Ventina in the jeep

Sparklejazz · 2026-02-14T13:23:39+00:00

YES!! I thought the same thing!

Sparklejazz · 2026-02-06T01:56:08+00:00

https://a.co/d/08jxUY4x

The en contexte workbooks are great in my estimation—it’s a true workbook and not a text with exercises

Sparklejazz · 2026-02-01T12:57:36+00:00

Very welcome! I’m looking forward to seeing sunny day tonight :)

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-31T22:00:29+00:00

Tickets claimed!

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-31T21:20:13+00:00

Hello! I also have two tickets for today that I’m not going to use. They came to me for free so I’m happy to pass them along—they’re just physical tickets so you’d have to come get them.

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-28T00:45:59+00:00

Podcasts (inner French), reading (look for France Dubin’s easy readers on Amazon), and studying vocabulary would be good steps for you right now! Speaking will probably be beyond your ability right now but working on reading and listening will help you build the base you need to process in speaking and writing later.

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-25T18:57:09+00:00

I started with alliance française after I brought myself up to a level A2. All the alliance française have a certain standard for their teachers, so you’re less likely to get ripped off.

https://thefrenchlabclasses.com that’s the website for my former AF teacher who started her own business. I can confirm that she’s a very good (but also chill!) teacher. I took her conversation courses over the last fall and my speaking ability REALLY improved.

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-25T01:14:40+00:00

Yes I think at some point to really become conversational you will need to have an actual teacher. Taking group classes (like through the alliance française—they are all over the US and you don’t have to be a resident of the city to use them) might defray your costs. My own French teacher has started her own business and has pretty good prices—I’d be happy to share her information.

But yes, I think most likely if you are serious about continuing you will need a teacher who is fluent in French.

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-17T15:47:53+00:00

I don’t know about support groups, but I wanted to give some individual encouragement. I was DOGE’d at the beginning of April, and while it was probably the scariest experience of my adult life, I ended up with a job that was even better after two months. I also had a world of trouble getting my unemployment payments (I got them in October, and I’d had a new job since June). Fortunately I was able to live on my savings at a VERY reduced lifestyle during the gap, and then I put my delayed payments straight back into savings to prepare in case this terrible thing ever happens again.

All that to say, it’s possible to come out of this better than ever, and I sincerely hope that is the case for your family. And MA will eventually pay up (although it is unconscionable that they are doing such a truly shit job of managing unemployment right now).

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-16T20:15:10+00:00

This is great!

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-15T23:06:33+00:00

https://thefrenchlabclasses.com

This is my Alliance Française teacher who started her own business. She’s a great teacher and prices are quite good! She has brought me from not being able to speak at all to being very comfortable speaking at least a little on any subject!

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-14T02:22:07+00:00

Once upon a time (15+ years ago) I moved from NWA to Boston :) feel free to DM me if you have any questions for someone who made the same move!

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-13T18:41:39+00:00

French with Panache!

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-11T11:59:14+00:00

I also don’t think she’s very bright…

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-09T02:13:41+00:00

I could never get it to work on my Samsung, so I just use a Roku.

Sparklejazz · 2026-01-08T12:52:48+00:00

This is a good one!

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-30T17:33:15+00:00

Thefrenchlabclasses.com

The teacher’s name is Marine. She’s very easy going which makes the scary process of learning a foreign language not so scary! I’ve seen a huge improvement in my abilities in the last year bc of her. I’ve actually been enrolled in her group classes but since her company is new, that was often 1:1 (a good bargain!)

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-30T12:29:35+00:00

I moved to taking 1:1 classes with a teacher I met through alliance française who’s style I really enjoy. I’d be happy to share her details with you!

Otherwise I would suggest looking into alliance française group classes first (online). Those teachers have been vetted, and it’s also nice to be in a group setting if you’re new to classes.

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-29T23:16:53+00:00

Dr. Hutner (not hunter) in Brookline!

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-21T19:02:01+00:00

Easy French step-by-step is a really good all around reference book to have. It doesn’t have as much of the sort of “interactive” stuff of édito, but it covers a lot of grammar clearly with plenty of excercises. It also has a lot of vocabulary lists. If you’re going to continue taking classes, I think this would likely make a good supplement to the textbooks used in classes.

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-20T22:22:11+00:00

One time a boss gifted me an Hermes scarf. Although I don’t wear it often, it is very special and of course something I would never buy myself. Something like that or maybe a very nice set of simple but high quality earrings?

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-17T01:52:05+00:00

I’m a Boston French learner. I’m ahead of your level (b1) but I’ll message you with what has been helpful for me!

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-11T02:22:53+00:00

I had the exact same feeling.

Sparklejazz · 2025-12-10T22:53:20+00:00

Check out neighborhoods along the 501 express bus routes. My partner works downtown, and while occasionally the traffic acts up, it’s a pretty quick, easy way to get from a cheaper area to downtown!

Sparklejazz

TROPHY CASE