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You Can't Always Be Perfect As a native English speaker learning French🎙, I've made so many mistakes 😒. Let's face it. English speakers are notoriously bad for language learning 🤷‍♂️. And, I was no exception. But, I believe it's made me a better teacher. I can empathise with those who feel disappointed and frustrated with a lack of progress, especially those who clearly have the ambition 🎯 and motivation to learn but end up feeling stuck, in a loop of poor progress... you know who you are! 😜 French is hard. But it really doesn't have to be as hard as it is. There are some easy fixes - paying attention to the sound of French, as opposed to its look - its spellings. But the problem is deeper... an obsession with being perfect 😲. With over 1000 hours of study 📚, I've got plenty of experience with what does and doesn't work - and there's a lot that simply doesn't - for instance, endless grammar and the learning of words in isolation or even worse themes, in some vain hope that it'll prepare us perfectly for any context that we encounter in real life. 'Today let's do all the body parts so you can understand whenever somebody talks about a body part' 🦴 ... NO!!! DON'T DO IT! Outside of anaesthesiology, who's ever going to talk about an ankle, elbow, toe, nose and fibula all at the same time? No one. It's not a meaningful category. It's convenient... for a spreadsheet. Life is more beautiful and messy than a collection of 2D boxes. Its patterns are far more amazing and complex and the brain exists to dance with them. Feed it story, character and conflict, not lists. Our brain is hungry for real meaning. Real patterns. It wants to hear each body part in real conversation: my mother-in-law falling and breaking her ankle (don't laugh 🙈). My idiot friend getting his tongue 😝 stuck to a frozen lamppost. It wants to hear the words in context. It can figure out that they're all parts of the body on its own. Please don't inhibit it. Let it be free. Emancipate it from the soul-destroying focus of artificially themed lists 🧠. All. It. Does. Is. Stress. Us. Out. 😣 Learning happens best when we're calm 🧘‍♀️. When our minds can generate imagery and engage meaningfully with ideas and people, or puzzles and places. There's so much research documenting how stressed brains speed up inappropriately. .. in totally the wrong way! Stressed people become obsessed with their immediate environment and all their brain power is devoted to looking for threats. That's it. High alert for imminent danger 🌡. No creativity there. No proper learning. They couldn't give a 💩 about how to ask a question or express a point of view in another language. Far. Too. Abstract. They need to be on the watch 👀! For instance, that smiling person might actually not be smiling. They could be smirking... wanting to make fun and hurt someone 😠. The self-consciousness (and ultimately paranoia) becomes exhausting. So moving toward stress is generally not a good thing. In fact, it's terrible. Very, very terrible. Reduces learning capacity. If we want to learn, we need calm, intellectually stimulating environment, a peaceful place where we can think, entertain new ideas, and talk with others. Of course, we can laugh and have good energy. Like when something we're thinking about together becomes humorous. An absurdity, perhaps even an absurdity in oneself! 😜 You know you're with a good group, when you can laugh together like this! The learning is super and the things will stick 🧩. And on the contrary, you know you're in danger (think Whoopie Goldberg in Ghost 👻), when the atmosphere is too stiff and regulated. It's a sign there's probably too much stress and censorship. So prioritising meaningful conversation in lessons isn't just a luxury. It's a necessity. Stressing the brain out with memorising long lists is not only an ineffective strategy, it's destroying your learning capacity and ruining your memory🥴. And memory is so important 💘. True, it carries a lot of baggage 👜, has a lot of harmful notions attached to it 💡. As I've described - the forcing of ourselves to recall disconnected units of information. This isn't memory. It's a party trick. A bit of a boring one 🥱. Don't do it. Be kind to your brain: tell it why you want it to remember the content (paint the big picture); introduce it to some friends 👬 (link to similar things); show it other content it can play and work with (sentences). feed it examples 🍕. Basically, integrate the content. Don't hog it to yourself by holding it in your short term memory all on its lonesome. What's the point of that? It'll be the most anti-social, awkward thing ever when it comes to standing on its own feet 🐾. Be kind. Let it mix. And not only with its own sort! This is real memory building. Don't waste hundreds of hours like me trying to do it all alone. Trying to master every verb form in isolated perfection, like some autocratic soldier drilling for WW3: Je Parle. Tu Parles. Il Parle. Nous Parlons. Oh, Parle off! Instead, be bold 💪. Join a class. Teach. Write. Make Many Mistakes 🧷. Learn from them. Send your language out into the big wide world. Mix it. Connect it. Link it. Link it again. Let it grow and become elegant. Gosh, maybe even sophisticated one day. But for now, just use it, no matter how imperfectly, just use it. 🌍 ​

