English 4 French

#3 A2 Countable and Uncountable nouns  

Hi and welcome back to Podcasts at English for French. I’m Alison, and today we are looking at nouns. We’re diving into countable and uncountable nouns, advanced containers, the foundational and tricky rules of some/any, and the subtle traps of little and few. 

Grab your notebook, listen carefully, and at the end there are some exercises to check you have understood. The answer key is included so that you can check your work. 

The Foundations – Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns 

To use quantifiers correctly, we must first separate our universe into two types of nouns: 

• Countable Nouns: Objects or entities you can count individually using numbers. They possess a singular and plural form (one idea, two ideas; a laptop, three laptops). 

• Uncountable Nouns: Substances, abstract concepts, or collective categories that cannot be counted as standalone physical items. They never take a plural "s". 

• The Trap: Watch out for words that sound like they should be countable. In English, words like advice, information, furniture, luggage, weather, and equipment are strictly uncountable. You cannot say "an advice" or "three furnitures." 

Containers and Partitive Expressions 

Because uncountable nouns lack physical borders, we use container and partitive phrases to measure and quantify them. 

• Liquid & Gas: A bottle of water, a carton of milk, a tank of gas, a drop of oil. 

• Solid & Food: A loaf of bread, a bar of chocolate, a slice of cheese, a grain of rice, a clove of garlic. 

• Abstract & General: A piece of advice, an item of clothing, a sheet of paper, an act of kindness. 

Some and Any (Basic Rules & Exceptions) 

Most learners learn the golden rule early: use some in affirmative sentences and any in negative sentences and questions. But at an A2+ level, we need to look closer: 

 

• The Golden Rule: 

• Affirmative: "I have some free time today." 

• Negative: "I don't have any free time today." 

• Standard Question: "Do you have any free time today?" 

• The Exception 1: Offers and Requests. When you are offering something or politely requesting something in a question, you use some instead of any because you expect or hope for a "yes" answer. 

• Example: "Would you like some coffee?" or "Could you give me some assistance?" 

• The Exception 2: "It doesn't matter which one." You can use any in affirmative sentences when it means choice or freedom. 

• Example: "You can borrow any book from my shelf; they are all great." 

Much, Many, and Plenty 

When talking about large quantities, placement and noun type dictate your choice: 

• Many pairs exclusively with countable nouns (many challenges, many errors). 

• Much pairs exclusively with uncountable nouns (much effort, much traffic). Note: Native speakers rarely use "much" in positive statements; they reserve it for questions and negatives, using "a lot of" or "plenty of" for positives. 

• A lot of / Lots of / Plenty of: These are versatile options that work with both countable and uncountable nouns in positive sentences. 

Example : I have a lot of work to do.Fortunately I have plenty of time in which to do it. 

Little vs. Few (Nuance and Attitude), No and none  

Finally, let's master small quantities: 

• Countable (Few / A few): 

• A few = A small, positive amount (sufficient). "I have a few dollars, so I can buy a snack." 

• Few = Almost none, a negative feeling (insufficient). "I have few friends who share this hobby." 

• Uncountable (Little / A little): 

• A little = A small, positive amount (sufficient). "I speak a little French; I can manage." 

• Little = Almost none, a negative feeling (insufficient). "There is little hope of fixing this broken screen. 

No and none  

• No acts like an adjective; it is always followed directly by a noun to mean "not any 

" (Example: "I have no time to waste.") 

• None acts like a pronoun; it stands alone without a noun, often used as an answer or followed by "of." 

 (Example: "How much juice is left? None.") 

Example Paragraph 

We went to the grocery store to buy snacks for the party, but no cookies were left on the shelves. We checked all the aisles, but there were none available anywhere. 

 

So, all you need to do is practice. Find an object, idea, or substance, and decide if it is countable or uncountable. Then, so as to memorise it, put it in a sentence. 

I have very little time left in this podcast, but I have given you lots of information; you need some practice. I hope you enjoyed this podcast with me, Alison, at English for French podcasts. See you soon. 

Cheers 

Practice Exercises 

Exercise 1: Advanced Identification & Transformation 

Identify if the underlined word is Countable (C) or Uncountable (U), then fix the sentence if it uses a forbidden plural form. 

 

1. The teacher gave me three valuable advices for my writing. 

     2.We need to pack all our luggage into the trunk. 

     3.She bought two new furnitures for her apartment. 

     4.Can you give me a paper to write this down? 

 

Exercise 2: Masterclass Gapfill (Some vs. Any , No or None ) 

Fill in the blanks using some or any, keeping exceptions for offers, requests, and "any-choice" sentences in mind. 

 

1. If you need ________ help with your project, just let me know. 

     2.Would you like ________ more juice, or are you finished?    

     3.You can pick ________ color you like for your bedroom wall; they're all on sale. 

     4.I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find ________ evidence of a break-in. 

     5.Could I borrow ________ money for the bus ticket, please? 

     6.There is ________ milk left in the fridge, so we need to go buy a carton. 

     7.How many tickets are left for the concert? I checked online, and there are ________. 

 

Exercise 3: Quantifier Challenge 

Fill in the blanks with the best fit: much, many, a few, a little, few, little. 

1. We have very ________ time before the deadline, so we must work quickly and efficiently.

     2.How ________ ingredients do we need to bake this complex cake? 

     3.I wanted to buy a new jacket, but there were ________ sizes left in my favorite color. 

     4.We baked a dozen cookies, but after the party, there were ________ left. 

     5.Unfortunately, there were very ________ people who understood the lecture, so the professor had to explain it again. 

      6.He has made ________ progress with his guitar playing; he can already play two songs! 

      7.There isn't ________ point in arguing about this decision now; it's already final. 

 

 

Part 3: Answer Key & Breakdown 

• Exercise 1: 

• U (Incorrect: change advices to pieces of advice). 

• U (Correct: luggage has no plural form). 

• U (Incorrect: change furnitures to pieces of furniture). 

• C (Correct here as a single sheet of paper, though "a sheet of paper" is more precise). 

• Exercise 2: 

• any (standard conditional sentence). 

• some (polite offer). 

• any (meaning "it doesn't matter which one"). 

• any (negative sentence). 

• some (polite request). 

• no (followed directly by the noun milk) 

• none (stands alone as a pronoun answer) 

• Exercise 3: 

• little (uncountable, negative connotation: not enough time). 

• many (countable noun: ingredients). 

•  no (It is followed directly by the noun sizes). 

•  none (It stands alone at the end of the sentence as a pronoun). 

• few (countable, negative connotation: almost nobody understood). 

• a little (uncountable, positive connotation: some progress has been made). 

• much (uncountable, used in a negative sentence). 

 

 

#2 A2-Adjectives and adverbs Podcast transcript

Hi, welcome back to English for French podcasts.I’m Alison and today, we’re taking a look at two categories of words that make your English sound vibrant, precise, and expressive: adjectives and adverbs.

Whether you’re writing an email or telling a story to a friend, knowing how to use these correctly will immediately boost your speaking and writing skills at the A2 level. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the core rules, key spelling changes, tricky irregular exceptions, and special sense verbs. Then, we’ll analyze a short reading text together, answer comprehension questions, and work through four full practice exercises.

Here we go!

Part 1: The Basic Rules

Let's start with the fundamental difference between these two word types.

Adjectives describe nouns—that means people, places, or things. They answer questions like What kind?, Which one?, or How many?

• Example: "She is a careful driver." (Careful describes the noun, driver.)

• Example: "They live in a large house." (Large describes the noun, house.)

Adverbs, on the other hand, describe verbs (actions), adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us how, when, where, or in what manner an action happens. To form a regularadverb, you simply add -ly to the base adjective.

• Example: "She drives carefully." (Carefully tells us how she drives.)

• Example: "The choir sang softly." (Softly describes how they sang.)

Here is how common adjectives transform into regular adverbs:

Adjective	Adverb	Example Sentence
Quick	Quickly	He walked quickly to catch the bus.
Slow	Slowly	The traffic moved slowly in the morning.

 

Beautiful-Beautifully She paints beautifully.

Quiet-Quietly The children played quietly in the room.

Part 2: Essential Spelling Transformations

While adding -ly is the general rule, there are three important spelling transformations you need to memorize when changing an adjective to an adverb:

1. Adjectives ending in consonant + -y: Change the -y to -i before adding -ly.

a. Happy - Happily ("The children played happily.")

b. Easy - Easily ("He passed the test easily.")

