Choosing an Online Language Course | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a study planning conversation, two adults compare online language courses by schedule, reviews, and teaching style..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing an Online Language Course to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Je veux choisir un cours de langue en ligne.

zhuh vuh shwah-ZEER uhn KOOR duh lahng ahn LEEN-yuh I want to choose an online language course.
B

Compare les horaires, les avis et la méthode d'enseignement.

kohm-PAIR lay oh-RAIR, lay zah-VEE ay lah may-TOHD dahn-SAYN-yuh-MAHN Compare the schedule, reviews, and teaching style.
A

Ce cours est plus court, mais il a moins de leçons.

suh KOOR ay ploo KOOR, may eel ah mwahn duh luh-SON This course is shorter but has fewer lessons.
B

L'autre semble plus adapté aux débutants.

LOHT-ruh sahmbl ploo ah-dap-TAY oh day-boo-TAHN The other one looks more beginner-friendly.
A

Je peux seulement étudier le week-end.

zhuh puh seul-MAHN ay-too-dee-AY luh WEEK-ehnd I can only study on weekends.
B

Alors, choisis le cours qui propose des cours le week-end.

ah-LOR, shwah-ZEE luh KOOR kee proh-POHZ day KOOR luh WEEK-ehnd Then choose the course with weekend classes.
A

Les avis disent que le professeur explique clairement.

lay zah-VEE DEEZ kuh luh proh-feh-SUR ex-PLICK klair-MAHN The reviews say the teacher explains clearly.
B

Cela compte plus qu'un cours plus court.

suh-LAH kohnt ploo kahn KOOR ploo KOOR That matters more than a shorter course.