So I've put together my own French book, intent on improving the quality of learning when it comes to this elusive language! The project was born out of my own frustration of learning French – of reaching a point where I could read entire novels, and yet fail to order a bloody ba-GET! If you want to acquire confidence with spoken French and connect more realistically to French speakers, this book is for you. It does not teach grammar. Not a whiff of a conjugation table. If you want that, don't buy this book. I focus entirely on the sound of French words. The entire point is to say 1000 French words with enough clarity that it shoves a cork in any French person's mouth when you're talking to them. They'll understand you. They won't echo-back your words, disgusted and confused, as if you've just abused them, and insulted their entire family! Through very simple dialogues to begin, and then bigger events and finally small stories, you will read entire transcripts of phonetically written French, ensuring you're 'hearing' and not just 'reading'. The ambition is to demystify the process (as much for myself as anybody else) and democratise the endeavour of language-learning. Too many of us adopt an attitude that it’s just too difficult, and understandably so, given the often poor returns on our time and effort. Rocket Science could have been mastered in the same amount of time! Ok, I exaggerate a little, but you get the point. A motif of Claire Moving to France runs throughout the entire book, pulling the dialogues, short stories and vocabulary all together. The focus around Claire's expatriation to France helps to keep the learning focussed and practical, ensuring every new word and phrase is introduced via a context-rich manner. Each module follows her journey. We introduce new vocabulary in a controlled, precise way – detailing exactly how to pronounce every single word. I'll say it again, in case you weren't listening! We provide phonetic transcriptions of ALL dialogue. EVERYTHING! This enables our readers to hear and speak real French, not just see it: KLAIR a-REEV a NEES, ek-see-TAY may ner-VUHZ. Too many textbooks and courses assume learners will pick-up spoken forms by knowing the meaning of written words. For instance, ‘chaud’ means hot or warm. But sadly, it often leads to students looking baffled when they hear French in a real situation: ‘it’s very ‘SHOH’ today. “What’s SHOH? I’ve not learnt that!” And let’s not dwell on the frustration of being misunderstood – “can I have it CHOWD please?” Quoi? Je comprends pas what you’re saying, ‘CHAWED! What is this CHAWED?’ Forget it. I’ll take my cold sandwich and just get out of here as fast as possible… then I’ll spend the walk home sulking, a little depressed, and a dash mortified. But no more despair! Begin today. Pick-up your copy of 'My First 1000 French Words'. Better still join our group class and get tested, poked and prodded on the content every week! How can you say no, when it's put this way? So, throw out those traditional approaches, and get onboard the Anglais-Natif phonetic bandwagon. No more feeling stupid, unable to listen or speak. We will get you experiencing the ease and comfort you deserve. Some proper return for those hours of study and investment. This book is built from hope and a sincere aim of helping anybody that really wants to learn. I believe languages are beautiful and that learning to speak them offers a real thrill and sense of accomplishment, one that sticks with us forever. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed pulling it all together. Lots of love, Mark.   Amazon

Hello, language lovers! If you’ve ever stared at a page of verb conjugations and felt your brain turn to mush, I’m here to tell you: there’s a better way to learn. At anglaisnatif.com , we believe learning a language should feel like a friendly chat, not a slog through grammar tables. That’s where Extensive Processing Instruction (EPI) comes in—a fancy name for a simple idea: learn English by using meaningful chunks  of language right away. Forget memorizing “I am, you are, he is” like a robot. With EPI, you’re speaking, understanding, and even laughing in English from day one. And trust me, it’s not just possible—it’s the smartest, most efficient way to get fluent. Let’s dive into what this looks like and why it’ll change how you think about learning. What’s EPI, Anyway? Picture this: instead of drilling isolated words like “run” or “table,” we give you whole phrases that mean  something in real life, like “I’m running late” or “Can you clear the table?” EPI is about teaching English in chunks—ready-to-use phrases that stick in your mind because they’re useful. It’s like learning to cook by making a full dish, not just chopping onions. These chunks come with context, so you understand when  and why  to use them. The