What we’re about
Note: This group used to be called : "San Francisco French Language and Culture Lovers" but it had no organizer, and I took over on Friday, September 5, 2025. Thanks.
— François Normandeau
***
Hi! Welcome to The French Club. 👋
The French Club is a global French-learning community focused on real, practical fluency. Founded in September 2024, it has grown into 13 international Meetup chapters across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with 6,700+ members and a structured curriculum built in-house (200 modules, from A1 to B2, about 4,000 pages).
Here on Meetup, you’ll find our live events—many of them free—including the free A1 course (10 weeks), A1 conversation practice, A1 homework sessions, student-led events such as 'Raconte-moi une histoire', and occasional special sessions with partner companies. You’ll also see events hosted by members of our teaching team and community leaders (Cindy, Nicole, Jaime, and Gaffar).
If you’re looking for a more guided experience, we also offer paid options such as semi-private group classes (A1 to B2), the 'Atelier de Conversation', and French immersion experiences (Nice in Dec. 2025, Quebec city in June 2026, Bordeaux in Sept. 2026, etc.).
Our long-term home is frenchclub.net. Starting in early 2026, events will still be featured on Meetup, but bookings will gradually move to frenchclub.net, with the transition planned to be completed by the end of March 2026. The platform is still under construction, but you can already take a look.
See you at an event soon! ⭐
— François Normandeau
Founder, The French Club
____________________
Welcome message:
https://vimeo.com/1148335419?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
The French Club — Academic Program 2026:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vjF6aQHIlpKUqaofeFEcv3wZcW1bPRaI_nToY9r4-Tw/edit?usp=sharing
Our MeetUp hub: https://www.meetup.com/pro/learning-speaking-french/
Our language teaching platform: https://www.frenchclub.net/
Our Substack account: https://substack.com/@frenchclub
Our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@the-french-club
Upcoming events
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•Online⭐ 10-Week A1-Level French Learning Program - Open to all & free ⭐
Online⭐ 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. However, you can be part of a dedicated WhatsApp group.
Ideally, students should go through the first 3 documents of the course and do the homework available in them before the start of the group classes on January 4th, 2026.
***
Optional:
A1 French Free Weekly Homework Session — hosted by Nicole, a student of mine.
Fridays @ 5:30pm to 6:30 pm EST
***
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
.
***7 attendees
•Online⭐ Raconte-moi une histoire — Tell Me a Story ⭐
Online⭐A special event series where curious minds meet and French learners shine. ⭐
Join Our French Learning Community Conferences
We host a unique series of conferences featuring remarkable people who are learning French alongside you.
Each event centers around a passionate speaker who presents on a topic they love — entirely in French — for 30 to 45 minutes.
***
During the Presentation:
- Please keep your microphone muted to maintain the flow
- Cameras are optional throughout the entire meeting
- If you choose to participate in discussions, we encourage turning your camera on for a more engaging experience
After the Presentation:
We open the floor for casual, respectful group discussion in French, where you can ask questions, exchange ideas, and share experiences related to the topic.
While our guest speakers may occasionally accommodate questions in English, we encourage you to stretch yourself by using French — even if it feels challenging. Growth happens outside our comfort zone, especially in language learning!
Who Should Attend:
- Low-intermediate speakers (or a higher level) who can participate in simple conversations are warmly encouraged to join the discussion
- Beginners or shy learners are equally welcome to attend, listen, and absorb the French exposure
This is an excellent opportunity to hear spoken French and connect with fellow learners on the same journey.
Our Community Values: Every opinion is respected and everyone is welcome. We maintain a positive environment by avoiding divisive topics like politics, religion, and sexuality.
***
Who is the guest speaker?
The guest speakers will be individuals who took a French course with me. Each speaker does this on a voluntary basis in order to practice French and showcase something they love or truly care about or are deeply interested in. Our guest speakers for this Winter 2026 term are:-
Jan 4: Djordje
Jan 11: Eugenia
Jan 18: Faisal
Jan 25: James
Feb 1: Rahul
Feb 8: Rae
Feb 15: Grayce
Feb 22: Fairy
Mar 1: Mishele
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Who Can Join?
This series of mini conferences is open to everyone who has a low intermediate understanding of French or higher.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance your French skills !!
***
Practical Details :
- Duration: 90 minutes per session.
- Frequency: Every two weeks, on Sunday evening from 7 pm until 8:30 pm EST (NY time).
- The zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
- The password is: galaxy
***
About Me
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 775 students from many countries, delivering more than
5,625+ French lessons, online and in person (as of Dec. 10, 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
.1 attendee
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