About This Lesson
Use Choosing an online course by priorities to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Je compare des cours en ligne, et ils semblent convenir à différents styles d'apprentissage.
zhuh kohn-PAHR day koor ahn LEEN, ay eel SAHMBL kohn-vuh-NEER ah dee-fay-RAHN steel dah-pron-tee-SAHZH. I'm comparing online courses, and they seem to fit different learning styles.
B
Qu'est-ce qui compte le plus pour toi : les retours, la flexibilité ou la pratique de l'oral ?
kess-kee KOHNT luh PLOO poor TWAH: lay ruh-TOOR, lah flex-ee-bee-lee-TAY oo lah prah-TEEK duh loh-RAHL? What matters most to you: feedback, flexibility, or speaking practice?
A
J'ai besoin de retours, mais mon emploi du temps change beaucoup.
zhay buh-ZWAN duh ruh-TOOR, may mohn ahn-PLWAH dew TAHN shahnj boh-KOO. I need feedback, but my schedule changes a lot.
B
Alors, un cours flexible avec des séances en direct facultatives pourrait te convenir le mieux.
ah-LOR, uhn koor flex-SEEBL ah-VEK day SAY-ahns ahn dee-REKT fack-tew-ah-TEEV poo-RAY tuh kohn-vuh-NEER luh MYUH. Then a flexible course with optional live sessions may fit best.
A
Un cours a de très bonnes évaluations, mais il offre très peu de pratique de l'oral.
uhn koor ah duh tray BUN ay-vay-lyoo-ah-SYOHN, may eel OFFR tray PUH duh prah-TEEK duh loh-RAHL. One course has strong reviews, but it has very little speaking practice.
B
Si ton objectif est de parler, ce manque est important.
see tohn noh-bzhehk-TEEF eh duh par-LAY, suh MAHNK eh-tahn-por-TAHN. If speaking is your goal, that gap matters.
A
L'autre cours comprend des cours interactifs et des commentaires du professeur.
LOHTR koor kohn-PRON day koor ahn-tair-ak-TEEF ay day koh-mahn-TAIR dew proh-feh-SUR. The other course includes interactive classes and teacher comments.
B
Choisis celui qui correspond à la façon dont tu veux vraiment apprendre.
shwah-ZEE suh-LWEE kee koh-res-POHN ah lah fah-SOHN dohn tew vuh VREH-mahn ah-pron-DRUH. Choose the one that matches how you actually want to learn.Word by Word
Je
In “Je compare”, Je means “I” and identifies the speaker. It comes before the verb in this sentence. Use Je before a verb when talking about your own action or state.
compare
In “Je compare des cours en ligne”, compare means “am comparing”. It describes the speaker’s action of examining courses against one another. It can be used before the things being compared, as in “compare des cours”.
des
In “des cours en ligne”, des introduces more than one unspecified course. It appears directly before the plural noun cours. Use des before plural nouns when referring to some items rather than particular identified ones.
cours
In “des cours en ligne”, cours means “courses”. Here it refers to online learning programs. It is used after des and before the description en ligne.
en
In “en ligne”, en helps express that something is online rather than in a physical setting. Together with ligne, it describes cours. This expression can be placed after a noun to specify that the activity or service is online.
ligne
In “en ligne”, ligne contributes to the fixed expression meaning “online”. The full expression describes cours as being provided online. Use en ligne after a noun when identifying an online course, service, or activity.
et
In “Je compare des cours en ligne, et ils semblent convenir”, et links two related statements. It adds the information about how the courses seem to fit different learning styles. Use et to connect words, phrases, or complete ideas.
ils
In “ils semblent convenir”, ils refers back to the courses. It is the subject of the statement about their apparent suitability. Use it after a previously mentioned plural masculine or mixed group when referring to that group again.
semblent
In “ils semblent convenir”, semblent expresses that the courses appear or seem to fit. It is followed here by the infinitive convenir. A useful pattern is “ils semblent” followed by an action or description that appears true.
convenir
In “semblent convenir à différents styles d'apprentissage”, convenir means “to suit” or “to fit”. It describes the courses as suitable for different learning styles. The reusable pattern here is “convenir à” followed by the person, group, or thing that something suits.
à
In “convenir à différents styles d'apprentissage”, à links convenir to the styles that the courses suit. It marks the group for which something is appropriate. Keep à in the pattern “convenir à” when expressing suitability.
différents
In “différents styles d'apprentissage”, différents means “different” and distinguishes several learning styles from one another. It describes styles. Use it before a plural noun when emphasizing that the items are not the same.
styles
In “différents styles d'apprentissage”, styles means “styles”. Here it refers to different ways of learning. It is followed by d'apprentissage, which specifies what kind of styles they are.
d'apprentissage
In “styles d'apprentissage”, d'apprentissage means “of learning” and specifies the subject of the styles. It follows styles in the pattern “noun d'apprentissage”. This pattern can identify something connected with learning.
