The French Club (Montreal)

Mon, Oct 20 · 1:00 PM EDT

•

Online

60-min French Conversations (with Gaffar, a student of mine based in Dubai, UAE)

Online

The French Club (all chapters) : already 275 events completed
(Sept. 1, 2024 — July 15, 2025)

Upcoming events :
https://www.meetup.com/the-french-club-montreal/events/

Testimonials :
https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-frenchclub/feedback-overview/

***

Casual Conversations in French (with Gaffar, a student of mine
based in Dubai)

60-min French Talk :
Practice French with other French learners.

MINIMUM LEVEL OF FRENCH REQUIRED:
Anyone with an A2 or B1 level in French.

PLEASE note that if you can barely talk in French, you might be
asked to not participate in these events hosted by Gaffar.

***

This is a fun and relaxed way to practice and improve your French
with other French speakers who have varying levels of proficiency
and are based in different countries.

You'll spend 60 minutes, having a group meeting, online,
using Zoom.

I will not attend these meetings, as I already have engagements at that time. But a student of mine wants to practice and improve and this can be a fantastic opportunity for others to join and have a conversation in French.

Gaffar is a serious student, already well established in the UAE, working in the accounting field. His desire to improve in French is noticeable and he'd like to use these practice sessions in order to raise his oral comprehension and oral expression. Other learners are welcome, not only students of mine.

***

Participants: 4 participants maximum

You need to have an A2 or B1 level (minimum) in French in order to join.

If you are a native French speaker,
we kindly ask you not to join, as space is limited
and our focus is assisting learners.

***

MeetUp Fee for this event:
These meetings with Gaffar, are free.

***

How to join the Zoom call:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7317411907?pwd=SKMYcXUX0lWyKmzbpbgMmuD68aCNbP.1
Password: 2022@Malik

Please turn your camera on during the session,
for a more engaging experience.

***

Important: No-Show Policy for Gaffar’s Meetings

Please note that The French Club (Montreal)’s no-show policy applies to all events, including his.

If you book a spot and do not attend and do not cancel in advance, it counts as a no-show. After two no-shows, you will be removed from The French Club (Montreal) Meetup group.

If you book, please either attend or cancel before the meeting so someone else can take the spot. Thank you for your cooperation.

***

About Me, François ...

In 2017, I was hired as a French teacher by a university in Spain.

Since March 2020, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching French
to 725 students from many countries, delivering more than
5,000+ French lessons, online and in person (as of July 15, 2025).

For some info about me as a teacher, and testimonials, see:
https://www.italki.com/F_Normandeau
or https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/7237721

I look forward to assisting you soon.

François Normandeau

Mon, Oct 20 · 7:00 PM EDT

•

Online

⭐ 10-Week A1-Level French Learning Program - Open to all & free ⭐

Online

The French Club (all chapters) : already 275 events completed
(Sept. 1, 2024 — July 15, 2025)

Upcoming events :
https://www.meetup.com/the-french-club-montreal/events/

Testimonials :
https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-frenchclub/feedback-overview/

***

⭐ A1 French Course – Beginner Level (10 Weeks) ⭐

Course Title: French for Beginners – A1 Level
* Duration: 10 weeks
* Weekly Class Time: 2.5 hours per week
* Course format: Live on Zoom
* Self-Study Commitment: Minimum 10 hours/week
* Total Estimated Learning Hours: ~125 hours
* Group Size: unlimited number of students

***

Course Description

This A1-level French course is designed for absolute beginners who have no prior knowledge of the language.

Over the course of 10 weeks, learners will build a strong foundation in French through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

By the end of the program, students will be able to introduce themselves, ask and answer simple questions, hold basic conversations, understand everyday expressions, and use fundamental grammar structures.

This course follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and prepares students to reach the A1 level, enabling them to interact in basic French in real-life situations.

***

Session Start Date

Schedule:

Starts on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 (week #1)
Ends on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 (week #10)

***

Group class #1 importance:

During the first meeting, we will go over the overall structure of the A1 French course, explain how the documents are organized, show you how to make copies, where to add your homework (in Tab 2), and answer any practical questions you may have.

This introduction (covering all practical details) is only covered in the very first group meeting. To respect those who attended from the beginning, these topics will not be repeated in later sessions (weeks 2–10). If you join after the first meeting, please note that this information will not be re-explained.