best part? Your brain loves this. It grabs onto meaningful patterns faster than random vocab lists. Suddenly, you’re not just learning English—you’re using  it, and it feels natural. Meaningful Language! Why does this matter? Because language isn’t a puzzle of bits and pieces. It’s a tool for connection. EPI skips the boring stuff and gets you speaking in a way that feels alive. Whether you’re a lower-intermediate learner stumbling through basic chats or an upper-intermediate pro aiming for fluency, EPI meets you where you are. Let’s see it in action with some examples—and maybe a chuckle or two. EPI for Lower-Intermediate Learners: Chunks That Click Imagine you’re a lower-intermediate learner, maybe someone who knows “hello” and “thank you” but freezes when it’s time to say more. In a traditional class, you might spend weeks memorizing “to be” conjugations. Yawn! With EPI, we start with chunks that pack a punch. Let’s say you’re learning to order food. Instead of learning “want” or “coffee” alone, we teach you: “Can I have a coffee, please?” You practice this in a pretend café with me, your teacher, playing a waiter (complete with a terrible French accent for laughs). We add more chunks: “Is it quick?” or “Can you make it fast?” You’re not just learning words—you’re ordering like a local. Next, we play a game. I say, “Can I have a coffee, please?” and you reply with another chunk, like “Here’s your coffee!” We swap roles, mess up, and giggle. By the end, you’ve used these phrases 10 times without thinking. Later, we read a short story about a busy café and spot the same chunks. You’re not memorizing—you’re living  the language. One student, Maria from Spain, told me, “I ordered coffee in London and felt like a superstar!” That’s EPI: meaningful, practical, and confidence-building, no conjugation charts required. EPI for Upper-Intermediate Learners: Levelling Up with Flair Now, let’s say you’re an upper-intermediate learner. You can chat about your day but want to sound smoother, maybe even charm a client or nail a job interview. EPI works here too, with chunks that add polish. Suppose we’re practicing workplace English. Instead of learning “agree” or “meeting,” we use phrases like “I’m on the same page” or “Let’s touch base later.” We act out a meeting where you’re the boss (you get to use my fancy pen for drama). You practice saying, “I’m on the same page, but can we speed this up?” while I pretend to be a slow colleague. We laugh when I “accidentally” spill my imaginary coffee. Then, we listen to a podcast about teamwork and hunt for similar chunks. You write a short email using “Let’s touch base” and get feedback. Suddenly, you’re not just speaking—you’re sounding like a pro. One of my students, Berto, used “I’m on the same page” in a real meeting and said his boss nodded like he’d won an Oscar. EPI helps you grab chunks that make you shine, without wading through grammar swamps. Reframing Your Expectations: It’s Not About the Grind Here’s the big secret: learning English doesn’t have to feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. EPI flips the script. It’s not about brute-forcing verb endings or flashcards until your eyes glaze over. It’s about diving into phrases that mean something to you —whether it’s ordering a coffee or impressing a colleague. This approach is faster because it mirrors how we learn our first language: by hearing, using, and playing with words that matter. Kids don’t memorize “I want milk” before saying it—they just say it! EPI brings that magic to adults. At anglaisnatif.com , we’re all about making English feel like a warm conversation, not a test. Lower-intermediate learners start speaking in days, not months. Upper-intermediate learners find their voice, not just their vocab. And everyone has fun—because if you’re laughing, you’re learning. So, ditch the idea that fluency means suffering through grammar books. Join us, grab some meaningful chunks, and let’s chat like old friends. Your English journey starts here, and it’s going to be a blast! #languagelearning #EPI

"Last week, I sat in a café, watching the sea sparkle, and felt a quiet pang—I hadn’t learned something new in a while. My mind felt a bit stuck. Then, I picked up a phrase book, and a spark lit up. Learning isn’t just for kids; it’s for adults too, keeping our minds active and our hearts open." At Anglais Natif École, I see adults transform through learning English. A shy retiree starts chatting with tourists. A busy parent nails a job interview. Learning keeps our brains buzzing, like a morning jog for the mind. Studies show it boosts memory and focus, but more than that, it makes life fun. Trying a new phrase, like “cheers” or “merci,” feels like unlocking a door to a new world. Continuous learning also keeps our attitudes supple. It’s easy to settle into routines—same coffee, same route. But learning something new, like a language, pushes us to be curious. You might talk to a stranger or laugh over a mispronounced word. Suddenly, you’re more open, more connected. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about staying interested in the world. For me, teaching English in Nice is a reminder: every new word is a chance to grow. You don’t need to be a scholar. Start small—learn “bonjour” with a smile or “ciao” with flair. It’s like planting a seed. Over time, you’ll bloom into a bolder, brighter you. So, this week, try something new. Join an English class, pick up a phrase, or ask a friend to teach you a word. Learning is a gift that keeps your mind young and your spirit alive. Come out of your shell and shine—we’re here to help at Anglais Natif École. #ContinuousLearning #LearnEnglish #NiceEducation #CPD #