2. Adjectives ending in -le: Drop the -e and add -y.

a. Terrible - Terribly ("I am terribly sorry.")

b. Simple - Simply ("She explained the problem simply.")

3. Adjectives ending in -ic: Add -ically.

a. Automatic -Automatically ("The door shuts automatically.")

b. Specific - Specifically ("I bought this specifically for you.")

Part 3: Crucial Exceptions & Special Rules

Now for the part that trips up many English learners—the exceptions!

1. Irregular Forms

Some adverbs do not use -ly at all:

• Good (adj) -Well (adv): "He is a good cook," but "He cooks well."

• Fast (adj) -Fast (adv): "That is a fast car," and "He drives fast." (Never write "fastly"!)

• Hard (adj) -Hard (adv): "It was a hard test," and "She studied hard."• Late (adj) - Late (adv): "The train is late," and "He arrived late."

Note: Be careful with hardly and lately! They are completely different words:

• Hardly means almost not ("I could hardly hear the speaker").

• Lately means recently ("Have you seen any good movies lately?").

2. Words Ending in -ly That Are Adjectives

Some words naturally end in -ly but are actually adjectives, not adverbs!

• Friendly, lovely, lonely, silly, ugly.

• To use these as adverbs, use the phrase in a ... way/manner: "He spoke to me in a friendly way."

3. Sense Verbs (State Verbs)

Verbs related to the senses—such as look, feel, smell, taste, sound, seem, and be— take adjectives, not adverbs, when they describe the condition of the subject!

• Correct: "The pizza smells delicious." (Not "deliciously")

• Correct: "This sweater feels soft." (Not "softly")

Part 4: Reading Passage & Comprehension

Let me read a short story to show you how these words function in real context. Pay close attention to how adjectives modify nouns and adverbs modify verbs!

Maya's Productive Saturday

Maya is an organized architect who wakes up early every Saturday morning. She loves her neighborhood because it is usually quiet in the morning. Today, she walked briskly to her favorite local bakery.

The bakery always smells wonderful and serves delicious pastry items. Maya greeted

 the baker warmly and ordered a fresh croissant. The baker smiled kindly and handed her the bag.Maya sat near the window and worked hard on her new building designs. She drew the plans carefully and double-checked every dimension precisely. Her supervisor reviewed the finished work later that afternoon and said, "You did a good job on this design, Maya! You plan your projects very well." Maya felt happy and headed home with a sense of pride.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. How does Maya walk to the bakery, and why is this word an adverb?

2. Which sense verb in the text is followed directly by an adjective instead of an

adverb?

3. Find three irregular or non-ly adverbs used in the story.

Part 5: Comprehensive Exercises

Exercise 1: Adjective or Adverb?

Choose the correct option in parentheses.

1. My father drives extremely (careful / carefully) when it rains.

2. The hot soup tastes (delicious / deliciously) on a cold day.

3. Susan played (good / well) in the tennis match yesterday.

4. It was a very (hard / hardly) exam, but we worked (hard / hardly) to pass it.

5. They walked (quiet / quietly) out of the meeting room.

6. The weather turned (sudden / suddenly) cold last night.

7. He speaks English (fluent / fluently) because he lived in Canada.

8. That music sounds too (loud / loudly); please turn it down.

Exercise 2: Spelling Practice (Forming Adverbs)

Convert the adjective in brackets into the correct adverb form.

1. She solved the difficult equation ____________ (easy).2. The children played ____________ (happy) in the garden all afternoon.

3. The security system activates ____________ (automatic) at midnight.

4. He apologized ____________ (terrible) for breaking the vase.

5. The opera singer performed ____________ (beautiful) last night.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Find and correct the single error in each sentence.

1. She runs very fastly when she competes in sprints.

2. The birthday cake tastes so sweetly!

3. Our football team played good in the second half.

4. He drove dangerous down the wet highway.

5. I was late, so I walked quick to the bus station.

Exercise 4: Gap-Fill Exercise

Fill in the gaps using the correct adjective or adverb form of the words in the box: [good, bad, heavy, late, smooth]

1. It rained ____________ all night, causing minor flooding on the road.

2. The airplane landed ____________ on the runway despite strong crosswinds.

3. You shouldn't eat that milk product; it smells ____________.

4. She arrived ____________ for the conference and missed the keynote speaker.

5. He plays the violin very ____________ after ten years of practice.

That’s all for now from me, Alison, at Podcasts with English for French. The answer key is at the end of this transcript. Practice using these adverbs and adjectives in your English, add colour to your descriptions, and have fun.

See you soon.

Cheers

Answer Key

Reading Comprehension:

1. She walks briskly. It is an adverb because it modifies the action verb walked

(describes how she walked).

2. The verb smells ("smells wonderful").

3. Early, hard, and well.

Exercise 1:

1. carefully

2. delicious

3. well

4. hard, hard

5. quietly

6. suddenly

7. fluently

8. loud

Exercise 2:

1. easily

2. happily

3. automatically

4. terribly

5. beautifully

Exercise 3:

1. fastly -fast ("She runs very fast...")

2. sweetly - sweet ("The birthday cake tastes so sweet!")

3. good -well ("Our team played well...")

4. dangerous -dangerously ("He drove dangerously...")

5. Quick-quickly ("...so I walked quickly...")

Exercise 4:

1. heavily

2. smoothly

3. bad

4. late

5. well

#1 A2 Present simple vs Present continuous

The Story of Time — How to Talk About Your Life

Hi and welcome back to podcasts with English for French! I’m Alison, and today, we are we are going to be revising both present simple and present continuous and comparing their use in the English language . Until now, you might have learned that the Present

Simple is just for things you always do, and the Present Continuous is just for what is happening right now.

Well, we are going to go further with that today.

English speakers use these two tenses to express lots of different actions and time notions —from permanent truths and background facts to temporary life chapters and changing trends.

If you want your English to sound natural, flexible, and detailed, this podcast is for you.

Here we go.

Part 1: Present Simple

The Present Simple isn't just about your morning routine. It can be used to talk about anything that is stable, permanent, or governed by a timetable.

• 1. Permanent States & Facts: Things that don't change often or are laws of nature.

o Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

o She lives in Paris and works for a bank. (This is her permanent life

situation).

• 2. Scheduled Events & Timetables: We actually use the Present Simple to talk about official future schedules!

o The train leaves at 8:00 AM tomorrow.

o The film starts in twenty minutes.

• 3. Expanded Adverbs of Frequency & Range: Beyond just always and never, use these precise frequency expressions:

o Frequency Phrases: once a week, twice a month, every three days, on

weekdays.

o Adverbs: frequently, regularly, occasionally, from time to time.

Word Order Check:• I go to the gym twice a week. (Phrases go at the end of the sentence)

• I frequently read news online. (Single adverbs go before the main verb)

Part 2: Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is more than just what is happening now. It can be used to talk about temporary life periods, gradual changes, and future personal plans.

• 1. Temporary Chapters (Around Now): Things happening in this phase of your life, even if you aren't doing them this second.

o I'm reading a fantastic book by Stephen King. (Not while driving, but

during this period of my life).

o He is studying engineering at university. (A 4-year temporary period).

• 2. Changing Trends & Progress: Situations that are developing or evolving over time.

o Housing prices are going up quickly.

o My English is getting better every day.

• 3. Fixed Personal Plans (The Near Future): Definite arrangements you have made with other people.

o I’m meeting Sarah for dinner tonight. (It's booked and agreed).

• 4. Time Expressions Beyond "Now":

o these days, nowadays, this semester, currently, this year.

Examples:

• Nowadays, more people are working from home. (Trend)

• I am taking a photography course this semester. (Temporary chapter)

Part 3: Deep Comparison — Changing the Tense Changes the Meaning

Notice how changing the tense completely transforms what you tell the listener:

Sentence Tense What it really means

I live in London. I am living in London.

He works hard. He is working hard.

Present Simple London is my permanent home.

Present Continuous

I'm here temporarily (e.g., for a 6-month job contract).

Present Simple :He is a hard-working person (personality trait).

Present Continuous :He has a big deadline or project right now.

The bus leaves at 9:00. Present Simple Official timetable schedule.

I am leaving at 9:00. Present Continuous :My personal plan for this morning.