***

Documents:

A1 French - Week 1 - Modules 1 to 5 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n8znkQrkSNctXnoix6aimEBOPvIPnh2oNGYk8-TSpaU/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 2 - Modules 6 to 10 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rrlgn03J3cCM6h1R8eXTydLouQ0AVxZKwPrSZsmE6ws/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 3 - Modules 11 to 15 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJTs8sf1QndEjIir0GLKf9HuVNmfLF3J2U-6PhMZvjY/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 4 - Modules 16 to 20 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IAOYyl8zjBFUKz97865otKimZb-Iyz7tbBtPBusfeSo/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 5 - Modules 21 to 25 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15D47l4AKfJi6L46_BYtsyqWDw1XQiNLnWVHH4xJGcAY/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 6 - Modules 26 to 30 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Aftbgsa-YngkoOP1XOah6cgw8ACvm3jpaZQH1GShpC0/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 7 - Modules 31 to 35 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jue6HYQFdD3oktbW5Ic37hkdsR_oh-dKEa7KTeDdMaU/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 8 - Modules 36 to 40 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPQS92tHZYmrPhIhEUQlL1ow6WQvET76jhb8Esu5BIo/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 9 - Modules 41 to 45 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hAAVfZeiLDdTob2ROEI7sCb8iTphdb-3Ma25GWsfBRY/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 10 - Modules 46 to 50 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mAZ_eEZr0pt8DgL9s4kw2lfeSblb3oax4ZMydYW4TTw/edit?usp=sharing

***

Cost & Payment Options:

This 10-week A1 French course is free. The course will have limited interactions (no speaking exercises), no correction of homework and no dedicated WhatsApp group (unlike the paid courses).

***

Access & Attendance:

* Zoom access closes 10 minutes after class starts to maintain class flow
* Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
* Password: galaxy

Each and every week, people keep asking me what the passcode is.
The passcode is always mentioned on each event's page.
I always use the same passcode.

***

Course Outline – 10 Weeks of Learning

Week 1: Foundations of French

• Vocabulary: Basic greetings, introducing yourself, numbers 0-100, days of the week
• Grammar: Subject pronouns (je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles), definite/indefinite articles (le, la, un, une, des)
• Speaking & Listening: Introducing yourself, greeting others formally/informally
• Reading & Writing: Writing a short self-introduction
• Homework: Practice dialogues, listening exercises

Week 2: Talking About Yourself & Others

• Vocabulary: Family members, nationalities, professions
• Grammar: Present tense of être and avoir (to be and to have), adjective agreement (petit/petite, français/française)
• Speaking & Listening: Describing yourself and your family
• Reading & Writing: Writing a short text about your family
• Homework: Flashcards for professions & adjectives, listening to beginner dialogues

Week 3: Daily Life & Regular Verbs

• Vocabulary: Common verbs, daily routines (se lever, manger, travailler, dormir)
• Grammar: Present tense of -ER verbs (parler, aimer, habiter), forming negative sentences (ne... pas)
• Speaking & Listening: Talking about daily habits and routines
• Reading & Writing: Describing a typical day
• Homework: Conjugation exercises, watching a short French video

Week 4: Places, Directions, and Prepositions

• Vocabulary: Cities, transportation, places (école, banque, supermarché)
• Grammar: Prepositions of place (à, de, sur, sous, devant, derrière), the verb aller
• Speaking & Listening: Asking for and giving directions
• Reading & Writing: Writing short sentences about your city
• Homework: Practicing directions, listening to French street dialogues

Week 5: Shopping, Food, and Ordering in a Café

• Vocabulary: Common foods, numbers 100+, ordering at a restaurant
• Grammar: Articles partitif (du, de la, des), quantities (beaucoup de, un peu de)
• Speaking & Listening: Ordering food and drinks
• Reading & Writing: Writing a grocery shopping list
• Homework: Watching restaurant ordering videos, role-playing dialogues

Week 6: Future Plans and Basic Conversations

• Vocabulary: Talking about free time, future activities (cinema, sports, travel)
• Grammar: Futur proche (aller + infinitive), expressing likes/dislikes (j’aime, je préfère)
• Speaking & Listening: Talking about weekend plans
• Reading & Writing: Writing about your future plans
• Homework: Listening to audio on leisure activities, creating your own future plans

Week 7: Talking About the Past

• Vocabulary: Common past actions (hier, la semaine dernière, déjà)
• Grammar: Passé composé (with avoir for regular verbs)
• Speaking & Listening: Talking about what you did last weekend
• Reading & Writing: Writing a short paragraph about a past experience
• Homework: Reading a simple story in past tense

Week 8: Travel, Transportation, and Asking for Help

• Vocabulary: Transportation (bus, train, taxi, avion), emergency phrases
• Grammar: Questions (où, quand, comment, combien), the verb pouvoir
• Speaking & Listening: Asking for help, booking tickets
• Reading & Writing: Filling out a travel form
• Homework: Practicing travel dialogues, listening to real-life recordings

