CoPC - French Improvers Autumn 2025
- Andrew Starr
- 5 days ago
- 12 min read
Updated: 10 hours ago
This blog post is for the French Improvers' Evening Class at the City of Portsmouth College, Highbury Campus.
Alternative link for blog index page: ajstarr.short.gy/blog
The classes are due to run on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm on:
Tuesday, September 30th
Tuesday, October 7th
Tuesday, October 14th
Tuesday, October 21st
Tuesday, October 28th (half-term college is closed)
Tuesday, November 4th
Tuesday, November 11th
Tuesday, November 18th
Tuesday, November 25th
Tuesday, December 2nd
Tuesday, December 9th
Outside of class
Friends in France - Some people maily from Caen looking for 'correspondants'
To improve your listening and speaking skills in a social setting, why not come to the evening or afternoon events I organise in the city?
We have a twin city in Caen. I am the Chair of the Twinning Association for France and Germany. To find out more about our twin cities, visit this website
Tips for tuning your ear to French
Listen to French Music.
Watch French TV series and films (or at least videos/news in French)
There is a lot of stuff online for learning the French language (not all of it, correct!)
You can find some resources online to help you study French by yourself on a Padlet here
Find some Francophone music you like - there's an extraordinary amount out there, and all can be seen on YouTube whenever you like. I have written much more about French music here.
I will use some materials from the course book Entre Nous 1, aimed at the European Language Standards A1 (beginners). You may find it helpful to get a copy for home use and self-study.
It is also possible I will use the book Entre Nous 2, depending on how we get on.
This blog page will help you learn how to get all those accents on your various devices.
To check verb conjugation - particularly while you are learning all those irregular verbs - this tool could be of use to you.
During this course, we shall also be looking at grammar, particularly verb formation.
I have a blog here that will take you step by step through verb formation.
If you are serious about mastering French Grammar a good place to start is the verb formation and this book will certainly help. (see here for an older version)
Friends in France - Some people mainly from Caen looking for 'correspondants'
If you're looking for a 'penpal' in Caen, here are some interested parties - mainly in their early 20s, studying at the University of Caen... One is a business and Economics teacher at the Lycée Malherbe in Caen. One lives in Belgium and is 77.
Please let me know if any are of interest, and I will provide you with their email addresses.
We have an exchange visit from Caen in June. There is also likely to be a day trip coming to visit Arundel on Saturday, 6th December, you would be welcome to join us and meet the French!
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mardi, 9 décembre
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
The improvers' class will run again in January at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
If you feel you want to move up to the Advanced class, we hold those classes on Wednesdays from 7 pm to 9.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can click here to register via the college website. (provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
Noël et le Nouvel an - et la féerie de noël Les fêtes de fin d'année Le père noël
Chansons de noël
mardi, 2 décembre
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
The improvers' class will run again in January at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
If you feel you want to move up to the Advanced class, we hold those classes on Wednesdays from 7 pm to 9.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can click here to register via the college website. (provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
We have a visit from Caen on Saturday, December 6th. Breakfast, dinner, Arundel Gunwharf...
La Saint Nicholas
Bilan de l'emploi des temps des verbes
Y a-t'il des gens qui ont préparé quelque chose sur leur jeunesse ?
The 12 verbs of Christmas..- How could you put the same verbs into the 'imperfect'?
mardi, 25 novembre
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
The improvers' class will run again in January at 7:30 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
If you feel you want to move up to the Advanced class, we hold those classes on Wednesdays from 7 pm to 9.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can click here to register via the college website. (provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
Correspondants - ci-dessus
We have a visit from Caen on Saturday, December 6th. Breakfast, dinner, Arundel Gunwharf...
Y a-t-'il des présentations sur les plats préférés ?
Thème 1
Ce soir on va parler de notre jeunesse. Ce qui se passait lors de notre jeunesse. Je vous présenterai un peu de mon enfance!
Next week, you may wish to present a memorable aspect from your 'misspent or otherwise' youth!!
Thème 2
La Fontaine écrivait des fables et les publiait en France. Pour moi ce ne sont que des traductions des fables d'Ésope...
En voici une que je connais bien - Quand j'étais petit mes parents m'ont offert deux petits livres Ladybird des Fables d'Ésope.
LE CORBEAU ET LE RENARD
Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage.
Maître Renard, par l'odeur alléché,
Lui tint à peu près ce langage :
Et bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau,
Que vous êtes joli ! que vous me semblez beau !
Sans mentir, si votre ramage
Se rapporte à votre plumage,
Vous êtes le Phénix des hôtes de ces bois.
À ces mots le Corbeau ne se sent pas de joie,
Et pour montrer sa belle voix,
Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie.