Part 4: Special Exceptions

1. The Stative vs. Action Shift Some verbs change meaning entirely depending on whether they are Simple or Continuous!

• Think:

o I think it's a good idea. (Opinion = Stative / Present Simple)

o I am thinking about moving to Spain. (Mental process happening now =

Continuous)

• Have:

o She has two dogs. (Possession = Stative / Present Simple)

o She is having lunch. (Action/Eating = Continuous)

2. Expressing Annoying Habits with "Always" Here is a native speaker secret! When you combine always with the Present Continuous, it means an action happens repeatedly and annoys you:

• He is always leaving his dirty socks on the floor!

• They are always complaining about the weather!

Understanding these nuances turns basic English into natural, expressive speech. Time to put these dynamic uses into practice with our text and exercises below!The answer key is at the end of this transcript.

Text Comprehension

Read about David's current life changes and answer the questions below.

David's Career Pivot

David is a high school teacher in Manchester. He usually teaches history to teenagers,

and he works from Monday to Friday. He loves history because he believes that understanding the past helps people make better decisions today. Currently, however, David is taking a sabbatical year. These days, he is studying software development at a local college. He wants to change his career path because technology is growing so fast across the globe.

His daily routine is very different this semester. Instead of grading papers in the evening, he is learning how to code in Python. His programming skills are improving week byweek, though he occasionally finds the material difficult. Next Monday, he is meeting a career counselor to discuss job opportunities in tech.

Questions:

1. What is David's permanent job, and what are his normal work days?

2. Why is he studying software development these days?

3. What general trend is mentioned regarding technology?

4. Is David's meeting with the career counselor next Monday a routine or a personal plan?

5. Identify one sentence from the text that describes a gradual change or progress.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Contextual Choice

Choose the correct verb form based on whether the situation is permanent, scheduled,

temporary, or a developing trend.

1. The sun ____________ (rise) in the east and sets in the west.

2. Nowadays, climate change ____________ (become) a major concern for young people.

3. The train to Edinburgh ____________ (depart) at 08:15 every morning from Platform 4.

4. I usually drive to work, but my car is broken, so I ____________ (take) the bus this week.

5. What time ____________ you ____________ (meet) Alex tonight?

Exercise 2: Stative vs. Dynamic Verbs

Complete the sentences using either the Present Simple or Present Continuous of the

verb in brackets.

1.  I ____________ (think) this dress looks great on you!

2. Shh! Don't disturb him; he ____________ (think) about a complex problem.

3. My uncle ____________ (have) three houses in the countryside.

4. We ____________ (have) a great time at the party right now.

Exercise 3: Advanced Gap Fill & Adverb Placement

Insert the adverb in brackets into the correct place and use the correct tense.

1. (always / complain) My roommate __________________ about the noise, and it really drives me crazy!

2. (occasionally / visit) We __________________ our grandparents on Sunday afternoons.

3.(currently / search) Sarah __________________ for a new apartment near her office.

4. (rarely / rain) It __________________ in this desert region during the summer months.

That’s all for today, with me, Alison, at English for French podcasts. I hope

you enjoyed listening. Keep practicing and have fun.

Cheers

Text Comprehension Answers

1. He is a high school history teacher, and he normally works from Monday to Friday.

2. Because technology is growing fast across the globe, and he wants to change his career path.

3. "Technology is growing so fast across the globe."

4. It is a fixed personal plan in the near future (expressed with Present Continuous).

5. "His programming skills are improving week by week."

Exercise 1 Answers

1. rises (Permanent scientific fact)

2. is becoming (Developing trend)

3. departs (Official timetable schedule)

4. am taking (Temporary situation)

5. are / meeting (Fixed future plan)

Exercise 2 Answers

1. think (Opinion / Stative)

2. is thinking (Mental action in progress)

3. has (Possession / Stative)

4.are having (Experiencing / Dynamic action)

Exercise 3 Answers

1.  is always complaining (Annoying repeated habit)

2. occasionally visit (Routine / Frequency)

3. is currently searching (Action in progress around now)

4. rarely rains (General truth / Low frequency)

 

#14 A1 Countable, Uncountable nouns (some and any)

Welcome back to podcasts with English for French. I’m Alison , and today we are looking at a topic that every beginner needs when talking about food, shopping, and everyday items: Countable and Uncountable Nouns.

By the end of this podcast, you will know how to order food, talk about your kitchen, and use words like a, an, some, and any with confidence!

Part 1: Countable Nouns

Countable nouns are individual items that you can count using numbers: 1, 2, 3, or more.

• Singular: Use a or an before one item.

o a apple (starts with a consonant sound? Use a, e.g., a banana, a book).

o an apple (starts with a vowel sound? Use an, e.g., an apple, an egg).

• Plural: Add -s or -es to the end when you have two or more.

o One apple → two apples

o One sandwich → three sandwichesPart 2: Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns are things you cannot count individually with numbers. They are

usually liquids, tiny grains, concepts, or foods that come in whole masses.

• Common categories:

o Liquids: water, milk, coffee, juice

o Grains/Powders: rice, sugar, salt, flour

o Mass foods: cheese, butter, bread, meat

o Concepts: money, time, music, information

• Golden Rule: Never put a/an or a number directly before an uncountable noun,

and do not add -s.

o Say: water (NOT a water or two waters).

o To count them, use containers or units: a glass of water, a loaf of bread,

a cup of coffee.Part 3: Using "Some" and "Any"

When you don't need an exact number, use some and any:

Context

Positive (+) Countable Nouns

(Plural)

I have some apples. Uncountable Nouns

I have some milk.

Negative (-) I don't have any apples. I don't have any milk.

Question (?) Do you have any apples? Do you have any milk?

Reading Text: Preparing for a Party

Read this short story to see these nouns in action:

Today is Saturday, and Mark is preparing for a dinner party. He makes a shopping list.

He needs an onion, three tomatoes, and a bottle of olive oil. In his fridge, there is some cheese, but there isn't any butter. He also wants to buy some rice and a bag of sugar.

He checks his wallet to see if he has any money. Luckily, there are some coins and two banknotes in his bag. Now he is ready to go to the supermarket!

Practice Exercises

Exercise A: Countable or Uncountable?

Decide if each noun is Countable (C) or Uncountable (U).

1. Banana → _____

2. Milk → _____

3. Money → _____

4. Chair → _____

5. Rice → _____

Exercise B: Gap-Fill Exercise

Complete the sentences with a, an, some, or any.

1. Would you like _____ cup of tea?

2. I don't have _____ sugar for my coffee.

3. Can I have _____ apple from the basket?

4. We need to buy _____ vegetables for dinner.5. Is there _____ orange juice left in the fridge?

Master English Containers & Shopping Dialogues (A1 Level)

Part 1: Container Expressions & Quantifiers

Because uncountable nouns (like water, bread, cheese) cannot be counted directly with numbers (you cannot say "two waters" or "three breads"), we use container words or measurement units to make them countable!

Common Container Phrases for Uncountable Nouns

Container / Unit Used with... Example

A bottle of.. Liquids .. a bottle of water, a bottle of wine

A cup / glass of ....Hot / Cold drinks... a cup of coffee, a glass of milk

A loaf of (plural: loaves)... Bread ....a loaf of bread, two loaves of

bread

A slice of ...Cut portions... a slice of cheese, a slice of pizza

A bag of ...Grains / Powders ...a bag of flour, a bag of rice

A piece of...General items /Food... a piece of cake, a piece of news

A carton of ...Dairy / Juices... a carton of milk, a carton of juice

A can of ...Soda / Canned food ...a can of soup, a can of cola

 

Part 2: Roleplay Dialogue — At the Grocery Store

Characters:

• Seller: Working at a local grocery stand.

• Customer: Buying ingredients for dinner.

Setting: A local neighborhood market stand.

Seller: Hello! How can I help you today?

Customer: Good morning! I’m looking for some ingredients to make dinner.

Seller: Great! What do you need?

Customer: First, do you have any fresh tomatoes?

Seller: Yes, we do! How many would you like?

Customer: I’d like four tomatoes, please. Also, is there any cheese available?

Seller: Yes, there is some delicious cheddar cheese.

Customer: Perfect. Can I get a slice of cheese and a loaf of fresh bread?

Seller: Of course. Anything else? Do you need any drinks?

Customer: Yes, please. I'll take a bottle of water and a carton of orange juice. Is there

a banana left?

Seller: Yes, there is one banana right here!

Customer: Wonderful. That is all. How much is it?

Seller: That will be $12, please. Thank you!

Part 3: Exercises & Practice

Exercise 1: Match the Food to the Correct Container

Match the items on the left with the correct phrase on the right.

