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These notes are integrated into French Steps and explain the basic workings of French pronunciation. They are not a complete guide, but provide a grounding in most of the main points.

Stage 1:

Short break in Paris

Unit Pronunciation Tip
Taking a taxi
Hakim takes a taxi in Paris.
Pronunciation - the basics
Emphasis in French words
Asking for directions
Hakim finds his way to the Musée de la Musique in Paris.
Pronouncing final 's'
Calais, les taxis
Getting tickets
Buying tickets to some of Paris' major sites.
La liaison
Linking consonants and vowels between words
Buying presents
Choosing and buying souvenirs in Paris.
Pronouncing 'c'
un cadeau, un sac, ça va
Getting a snack
Find out what people eat for a mid-morning snack.
Pronouncing 'n'
un enfant, en euro

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Stage 2:

Chatting

Unit Pronunciation Tip
Saying what you do
Find out what people do for a living.
Pronouncing '-ail' and '-aille', '-eil' and '-eille'
le travail, une bouteille
Talking about the family
Hakim is introduced to a friend's family.
Pronouncing 'e', 'é' and 'è'
le, café, crème
Getting into conversation
Chatting over a beer in a Paris bar.
Pronouncing 'u' and 'ou'
tu, vous
Your name and where you're from
Ask and talk about where people are from.
Pronouncing adjectives
anglais, anglaise, américain, américaine

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Stage 3:

Food and drink

Unit Pronunciation Tip
Ordering at a restaurant
Ordering a light meal in a Lyon restaurant.
Intonation in questions
Ça va? Une table pour deux?
Shopping for food
Go shopping for food and drink at a French market.
Pronouncing 'in', 'ain' and 'ien'
le vin, le pain, très bien
Asking about the food
Find out about the menu and explain what you like and dislike.
Pronouncing 'en', 'an' and 'on'
je prends, un flan, c'est bon

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Stage 4:

Country holiday

Unit Pronunciation Tip
Buying clothes
Choosing clothes in a boutique - make sure they're the right size!
More liaisons
vous, nous, plus, moins, très
Understanding instructions
Ask and find out how things work at a holiday home.
Pronouncing 'r'
la rue, Paris, au revoir
Getting your bearings
Ask and find out about the local area while on holiday.
Pronouncing 'g' and 'j'
fromage, anglais, je mange
Talking about the weather
Ask and talk about the weather with the locals while on holiday.
Pronouncing 'temps' and 'printemps'
Il fait quel temps?
Renting items
Have a go at hiring a bike while on holiday in France.
Pronouncing 'qu'
qui, quand, question

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Stage 5:

Planning your time

Unit Pronunciation Tip
Asking friends round
Practise making and accepting invitations for an aperitif.
Pronouncing 'eu'
un peu, tu veux, jeune
Arranging to go out
Make plans to spend a day out while on holiday in France.
Pronouncing 'on'
on ferme, on ya va
Taking the train
Ask about train travel and practise buying a ticket to your destination.
Pronouncing verbs
je parle, tu parles, ils parlent
Booking a room
Arrange your holiday accommodation over the phone.
The alphabet
Pronouncing individual letters

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Stage 6:

Emergencies

Unit Pronunciation Tip
At the chemist's
Stock up on essential items and explain what's wrong with you.
Pronouncing 'oi'
moi, voilà, avoir
On the road
Practise asking for help if you break down on the road.
Pronouncing 'ch' and 'th'
le supermarché, le thé
Lost property
Practise reporting lost property and explaining what has happened in the past.
Pronouncing 'x'
deux amis, six bouteilles

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