Word by Word

Je “Je” means “I” in “Je veux choisir un cours de langue en ligne.” It is used before the verb to show who wants to choose the course. New example: “Je peux étudier le week-end” means “I can study at the weekend.”
veux “veux” expresses “want” in “Je veux choisir un cours de langue en ligne.” It is used before an infinitive such as “choisir” to say what someone wants to do. New example: “Je veux apprendre” means “I want to learn.”
choisir “choisir” means “to choose” in “Je veux choisir un cours de langue en ligne.” After “veux,” it names the action the speaker wants to carry out. New example: “Je dois choisir un cours” means “I have to choose a course.”
un “un” means “a” in “un cours de langue.” It introduces one course without identifying a specific course yet. New example: “un professeur” means “a teacher.”
cours “cours” means “course” in “un cours de langue.” The same word is reused in the dialogue when comparing and choosing a course. New example: “un cours en ligne” means “an online course.”
de “de” links “cours” and “langue” in “un cours de langue,” meaning a course of or about a language. It is used to specify the subject of the course. New example: “un cours de français” means “a French course.”
langue “langue” means “language” in “un cours de langue.” It identifies what kind of course is being discussed. New example: “une langue étrangère” means “a foreign language.”
en “en” helps form “en ligne,” which means “online” in the dialogue. This expression is used after a noun to describe something accessed through the internet. New example: “un cours en ligne” means “an online course.”
ligne “ligne” contributes to the expression “en ligne,” meaning “online” in “un cours de langue en ligne.” Use “en ligne” as the complete expression when describing an online service or activity. New example: “étudier en ligne” means “to study online.”
Compare “Compare” gives a direct instruction to compare the course features in “Compare les horaires, les avis et la méthode d'enseignement.” It is used at the beginning of a command. New example: “Compare les deux cours” means “Compare the two courses.”
les “les” means “the” before plural items in “les horaires, les avis et la méthode d'enseignement.” It presents the schedules and reviews as identified things to compare. New example: “les cours” means “the courses.”
horaires “horaires” means “schedules” in “les horaires.” It refers here to the timing of the courses. New example: “les horaires des cours” means “the course schedules.”
avis “avis” means “reviews” in “les avis.” In this lesson, the reviews provide information about the teacher and help with the decision. New example: “lire les avis” means “to read the reviews.”
et “et” means “and” in “les horaires, les avis et la méthode d'enseignement.” It links the final item to the other things being compared. New example: “les horaires et les avis” means “the schedules and the reviews.”
la “la” means “the” before “méthode” in “la méthode d'enseignement.” It introduces one identified teaching method. New example: “la méthode du professeur” means “the teacher’s method.”
méthode “méthode” means “method” or “teaching style” in “la méthode d'enseignement.” It describes how teaching is organized or carried out. New example: “une méthode simple” means “a simple method.”
d'enseignement “d'enseignement” specifies that the “méthode” concerns teaching in “la méthode d'enseignement.” The form begins with “d'” before “enseignement” and completes the expression as a whole. New example: “une méthode d'enseignement claire” means “a clear teaching method.”
Ce “Ce” means “this” before “cours” in “Ce cours est plus court.” It points to the particular course currently being discussed. New example: “Ce cours commence samedi” means “This course starts on Saturday.”
est “est” means “is” in “Ce cours est plus court.” It links the course to the description “plus court.” The citation form is “être,” meaning “to be.”
plus “plus” makes a comparison in “plus court,” meaning “shorter,” and in “plus adapté,” meaning “more suitable.” It is placed before the describing word in these dialogue expressions. New example: “plus clair” means “clearer” or “more clear.”
court “court” means “short” in “Ce cours est plus court.” With “plus,” it compares the length of this course with another one. New example: “un message court” means “a short message.”
mais “mais” means “but” in “plus court, mais il a moins de leçons.” It introduces information that contrasts with the course being shorter. New example: “Il est court, mais utile” means “It is short, but useful.”
il “il” refers to the course in “il a moins de leçons.” It allows the speaker to continue talking about the course without repeating “ce cours.” New example: “Il commence le week-end” means “It starts at the weekend.”
a “a” means “has” in “il a moins de leçons.” It introduces what the course contains or offers: fewer lessons. The citation form is “avoir,” meaning “to have.”
moins “moins” expresses a smaller quantity in “moins de leçons,” meaning “fewer lessons.” The pattern is “moins de” followed by the thing whose quantity is smaller. New example: “moins de temps” means “less time.”
leçons “leçons” means “lessons” in “moins de leçons.” It is the item whose quantity is being compared between the courses. New example: “suivre des leçons” means “to take lessons.”
L'autre “L'autre” means “the other one” in “L'autre semble plus adapté aux débutants.” It identifies the second course being considered. New example: “Je préfère l'autre” means “I prefer the other one.”
semble “semble” means “seems” in “L'autre semble plus adapté aux débutants.” It presents the speaker’s impression rather than a definite statement. The citation form is “sembler,” meaning “to seem.”
adapté “adapté” means “suitable” in “plus adapté aux débutants.” It describes the course as fitting the needs of beginners. The reusable pattern is “adapté à” or, with plural people here, “adapté aux débutants.”
aux “aux” means “to” or “for the” in “adapté aux débutants.” It is the form used before the plural group “débutants” in this expression. New example: “utile aux étudiants” means “useful for the students.”
débutants “débutants” means “beginners” in “adapté aux débutants.” It refers to learners who are at the beginning of their study. New example: “un cours pour débutants” means “a course for beginners.”
peux “peux” expresses “can” in “Je peux seulement étudier le week-end.” It is followed by the infinitive “étudier” to say what the speaker is able or available to do. The citation form is “pouvoir,” meaning “to be able to.”
seulement “seulement” means “only” in “Je peux seulement étudier le week-end.” It limits the time or circumstance in which the speaker can study. New example: “Je travaille seulement le matin” means “I only work in the morning.”
étudier “étudier” means “to study” in “Je peux seulement étudier le week-end.” After “peux,” it names the activity the speaker can do. New example: “étudier une langue” means “to study a language.”
week-end “week-end” means “weekend” in “étudier le week-end.” It identifies the time when the speaker can study. New example: “un cours le week-end” means “a weekend course.”
Alors “Alors” means “then” in “Alors, choisis le cours qui propose des cours le week-end.” It connects the stated schedule restriction with the recommendation that follows. New example: “Alors, on commence” means “Then, we’ll start.”
choisis “choisis” means “choose” in the direct instruction “choisis le cours qui propose des cours le week-end.” It is used to tell one person what choice to make. The citation form is “choisir,” meaning “to choose.”
qui “qui” introduces the part of the sentence that describes which course to choose in “le cours qui propose des cours le week-end.” It links “le cours” to the information that follows. New example: “le cours qui commence samedi” means “the course that starts on Saturday.”
propose “propose” means “offers” in “qui propose des cours le week-end.” It says what the selected course provides. The citation form is “proposer,” meaning “to offer” or “to propose.”
des “des” introduces the plural noun “cours” in “propose des cours le week-end,” meaning “offers classes.” It presents the classes as an unspecified plural offering. New example: “des cours en ligne” means “online courses.”
disent “disent” means “say” in “Les avis disent que le professeur explique clairement.” The reviews are the source of the information that follows. The citation form is “dire,” meaning “to say.”
que “que” introduces the information reported after “disent” in “Les avis disent que le professeur explique clairement.” It connects what the reviews say with the following clause. New example: “Je pense que c'est utile” means “I think that it is useful.”
professeur “professeur” means “teacher” in “le professeur explique clairement.” It identifies the person whose explanations are evaluated in the reviews. New example: “un professeur de français” means “a French teacher.”
explique “explique” means “explains” in “le professeur explique clairement.” It describes what the teacher does in the reported information. The citation form is “expliquer,” meaning “to explain.”
clairement “clairement” means “clearly” in “explique clairement.” It describes the manner in which the teacher explains. New example: “parler clairement” means “to speak clearly.”
Cela “Cela” means “that” or “it” in “Cela compte plus qu'un cours plus court.” It refers to the clear explanations described in the previous sentence. New example: “Cela semble utile” means “That seems useful.”
compte “compte” means “matters” in “Cela compte plus qu'un cours plus court.” It says that the quality of the explanations is important in the choice. The citation form is “compter,” meaning “to count” or “to matter.”
qu'un “qu'un” means “than a” in “Cela compte plus qu'un cours plus court.” It introduces the option used for comparison after “plus.” This form combines “que” and “un”; the reusable pattern is “plus que” followed by the comparison.