1. Coffee     a. A slice of

2. Bread      b. A bottle of

3. Pizza       c. A cup of

4. Rice         d. A loaf of

5. Olive Oil   e. A bag of

Exercise 2: Gap-Fill Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct container word: bottle, carton, slice, loaf, piece.

1. Could I have a _________ of cake with my afternoon tea?

2. Don't forget to buy a _________ of milk for breakfast tomorrow.

3. She bought a fresh _________ of bread from the bakery.

4. He drank a whole _________ of water after running.

5. Would you like a _________ of cheese on your burger?

Exercise 3: Dialogue Practice Questions

Answer the questions based on the dialogue above in complete sentences:

1.  How many tomatoes does the customer buy?

2. Does the customer buy a carton of milk or orange juice?

3. What container word is used for bread in the store?

That’s all for today from me, Alison, at Podcasts with English for French. Keep

practicing

Cheers

Answer Key countables/uncountables

Exercise A:

1. Countable (C)

2. Uncountable (U)

3. Uncountable (U)

4. Countable (C)

5. Uncountable (U)

Exercise B:

1. a (Singular countable noun starting with a consonant)

2. any (Negative sentence with an uncountable noun)

3. an (Singular countable noun starting with a vowel)

4. some (Positive sentence with plural countable nouns)5. any (Question form with an uncountable noun)

Answer Key containers

Exercise 1

1 c (A cup of coffee)

2 d (A loaf of bread)

3 a (A slice of pizza)

4 e (A bag of rice)

5 b (A bottle of olive oil)

Exercise 2

1. piece (or slice)

2. carton

3. loaf

4. bottle

5. slice

Exercise 3

1. The customer buys four tomatoes.

2. The customer buys a carton of orange juice.

3. The word used is "a loaf of" bread.

Podcast transcript

#13 A1- There is , There are and the determiners this/that/these/those

Welcome back to podcasts with English for French, I’m Alison and today we are looking at two fundamental tools every English learner needs: There is / There are and the determiners This, That, These, and Those.

By the end of this podcast, you will know exactly how to point things out, describe your room, and speak with confidence!

Part 1: "There is" and "There are"

We use There is and There are to say that something exists in a specific place.

1. There is (Singular & Uncountable)

Use There is (or the shortcut There's) when talking about one person, animal, or thing,

or something you cannot count (like water or sugar).

• There is a cat on the sofa.

• There is an apple in the bag.

• There is some water in the glass.

2. There are (Plural)

Use There are when talking about two or more people, animals, or things.

• There are two cats on the sofa.

• There are five books on the desk.

3. Negatives and Questions

• Negative: Add not.

o There is not (There isn't) a car outside.

o There are not (There aren't) any chairs here.

• Question: Swap the order!

o Is there a supermarket near here?

o Are there any students in the classroom?Part 2: Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)

These four words help us point at specific things based on two rules: Distance (Near vs.

Far) and Number (Singular vs. Plural).

1. Near You (In your hands or close by)

• This (Singular): Used for one thing close to you.

o Example: This is my phone. (I am holding it).

• These (Plural): Used for two or more things close to you.

o Example: These are my keys. (They are in my hand).

2. Far From You (Across the room or down the street)

• That (Singular): Used for one thing further away.

o Example: That is a high mountain over there.

• Those (Plural): Used for two or more things further away.

o Example: Those are beautiful birds in the sky.

Quick Reference Chart

Singular (1) Plural (2+)

Existence There is / There's There are

These

Near (Close) This book

books

Far (Away) That book

Those

books

Reading Text: Welcome to My Apartment

Read this short text to see how all these rules work together.

The answer key to all exercises can be found at the end of this transcript.

Hello everyone! Welcome to my apartment. There is a large living room with a big window. This chair next to me is very comfortable, but that sofa across the room is old. Look at the shelf over there—those are my favorite souvenirs from my travels. On the table here, there are three notebooks and a cup of tea. This tea is delicious! Is there a TV in the room? No, there isn't, but there is a large bookcase filled with classic books.

Practice Exercises

Exercise A: Fill in the Gaps (There is / There are)

Complete each sentence with There is or There are.

1. __________ a computer on the desk.

2.__________ four chairs around the dining table.

3.__________ some milk in the fridge.

4.__________ two dogs playing in the garden.

5.__________ a pencil on your notebook? (Question form)

Exercise B: Choose the Correct Determiner (This / That / These / Those)

Select the best word for each sentence.

1. Take __________ cup of coffee here; it’s hot! (This / That)

2.Look at __________ airplane high in the sky! (This / That)

3.I love __________ shoes on my feet right now. (these / those)

4.Who are __________ people standing over by the door? (these / those)

5.__________ is my best friend, Sarah, standing next to me. (This / That°

There is now going to be a dialogue in a seperate recording ;check out the uses of there is /are and this/that, these/those.

Keep practicing by, for example, describing a room in your house.

That’s all for now from me, Alison , at English for French podcasts

Cheers

− Characters:

− Anna: Moving into a new apartment.

− Ben: A friend helping her unpack and set up.

− Setting: Inside Anna’s new living room surrounded by boxes.

−

Dialogue:

− Anna: Thanks for helping me unpack, Ben!

− Ben: No problem! Wow, there are a lot of boxes in this room. Where do we start?

− Anna: Let's start with this box here on the floor. There is a clock inside. Can you

put it over there on the wall?

− Ben: Sure! Is that clock on the wall high enough?

− Anna: Perfect, thanks! Now, look at these books in my hands. Where should I

put them?− Ben: There is a small bookshelf next to the window. You can put them there.

− Anna: Great idea. Oh, look out the window! Those flowers in the garden are so

pretty.

− Ben: They really are! By the way, is there a kettle in the kitchen? I'd love some

tea.

− Anna: Yes, there is! And there are some mugs on the table. This mug right here

is for you.

− Ben: Perfect. Let's take a break!

Practice Tips for A1 Speaking

6. Act it out: Practice with a partner, swapping roles (Anna and Ben).

7.Use real objects: Point to actual items nearby when saying this, that, these, and those to build physical memory.

8.Focus on contractions: Try saying "There's" instead of "There is" during the second read-through to sound more natural.

Answer Key

Exercise A:

1. There is

2. There are

3. There is

4. There are

5. Is there

Exercise B:

1. This

2. That

3. these

4. those

5. This

#12 A1 Present continuous Transcript

Hi ,

and welcome back to English for French podcasts .I’m Alison and today we are talking about an action happening right now—the Present Continuous. This tense is used to describe actions happpening at a certain time and ongoing ( c’est le “en train de” en français)

Imagine you’re calling a friend. You ask, "What are you doing?" They don't answer with habits like "I eat lunch every day." They say, "I am eating lunch right now." That's the Present Continuous!

How to Build It

To form the Present Continuous, follow this simple formula:

Subject + be (am/is/are) + Verb-ing

• I am studying.

• She is drinking coffee.

• They are listening to music.

For negative sentences, just add not after the verb to be:

• He is not (isn't) sleeping.

For questions, flip the subject and the verb to be:

• Are you watching TV?

Adding -ing to a verb is usually straightforward, but a few specific spelling rules depend on how the verb ends.

Here is the quick breakdown to help you get it right every time.

Rule 1: The General Rule (Just add -ing)

For most standard verbs, simply add -ing to the end of the base verb without changing anything.

• walk -walking

• play -playing• study -studying (Note: unlike present simple rules, verbs ending in -y keep the -

y!)

• read -reading

Rule 2: Verbs Ending in Silent -e (Drop the -e)

If a verb ends with a silent -e, drop the -e before adding -ing.

• Make-making

• Write- writing

• Dance- dancing

• Live-living

Exception: If the verb ends in -ee, keep both e's (e.g., see-seeing, agree -agreeing).

Rule 3: The CVC Rule (Double the final consonant)

If a one-syllable verb ends in a Consonant + Vowel + Consonant (CVC) pattern, double the final consonant before adding -ing.

• s - i - t (CVC) sitting

• r - u - n (CVC) running

• s - w - i - m (CVC) swimming

• s - t - o - p (CVC) stopping

Exception: Never double the final letter if the verb ends in w, x, or y

(e.g., snow -snowing, fix -fixing, buy -buying).

Rule 4: Verbs Ending in -ie (Change to -y)

If a verb ends in -ie, change the -ie to -y before adding -ing.

