French Sounds Slides The Sound of France
Mastering Phonetics and the Art of French Pronunciation
Why Sound Matters
Intelligibility > Perfection
The goal isn't to sound native, but to be understood . French relies heavily on specific vowel sounds that don't exist in English.
The "Minimal Pairs" Trap
A small shift in your mouth can change "below" (dessous) to "above" (dessus).
"If you can't hear it, you can't speak it."
The Vowel Challenge
The [u] vs [y]
[u] (ou) like "soup"
[y] (u) ... the magic sound!
Technique:
Say 'ee', then round your lips into an 'o'.
Nasal Sounds
Air through the nose!
An / En (Grand)In / Ain (Vin)On (Bon)Un (Brun)
The Silent 'E'
The "e" at the end of words is usually silent unless it has an accent.
Parle vs Parlé
Accent Identification
é
Aigu
"ay" as in Cafe
è
Grave
"eh" as in Bed
ê
Circonflexe
History marker
ç
Cédille
Makes C soft (S)
Accents change the sound of a vowel, not the stress of the word. French is a syllable-timed language.
Phonetic Lab Worksheet French Phonetic Lab
Auditory Discrimination & Pronunciation Practice
Name: __________________________
Date: ___________________________
Exercise 1: Minimal Pair Discrimination
Your instructor will read one word from each pair. Circle the word you hear.
1. A. Dessus (Above) B. Dessous (Below)
2. A. Vin (Wine) B. Vent (Wind)
3. A. Roue (Wheel) B. Rue (Street)
4. A. Je (I) B. J'ai (I have)
Exercise 2: The Accent Map
Correct the spelling of the following French words by adding the missing accents (é, è, ê, or ç).
1. Cafe
2. Garcon
3. Pere
4. Hopital
5. Francais
6. Ete (Summer)
Exercise 3: Phonetic Reflection
Which sound did you find most difficult to produce today? Describe where your tongue and lips were positioned during your attempt.
Phonetic Cheat Sheet The French Sound Kit
Quick Reference for Phonetic Success
Resource Code FR-PH-01
The Critical Vowels
[y]
The French 'U' (Tu, Salut)
Say "ee" like see, but round your lips as if whistling.
[u]
The French 'OU' (Bonjour, Vous)
Like "soup" or "pool". Keep lips very rounded.
Nasal Sounds
ON
Bon / Non
AN / EN
Blanc / Vent
IN / AIN
Vin / Pain
UN
Brun / Un
Accent Cheat Sheet
é
Aigu
"Ay" as in play. (Marché)
è
Grave
"Eh" as in bed. (Très)
ê
Circonflexe
Often shows where an 's' used to be. (Fête)
ç
Cédille
Makes 'c' sound like 's'. (Français)
Pro-tip: Stress in French is always on the last syllable of a word group. Don't bounce!
Keep this in your binder for every speaking session. Intelligibility starts with the foundation.
Hello and Goodbye Slides Bonjour !
The Art of Greeting and Leave-Taking
L02 // GREETINGS
The Chronology of Hello
Bonjour
Daylight Hours
Formal & Friendly
Bonsoir
Evening (after 6PM)
The "night" greeting
Bonne Nuit
Good Night
ONLY when going to bed!
The Social Split
The Register
Salut !
Friends & Family
Fellow Students
Use it for Hello OR Goodbye
Bonjour, Monsieur
Professors & Bosses
Shopkeepers & Strangers
Always add a title (M., Mme.)
Taking Leave
How to gracefully exit
Standard
Au revoir
The safest option. Use with everyone, everywhere.
Temporal
À bientôt
See you soon
À demain
See you tomorrow
La Bise
In France, greeting is tactile. "La bise" is a cheek-to-cheek air kiss.
Informal
The bise is standard for friends and family.
Formal
A firm handshake is preferred in professional settings.
Social Scenario Sort Social Scenario Sort
Greetings & Etiquette Challenge
Student Record
1
The Register Decision
For each situation, determine if you should use FORMAL (F) or INFORMAL (I) register.
Greeting your best friend's mother for the first time.
F
I
Saying goodbye to your French professor.
F
I
Meeting a fellow student in the university library.
F
I
Ordering a croissant at a local bakery (boulangerie).
F
I
2
Temporal Precision
Write the appropriate greeting based on the time and context provided.