Le Renard s'en saisit, et dit : Mon bon Monsieur,
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute.
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage sans doute.
Le Corbeau honteux et confus
Jura, mais un peu tard, qu'on ne l'y prendrait plus. Notes
Cependant celle-ci est bien aimée des Français, mais moi je ne le reconnais pas...
LA CIGALE ET LA FOURMI (*)
La Cigale, ayant chanté,
Tout l'été,Se trouva fort dépourvue
Quand la bise fut venue.
Pas un seul petit morceau
De mouche ou de vermisseau (1).
Elle alla crier famine
Chez la Fourmi sa voisine,
La priant de lui prêter
Quelque grain pour subsister
Jusqu'à la saison nouvelle.
Je vous paierai, lui dit-elle,
Avant l'août (2), foi d'animal,
Intérêt et principal.
La Fourmi n'est pas prêteuse ;
C'est là son moindre défaut (3).
Que faisiez-vous au temps chaud ?
Dit-elle à cette emprunteuse (4).
Nuit et jour à tout venant
Je chantais, ne vous déplaise.
Vous chantiez ? j'en suis fort aise :
Et bien ! dansez maintenant. Notes
Tous les temps (ou presque dans cette chanson).
Thème 3 - Grammaire
Mots Manqués (voir fichiers).
A good example of a French song that uses both the imparfait and passé composé is "J'étais là" by Zazie. It contrasts past actions ("passé composé") with ongoing states or descriptions ("imparfait").
This song is popular for teaching both tenses, as it contains many examples of past events ("passé composé") and descriptions or states of being ("imparfait"). For example, the "passé composé" is used for specific actions, while the "imparfait" is used to describe the emotional or situational context of those actions.
Mots manqués (voir fichiers)
mardi, 18 novembre
French Film Season at the Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre (Just 2 films left)
We have a visit from Caen on Saturday, December 6th. Breakfast, dinner, Arundel Gunwharf...
Thème 1
Quels sont vos plats préférés de nos jours ?
Quand vous étiez enfants, quels étaient vos plats préférés ?
Y a-t-il un plat que vous n'aviez jamais goûté, mais que vous aimeriez un jour goûter ?
Vous mangeriez des Tripes à la mode de Caen ? Comp de lecture
(Moi, jamais !, mais j'ai mangé au moins deux fois l'andouillette qui n'est pas la chose la plus pire au monde à mon avis...)
You may wish to prepare a presentation about your favourite dishes for next week...
Thème 3 - Grammaire
Le passé simple - le subjonctif - le futur proche et le futur simple - récapitulatif
We looked at the conditional tense and the near future with the simple future last week.
Today, we will add the formation of the passé simple. One that for your purposes, you need only be worried about for accessing literature and poetry etc.
If we have time and are not flagging too much, we can look at the subjunctive mood too.
Les Chrysalides de John Wyndham. - Première pages - à lire et comparer la version original et la traduction française.
Là, on peut très bien regarder l'utilisation du passé simple.
Dans cette chanson qui raconte une histoire tragique, on peut entendre l'utilisation du passé simple ainsi que d'autres temps verbaux...
mardi, 11 novembre
Vous avez marqué l'Armistice? - Aujourd'hui ou dimanche?
Si oui - Vous le faites tous les ans ou seulement quelquefois?
Sinon - Est-ce que c'est quelque chose que vous avez jamais marqué?
Notre thème grammatical aujourd'hui...
Questions à vous faire parler...
Qu'est-ce que vous allez faire ce weekend?
Où irez-vous pendant les vacances d'été en 2026?
Est-ce que vous irez chercher des lions du « Pompey Pride » l'année prochaine?
Parler du temps - Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui ?
Comment voyager en ville?
>> Si on a le temps, on fera un exercice parmi ces exercices-ci-dessus ensemble, puis vous pouvez les terminer vous-même chez vous. <<
Libérée, délivrée - Anaïs Delva Mots Manqués
mardi, 4 novembre
Vous aimez les feux d'artifice? Car demain soir c'est la fête de Guy Fawkes... (Ce soir à Southsea Common).
Did you produce around a one-minute presentation about an aspect of Halloween/La fête des défunts/Toussaint for presentation?
Vous avez quelque chose à nous dire au sujet de Halloween ou Toussaint cette année?
Grammaire
(L'imparfait) et le plus-que-parfait
We will look at the formation of the pluperfect tense in French and revise the Imperfect tense...
Cultural Research - Le jour du souvenir pour la France, le Canada et le Royaume Uni
La nuit du 5 novembre au Royaume Uni.