• Die-dying

• Lie-lying

• tie- tying

Summary Table

Rule Type Base Verb Present Continuous What Changed?

General cook cooking Added -ing

Ends in -e	ride	riding	Dropped -e
CVC Pattern	get	getting	Doubled -t-
Ends in -ie	lie	lying	Changed -ie to -y

 

Reading Practice: A Busy Sunday Afternoon

Read the short text below and notice how every action is happening in the current moment.

Today is Sunday. It is 2:00 PM, and the Miller family is at home in the garden. Mr. Miller is cooking lunch on the grill. He is making burgers. Mrs. Miller is sitting under a large tree. She is reading a new book and drinking iced tea. Their young son, Leo, is playing with a red ball. The family dog, Max, is running around Leo and barking happily. Their daughter, Emma, isn't playing outside today. She is sitting in her bedroom, and she is studying for an English test. Everyone is enjoying their afternoon!

Reading Comprehension Questions

1.  What is Mr. Miller doing?

2.  Is Mrs. Miller reading a book or sleeping?

3.  What is the dog, Max, doing?

4.Is Emma playing outside with Leo?

 Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences using am, is, or are + the verb in parentheses.

1.Look! The train __________ (come) now.

2.I __________ (write) an email to my friend.

3.We __________ (not watch) TV right now; we're listening to the radio.

4.What __________ you __________ (do) at the moment?

5.Sarah __________ (wear) a blue dress today.

Exercise 2: Fix the mistake Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.

1. They reading a book right now.

2.He is play tennis in the park

3.I am not like this noise right now. (Hint: remember the action verb + -ing rule!)

I hope you enjoyed this podcast with me, Alison, atr English for french.See you soon.The answer key is below.

Cheers

Answer Key

• Comprehension:

1. He is cooking burgers on the grill.

• 2. She is reading a book.

• 3. He is running around Leo and barking.

• 4. No, she isn't. She is studying in her bedroom.

• Exercise 1:

• 1. is coming 

• 2. am writing 

• 3. are not watching 

• 4. are / doing

•  5. is wearing

• Exercise 2:

• 1. They are reading a book right now.

•  2. He is playing tennis in the park.

•  3. I am not listening to this noise / I am not enjoying this noise.

 

#11 Genitive : Possession

HI, Welcome back to podcasts with me, Alison, at English for French.

Today we will be looking at the genitive form of possession. So,grab a notebook and a pen, because we are diving deep into one of the most useful grammar rules in English.

Aujourd’hui, on va parler du genitif en anglais, donc, prenez un stylo et un papier et prenez des notes !

If you want to say something belongs to someone, you don't need long, awkward sentences. You just need the apostrophe!

Rules

Rule 1: Singular Nouns → Add ’s

For one person, animal, or thing, add ’s to the owner.

Pour une personne, un animal,ou une chose on ajoute l’apostrophe plus ‘s’

• "This is John’s car." (Not: The car of John)

• "Where is the cat’s water bowl?"

• "Emma’s bag is heavy."

Rule 2: Regular Plural Nouns Ending in -s → Add only ’

Pour les noms régulier pluriel on ajoute qu’un apostrophe

When a noun is plural and already ends in -s, do NOT add another s. Just put the apostrophe ’ at the very end!

• "This is the students’ classroom." (Multiple students share it)

• "My parents’ house is near the lake." (Both mom and dad live there)

• "The dogs’ leashes are near the door." (Two or more dogs)

Rule 3: Irregular Plural Nouns → Add ’s

What about plural words that don’t end in -s? Words like children, men, women, or people? Treat them just like singular words: add ’s!Pour les noms pluriel et irregulier on fait comme pour les nom singulier on ajoute un apostrophe et ‘s’

• "The children’s playground is clean."

• "This is the women’s locker room."

• "The men’s shoes are on sale."

Rule 4: Names Ending in -s

What if a person’s name naturally ends in s, like James or Lucas? You can actually do both, but adding ’s is most common:

• "James’s jacket" OR "James’ jacket" (Both are correct!)

2. Guided Practice: Sentence Transformations

Let me test you.Try to transform these in your head.

1. "The laptop of the teacher."

"The teacher’s laptop." (Singular)

2. "The coats of the doctors." (Plural)

"The doctors’ coats." (Plural ending in -s)

3. "The toys of the children."

"The children’s toys." (Irregular plural)

4. "The office of my boss."

My boss’s office." (Singular ending in -s)

 Fill in-the-Blank Exercise

Now it's your turn! Complete each sentence using the correct possessive form of the word in parentheses. Write down your answers—the answer key is at the end of the lesson!

1. This is ____________ (David) new bicycle.

2.Where are the ____________ (teachers) test papers? (plural teachers)

3.My ____________ (sister) favorite color is green.

4. Look at the ____________ (bird) nest in the tree! (singular bird)

5.The ____________ (men) suits are black and white.

6.Is that ____________ (Maria) phone on the table?

7.All of the ____________ (students) scores were high. (plural students)

8.My ____________ (grandparents) garden has beautiful flowers. (plural

grandparents)

Multiple Choice Quiz

Sarah: Choose the correct option: A, B, or C.

1. Which sentence is correct for ONE girl?

A) The girl's hat is red.

B) The girls' hat is red.

C) The girls hat is red.

2. Which sentence is correct for TWO brothers?

A) My brother's bedroom is big.

B) My brothers' bedroom is big.

C) My brothers's bedroom is big.

3. Which sentence is correct for IRREGULAR plurals?

A) The childrens' shoes are muddy.

B) The childrens's shoes are muddy.

C) The children's shoes are muddy.

5. Reading Comprehension Text

Read this short story about a Saturday afternoon with Lucy’s family, then answer the

questions below.

Lisez l’histoire ci-dessous et repondez aux questions en utilisant le vocab dans le texte et des vrais phrases!

Lucy’s Busy SaturdayToday is Saturday, and Lucy’s family is very busy at home. Lucy’s brother, Tom, is outside cleaning his dog’s house. Her parents’ car is parked in the driveway because it needs cleaning. Inside, Lucy’s mother is preparing food in the kitchen.At 1:00 PM, the whole family drives to Lucy’s grandparents’ house for lunch. The children’s favorite meal is homemade pizza, so grandmother makes three big pizzas. After lunch, they all look through the family’s old photo albums together.

Comprehension Questions

1. What is Tom cleaning outside?

2.Whose car is in the driveway?

3.Where does the family go at 1:00 PM?

4.What is the children's favorite meal?

5.What do they look through after lunch?

Remember the three golden rules:

• Singular noun → add ’s

• Regular plural noun (-s) → add ’

• Irregular plural noun → add ’s

I hope you enjoyed this podcast, with me, Alison. Practice by making your own sentences. I’ll see you soon at E4F. The answers are below.

Cheers

Answer Key

Section 3: Fill-in-the-Blank

1. David’s

2. teachers’

3. sister’s

4. bird’s

5. men’s

6. Maria’s

7. students’

8. grandparents’

Section 4: Multiple Choice Quiz

1.A (girl's = one girl)

2.B (brothers' = multiple brothers)

3.C (children's = irregular plural + ’s)

Section 5: Reading Comprehension

1.  Tom is cleaning his dog’s house.

2.Her parents’ car is in the driveway.

3.They go to Lucy’s grandparents’ house.

4.The children’s favorite meal is homemade pizza.

5.They look through the family’s old photo albums.

#5 Comm Pro: Small talk

Alison: Hello, welcome Podcast, with English 4 French. Today, I'll be explaining how

to master small talk in formal and informal conversations. Today I am joined by our

famous, well-known, one-and-only Lucas.

Lucas: Hi there, what’s up! Today, we’re tackling something that makes some

people’s hands sweat and leaves others feeling totally energized: Small Talk.

Alison: Ah, small talk. The dreaded “How about this weather?” banter. But honestly,

Lucas, I’ll defend small talk to the end. People think it’s superficial, but it’s actually

the emotional handshake before any real connection happens.

Lucas: Right on, Alison, but I have to disagree slightly on how most people do it.

Generic small talk—like talking about the rain—can feel like a waste of time. For me,

small talk is only valuable if you move past the script quickly. But alright, let's break it

down into three stages: introducing yourself, keeping the conversation going,

and making smooth exit.

Stage 1: Introductions (Formal vs. Informal)

Alison: Here we go. Introducing yourself sets the initial tone. In a formal

context—think a corporate meeting or a job interview—you want clarity and a firm

posture.

