Our Québécois Book and Movie Club
How It the Club Works
They said reading in French was too hard… until they joined our Club!
Research shows reading is the #1 way to expand your French vocabulary — here’s how to make it easy and enjoyable.
Last year, I started one of the most popular features of my French With Frederic membership, our Club de lecture (our Book Club)
I’m excited to announce the redesign of the Club de lecture, now called the Club de lecture & cinéma, for French learners interested in Quebec’s rich culture!
Why this book and movie club is so important
I keep insisting that reading is so important to develop a rich vocabulary, and to immerse yourself not only in the language, but also in the culture
After teaching over 3,000 private lessons to hundreds of students, I noticed one simple truth: the students who read the most made the most progress.
It’s as simple as that!
But reading books in French can be difficult
You don’t know where to start.
You don’t know which books to pick — are they too hard, too easy?
You lack the motivation to read every day.
You lack the vocabulary or cultural understanding to really understand the story.
And even when you finally find a good book, something else gets in the way.
To read in French, you have to slow down. You have to concentrate.
You have to find the time.
But these days, it’s not that we don’t have time. It’s that our attention is constantly being stolen.
Instagram, news feeds, endless notifications, YouTube...
Everyone still finds time to watch Netflix, but reading feels harder than ever, as our ability to focus quietly slips away.
The sentences are long, the vocabulary unfamiliar
You start checking every word, and the story loses its magic. You tell yourself, “Maybe later, when I’m more advanced.”
But “later” never comes!
And so, reading in French becomes a kind of dream, something reserved for others, the truly fluent ones.
The truth is, reading in French is hard — but not for the reasons you think.
Most learners fail not because they lack discipline or intelligence. They fail because:
They lack context: cultural, historical, linguistic.
They have no structure, no community, no motivation beyond “I should.”
And every time they quit, their confidence drops just a little more.
But what if the problem wasn’t you — it was the way you were trying to do it?
The Club de lecture & cinéma takes care of all these problems at once!
What if you could finally read in French, and actually finish the book?
What if every novel came with context, guidance, and a community that keeps you motivated from the first page to the last?
That’s exactly what the Club de lecture & cinéma does.
It takes care of all these problems at once.
You’ll have a clear structure that keeps you on track.
I’ll select each book for you based on strict criteria. Stories that are rich, accessible, and deeply connected to Quebec culture. You’ll never waste time wondering what to read next.
In our first meeting, you’ll get everything you need to understand the book: its vocabulary, the historical background, the key cultural references, and much more.
In our second meeting, we’ll discuss the book together. Its themes, emotions, and the way the story connects to your own experience of learning French.
You’ll be motivated to read because you’ll want to take part in the discussion — but you’ll always have enough time to read at your own pace (usually about a month).
And little by little, reading in French becomes a habit. A pleasure. A doorway to understanding the culture behind the words.
This is what gives my students the motivation they were missing!
🎉 Join today and save 25% for life
Movies and Series: Your Reward for Reading!
Movies and TV series are also part of our Club!
They’ll be your reward for attending the Book Club, and they’ll make your progress even faster.
Because after diving into a novel, there’s nothing more satisfying than watching the language come alive on screen.
Each month, we study Quebec films and series, not as passive viewers, but as Quebec French experts.
You’ll see how people really speak in Quebec: their rhythm, their expressions, their humor!
But here’s what makes our Club different
You won’t just watch the movie. You’ll understand it.
For every film or series, you’ll get a complete transcript of key dialogues, along with all the expressions, slang, and cultural references that you’d probably miss on your own — even with subtitles.
We’ll slow down, analyze the real spoken language, and uncover the meaning behind each line.
You’ll learn how Quebecers actually talk. In cafés, in families, in everyday life, while enjoying some of the best cinema our culture has to offer.
Each film or series will becomes both a lesson and a reward for attending the Club de lecture et cinéma.
How It the Club Works
In 2026, French With Frédéric is built around one clear rhythm: ten themed mini-sessions.
Ten chapters in your journey through Quebec French and culture.
Each mini-session lasts about four weeks, and includes:
One Quebec book. Chosen for accessibility, depth, and cultural richness. For each book, we have two classes.