Grammar Points

vouloir + infinitif

Je veux choisir un cours en ligne.

zhuh vuh shwah-ZEER uhn KOOR ahn LEEN-yuh

I want to choose an online course.

After vouloir, the next verb stays in the infinitive: veux choisir, like “want to choose” in English.

adapté(e) à + nom

Une méthode adaptée aux débutants.

oon may-TOHD ah-dap-TAY oh day-boo-TAHN

A method suitable for beginners.

The adjective agrees with méthode: adaptée. Aux is the contraction of à + les.

French Vocabulary

avis noun
ah-VEE review
choisir verb
shwah-ZEER to choose
comparer verb
kohm-pah-RAY to compare Compare
cours noun
KOOR course
court adj
KOOR short
en ligne phrase
ahn LEEN-yuh online
enseignement noun
ahn-SAYN-yuh-MAHN teaching
horaire noun
oh-RAIR schedule horaires
langue noun
lahng language
leçon noun
luh-SON lesson leçons
méthode noun
may-TOHD method
vouloir verb
voo-LWAHR to want veux

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

The other one looks more beginner-friendly.

Show AnswerL'autre semble plus adapté aux débutants.

I can only study on weekends.

Show AnswerJe peux seulement étudier le week-end.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

schedule

Show Answerhoraires

to choose

Show Answerchoisir

course

Show Answercours

language

Show Answerlangue