Lucas: Exactly. You don't want to sound like a resumé, though. A formal introduction

usually follows a simple standard:

"Hello, I don't think we've met. I'm Lucas, Senior teacher at ENGLISH 4

FRENCH."

Alison: Right. And the classic response is, "Pleasure to meet you, Lucas. I'm Alison,

Podcast produce." Simple, respectful, and well-structured.

Lucas: But compare that to an informal context—a friend's house party or a casual

coffee shop queue. If you say "Pleasure to meet you" there, you'll sound like a robot!

Alison: (Laughs) Fair point. In casual settings, you rely on shared surroundings or a

low-pressure opener.

"Hey, I'm Alison. Are you a friend of Sarah’s?" or simply, "Hey there, mind

if I grab this chair?"

Lucas: Exactly. Notice how the informal version doesn't always start with a name. It

often starts with an observation about the environment. You drop the formality to

make the other person comfortable immediately.Stage 2: Keeping the Conversation Going

Alison: Okay, you've introduced yourself. Now comes the hard part: avoiding that

awkward silence where both people start staring at their drinks. How do you keep it

flowing?

Lucas: My favorite technique is using, Echo, Open Questions and words that

show interest

Alison: I like this method. Lucas, can you show us how the echo works.

Lucas: Sure. Alison, tell me something about yourself.

Alison: I was born in Brighton.

Lucas: Wow. Brighton? Is that in the South of England?

Alison: Yes, it is. You would love it there. It’s a trendy city.

Lucas: Trendy? That’s interesting. In what way?

Alison: Have you noticed how Lucas chose some works to echo in order to

make me talk more?

Lucas: And the fun thing is that you can choose any word you think could be

interesting to echo. I could have echoed the word “city” instead of “trendy”.

City? I thought Brighton was a small town.

Alison: Absolutely, echoing is quite useful. And I’ve just used “absolutely” to

pretend I am interested in what Lucas just said. Anyway, during our small

conversation, Lucas also asked a couple of open questions: “Is that in the

South of England? In what way?

This is another way to keep the conversation going.

Lucas: Totally, exactly, really, awesome, no way. Words that you could use to show

interest

Stage 3: Ending the Conversation Gracefully

Alison: This is where most people panic. How do you leave without being rude?

The golden rule of exiting a conversation is giving a valid reason plus a warm

closing statement.Lucas: In a formal setting, you highlight professional duties or networking courtesy.

For instance:

"It was a pleasure learning about your project, Alison. I see my colleague

approaching, so I must excuse myself. Let's exchange cards before we

leave."

Alison: Professional and smooth. In an informal setting, you use time constraints

or physical actions:

"Anyway, I'd better grab another drink/head out before I miss my bus

home! It was so great catching up with you, Lucas."

Lucas: And notice the word "Anyway"! "Anyway" is the ultimate linguistic pivot that

signals a transition to the end of a chat.

Alison: It really is. Well, Lucas, speaking of exits, I think that’s a wrap

Lucas: Agreed. Check out the exercises below to test your understanding of today’s

topic.

Alison: Hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast. See you soon, cheers.

Lucas: Bye

Language Learning & Comprehension Supplement

Section 1: Written Comprehension

Exercise A: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct option based on the transcript.

1. What does Lucas think about generic small talk topics like the weather?

a) They are the best way to connect.

b) They can feel like a waste of time if the conversation doesn’t move past

them quickly.

c) They should only be used in formal business settings.

2. According to Alison, what makes a formal exit effective?

a) Leaving abruptly when someone else approaches.

b) Asking for personal contact details immediately.

c) Giving a clear, professional reason along with a warm closing statement.

Exercise B: Formal vs. Informal Categorization

Identify whether each phrase is Formal (F) or Informal (I).1. "Hello, I don't believe we've met. My name is Dr. Aris." [ ]

2. "Hey! Mind if I sit here?" [ ]

3. "Anyway, I’d better run before traffic gets crazy!" [ ]

4. "It has been an absolute pleasure discussing this initiative with you." [ ]

Section 2: Oral & Expression Exercises

Exercise C: Role-Play Scenarios (Oral Practice)

Practice speaking these scenarios out loud with a partner or record yourself.

●

●

Scenario 1 (Formal): You are attending an industry conference. Introduce

yourself to someone sitting next to you, ask one open question about their

work, and bring the conversation to a polite close after 1 minute.

Scenario 2 (Informal): You are at a neighbor's weekend barbecue. Use a

shared observation about the food or environment to start a chat, use the

"Echo & Pivot" technique once, and make a casual exit.

Answer Key (For Self-Correction)

 

Exercise A: 1 (b), 2 (c)

Exercise B: 1 (F), 2 (I), 3 (I), 4 (F)

#4 Comm Pro : Mastering Professional Communication, Podcast

Transcript

Welcome back to podcasts with English for French. I’m Alison and today we are going

to be talking about three scenarios every professional encounters: scheduling

appointments, navigating performance appraisals, and engaging at industry

conferences.

At the higher levels, basic English gets the job done, but it can sound flat or overly blunt.

Today, we’re moving from simple phrases to nuanced, professional phrasing so you can

handle high-stakes workplace interactions with complete confidence.

Here we go..

Scenario 1: Scheduling, Rescheduling & Managing Appointments

Scheduling sounds simple until you hit conflicts, tight deadlines, or time zones. The

goal is to move past standard phrases like "When are you free?" and use conditional

structures, professional phrasal verbs, and clear proposed time frames.

Example Dialogue: Managing a Schedule Conflict

Sarah (Project Lead): "Hi Mark, I wanted to check your availability for this week. Could

we pencil in a 45-minute sync to align on the Q3 deliverables?"

Mark (Senior Analyst): "I’d like to, Sarah, but I’ve got a tight schedule today. Could we

push it back to Thursday morning? I have a window of availability between 10:00 AM

and 11:30 AM."

Sarah: "Thursday at 10:30 AM works well on my end. I’ll send over a calendar invite with

the meeting link."

Mark: "Perfect. If an unexpected clash in my schedule arises before then, I’ll let you

know right away so we can bring it forward or adjust accordingly."

Please note that there are two pronunciations for the word schedule (British) and

schedule (American) , both are correct.

Extended Phrase Breakdown & Alternatives

• Proposing Initial Times:

o Standard: "When can we meet to talk about the project?"

o B2 Level: "Could we pencil in a brief catch-up later this week to align on

the project milestones?"o B2 Level: "Do you have any availability toward the end of the week for a

30-minute sync?"

• Rescheduling or Dealing with Conflicts:

o Standard: "I am busy, let's meet later."

o B2 Level: "Due to an unexpected scheduling conflict, I'll need to push

back our meeting to Friday afternoon."

o B2 Level: "Something urgent has come up. Would it be possible to bring

our session forward to this morning instead?"

• Confirming & Finalizing:

o Standard: "Okay, see you then."

o B2 Level: "That time slot works perfectly on my end. I'll issue a calendar

invitation with the agenda attached."

Scenario 2: Appraisal & Performance Review Meetings

Appraisal meetings require a delicate balance. You need to showcase

accomplishments without sounding arrogant, and accept constructive criticism

without getting defensive.

Example Dialogue: Self-Assessment & Handling Feedback

Manager: "Thanks for taking the time today, Elena. Let's start by looking at your key

achievements over the past six months."

Elena: "Overall, it's been a productive period. I managed to streamline our client

onboarding workflow, which reduced our setup time by roughly 20%. However, I did hit

a few bottlenecks when managing the multi-regional rollouts."

Manager: "I noticed that as well. What steps are you taking to address those

operational challenges?"

Elena: "Moving forward, I intend to delegate more operational tasks to the junior team

members so I can focus on strategic planning. I'd also welcome any guidance on how to

improve cross-departmental coordination."

Extended Phrase Breakdown & Alternatives

• Highlighting Achievements (Self-Appraisal):

o Standard: "I worked hard and did a good job on the project."

o B2 Level: "I successfully spearheaded the new client onboarding

process, which significantly improved our team's overall efficiency."o B2 Level: "Over the last quarter, I played a pivotal role in scaling our

customer retention efforts."

• Discussing Challenges & Areas for Growth:

o Standard: "I had trouble with time management."

o B2 Level: "I encountered a major bottleneck with deadline management,

but I have since adopted a new prioritization framework to resolve it."

o B2 Level: "One area where I see room for improvement is delegating

high-priority tasks during peak workloads."

