The French Club (Washington DC)

⭐ Meet & Greet Event ... and Winter 2026 Info Session ⭐

Come introduce yourself, meet other French learners, and get a clear overview of the upcoming Winter 2026 session.

These December Meet & Greet events are shared across 13 MeetUp groups, and attendance is typically 20+ participants per session.

The French Club now includes more than 6,500 members across 13 cities: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and Sydney. New locations will be added in 2026.

Reference document for these events:

The French Club — Academic Program 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vjF6aQHIlpKUqaofeFEcv3wZcW1bPRaI_nToY9r4-Tw/edit?usp=sharing

***

Who is this Meet & Greet for?

• Newcomers and returning students
• All levels (A1–B2)
• Entirely in English, to keep the session efficient and accessible for all

***

When?

Sunday, December 14, 2025
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm NY time
• 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm NY time

Sunday, December 28, 2025
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm NY time
• 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm NY time

***

Where?

• Online, on Zoom
• Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
• Password: galaxy

***

Format

1st part — Participant introductions

Share your first name, location, current level or goal, whether you’ve taken a class or attended an event before, and a few words about your French journey.
Each participant has up to 2 minutes (a gentle stop at 2 minutes 30).

2nd part — Winter 2026 Information Session

Overview of A1–B2 calendars, formats, pricing, placement, and enrollment steps.
We will also cover:
• Upcoming 5-day French immersion programs abroad
• The new drip course and community platform launching at the end of March 2026

***

About Me

Since March 2020, I have taught French to more than 780 students from many countries, delivering over 5,625 lessons (online and in person, as of Nov. 2025).

I have also hosted more than 500 MeetUp group events since September 2023.

To learn more about my teaching and to read testimonials:
https://www.italki.com/F_Normandeau
or https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/7237721

I look forward to meeting you and helping you progress with your French.

— François Normandeau
Founder, The French Club

.

⭐ Meet & Greet Event ... and Winter 2026 Info Session ⭐

Come introduce yourself, meet other French learners, and get a clear overview of the upcoming Winter 2026 session.

These December Meet & Greet events are shared across 13 MeetUp groups, and attendance is typically 20+ participants per session.

The French Club now includes more than 6,500 members across 13 cities: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, NYC, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and Sydney. New locations will be added in 2026.

Reference document for these events:

The French Club — Academic Program 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vjF6aQHIlpKUqaofeFEcv3wZcW1bPRaI_nToY9r4-Tw/edit?usp=sharing

***

Who is this Meet & Greet for?

• Newcomers and returning students
• All levels (A1–B2)
• Entirely in English, to keep the session efficient and accessible for all

***

When?

Sunday, December 14, 2025
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm NY time
• 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm NY time

Sunday, December 28, 2025
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm NY time
• 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm NY time

***

Where?

• Online, on Zoom
• Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
• Password: galaxy

***

Format

1st part — Participant introductions

Share your first name, location, current level or goal, whether you’ve taken a class or attended an event before, and a few words about your French journey.
Each participant has up to 2 minutes (a gentle stop at 2 minutes 30).

2nd part — Winter 2026 Information Session

Overview of A1–B2 calendars, formats, pricing, placement, and enrollment steps.
We will also cover:
• Upcoming 5-day French immersion programs abroad
• The new drip course and community platform launching at the end of March 2026

***

About Me

Since March 2020, I have taught French to more than 780 students from many countries, delivering over 5,625 lessons (online and in person, as of Nov. 2025).

I have also hosted more than 500 MeetUp group events since September 2023.

To learn more about my teaching and to read testimonials:
https://www.italki.com/F_Normandeau
or https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/7237721

I look forward to meeting you and helping you progress with your French.

— François Normandeau
Founder, The French Club

.

Important 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).

***

⭐ Fun French Talks ⭐

60-min French Talk :
Practice French with Speakers from Around the World

***

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.

We’ll spend 60 minutes, having a group meeting, online,
via a Zoom call.

We will mix it up, every month, by doing exercises, word games, explaining grammar points, describing images and situations, doing some role-playing, inventing a story, being creative and just having lots of fun.

This Fun French Talks meeting will be more about fun and games, as opposed to The Chat Club where we have conversations in French about one new topic each week (minors not allowed).

***

Participants:

This meeting is posted in multiple groups. There will be a greater number of people than the participants list you can see in the group you belong to.

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

***

How to join the Zoom call:

* The zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
* he password is: galaxy
* These are the Zoom login details for all events by this group.
* Please turn your camera on during the session,
for a more engaging experience.

The Zoom password / passcode is always the same, for all the events organized by all the French Club chapters worldwide.

***

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

⭐ 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.

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Schedule:

Starts on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 (week #1)
Ends on Sunday, Mar. 8, 2026 (week #10)

***

Documents:

A1 French - Week 1 - Modules 1 to 5 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n8znkQrkSNctXnoix6aimEBOPvIPnh2oNGYk8-TSpaU/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 2 - Modules 6 to 10 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rrlgn03J3cCM6h1R8eXTydLouQ0AVxZKwPrSZsmE6ws/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 3 - Modules 11 to 15 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XJTs8sf1QndEjIir0GLKf9HuVNmfLF3J2U-6PhMZvjY/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 4 - Modules 16 to 20 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IAOYyl8zjBFUKz97865otKimZb-Iyz7tbBtPBusfeSo/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 5 - Modules 21 to 25 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15D47l4AKfJi6L46_BYtsyqWDw1XQiNLnWVHH4xJGcAY/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 6 - Modules 26 to 30 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Aftbgsa-YngkoOP1XOah6cgw8ACvm3jpaZQH1GShpC0/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 7 - Modules 31 to 35 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jue6HYQFdD3oktbW5Ic37hkdsR_oh-dKEa7KTeDdMaU/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 8 - Modules 36 to 40 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FPQS92tHZYmrPhIhEUQlL1ow6WQvET76jhb8Esu5BIo/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 9 - Modules 41 to 45 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hAAVfZeiLDdTob2ROEI7sCb8iTphdb-3Ma25GWsfBRY/edit?usp=sharing

A1 French - Week 10 - Modules 46 to 50 - Winter Session 2026
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mAZ_eEZr0pt8DgL9s4kw2lfeSblb3oax4ZMydYW4TTw/edit?usp=sharing

***

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

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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
.

***