What we’re about
Note: This group used to be called : "DFW French Language MeetUp" but it had no organizer, and I took over on Sunday, September 7, 2025. Thanks.
— François Normandeau
***
Hi. 👋 Welcome. I’m François Normandeau, founder of The French Club.
We have over 7,000 members in 14 MeetUp groups around the world (New York, Paris, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Dallas, Montreal, Atlanta, Mumbai, Chicago, Sydney, Toronto, Washington DC, Tokyo, Vancouver).
If you want the same thing most adults want, a clear path to real, practical French you can actually use when speaking, then this is the right place!
And your free gift is ready: the full A1 French course (50 modules), now available on our platform. It’s the equivalent of 1,200+ pages of explanations, examples, exercises, and homework, with extras like audio and video to help you build pronunciation and real speaking reflexes. No catch, no gimmick, no obligation, no credit card needed.
Start here:
https://www.frenchclub.net/
To unlock it, two quick steps:
1. Create your account.
2. Enroll in the Free Plan (the A1 course is included in the free plan, but it requires enrollment).
Step-by-step guide (account setup + free A1 enrollment):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fSyoLZDxM2QdHXO0TnDh1UVFP_QjWTXA1Hj-qwcIIMM/
Once you’re in, begin with Module 1 right away.
The goal is momentum, not perfection.
What The French Club is
The French Club is a global community of French learners with live events on Meetup and a structured learning platform on frenchclub.net.
We focus on real-world fluency through:
- Structured courses from A1 to B2 (50 modules per level).
- Skill workshops that fix the real sticking points (pronunciation, listening speed, writing accuracy, confidence, etc.).
- Conversation events (A1 to B2), including practice sessions and student-led events.
- Small-group immersion experiences.
Meetup is where you’ll discover and join live events.
Our site frenchclub.net is where your learning path is organized in one place (courses, materials, and enrollment).
See you at an event soon !! ツ
— François Normandeau
Founder, The French Club
____________________
Links
Winter Academic Program 2026:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vjF6aQHIlpKUqaofeFEcv3wZcW1bPRaI_nToY9r4-Tw/
Website + free A1 course: https://www.frenchclub.net/
Meetup hub: https://www.meetup.com/pro/learning-speaking-french/
Welcome video: https://vimeo.com/1148335419
Substack: https://substack.com/@frenchclub
Upcoming events
107
🌟 C'est la vie !! : The French Arts Club 🌟
·OnlineOnlineImportant Availability Note:
This event will be free and open to everyone for the winter 2026 period:
10 weeks, from January 1 until March 15, 2026.
Starting mid-March 2026, this will become available only to Starter ($25 USD/mo.) and Premium ($75 USD/mo.) plan holders on The French Club language platform (currently in development).
***
🌟 C'est la vie !! : The French Arts Club 🌟
A new series hosted by François Normandeau — all in French — for French learners who love culture, stories, and creativity. This is dedicated to ART, in all shapes, forms and modes of expression.
Each week, we dive into a different art form – cinema, literature, painting, music, architecture, photography, sculpture, drawing, etc. – and use it as a springboard to explore French language and culture from France and French-speaking countries and regions.
This is not a technical art class: it is a relaxed French Club where you watch, listen, react, and create a little, all in good company.
If you enjoy French, are curious about the arts, and are willing to spend almost two hours mostly in French, this is for you.
You need to have a level of French sufficient to read a book in French, watch a movie in French, give a summary in French, interact and ask and answer questions in French, etc. in order to participate fully and understand the ongoing conversations. This is usually a high A2/low B1 level (at the very least) and higher.
***
Each session includes:
- Intro
- Guided exploration of the work
- Language and culture discussion where each member can express themselves
- Mini creative activity sometimes
- Takeaway and final feedback from the participants
***
Who can attend?
This session is open to all members of The French Club.
We expect around 15 dedicated and motivated participants and everyone is welcome.
The entire event will be in French mostly (English used as a last resort).
Zoom call details:
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
Passcode: galaxy
It is the same passcode for all events hosted by F. Normandeau
***
Schedule and details .....
Week 1: Cinéma (7 January 2026)
🌟 Demain tout commence (2016)
Why? Warm, funny, emotional, and extremely accessible for French learners.
Clear, modern French + strong visual storytelling make it ideal for a broad audience.
Omar Sy has huge international appeal.
- Watch a scene for comprehension practice (tone, emotion, context).
- Discuss core themes: fatherhood, responsibility, love, childhood imagination, Franco-British culture.
- Language: emotions, family vocabulary, expressing opinions.
- Explore why Omar Sy is so beloved in contemporary French cinema.
- Creative task: create a new title or tagline capturing the film’s spirit.
https://share.google/ApJCChmVmpcva1Xny
https://www.imdb.com/fr-ca/title/tt5078204/
***
Week 2: Littérature (14 January 2026)
🌟 Le Petit Prince — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (1943)
Why? Universally adored by adults & children; poetic but simple; great for French learners.
- Discuss why this book conquered the world.
- Read a short excerpt together for comprehension practice (context, gist, interpretation), vocabulary, and pronunciation practice.
- Explore core themes: friendship, imagination, loneliness, responsibility.
- Creative task: participants invent their own “nouvelle planète.”
https://www.saintexupery-domainepublic.be/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/petitprince2.pdf
***
Week 3: Peinture (21 January 2026)
🌟 Claude Monet – Les Nymphéas
Why? Universally loved, calming, accessible, iconic impressionism that even beginners can appreciate visually & culturally.
- Explore Monet’s life & the birth of impressionism.
- Virtual tour through Giverny or Musée de l’Orangerie.