• Responding Positively to Criticism:

o Standard: "Okay, I will try to fix that."

o B2 Level: "I appreciate that feedback. I intend to take proactive steps to

refine my workflow in that area over the next quarter."

Scenario 3: Conferences, Workshops & Professional Networking

Attending international conferences involves distinct communication phases: initiating

small talk, discussing technical sessions, and exchanging contact details smoothly.

Example Dialogue: Networking Between Keynote Sessions

David: "Excuse me, do you mind if I join you at this table? The venue is packed today!"

Claire: "Not at all, go right ahead! How are you finding the conference so far?"

David: "It's been very insightful. What did you think of the keynote speaker's points on

digital transformation?"

Claire: "I thought her analysis of market trends was spot on, though some of her

predictions on automation seemed a bit optimistic."

David: "I agree completely. By the way, I'm David from Apex Solutions. We specialize in

supply chain logistics."

Claire: "Nice to meet you, David. I'm Claire. We're actually expanding our logistics

division right now—let's exchange business cards or connect on LinkedIn so we can

discuss potential collaboration."

Extended Phrase Breakdown & Alternatives

• Breaking the Ice & Starting Conversation:

o Standard: "Is this seat free? Do you like the presentations?"

o B2 Level: "Is this seat taken? What has been your main takeaway from the

panel discussions so far?"o B2 Level: "Have you attended this conference in previous years, or is this

your first time?"

• Discussing Content & Sharing Opinions:

o Standard: "The speech was good."

o B2 Level: "I found the keynote presentation particularly engaging,

especially the data on emerging industry trends."

o B2 Level: "Her perspective on market disruption was quite compelling,

though I have a few reservations about the timeline."

• Closing the Conversation & Following Up:

o Standard: "Bye, nice talking to you."

o B2 Level: "It was a pleasure exchanging insights with you today. Let's

connect on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going."

o B2 Level: "Here is my business card. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to

explore potential synergies between our teams."

• Here are some exercises to practice what you have learnt.

Exercise 1: B2 Business Synonyms

Match the everyday vocabulary in Column A with its professional B2 workplace

synonym in Column B.

Column A (Standard Everyday

English)

Column B (Professional B2 Business

English)

1. Postpone / Delay to a later time A. Streamline

2. Problem or delay in a process B. Keynote

3. Schedule tentatively C. Push back

4. Lead or initiate a major project D. Pencil in

5. Make a process simpler or more

efficient

E. Bottleneck

6. Main featured presentation or

speech

F. SpearheadExercise 2: Written Comprehension & Gap-Fill Exercise

Read the workplace narrative below and select the correct option (A, B, C, or D) for

each blank.

Text

Effective workplace communication requires agility across different settings. When

managing a busy work calendar, professionals must often (1) _____ provisional meeting

dates with international clients, taking care to avoid unexpected scheduling (2) _____. If

urgent priorities arise, it may become necessary to (3) _____ an appointment to the

following week.

During annual performance reviews, employees should highlight how they managed to

(4) _____ complex operations to save time, while also identifying operational (5) _____

that hindered progress. Finally, when attending professional (6) _____, asking thoughtful

questions after a (7) _____ speech and making an effort to (8) _____ with attendees can

pave the way for successful future collaborations.

1. (A) call off (B) pencil in (C) drop out (D) break up

2. (A) clashes (B) panels (C) keynotes (D) reviews

3. (A) push back (B) set up (C) bring forward (D) speed up

4. (A) complicate (B) streamline (C) delay (D) reject

5. (A) solutions (B) achievements (C) bottlenecks (D) agendas

6. (A) appraisals (B) conflicts (C) bottlenecks (D) conferences

7. (A) keynote (B) bottleneck (C) setup (D) summary

8. (A) isolate (B) network (C) postpone (D) reschedule

Thanks for listening that’s all for today with me, Alison at English for French podcasts.

The answer keys are below.

I have included below some example templates, practice writing your own emails

Have fun, see you soon at podcasts with me, Alison, at E4F. Cheers

Synonym Answer Key:

o 1 – C (Push back)

o 2 – E (Bottleneck)

o 3 – D (Pencil in)

o 4 – F (Spearhead)o 5 – A (Streamline)

o 6 – B (Keynote)

Gapfill answers

Answer Key & Explanations

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. B (pencil in) — To tentatively add a meeting to a schedule subject to later

confirmation.

A (clashes) — Scheduling conflicts where two events overlap.

A (push back) — To delay or postpone an event to a later time or date.

B (streamline) — To optimize or make a process faster and more efficient.

C (bottlenecks) — Points of congestion or obstacles that slow down progress.

D (conferences) — Formal multi-person gatherings for industry networking and

learning.

A (keynote) — The primary, high-profile presentation delivered at a conference.

B (network) — To establish mutually beneficial professional relationships.

Template 1: Scheduling an Appointment

Subject: Proposed Meeting: Q3 Project Alignment / [Your Name]

Dear [Name],

I hope this email finds you well.

I would like to pencil in a 30-minute sync later this week to align on our Q3 project

milestones and discuss upcoming deliverables.

Could you let me know if you have any availability on either of the following dates?

• Thursday, September 4th: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

• Friday, September 5th: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

If neither of these windows works on your end, please feel free to suggest an alternative

time that suits your schedule. If an unexpected clash in my schedule arises prior to

our call, I will be sure to inform you right away.I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

Template 2: Preparing for an Appraisal Meeting

Subject: Appraisal Preparation & Pre-Meeting Agenda / [Your Name]

Dear [Manager's Name],

Ahead of our upcoming performance appraisal scheduled for [Date/Time], I wanted to

share a brief outline of the key points I hope to cover during our discussion.

Over the past six months, my primary focus has been to streamline our client

onboarding workflow, which successfully reduced setup processing times by 20%.

Additionally, I have compiled a summary of operational bottlenecks we encountered

during recent project rollouts, along with proposed solutions to resolve them in the next

quarter.

During our meeting, I would also welcome your feedback on areas where I can continue

to grow, as well as opportunities to spearhead new initiatives within the team.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to our discussion.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

Template 3: Following Up After a Conference

Subject: Following up from [Conference Name] / [Your Name]

Dear [Contact's Name],

It was a pleasure meeting you during the networking session at [Conference Name]

yesterday.I really enjoyed our conversation regarding market expansion strategies, and I found

your perspective on emerging digital trends particularly insightful. As discussed, I

believe there are several potential synergies between our teams' current projects.

I have attached my digital business card for your convenience. Please feel free to reach

out if you would like to schedule a brief call to explore potential collaboration

opportunities. Alternatively, we can connect on LinkedIn to stay in touch.

Thank you again for exchanging insights with me.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Job Title]

[Company Name]

#3 Comm Pro: Visio and phone calls

Welcome back to podcasts with English for French. I’m Alison, and today we are looking at how to tackle a huge part of modern work life: navigating phone and video calls with confidence, clarity, and professionalism.

Whether you are jumping on a Zoom call, answering a phone call from a client, or dealing with technical glitches, knowing the right phrases will help you sound natural and authoritative.

 First we are going to look at how to master Virtual & Phone Communication

1. Opening the Call (The Right First Impression)

On the Phone

When answering an incoming work call, state your name and company immediately. When making a call, introduce yourself and state your purpose clearly.

• Answering:
  • "Good morning,English for French , this is Alison How may I help you?"
  • "Hello, John Smith speaking."
• Calling :
  • "Hello, this is Alison from English for French. I'm calling about your lessons with us.”
  • "Hi John, do you have a quick moment to speak?" informal

On a Video Call (Visio)

Video calls are slightly more informal at the start while people join, but you should transition to business smoothly.

• Small Talk & Tech Check:
  • "Good morning everyone. Can you all hear and see me clearly?"
  • "Let’s wait another minute or two for everyone to join us."
• Starting the Agenda:
  • "Alright, now that everyone is here, let’s get started."
  • "The goal of today’s call is to cover [Topic A] and outline next steps for [Topic B]."

 Asking for Help & Offering Assistance

Collaborative calls require polite, indirect requests that maintain professional etiquette.

Asking for Help (Polite Requests)

• Clarification: "Could you expand on that last point? I want to make sure I got everything."
• Technical Help: "Could someone share their screen? My presentation file isn't loading."
• Task Support: "Would you mind sending over the updated report after the meeting?"

Offering Help

• "Would you like me to take notes and send around a summary afterwards?"
• "I can help look into that issue if you’d like."
• "Let me know if you need a hand with the presentation."