Week 9: Invitations, Socializing, and Giving Opinions

• Vocabulary: Social phrases (on va au cinéma ?, pourquoi pas ?, c’est une bonne idée !)
• Grammar: The imperative (regarde ! écoute ! parle !)
• Speaking & Listening: Inviting someone, accepting/refusing
• Reading & Writing: Writing a short invitation message
• Homework: Practicing role-plays, writing social messages

Week 10: Final Review & Everyday Conversations

• Vocabulary: Review of key topics
• Grammar: Reinforcing present, past, and future tenses
• Speaking & Listening: Role-playing real-life scenarios (restaurant, shopping, travel)
• Reading & Writing: Writing a final paragraph about yourself
• Final Assessment: Speaking practice & review exercises

***

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this 10-week course, you will be able to:

* Introduce yourself and others (name, nationality, profession, family)
* Use common verbs in the present, past, and near future
* Ask and answer simple questions in social situations
* Order food, buy things, ask for directions, and make plans
* Read and understand basic French texts (menus, timetables, invitations)
* Write simple sentences and short paragraphs

This course will give you the confidence to communicate in French in everyday situations!

***

About Me

From May 2020 to mid-July 2025, I’ve given over 5,000 online lessons
to 725+ students from about 50 countries.

For some info about me as a teacher, and testimonials, see:
https://www.italki.com/F_Normandeau
or https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/7237721

I look forward to assisting you soon.

François Normandeau

***

Tue, Oct 21 · 5:00 PM EDT

•

Online

✨ French Dictation Workshop — Listening Precision & Writing Accuracy ✨

Online

✨ The French Club ✨ 5,000+ members worldwide in 10 chapters : Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Paris, Amsterdam and Mumbai.

Upcoming events :
https://www.meetup.com/the-french-club-montreal/events/

Testimonials :
https://www.meetup.com/meetup-group-frenchclub/feedback-overview/

The French Club — French for Everyone — Open & Free Events :
* A1 French Course (given over 10 weeks)
* French Masterclasses focused on one topic
* Shadowing Workshops
* Dictation Workshops
* Raconte-moi une histoire — Tell me a story
* etc.

***

✨ French Dictation Workshop — Listening Precision & Writing Accuracy ✨

Tue Sept 30 – Tue Nov 18, 2025 | 5:00–6:15 pm NY time
Open to all levels | Unlimited Number of Participants | Free

***

Want sharper listening, cleaner spelling, and faster grammar recall?

Join our free French Dictation Workshop every Tuesday evening.

In 75 focused minutes, you’ll train your ear on authentic French while writing what you hear — the classic “dictée,” redesigned for modern learners.

French Dictation Workshop — Free & Open to All
Date: Tuesdays, Sept 30 – Nov 18, 2025
Time: 5:00–6:15 pm (NY time)
Duration: 75 minutes per session

What is it?

You’ll listen to short passages read by a native speaker.
We do multiple passes (normal speed, then chunked), followed by on-screen correction with clear explanations of spelling, liaisons, agreements, and punctuation.

Because this event is open to everyone and due to large group size, participants will remain muted on Zoom — no pressure, just focused listening and writing.

Why join?

• Build accuracy fast: accents, silent letters, agreements, and tricky verb forms.
• Train real-life listening: connected speech, reductions, and rhythm.
• Strengthen grammar you already “know” so it shows up on the page.

Who is it for?

Open to all levels. Beginners solidify core forms; intermediate and advanced learners target fine-grained accuracy and speed under time pressure.

What you’ll practice

• Common homophones (a/à, et/est, son/sont, ces/ses, ou/où, etc.).
• Agreements (noun/adjective, past participle with être/avoir when needed).
• Liaisons and enchaînements that affect spelling choices.
• High-frequency verb endings across tenses (présent, imparfait, passé composé, futur, conditionnel).
• Punctuation and capitalization conventions.
• Etc.

Practical Details

• Materials provided on screen; bring paper/pen or open a blank document but try to not use any type of auto-correct options.
• Group Size: Unlimited.
• Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
• Password: galaxy
• It's always the same passcode for all events.

Note: If you are a native French speaker, we kindly ask you not to attend; our focus is assisting learners.

About me

From May 2020 to Sept. 2025, I’ve given over 5,300 online lessons
to 750+ students from about 50 countries.

For some info about me as a teacher, and testimonials, see:
https://www.italki.com/F_Normandeau
or
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/7237721

I look forward to assisting you soon.

François Normandeau
...