10:00 AM
Entering a store:
08:00 PM
Meeting a date at a restaurant:
11:30 PM
Leaving your host family's house to sleep:
3
The "Au Revoir" Challenge
Scenario:
You are leaving a café after studying. You want to say goodbye to the waiter (very formal) and then to your classmate who is staying behind (informal). Write the two lines of dialogue.
To the Waiter (Formal):
To your Classmate (Informal):
The Respect Rule Slides TU / VOUS
The Respect Rule
Navigating the Social Logic of Tu vs. Vous
Tu
Informal
Vous
Formal / Plural
The Dual Nature of 'Vous'
1. The Plural
When talking to 2 or more people (friends, strangers, family), ALWAYS use vous.
2. The Formal Singular
When talking to 1 person you don't know well or who is in a position of authority, use vous.
"When in doubt, use VOUS."
It's better to be too polite than accidentally rude.
The Decision Matrix
Target Person
Age & Authority
Pronoun
Best Friend
Equal / Peer
TU
Waiter / Cashier
Stranger / Professional
VOUS
Professor / Elder
Higher Authority / Respect
VOUS
Switching Lanes
Moving from Vouvoiement to Tutoiement is a major social milestone.
The Magic Sentence
"On peut se tutoyer ?"
"Can we use 'tu' with each other?"
Key Vocabulary
Le vouvoiement
The act of using "vous".
Le tutoiement
The act of using "tu".
Social Warnings
In a Bank
Always "vous". Even if they are your age.
In Class
Professor = "vous". Classmate = "tu".
The Elders
NEVER use "tu" with someone much older unless invited.
The Tu/Vous Flowchart Handout The Tu/Vous Logic Map
Cultural Decision Guide for Francophone Social Settings
Tu
Vs
Vs
Step 1
How many people?
2 or more
VOUS
The Safe Default
Only 1 person
Step 2
Who are they?
Authority / Stranger
VOUS
Peer / Family / Friend
TU
Academic Setting
SCENARIO A
You are asking a librarian for help finding a book.
SINGULAR PROFESSIONAL
Recommended: VOUS
Social Setting
SCENARIO B
You meet a fellow student at a campus café for coffee.
SINGULAR PEER
Recommended: TU
The Cultural Failsafe
In the French workplace, "vous" is the standard until specifically told otherwise. "On peut se tutoyer ?" is the standard polite request to shift registers. If you are the younger person or the subordinate, wait for the other person to suggest it.
Who Are You Slides Who Are You?
Identity, Nationality, and the Verb Être
The Two Pillars
Être (To Be)
Je suis I am
Tu es You are (inf.)
Il / Elle / On est He / She / One is
Nous sommes We are
Vous êtes You are (for./plu.)
Ils / Elles sont They are
S'appeler
To call oneself (to be named)
Je m'appelle...
Comment t'appelles-tu ?
Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Note: S'appeler is used for names. Être is used for qualities and nationality.
The Gender Balance
Nationalities must match the gender of the person.
French
Français
Française
American
Américain
Américaine
Canadian
Canadien
Canadienne
Senegalese
Sénégalais
Sénégalaise
"Je suis étudiant." (M)
"Je suis étudiante." (F)
Rule of Thumb
Add an '-e' to make most nationalities and professions feminine. Double the 'n' if it ends in '-ien'.
The Inquiry
Formal
D'où êtes-vous ?
Where are you from?
Informal
Tu es d'où ?
You are from where?
The Response Formula:
"Je suis de [City]"
"Je suis [Nationality]"
Speed Friending
5 minutes. Maximum introductions.
60 Seconds
Time per partner
Core 3
Name, Nationality, Hometown
Switch!
Find someone new on the bell
Identity Essentials Handout Identity Essentials
Vocabulary & Grammar for Introductions
Key Verbs
Être (To Be)
Je suis
I am
Tu es
You are (inf)
Il/Elle/On est
He/She is
Nous sommes
We are
Vous êtes
You are (for/pl)
Ils/Elles sont
They are
S'appeler (To be named)
Je m'appelle ... (I call myself)
Tu t'appelles ...
Vous vous appelez ...
Asking for ID
Question:
Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Answer:
Je m'appelle [Nom].
Nationalities
English Masculine Feminine French Français Française American Américain Américaine Canadian Canadien Canadienne Mexican Mexicain Mexicaine Chinese Chinois Chinoise Japanese Japonais Japonaise English Anglais Anglaise
The No-Article Rule
In French, you do not use "un" or "une" before a profession or nationality when using the verb être .