Qu'est-ce
In “Qu'est-ce qui compte le plus pour toi”, Qu'est-ce introduces the question “what”. The form combines Qu', the shortened form of que before a vowel, est meaning “is”, and ce meaning “this” or “it”; together, Qu'est-ce starts the interrogative expression. Use this expression at the beginning of a question about what something is or what matters.
qui
In “Qu'est-ce qui compte le plus”, qui identifies what is doing the action expressed by compte. It links the question expression to the subject of the following clause. Use “Qu'est-ce qui” when asking what performs an action or has a particular role.
compte
In “ce qui compte le plus”, compte means “matters”. It identifies the factor that is important to the person being asked. A reusable pattern is “ce qui compte” for “what matters”.
le
In “compte le plus”, le works with plus to express the highest degree, “the most”. It is part of the expression le plus rather than expressing a separate object here. Use le plus with an expression when identifying what has the greatest degree or importance.
plus
In “compte le plus”, plus marks the highest degree and gives the meaning “most”. Together, le plus says which factor matters to the greatest extent. It is useful in patterns such as “compter le plus” when comparing importance.
pour
In “pour toi”, pour means “for” and identifies the person whose priorities are being discussed. It is followed by the stressed pronoun toi. Use pour before a person when expressing relevance or suitability for that person.
toi
In “pour toi”, toi means “you” and refers to the person being asked. This stressed form appears after the preposition pour. Use “pour toi” when saying that something concerns, suits, or matters to you.
les
In “les retours”, les identifies the plural noun retours as a specific category of feedback under discussion. It comes directly before the plural noun. Use les before plural nouns when referring to known or defined things.
retours
In “les retours”, retours means “feedback”. Here it refers to responses or comments about the learner’s work. It is used as one of the priorities being compared in the question.
la
In “la flexibilité”, la introduces the singular noun flexibilité. It identifies flexibility as a particular priority in the discussion. Use la before a singular noun when the noun takes this feminine article.
flexibilité
In “la flexibilité”, flexibilité means “flexibility”. Here it refers to how easily a course can fit a changing schedule. It is presented as one of the factors that can matter when choosing a course.
ou
In “les retours, la flexibilité ou la pratique de l'oral”, ou presents an alternative. It links the possible priorities feedback, flexibility, and speaking practice. Use ou between alternatives in a question or list.
pratique
In “la pratique de l'oral”, pratique means “practice”. It refers to practice as an activity or part of a course. The pattern “pratique de” introduces the skill or activity being practiced.
de
In “pratique de l'oral”, de links pratique to the activity being practiced. It gives the relationship “practice of speaking”. Use de after a noun such as pratique to specify its subject or activity.
l'oral
In “la pratique de l'oral”, l'oral refers to speaking or oral communication. The whole expression identifies speaking practice as a course feature. It can be used after pratique to name the communication skill being practiced.
J'ai
In “J'ai besoin de retours”, J'ai means “I have” and begins the expression for stating a need. It is formed from Je and ai, with the vowel sounds joined in writing. Use the pattern “J'ai besoin de” before the thing or activity you need.
besoin
In “J'ai besoin de retours”, besoin means “need”. Together with J'ai, it expresses that the speaker requires feedback. The reusable pattern is “avoir besoin de” followed by a noun or activity.
mais
In “J'ai besoin de retours, mais mon emploi du temps change beaucoup”, mais means “but”. It introduces information that contrasts with the need for feedback. Use mais to connect two ideas that do not point in exactly the same direction.
mon
In “mon emploi du temps”, mon means “my” and links the schedule to the speaker. It comes immediately before the noun phrase emploi du temps. Use mon before a singular noun when referring to something belonging or relating to you.
emploi du temps
In “mon emploi du temps”, the whole expression means “my schedule”. Emploi contributes the idea of an arrangement or use, du links it with temps, and temps means “time”. Use this expression when referring to the timetable that organizes someone’s activities.
change
In “mon emploi du temps change beaucoup”, change means “changes”. It says that the speaker’s schedule is not stable. Use a subject before change to describe something becoming different over time.
beaucoup
In “change beaucoup”, beaucoup means “a lot”. It increases the degree of change in the schedule. It commonly follows the verb here to say that an action happens or varies to a large extent.
