 30 hours to complete this course, which is made up of 10 lessons
  • This course is designed for a beginner / intermediate level. If you are intermediate but feel like you could really reinforce your foundations, you will love it.
  • You can join whenever, either by buying the course or by becoming a monthly member giving you access to my French online courses from $10 / month. See more details about the membership at the bottom of this page 🙂

 

Online course # 2: PERFECT PRONUNCIATION

Learn French online

In this course you will find 11 videos + 150 audio files + 92 pages PDF format to help & accompany you every step of the way throughout the course. In some parts of the videos, my face will appear close up and profile so you can easily see how I make these sounds with my mouth. The 150 audio files are composed of the 100 most popular French words and the 50 most common French phrases. They are recordings of my voice, speaking slowly enough so you can easily grasp every syllable. Your French language learning experience has never been so easy, fun, and fruitful. You can learn French online and benefit from the flexibility working at your own pace offers, while having me with you the whole time.

NB: if you are the proud owner of my previous French online course 600 WORDS, don’t worry, this is not a repeat as we are now exploring 1 letter words and up, whereas in 600 WORDS we began at 4 letter words and up.

 

Combine knowledge with confidence…

For you to be able to have a pleasant and efficient conversation with a French person, one thing is key… can you guess what it is? Confidence! How well do you think you will communicate in French if you don’t feel confident about your accent? If you are scared that people won’t understand you? Or even worse if you think someone might make fun of you? Without a minimum of confidence there is no room for communication. Yet if you feel confident, you can afford to make a few mistakes here and there because people will still understand you. What prevents a conversation from happening isn’t just a lack of knowledge, it’s also a lack of confidence. You need to have both to make it work, not to mention, to make it fun!

 

This course will teach you…

1- How to pronounce every letter of the alphabet

2- How to pronounce every digraph & trigraph

3- How to make every French sentence flow

4- How to pronounce the 100 most popular French words

5- How to pronounce the 50 most popular French phrases

6- How to avoid the pronunciation mistakes everyone makes

More info HERE

  • It should take you about 20 to 2 hours to complete this course, which is made up of 11 lessons
  • This course is designed for a beginner level. If you are intermediate but lack confidence when it comes to talking and feel like you could really benefit from focusing on pronunciation, you will love it.
  • You can join whenever, either by buying the course or by becoming a monthly member giving you access to my French online courses from $10 / month. See more details about the membership below 🙂

 

Become a monthly member!

Learn French Online

My goal is to transform your French language learning experience. This is why I’ve decided to offer you a new way to learn French online and gain access to the French Truly Online School! Actually, more than 1 new way, you’ll have 3 plans to choose from so come and learn French online with me!

 

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Become a little bitin 3 easy steps

Learn how to incorporate frenchness in your every day life with this free 3 step mini course

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