- Language activity: describing colors/light/emotions.
- Creative task: photograph something with “impressionist light” at home and describe it.
***
Week 4: Musique (28 January 2026)
🌟 Francis Cabrel – Je t’aimais, je t’aime, je t’aimerai (1994)
Why? Classic French singer; clear diction; poetic lyrics.
Great for learners because it’s slow and understandable.
- Short intro to Cabrel (major figure in French chanson).
- Analyze metaphors in chorus.
- Vocabulary: love, time, memory.
- Creative task: rewrite one line using your own metaphor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVM_OE7xJic
🌟 Stromae – “Papaoutai” (2013)
Why? Modern, powerful, globally known; rhythmic, great for discussion.
- Discuss Stromae’s Belgian-Rwandan identity & influence.
- Analyze the visuals/music of the video.
- Explore the language: colloquial French in the lyrics.
- Creative task: transform one lyric into a positive message.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiKj0Z_Xnjc
🌟 Jacques Brel – “Ne me quitte pas” (1959)
Why? One of the most famous French songs ever created.
Emotional but universal.
- Discuss Brel’s dramatic performance style.
- Listen and identify key lines.
- Explore core themes: heartbreak, poetry, desperation.
- Language: metaphors, emotion verbs.
- Activity: rewrite 2 lines in a hopeful or positive tone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_bq5mStroM
***
Week 5: Architecture (4 February 2026)
🌟 Gustave Eiffel – La Tour Eiffel (1889)
Why? The ultimate “crowd pleaser”— even non-art people care.
- Discuss why Parisians hated the tower at first.
- Explore plans, structure, and innovations.
You can include engineering, tourism, culture. - Analyze language: heights, shapes, comparisons.
- Creative task: design/describe a monument representing your city.
***
Week 6: Photography (11 February 2026)
🌟 Robert Doisneau – Le remorqueur du Champ-de-Mars (1943)
Why? Iconic French photography; immediately readable, human, and humorous.
Robert Doisneau is one of France’s most beloved humanist photographers.
- Explore Robert Doisneau, why he is so closely associated with simple, authentic moments of Parisian everyday life, and the “photographie humaniste” movement.
- Analyze the scene: setting, characters, movement, contrast between the ordinary and the monumental (the Eiffel Tower).
- Discuss core themes: daily life, work, humor, scale, and the poetry of the ordinary.
- Language: describing images, spatial vocabulary, present tense, making hypotheses (on dirait que…, peut-être que…).
- Creative task: invent a caption or short story explaining what is happening before or after the photo.
https://enfantphotohumaniste.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/diaporama1926-le-remorqueur-du-champs-de-marspar.jpeg
***
Week 7: Cinéma (18 February 2026)
🌟 Les Choristes (2004)
Why? Heartfelt, simple language, loved by all ages.
- Discuss why this film became a global success.
- Explore film's core themes: education, hope, childhood.
- Listen to the clip “Vois sur ton chemin” for comprehension practice and explore and discuss.
- Activity: “Avec qui je m’entends le mieux” et pourquoi?
https://share.google/ZnKmks2AiP9aIzMvy
https://www.imdb.com/fr-ca/title/tt0372824/
***
Week 8: Sculpture (25 February 2026)
🌟 Auguste Rodin – Le Penseur (1904)
Why? Instant recognizability + deep cultural resonance.
- Who was Rodin? The rebel sculptor. Discuss.
- Explore Le Penseur and its relationship to La Porte de l’Enfer.
- Analyze vocabulary: human body, attitudes, emotions.
- Creative task: describe your “thought” (could be an interpretation).
https://histoire-image.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/rod7_penseur_001f.jpg
***
Week 9: Dessin (4 March 2026)
🌟 Bring out the artist in you – Drawing 2 scenes or objects 🌟
Why? Very accessible, relaxing, and playful — you only need curiosity, not experience. Perfect to close the series gently.
- Short warm-up with simple shapes and lines, following easy French instructions.
- Guided drawing of 2 scenes (for example: a small French café + a simple still life or a corner of your room).
- Language: basic drawing and position vocabulary (lines, shapes, objects, in front of / behind, next to) + simple adjectives and opinions.
- Creative task: personalize one drawing with a funny or very “French” detail and present it briefly in French.
***
Week 10: The participant’s choice (11 March 2026)
(to be determined by week 5)
***
We look forward to seeing you there!
— François Normandeau
Founder, The French Club
.2 attendees
⭐ 10-Week A1-Level French Learning Program - Open to all & free ⭐
·OnlineOnline⭐ 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 Suggestion: 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.
***
Schedule:
Starts on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 (week #1)
Ends on Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026 (week #10)
***
Cost & Payment Options:
This 10-week A1 French course is free and the explanations are provided in English. The course will have limited interactions (no speaking exercises), no correction of homework.
***
New platform: account creation and course enrollment
In the Google document linked here, you’ll find a clear step-by-step guide showing exactly how to create your French Club account and then enroll in the Free Plan on our new platform.
French Club Account setup & free A1 course enrolling Step-by-step guide
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fSyoLZDxM2QdHXO0TnDh1UVFP_QjWTXA1Hj-qwcIIMM/edit?usp=sharing
Important: the Free Plan includes access to the free A1 course, but the A1 course is not automatic. After you activate the Free Plan, you still need to enroll in the A1 course directly on the platform to access the lessons and materials.
Platform: https://www.frenchclub.net/
***
A1 Course Zoom call for the class
Access & Attendance:
* Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
* Password: galaxy
***
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
As of November 25th, 2025, I’ve given 5,625 online lessons
to 780 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
.
***2 attendees
Past events
138