Alors
At the beginning of “Alors, un cours flexible”, Alors means “then” and introduces a conclusion or suggestion based on what was just said. It connects the changing schedule with the proposed course. Use Alors at the start of a response when drawing a practical conclusion.
un
In “un cours flexible”, un introduces one unspecified course. In “Un cours a de très bonnes évaluations”, the same form introduces a course as one option. Use un before a singular noun when referring to one item without identifying it as a particular known item.
flexible
In “un cours flexible”, flexible describes the course as able to accommodate changing needs or schedules. It follows the noun cours here. Use a noun followed by flexible when describing a person, plan, or service that can adapt.
avec
In “avec des séances en direct facultatives”, avec means “with”. It introduces the sessions included alongside the flexible course. Use avec before a noun phrase to say that something has or includes an additional feature.
séances
In “des séances en direct facultatives”, séances means “sessions”. Here it refers to live course meetings. It is described by the expressions en direct and facultatives.
direct
In “en direct”, direct contributes to the meaning “live”. Together, en direct describes the sessions as happening in real time. Use this expression for live broadcasts, meetings, or classes.
facultatives
In “séances en direct facultatives”, facultatives means “optional”. It tells the learner that the live sessions are not required. Use it after the noun or noun phrase being described as optional.
pourrait
In “pourrait te convenir le mieux”, pourrait expresses a possibility: the course “could” or “might” suit you best. It makes the suggestion less definite than a direct statement. A reusable pattern is “pourrait” followed by an infinitive, as in “pourrait convenir”.
te
In “te convenir”, te means “to you” and identifies the person whom the course may suit. It appears before the infinitive convenir. Keep te before the verb in patterns that express something being suitable for you.
mieux
In “te convenir le mieux”, mieux means “best”. Together with le, it identifies the course as the one that fits most successfully. Use “le mieux” after a verb such as convenir when comparing how well options fit.
a
In “Un cours a de très bonnes évaluations”, a means “has”. It states that one course possesses or receives very good evaluations. Use a between the subject and the thing it has.
très
In “de très bonnes évaluations”, très means “very” and strengthens the description bonnes. It shows that the evaluations are especially good. Use très before an adjective to increase its intensity.
bonnes
In “de très bonnes évaluations”, bonnes means “good” and describes the evaluations positively. It contributes to the meaning “strong reviews” in this context. Use it before a noun when describing evaluations or other results as favorable.
évaluations
In “de très bonnes évaluations”, évaluations means “evaluations”, referring here to reviews or ratings of a course. It is the thing the course has. Use it when discussing judgments or ratings given to a course, product, or service.
il
In “il offre très peu de pratique de l'oral”, il refers back to the course. It is the subject of the statement about what the course provides. Use il to refer again to a previously mentioned singular masculine noun such as cours.
offre
In “il offre très peu de pratique de l'oral”, offre means “offers” or “provides”. It describes what the course makes available to learners. Use offre before the feature, service, or quantity being provided.
peu
In “très peu de pratique de l'oral”, peu means “little” and indicates a small amount. Together with très, it expresses “very little” speaking practice. The reusable pattern is “peu de” followed by a noun.
Si
At the beginning of “Si ton objectif est de parler”, Si means “if”. It introduces a condition connected to the importance of the speaking-practice gap. Use Si before a situation that must be considered before the main statement.
ton
In “ton objectif”, ton means “your” and links the goal to the person being addressed. It comes before the noun objectif. Use ton before a singular noun when referring to something belonging or relating to one person addressed as tu.
objectif
In “ton objectif est de parler”, objectif means “goal”. Here it identifies speaking as the learner’s aim. A useful pattern is “objectif est de” followed by an infinitive to state the goal.
est
In “ton objectif est de parler”, est links the subject ton objectif to the action de parler. It means “is”. Use est to connect a person or thing with a description, identity, or goal.
parler
In “de parler”, parler means “to speak”. It names the activity that is the learner’s goal. It follows de after the expression “ton objectif est de” and can be used there to state an intended action.
ce
In “ce manque est important”, ce points to the lack of speaking practice just mentioned. It means “this” or “that” before the noun manque. Use ce before a singular noun when referring to a particular thing already identified in the conversation.
manque
In “ce manque est important”, manque means “gap” or “lack”. It refers specifically to the small amount of speaking practice. A reusable pattern is “un manque de” followed by the thing that is lacking.
important
In “ce manque est important”, important means “important”. It states that the lack of speaking practice matters for someone whose goal is speaking. Use it after est to describe the significance of a situation or thing.