Happy Friday! As the week winds down, let’s talk about something fun: speaking another language. It’s like finding a new side of yourself. When you say “bonjour” or “ciao,” you don’t just speak—you shine. Each word unlocks a fresh personality, full of charm and courage. I teach English in Nice, and I see it every day. My students start shy, but when they speak English, they light up. A quiet French student becomes bold, telling jokes. An Italian learner shares stories with warmth. Language lets you be more you —a bigger, brighter version. It’s not just words; it’s confidence, connection, and joy. Think of it like a key. French might open a door to elegance, Italian to passion, English to opportunity. Every language adds colour to who you are. And the best part? You don’t need to be perfect. A simple “hello” can start a friendship or spark an idea. So, this weekend, try a new phrase. Say “merci” with a smile or “grazie” with flair. Feel the new you come alive. Language is a gift—unwrap it, and let your personality soar. Keep learning, keep shining! #LanguageLearning #FridayMotivation #Education

Hey there! I’m Mark, the founder of L’École d’Anglais Natif, a little language school with a big heart, right in the sunny center of Nice. I started this school because I love teaching English and seeing people light up when they realize they can express themselves in a new way. Whether you’re here in Nice or joining us from anywhere in the world, we’re all about making learning English fun, personal, and something you’ll actually enjoy. So, what’s our deal? We offer bespoke English lessons—think classes tailored just for you, whether you’re a total beginner or brushing up for work, travel, or just because. Our teachers are native English speakers who keep things lively and supportive. We focus on real conversations, interesting topics, and practical skills, so you’re not just memorizing grammar but actually using  English from day one. Here’s the cool part: you can learn with us online, no matter where you are! Our online lessons are super flexible—25-minute trial sessions to dip your toes in, 50-minute one-on-one deep dives, or even small group classes for that community vibe. All you need is a laptop and some curiosity. We’ll bring the energy, the materials, and a plan to help you grow. Plus, if you’re in Nice, you can join us in person on our gorgeous top-floor terrace in the Carré d’Or, with views that make learning even sweeter. Why learn with us? Because we’re not a big, impersonal academy. I’ve been teaching for over a decade, and I’ve seen how a kind word or a lesson that clicks can change everything. We keep classes small (max 6 people) so you get tons of attention. Whether it’s nailing a job interview, chatting confidently on holiday, or acing an exam, we’re here to cheer you on. Our goal? To make you feel proud of every step you take. Ready to give it a try? Pop us a message to book a trial lesson (9am-9pm, Monday-Sunday). We’ll find a time that works for you and get you started. Online or in Nice, let’s make English your thing. Join our little community at L’École d’Anglais Natif, and let’s see where your words can take you! Mark

English lessons in Nice and online, 1-1 or small groups—welcome to L’École d’Anglais Natif! I’m Mark, and my team and I are here to make learning English fun, personal, and effective, whether you’re on our sunny Nice terrace or joining us virtually. Our approach? It’s all about you  speaking and shining. Each lesson kicks off with a short, engaging text—a quirky story or hot topic—that sparks lively discussions, debates, and sharing ideas. We introduce a handful of new expressions, like “hit the nail on the head” or “spill the beans,” and you’ll use them right away in dynamic conversations. Our immersive method builds confidence and fluency, tailored to your goals, whether you’re prepping for a job, a trip, or just love learning. Every class, you leave with new words you’ve made your own. We keep groups small (max 6 people) so everyone gets attention. Our native-speaking teachers bring warmth and energy, making every lesson feel like a conversation with friends. Quirky Fact : The word “serendipity” (finding something wonderful by chance) comes from a fairy tale about three princes! Let’s add it to your vocab. Ready to speak English with ease? Book a 25-minute trial lesson (9am-9pm, Mon-Sun) in Nice’s Carré d’Or or online. Join our friendly community and start shining today! Mark