Handling Technical Issues & Interruptions Gracefully

Technical glitches happen to everyone—the key is to address them calmly without panicking.

• Mute Issues: "Sorry about that, I was on mute!"
• Audio/Video Lag: "You’re cutting out a bit. Could you repeat that last sentence?"
• Screen Sharing: "Can everyone see my screen okay?"
• Managing Cross-Talk (Video Calls): "Sorry, go ahead, Alison. I’ll speak after you."

 Closing the Call Professionally

Never end a call abruptly. Wrap up with clear action items, appreciation, and a formal sign-off.

• Summarizing Action Items: "So to summarize, I will draft the email and Laura will review the budget."
• Final Check: "Does anyone have any final questions before we wrap up?"
• Thanking & Goodbye:
  • "Thank you for your time today, everyone. Have a great rest of your day!"
  • "Thanks for calling, Lucas]. Talk to you soon. Goodbye !"
  •  

⚠️ Common Pitfalls: Errors to Avoid

❌ Common Mistake	Why It Causes Problems	✅ What to Say/Do Instead
Saying "Sorry,Who are you?" when answering a call.	Sounds rude and demanding.	"May I ask who is calling, please?"
Saying "I don't understand you, speak louder."	Blames the speaker directly.	"Could you speak up a little, please? The line is faint."
Leaving long silences while looking for files.	Leaves the listener wondering if the line died.	"Bear with me for one second while I pull up that file..."
Ending with just "Bye!" on a formal client call.	Too abrupt for formal business settings.	"Thank you for your time. Have a great day!"
Talking over someone on video.	Causes audio distortion on platforms like Zoom/Teams.	Pause, raise your virtual hand, or write in the chat: "Go ahead, Jane ."

 Interactive Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Script Rewrite

Rewrite these informal or awkward phrases into professional English.

1. Informal: "What do you want?"

👉 Professional: __________________________________________________

1. Informal: "Wait a minute, I can't find the page."

👉 Professional: __________________________________________________

1. Informal: "Your mic is broken, I hear nothing."

👉 Professional: __________________________________________________

1. Informal: "I'm hanging up now."

👉 Professional: __________________________________________________

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the missing words using vocabulary from today's lesson:

(Words: mute, summarize, hand, expand, join in)

1. "Let's wait another minute for Sarah to ____________ on the call."
2. "Could you ____________ on that idea? I'd love to hear more details."
3. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was on ____________!"
4. "I can give you a ____________ with that report if you're busy."
5. "Before we finish, let me quickly ____________ our key action items."

Exercise 3: Matching Scenarios to Phrases

Match the scenario on the left (1–4) with the most appropriate professional phrase on the right (A–D).

Scenario	Professional Phrase
1. A colleague is speaking, but you cannot hear them.	A. "Let’s park that topic for now and circle back to it next week."
2. The meeting is running long, and you need to discuss another topic later.	B. "You’re on mute, [Name]—we can’t hear you."
3. You want to introduce your team member to present a section.	C. "Before we close, let’s quickly assign action items for each task."
4. You want to ensure everyone leaves the call knowing their tasks.	D. "I’ll pass the mic over to Sarah to walk us through the design updates."

Exercise 4: Spot the Error & Fix It

Identify the error in each line of dialogue and rewrite it professionally.

1. Dialogue: "Hey! Can you show your screen now?"

👉 Fix: __________________________________________________

1. Dialogue: "Stop talking, I can't hear the client."

👉 Fix: __________________________________________________

1. Dialogue: "I will close the call now because time is out."

👉 Fix: __________________________________________________

Role play Scenario:

I am Arthur Pendelton, a project manager at Apex Logistics. I am calling you, my primary point of contact at your company, to get an urgent status update on the software integration project we started last month.

(Phone rings...)

Arthur: "Good morning! This is Arthur Pendelton calling from Apex Logistics. I'm calling to check in on the status of our software integration project. Do you have a quick moment to speak?"

 

That’s all for today at English for French podcasts. I hope you enjoyed it. You can find the answers to the exercises below. See you again soon and keep practicing.

Cheers

 

 

 

 

Exercise 1: Script Rewrite Answer Key

1. Informal: "What do you want?"

👉 Professional: "How may I help you today?" or "Could you let me know what you're calling regarding?"

• Why: "What do you want?" sounds aggressive and dismissive in English business culture. Rephrasing it into a polite offer of assistance maintains professional courtesy.

Informal: "Wait a minute, I can't find the page."

👉 Professional: "Please bear with me for just a moment while I pull up that page." or "One moment, please—let me locate that document for you."

• Why: Phrases like "bear with me" signal to the listener that you are actively working to fix the delay, preventing awkward silence on the call.

Informal: "Your mic is broken, I hear nothing."

👉 Professional: "I'm having a little trouble hearing you. Could you check if your microphone is unmuted?" or "Your audio seems to be dropping out—could you repeat that last part?"

• Why: Direct statements like "your mic is broken" can feel accusatory. Framing the issue as a neutral technical glitch ("I'm having trouble hearing you") is much more polite.

Informal: "I'm hanging up now."

👉 Professional: "Thank you for your time today. I’ll let you go now—have a great rest of your day!" or "Thanks for the update. Talk to you soon. Goodbye!"

• Why: "Hanging up" is too abrupt and transactional. Professional closings always express appreciation before wrapping up.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks Answer Key

1. "Let's wait another minute for Sarah to join in the call."

• Explanation: "Join in " is an extremely common phrasal verb in business contexts meaning to join a phone or video conference call.

"Could you expand on that idea? I'd love to hear more details."

• Explanation: To "expand on" something means to elaborate or provide more depth about a point already mentioned.

"Sorry, I didn't realize I was on mute!"

• Explanation: Being "on mute" is the standard phrase used when your microphone audio is switched off during a video or audio call.

"I can give you a hand with that report if you're busy."

• Explanation: "Give a hand" (or "need a hand") is a natural idiom used to offer or request assistance in a collaborative work environment.

"Before we finish, let me quickly summarize our key action items."

• Explanation: "Summarize" means to outline the main points or responsibilities before concluding a call.

 

Here is the complete answer key and explanations for Exercises 3 and 4!

Exercise 3: Matching Scenarios to Phrases Answer Key

• 1 — B
  • Scenario: A colleague is speaking, but you cannot hear them.
  • Phrase: "You’re on mute, [Name]—we can’t hear you."
  • Explanation: Pointing out that someone is on mute quickly solves the most common audio issue in video calls without interrupting the flow of the presentation.
• 2 — A
  • Scenario: The meeting is running long, and you need to discuss another topic later.
  • Phrase: "Let’s park that topic for now and circle back to it next week."
  • Explanation: "To park a topic" means to save a non-urgent discussion for a future time so the team stays focused on the current agenda.
• 3 — D
  • Scenario: You want to introduce your team member to present a section.
  • Phrase: "I’ll pass the mic over to Sarah to walk us through the design updates."
  • Explanation: "Passing the mic" (or "handing over") is a smooth transition phrase used to delegate the presentation to a colleague.
• 4 — C
  • Scenario: You want to ensure everyone leaves the call knowing their tasks.
  • Phrase: "Before we close, let’s quickly assign action items for each task."
  • Explanation: Establishing clear "action items" ensures everyone understands their specific responsibilities after the call ends.

Exercise 4: Spot the Error & Fix It Answer Key

1. Original: "Hey! Can you show your screen now?"

👉 Professional Fix: "Could you share your screen with us when you're ready?" or "Would you mind pulling up your screen?"

• Explanation: In English business contexts, "show your screen" sounds overly informal or direct. "Share your screen" is the standard term, paired with "Could you..." or "Would you mind..." for politeness.

Original: "Stop talking, I can't hear the client."

👉 Professional Fix: "Could everyone please hold on a second? I'm having trouble hearing the client." or "May I ask everyone to mute their mics for a moment so we can hear [Client Name]?"

• Explanation: Telling colleagues to "stop talking" is sharp and blunt. Addressing the entire group politely or focusing on mic etiquette maintains a professional environment.

Original: "I will close the call now because time is out."

👉 Professional Fix: "I see we’ve run out of time, so let’s wrap things up here." or "Since we’ve reached the end of our scheduled time, let's wrap up."

• Explanation: "Time is out" is a literal translation error from languages like German or French. In English, we say "we've run out of time" or "we've reached the end of our time."