One Quebec film or series. Analyzed with full transcripts and explanations. For each movie or series, we have one class.
And a ton of other classes. Including the Club de lecture and cinéma, you’ll have access to 3-4 classes a week.
A Sneak Peek at What’s Coming Next Year
You don’t need to know all the titles yet, surprises are part of the fun, but the 2026 selection includes ten of the best contemporary Quebec novels and films I’ve ever chosen! A classic by Michel Tremblay, award-wining novels like Ce que je sais de toi (by Eric Chacour), a gripping Québécois crime novel, Baignades, by Andrée A. Michaud, and more!
🎉 Join today and save 25% for life
Why You Can Trust Our Approach
French With Frédéric is the #1 French-learning program on Substack — and the only one entirely dedicated to Quebec French and culture.
Our Club de lecture et cinéma is also one of a kind. There’s nothing else like it for French learners anywhere in the world.
I grew up in a French-speaking part of Quebec, surrounded by the language in all its richness, its expressions, rhythms, and humor.
At twelve, I discovered that I could learn a language on my own. I taught myself English and Italian. Later, I added Spanish, German, and Portuguese.
After a career in web marketing, that passion came back stronger than ever. I returned to university to study modern languages — and soon after, began teaching full-time.
Over the years, I’ve given more than 3,000 private lessons to students around the world, with a consistent five-star rating on Italki.
I started French With Frederic in 2023, and we now have hundreds of members all around the world.
My approach is grounded in Stephen Krashen’s Comprehensible Input theory, which shows that we acquire language naturally through understanding and meaningful content, not through memorization and grammar drills (although those have their place).
In other words, you don’t need to “study” French
You need to immerse yourself in it. Through stories, films, and conversations that make you forget you’re learning at all.
Everything You Get with French With Frederic
The Club de lecture et cinéma is only one part of a much bigger program.
When you join French With Frédéric, you get access to an entire ecosystem designed to make you think, read, and speak French naturally.
Your membership includes:
🗓️ Around 40 Weeks of Classes per Year
Learn in 10 mini-sessions that last about four weeks each. You’ll enjoy short breaks to rest and recharge between sessions, just like in a real academic calendar.
💻 3–4 Live Classes per Week (Over 150 Classes per Year!)
Join live Zoom sessions scheduled at convenient times — afternoon (12:30 or 3:30 p.m.) and evening (7 or 8 p.m., Eastern).
All classes are entirely in French but welcoming for A2+ learners. You can participate or simply listen until you’re ready to speak.
🎧 Private Podcast and Recordings
Can’t attend live? Every class is recorded and uploaded as a private podcast you can watch or listen to anytime — even on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
You’ll also receive
Transcripts and notes for each class
Optional subtitles
Weekly email summaries of all activities
📚 Club de lecture et cinéma
Ten books and ten Quebec films or series per year — with guided readings, cultural context, transcripts, and discussions.
It’s the foundation of your cultural immersion, and it’s completely included in your membership.
💡 Cours thématiques
Dynamic classes that dive into Quebec language, slang, idioms, and culture.
🎙️ Lectures or Interviews
Presentation-style sessions with authors, artists, and cultural guests — followed by a Q&A.
🗣️ Workshops
Practice-focused classes: conversation, pronunciation, or creative exercises.
🎓 Perfectionnement
Advanced sessions to polish your grammar, structure, and natural fluency.
☕️ Meetups
Informal gatherings to chat, laugh, and connect with other learners in French.
As you can see, this isn’t just a set of classes. It’s a complete environment for living in French, with structure, guidance, and community all in one place.
Join French With Frédéric Today
Some of the new structure described on this page will launch in 2026.
But when you join now, you don’t have to wait to begin.
You’ll immediately get access to our current program: weekly classes, conversation workshops, cultural sessions, and the ongoing Club de lecture et cinéma our members already love.
Then, when the new ten-session structure begins next year, you’ll automatically be part of it — without paying more.
Right now, you can lock in 25% off your annual membership for life, and secure your spot before the 2026 price increase
It’s the best time to join, enjoy everything we offer this year, and join the new French With Frédéric experience in 2026, at the 2025 prices.
🎉 Join today and save 25% for life
See you in class!
Frédéric