What we’re about
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/
***
Where French learners can practice, meet people from around the world, have fun and improve their language skills. There is no judgment and no shame, regardless of your level and ability to speak.
I offer online and in-person meetings, from fun conversations to specific events with a particular focus (like French pronunciation workshops), all the way to "confidence building" events. In April 2025, I also started to give French courses over 10 weeks (A1, A2, B1 and B2), followed by a 10-week session in June 2025, and then another in mid-September 2025. The group classes will be offered in 2026, in an 11-week format (A1 to B2).
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 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
***
Cool Stats (as of September 10, 2025) :
The French Club (San Francisco)
* 2,630 members
* 670 events past events
The French Club (Montreal)
* 930 members
* 365 past events
The French Club (Toronto)
* 755 members
* 40 past events
Other chapters:
Vancouver, NYC, Chicago, Dallas, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai
***
The French Club (Montreal) MeetUp Group "No-Show" Policy:
* Each member is responsible for maintaining their own 'RSVP' status. If your plans change, please modify your RSVP so that someone else can take you place.
* People on the waiting list are automatically moved to 'GOING' when someone moves off the 'Going’ list. If you are on the waiting list, you are responsible for monitoring your RSVP status.
* All members are responsible for monitoring their RSVP status prior to the event, especially in the 24 hrs. before the event.
* This is extremely important because some meetup events require us to make a reservation for a maximum amount of people. A 'no show' means an empty spot.
* Please send a Private Message (via the Meetup APP or the web version) to the organizer if you cannot attend.
* A 'No Show' will show up on your personal profile if you fail to attend an event that you are signed up for.
* A second 'No Show' will result in the member possibly being blocked from all events at the discretion of the Leadership Team.
* A third 'No Show' will result in the member being excused from the group permanently.
* These policies will go into effect on September 1, 2024.
* These policies only apply to The French Club (Montreal) MeetUp Group,
not to all others The French Club MeetUp Groups.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- ⭐ 10-Week A1-Level French Learning Program - Open to all & free ⭐Link visible for attendees
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 hours per week
Self-Study Requirement: 10-15 hours per week
Total Estimated Learning Hours: ~120 hours***
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.
***
Details of the A1 French course
* Duration: 10 weeks
* Weekly Class Time: 2 hours
* Format: Live on Zoom
* Self-Study Suggestion: Minimum 10 hours/week
* Total Learning Time: ~120 hours
* Group Size: unlimited number of students***
Next Session Start Date:
Classe starts on Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 9:00 until 11:00 am EDT (NY time). Classes continue every Thursday until September 18, 2025.
Schedule:
Week 1: Thursday, July 17, 2025
Week 2: Thursday, July 24
Week 3: Thursday, July 31
Week 4: Thursday, August 7
Week 5: Thursday, August 14
Week 6: Thursday, August 21
Week 7: Thursday, August 28
Week 8: Thursday, September 4
Week 9: Thursday, September 11
Week 10: Thursday, September 18***
Documents:
A1 French - Week 1 - Modules 1 to 5 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n8znkQrkSNctXnoix6aimEBOPvIPnh2oNGYk8-TSpaU/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 2 - Modules 6 to 10 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rrlgn03J3cCM6h1R8eXTydLouQ0AVxZKwPrSZsmE6ws/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 3 - Modules 11 to 15 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJTs8sf1QndEjIir0GLKf9HuVNmfLF3J2U-6PhMZvjY/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 4 - Modules 16 to 20 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IAOYyl8zjBFUKz97865otKimZb-Iyz7tbBtPBusfeSo/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 5 - Modules 21 to 25 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15D47l4AKfJi6L46_BYtsyqWDw1XQiNLnWVHH4xJGcAY/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 6 - Modules 26 to 30 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Aftbgsa-YngkoOP1XOah6cgw8ACvm3jpaZQH1GShpC0/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 7 - Modules 31 to 35 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jue6HYQFdD3oktbW5Ic37hkdsR_oh-dKEa7KTeDdMaU/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 8 - Modules 36 to 40 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPQS92tHZYmrPhIhEUQlL1ow6WQvET76jhb8Esu5BIo/edit?usp=sharingA1 French - Week 9 - Modules 41 to 45 - Summer Session 2025
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hAAVfZeiLDdTob2ROEI7sCb8iTphdb-3Ma25GWsfBRY/edit?usp=sharingA1 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 very few interactions (no speaking exercises and no opportunity to practice pronunciation or oral expression), and no correction of homework.
***
Access & Attendance:
* Zoom access closes 10 minutes after class starts to maintain class flow
* Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
* Password: galaxyThe passcode is the same for all MeetUp meetings and events.
***
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 paragraphsThis course will give you the confidence to communicate in French in everyday situations!
***
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 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/7237721I look forward to assisting you soon.
François Normandeau
***
- 60-min French Conversations (with Gaffar, a student of mine based in Dubai, UAE)Link visible for attendees
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 Google Meet.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.
***
Whether you can speak somewhat easily or with some difficulty,
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 Google Meet.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 Google Meet call:
https://meet.google.com/fmk-khrp-rfq
NO PASSCODE IS NEEDED to join this meeting.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/7237721I look forward to assisting you soon.
François Normandeau
I look forward to assisting you soon.
François Normandeau