CORRECT
Je suis étudiant.
INCORRECT
Je suis un étudiant.
Key Vocab: Professions
Étudiant / Étudiante
Professeur
Médecin (m/f)
Artiste (m/f)
FR-ID-01 // BASIC COMMUNICATION © 2026 FRENCH SOCIAL CODE
Party Protocol Slides Le Cocktail
Applying Social Codes in Real-Time
Party Protocols
1
Check Your ID
You are the person on your card. Not yourself. Use their name, nationality, and profession.
2
Scan the Register
Determine if you need TU or VOUS based on the status of the person you meet.
3
Introduce Others
When you meet a new person, introduce them to your current partner. "Je vous présente..."
Mission Briefing
Goal 1:
Successfully use formal greetings with at least 2 "V.I.P." characters.
Goal 2:
Successfully switch to "Salut" with 3 fellow students.
Conversational Anchors
Opener
Pardon,
Excuse me...
Je m'appelle...
Introduction
Formal:
Je vous présente...
Informal:
Voici...
Courtesy
Enchanté(e) !
Nice to meet you!
Ravi(e) !
Delighted!
Spotting the Status
VOUS Personnel
Professors, Ambassadors, Directors, Strangers over 40.
TU Personnel
Students, Interns, Colleagues you know well.
"When in doubt, use Vous. It's the ultimate social armor."
Character Identity Cards Handout Character Identity Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. One card per student.
Teacher Resource
VOUS Level
M. Jean Dupont
Profession: Ambassadeur de France
Nationality: Français
Origin: Paris
Goal: Meet at least 3 students and expect formal greetings.
TU Level
Marc Lefebvre
Profession: Étudiant en droit
Nationality: Belge
Origin: Bruxelles
Goal: Introduce yourself to the Ambassador and 2 other students.
VOUS Level
Mme. Sophie Laurent
Profession: Directrice de l'Alliance Française
Nationality: Suisse
Origin: Genève
Goal: Find out where the American students are from.
TU Level
Chloe Miller
Profession: Étudiante en art
Nationality: Américaine
Origin: New York
Goal: Speak to Marc (Belgian) and introduce him to the Directress.
TU Level
Youssef Mansour
Profession: Interne en médecine
Nationality: Marocain
Origin: Casablanca
Goal: Practice "Tu" with fellow students and "Vous" with the Ambassador.
VOUS Level
Pr. Andre Malraux
Profession: Professeur d'Histoire
Nationality: Canadien
Origin: Montréal
Goal: Correct any student who uses "Tu" with you!
--- End of Character Sheet - Print Multiple Copies for Larger Classes ---
Simulation Facilitator Guide Simulation Facilitator Guide
Managing the Cocktail Party Simulation
L05.TG
Setup & Preparation
Space: Clear the center of the room. Create a "mingling" area. If possible, play low-volume French jazz/instrumental music to set the mood.Props: (Optional) Provide plastic cups for "cocktails" (water) to give students something to do with their hands.Cards: Print and cut the Character Identity Cards. Ensure an even distribution of "Student" (TU) and "VIP" (VOUS) cards.
Estimated Pacing
Prep/Brief 10m
Simulation 25m
Debrief 15m
Instructional Scripting
The "Hook" (0-5m)
"Class, today you are no longer students. You are invited to a gala at the French Embassy in Washington D.C. Some of you are dignitaries, some are students on scholarship. Your only goal: don't embarrass your country by using the wrong pronoun."
Facilitator Roles (During Sim)
The Bell Ringer:
Every 4-5 minutes, ring a bell or clap to signal students to find a NEW partner. This prevents "clumping" and forces new register switches.
The Quality Control:
Circulate. If you hear a student use "tu" with a "VIP," wait for the VIP to correct them. If the VIP misses it, gently intervene as a "Social Advisor."
Reflection & Debrief
Linguistic Reflection:
"Which was harder: remembering the verb conjugation for 'être' or deciding between 'tu' and 'vous'?"
Social Reflection:
"How did it feel to be corrected by a 'VIP'? How does this influence your confidence in future real-world French interactions?"
Differentiation Tip:
For heritage speakers or advanced students, assign them "VIP" roles but give them a specific "hidden agenda" (e.g., they only speak to people from a certain city) to increase the communicative challenge.
