Let's Speak French! with Dr. Natalie Amgott

As English speakers, we use the word "FOR" all the time. But that doesn't always translate to "POUR" en français. It often translates to a different preposition or nothing at all.
In today's lesson, you'll learn cases where we do need to use POUR in French to talk about duration, gift giving, and purpose.
Then you'll learn several cases where we can't use POUR in French, and what to say instead when you're talking about looking for something, waiting for someone, or asking for something.
Voici tes prochaines étapes:
1️⃣ Practice writing one phrase for each of the phrases that do require pour and for those that do not require pour. Check out the transcript for inspiration and some English translations.
2️⃣ Send me your sentences for feedback! I'll give feedback to the first 20 folks I hear from. You can send them to [email protected]
3️⃣ Learn something new today? Could you tap the "subscribe" button so that you never miss an episode or leave a rating and review? Merci d'être là, mon ami.e!

Why is it LE problème and LE pique-nique?
Today you'll learn words that sound feminine in French, but are actually masculine. Plus, you'll learn about the "baguette trick" (and how to avoid it). Finally, I share my gift to you - the 11 Rules to Determine if French Words are Masculine or Feminine.
Tes prochaines étapes (Your next steps)
1️⃣ Check the English definitions of the words and make sure you know which ones are masculine by reviewing the transcript as you listen.

2️⃣ Learn the 11 Rules to Determine if French Words are Masculine or Feminine. Add your exceptions to the guide as you go.

3️⃣ Tap the "share" button to share this with a friend learning French so that they never have to wonder whether these everyday words are masculine or feminine.

Bonne continuation et à la prochaine!

You're spending too much time on the wrong words (l'écureuil). Today we break down the 9 words that are the hardest for my intermediate learners over the last decade of teaching.
You'll walk away being able to use these 9 USEFUL words in everyday conversation, and will no longer avoid words just because the pronunciation is tricky.
Here are your next steps to make it stick!
1️⃣ Check the pronunciation breakdown and English definitions of each of the 9 words here.
2️⃣ Download your 10 Intermediate Tongue Twisters to improve your pronunciation of vowels like U and OU.
3️⃣ Next on your playlist: 4 Sounds to Improve your Intermediate French
Learn something new today? Rate and review the podcast to let me know. It's one of the most helpful things you can do to help podcast creators and to help me with my goal of reaching as many French learners as possible!

In this episode, you’ll learn a simple system to finally understand where adverbs go in French. You'll learn what to do with short (bien, mal, trop) vs long (lentement, facilement) adverbs, what happens in the passé composé, and why words like probablement don’t follow the “normal” rules.
If you’ve ever second-guessed where to put bien, souvent, or probablement… this one’s for you.
Tes prochaines étapes:
1️⃣ Listen once. Then listen again while checking the English translations and the adverb rules with the lesson transcript.
2️⃣ Start actively observing where adverbs go while you listen and read.
3️⃣ Tap "subscribe" so that you never miss a lesson!

You know reflexive verbs like se lever, se réveiller, se laver, se coucher, but using them in the past tense can feel like a different story entirely.
How do we say "I woke up"? Where does pas go in the negative? And why do so many learners freeze when they try to say these phrases out loud?
In this episode, you’ll learn a simple framework for using everyday reflexive verbs naturally in the passé composé, so you can talk about your morning routine, last night, or what happened today with more confidence. We’ll cover affirmative and negative sentences, common speaking mistakes, and natural spoken French.
How to build reflexive verbs in the passé composé with la formule magique
How to say phrases like I woke up, I got dressed, I went to bed
How negation works in spoken French
The easiest way to make these structures automatic
1️⃣ Review reflexive verbs with the transcript and download your free French Past Tense Cheat Sheet.
2️⃣ Practice 3 phrases from today out loud until they feel automatic.
3️⃣ Want more reflexive verbs beyond daily routine? Go back and listen to Episode #36: Douter ou Se Douter? The Reflexive Verbs Most Learners Skip.