L'autre
In “L'autre cours”, L'autre means “the other” and identifies the second course being compared. The apostrophe shows the shortened article before autre. Use L'autre before a noun when distinguishing one remaining option from one already mentioned.
comprend
In “L'autre cours comprend des cours interactifs”, comprend means “includes”. It says that the other course contains interactive classes as part of its offering. Use comprend before the features or elements that are included.
interactifs
In “des cours interactifs”, interactifs means “interactive” and describes the courses as involving interaction. It appears after cours. Use it after a plural noun when describing several courses or classes as interactive.
commentaires
In “des commentaires du professeur”, commentaires means “comments”. Here it refers to feedback provided by the teacher. Use commentaires followed by de or du to identify who made the comments.
du
In “du professeur”, du links commentaires to the teacher and means “of the”. It is the form used before professeur in this expression. Use du before a singular noun when expressing this relationship with the definite article.
professeur
In “des commentaires du professeur”, professeur means “teacher”. It identifies the person who provides the comments. It follows du in the pattern “commentaires du professeur”.
Choisis
At the beginning of “Choisis celui qui correspond”, Choisis means “choose” and gives a direct recommendation to the person addressed as tu. It is followed here by the option to select. Use Choisis before a noun or pronoun when telling someone to select something.
celui
In “Choisis celui qui correspond”, celui means “the one” and refers to one course among the options. It is followed by qui correspond, which describes which one to choose. Use the pattern “celui qui” when selecting the one that meets a stated condition.
correspond
In “celui qui correspond à la façon”, correspond means “matches” or “corresponds”. It describes the course as fitting the learner’s preferred way of learning. A reusable pattern is “correspondre à” followed by the person, thing, or way that something matches.
façon
In “à la façon dont tu veux vraiment apprendre”, façon means “way”. It refers to the learner’s preferred way of learning. The pattern “la façon dont” introduces how an action is carried out.
dont
In “la façon dont tu veux vraiment apprendre”, dont links façon with the following clause and gives the meaning “the way in which” or “how”. It introduces the description of the learner’s preferred way of learning. Use “la façon dont” before a subject and verb when describing how something is done.
tu
In “tu veux vraiment apprendre”, tu means “you” and refers to the person choosing the course. It is the subject of veux. Use tu before a verb when addressing one person informally.
veux
In “tu veux vraiment apprendre”, veux means “want”. It expresses the learner’s preference or intention. It is followed by the infinitive apprendre in the reusable pattern “veux + infinitive”.
vraiment
In “tu veux vraiment apprendre”, vraiment means “really” or “actually”. It emphasizes the learner’s genuine preferred way of learning. Use it near the verb to strengthen or clarify the sincerity of an intention.
apprendre
In “tu veux vraiment apprendre”, apprendre means “to learn”. It names the action that the learner wants to carry out. It follows veux in the common pattern “vouloir + infinitive”.
Grammar Points
avoir besoin de + nom
J'ai besoin de flexibilité.
zhay buh-ZWAN duh flex-ee-bee-lee-TAY.I need flexibility.
The fixed expression avoir besoin de means “to need” and is followed by de before a noun.
sembler + adjectif
Les cours en ligne semblent flexibles.
lay koor ahn LEEN SAHMBL flex-SEEBL.Online courses seem flexible.
sembler is followed directly by an adjective; the adjective agrees with the plural subject.
French Vocabulary
avoir besoin de
phrase
ah-VWAR buh-ZWAN duh
to need
J'ai besoin de
J'ai besoin de retours
comparer
verb
kohn-par-AY
to compare
compare
Je compare des cours en ligne
compter
verb
kohn-TAY
to matter; to count
compte
Qu'est-ce qui compte le plus pour toi
convenir
verb
kohn-vuh-NEER
to suit
ils semblent convenir à différents styles
cours en ligne
phrase
koor ahn LEEN
online course
des cours en ligne
différents
adj
dee-fay-RAHN
different
différents styles d'apprentissage
emploi du temps
phrase
ahn-PLWAH dew TAHN
schedule
mon emploi du temps
flexibilité
noun
flex-ee-bee-lee-TAY
flexibility
la flexibilité
pratique de l'oral
phrase
prah-TEEK duh loh-RAHL
speaking practice
la pratique de l'oral
retour
noun
ruh-TOOR
feedback
retours
les retours
sembler
verb
sahm-BLAY
to seem
semblent
ils semblent convenir
style d'apprentissage
phrase
steel dah-pron-tee-SAHZH
learning style
différents styles d'apprentissage
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to suit
Show Answer
convenirto matter; to count
Show Answer
compteto compare
Show Answer
comparedifferent