The first sentence
You have words, but need help putting them together.
Start with a short model, then change it to say something about yourself.
A clear starting point for your French
20/80 FRENCH FOUNDATIONS
Your Gateway from Beginner to A2 Entry
Build the French you need to start speaking. Follow a practical path from your first introduction to everyday exchanges and a short story about your life.
- 11 practical modules
- 79 audio recordings, including quiz clips
- 11 video lessons — one per module — coming soon
- Guided speaking practice and printable PDFs
- Learn at your own pace
Your first steps, with a clear purpose:
- Learn useful phrases for a situation you want to handle.
- Listen, repeat and adapt them with support.
- Try your own version, then return to it and notice what becomes easier.
Designed for English-speaking adults beginning French or rebuilding the basics.
You want to speak French. You need a place to start.
At the beginning, even a simple exchange can feel like a lot. A clear task and a few useful expressions give you something concrete to practise.
The unfamiliar sound
French sounds different from the words on the page.
Listen to useful phrases, repeat them and connect the sound with the message.
The next step
You are unsure what to practise first.
Follow one module at a time, with a real-life goal and a speaking mission to try.
A useful starting point. Small speaking tasks. A path you can follow.
Learn a little. Use it for something real.
The 20/80 approach focuses your effort on useful French. Each module connects a small set of expressions with a task you can practise aloud.
Guided activities to follow independently, at your own pace
- 1
Try a first version
Start with what you can say today. A few words are enough. Keep a short recording as your starting point.
- 2
Listen, practise and personalise
Use the lesson presentation, audio and practice PDFs. Repeat useful phrases, then change a place, a person or a detail to make them yours.
- 3
Speak again and come back to it
Try the mission again, gradually reducing your notes. Compare your recordings and revisit useful expressions after a week and about a month.
A preview of your final bridge module
From a model to your own words
“Je suis allé(e) au marché.” → “Samedi dernier, je suis allé(e) au marché avec une amie.”
Practise with the model. Change the details. Later, try retrieving the phrase without reading the whole sentence.
11 modules. Everyday French to build on.
Follow one progressive path, from talking about yourself to handling a simple situation and telling someone what happened.
Modules 1–5 · Your first exchanges
Start with yourself and the people around you
- 1 · Introduce yourself. Say who you are, where you live and what you speak. Ask a question back.
- 2 · Talk about your daily life. Describe familiar actions and give simple times.
- 3 · Order food and drinks. Place an order, ask for an extra and adapt when something is unavailable.
- 4 · Ask questions and get information. Ask where, when and how much. Check a detail you missed.
- 5 · Talk about family and people. Introduce someone, give a few facts and say what you do together.
Modules 6–11 · Your choices, plans and experiences
Use your French in more situations
- 6 · Shop and buy what you need. Ask about an item, check a size or a price and make a choice.
- 7 · Express likes and preferences. Say what you prefer and give a simple reason.
- 8 · Get around and travel. Ask for directions or transport information and confirm a detail.
- 9 · Make plans. Suggest an activity and agree on a time and place.
- 10 · Talk about what you did. Give a time, describe completed actions and add a reaction.
- 11 · Tell a short past story. Connect the events, explain a small problem and answer follow-up questions.
Move at your own pace. Repeat a task whenever you need more practice.
Your final speaking mission
Tell a short past experience in about 30–60 seconds, using at most five keywords.
Give a time and a place, describe what you did, explain a small problem and how it ended. Then answer two questions.
You build towards this gradually, using familiar phrases from the earlier modules.
The right support for your next attempt
Lesson presentations give you a clear focus. Audio supports listening, repetition and pronunciation. Practice PDFs help you build and personalise your answers.
Use the course quizzes to check what you recognise. Use your speaking recordings to notice what you can communicate with less help.
Notice your own progress
What becomes easier when you practise?
Compare your first and later attempts with practical questions. Your recordings are for your own learning.
Communicate the message
Did you complete the task? Could you give the important information, ask the question or make yourself understood?
Use less support
Did you need full sentences, a short prompt or only a few keywords? Notice the support you used and what you can try next.
Reuse useful French
Can you retrieve a phrase later and use it with different details? Return to a small set of useful expressions regularly.