« Pourquoi y-a-t'-il des feux d'artifice le 5 novembre au Royaume-Uni? »
Can you produce a short résumé in French on your findings?
Here are some articles to start you off...
Mardi prochain, c'est l'Armistice du 1918, mais en Angleterre on la commémore le dimanche le plus près du 11 novembre.
A quelle heure l’armistice a-t-il été signé ?
Qui fut le dernier soldat tué ?
Quand le 11 Novembre est-il devenu férié ?
Au Canada...
Revision - Grammaire
Pour alléger l'état d'âme
mardi, 22 octobre Present Tense Quizzes
Has anyone prepared a presentation on their favourite book, film. tv series, sci-fi etc?
Tonight, we will look at the regular formation of the French imperfect tense with the three families of verbs. '-er', '-ir', & '-re'.
How do you form the imperfect tense?
Anything not follow this pattern?
Check the verb formation blog, for the formation of French verbs in the imperfect tense.
So far we have looked at the formation of verbs in the present and perfect tnses and now today the imperfect tense.
This song features the use of both the perfect and imperfect tenses. Can you pick them out and correctly spell them ?
We will look into the theme of the upcoming holiday in France. Halloween is not very French, but la Toussaint is.
Vocabulaire d'Halloween
La Toussaint
Halloween
Extra:
Que signifie Halloween pour vous? Vous l'avez fêté dans le passé comme enfant ou le fêtez-vou encore?
mardi, 14 octobre Present Tense Quizzes
GSR - Saturday, 18th and Sunday 19th October Perfect Tense Quizzes
Tonight, we will look at the regular formation of the French perfect tense with the three families of verbs. '-er', '-ir', & '-re'.
How do you form the past participle of '-er' verbs?
How do you form the past participle of '-ir' verbs?
How do you form the past participle of '-re' verbs?
Check the verb formation blog, for the formation of French verbs in the perfect tense.
Note the formation of some of the main irregular verbs, these must be learned there's no easy formula, although some do seem to have a pattern you may pick up over time.
Last week I asked you to present about your favourite movie or tv show. Have you managed to prepare anything?
What about a specific genre? - Is there a book you could recommend that has not been made into a film or series?
La fantastique famille Madrigal - Nous ne _______ pas de Bruno
mardi, 7 octobre Present Tense Quizzes
GSR - Saturday, 18th and Sunday 19th October
Tonight, we will look at the regular formation of the French present tense with the three families of verbs. '-er', '-ir', & '-re'.
How do you form the Present tense of '-er' verbs?
How do you form the Present tense of '-ir' verbs?
How do you form the Present tense of '-re' verbs?
Check the verb formation blog, for the formation of French verbs in the present tense.
Note the formation of some of the main irregular verbs, these must be learned there's no easy formula, although some do seem to have a pattern you may pick up over time.
For a really in-depth write up click here. Top 10 irregular verbs Overview - irregular
When you review films and TV series in French, we often use the present tense. So we will look at two animated movies from Disney in review in French. Coco & Le Roi Lion.
Quel est votre film préféré ?
Quel est votre série télévisé favori ?
Pour moi je suis fan du film Titanic avec Kate Winslet et Leonardo di Caprio, ainsi que les films du série Jurassic Park. Je suis fan de dinosaures depuis mon enfance.
Can you prepare a short review of a film or tv series you have enjoyed in French, use the sheets to help you prepare. If you want to show an image or a slideshow email it to me.
Could you describe the main people in the film/series, talk about their physical appearance and their character? Can you explain a bit of the plot. Be bold!
We can use a specific scene from the same TV series or movie to be a setting for the next tense we look at.
Révision - Formation of the Present Tense in French.
Bande Annonce - Jurassic Park
Bande Annonce - Titanic
mardi, 30 septembre
Tonight is the first lesson. We will look at what motivates you to improve your French, why you have signed up, and what you want to get from the class (so I can best prepare for the next nine weeks). It is also how we can get to know each other (for any people who were not in this class before). Do let me know if there is a theme you really need to cover...
Voici quelques questions pour vous faire parler aujourd'hui:
Qui êtes vous?
Pourquoi voulez-vous améliorer votre français?
Parlez-nous d'une visite en France ou dans un pays francophone... (see below for information )
Que faites-vous dans la vie?
Quels sont vos passe-temps préférés?
Parlez nous de votre famille...
Parlez nous de votre ville...
... et vos passe-temps qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie?
So, tonight is for me to gauge whereabouts to pitch the level of the class. If there are specific themes you would like to cover, do not hesitate to mention them, and if they are in my skill set, I can certainly cover them.
La prononciation... What do you know about these words...
La Francophonie - What do you know about La Francophonie?
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