Build your foundations. Then develop your speaking.
Foundations prepares you to tackle richer conversations and stories. When you can complete the final listening and speaking checkpoint, the 20/80 Guided French Speaking Pack offers a next step.
Keep your personal story and your useful expressions. You will have a starting point for longer exchanges and more detailed stories.
The Speaking Pack is a separate programme. Your progress through Foundations depends on your starting point and practice; completion does not certify an A2 level.
Your next step: French Foundations
A clear course to help you build useful beginner French and practise using it aloud.
The complete Foundations path
20/80 French Foundations
149 €
- Lifetime access — learn and revisit at your own pace
- Regular updates and new content
- 11 modules with practical speaking goals
- Lesson presentations and guided learner pathways
- 79 audio recordings for listening, repetition, pronunciation and quizzes
- 11 video lessons — one per module — coming soon
- Printable practice PDFs and course quizzes
- Speaking missions, recording comparisons and scheduled review
- A final bridge to richer conversations and stories
Meet your teacher
Bonjour, I’m Muriel.
I’m a French teacher with over 10 years of experience, helping English-speaking adults use French in everyday life.
I created 20/80 French Foundations to give you a practical place to begin: useful expressions, clear models and small speaking tasks that you can make personal.
You follow the activities at your own pace. Start with a simple attempt, use the support you need, then try again and notice what becomes easier.
Start small. Practise regularly. Make it your French.
Frequently asked questions
Is this suitable if I am a beginner?
Yes. Foundations is designed for English-speaking adults beginning French or rebuilding early basics. You start with simple introductions and familiar everyday tasks. English instructions help you understand what to do; French models give you language to practise.
What does “A2 Entry” mean?
It describes the course’s direction: building foundations for simple exchanges and a short past story, so you have a starting point for further speaking practice. It is not an official CEFR assessment or a guarantee that every learner reaches the same level.
Do I need to know grammar before I start speaking?
Start with a useful model and practise a short message. Learn the structures you need for that task, then change the details. You can return to the explanations while you practise.
How long does the course take?
There are 11 modules to follow at your own pace. You can divide a module into short sessions, repeat an activity or spend longer on a task. The module count does not impose an 11-week deadline.
How long will I have access, and will there be updates?
You have lifetime access to 20/80 French Foundations. Return to the lessons whenever you need a refresher, with no time limit. Regular updates and new content are included.
Can I practise on my own?
Yes. Answer prompts aloud, personalise expressions, record yourself and play both roles in a short exchange. A phone or another recording device is enough. Use the phrases in a real conversation when you have the opportunity.
What materials will I use?
The course includes 11 modules, 79 audio recordings (including quiz clips), lesson presentations, a learner pathway, practice PDFs, speaking missions and quizzes. Eleven video lessons, one per module, are planned and will be added; they are not yet available in the course. Use the materials to support your task, then try your own answer with fewer notes.
How will I know what to practise next?
Compare your recordings against the speaking goal. Check whether you communicated the main information, how much support you needed and which expressions you could reuse. A quiz checks recognition; your recording gives you information about that speaking task.
How does review work?
Come back to useful expressions after about seven days and thirty days. Try retrieving them before opening the model, then use them with a new person, place or detail. Keep a note of what you want to practise again.
What is the next step after French Foundations?
The natural next step is the 20/80 Guided French Speaking Pack. Foundations helps you build the basics for everyday exchanges and short past stories. Once you can complete the final listening and speaking tasks with only a few keywords, the Speaking Pack helps you develop longer conversations, richer stories and more independent speaking. Continue at your own pace and revisit Foundations whenever you need a refresher.
The Speaking Pack is a separate programme and is not included in the Foundations price.
What is the difference from the Guided French Speaking Pack?
Foundations provides a beginner path through essential tasks. The 20/80 Guided French Speaking Pack builds on French you already know, with richer everyday exchanges and story-based speaking activities. It is a separate programme, designed for learners around A2–B2.
Will I become fluent by the end?
The course helps you practise specific beginner tasks and prepare for further learning. Progress depends on your starting point, regular practice and opportunities to use French. There is no promise of fluency within a fixed number of weeks.