Le subjonctif.
This word evokes unease or sheer terror in the minds of many French learners.
Soyons honnêtes... Let's be honest:
The subjunctive taught in French classrooms is painfully boring.
And apart from us being prepared to recognize a beautifully subjunctivized verb in an official document, or telling someone "it is necessary that I do my homework," we are left frazzled and woefully unprepared to use it in real life.
What makes le subjonctif so important, and at the same time so misunderstood, is the sheer extent to which it is interwoven into everyday language.
We as humans are subjective. And through the languages we speak, we (often unknowingly) express our subjectivity through the subjunctive.
Our opinions, doubts, fears and wishes.
This, les ami(e)s, is why the subjunctive is not a tense....
It’s a mood.
Or shall I say a grammatical mood.
This is le subjonctif.
Do you feel like you speak French like a child?
I get it!
When I first started spending time in France, I couldn’t believe just how much le subjonctif is used in daily life, yet I’d never been taught how to use it in a way that made sense to me.
The truth is that you can’t really level up without understanding the subjunctive.
When it’s used, how it works, and how to even identify it.
If you want to fulfill that dream of yours to speak French fluently,
you can’t ignore this.
The subjunctive is not an accessory, it’s vital.
Friendship? Connection? Nuance? Romance?
You can’t do it without the subjunctive.
Master the Subjunctive
This self study course is designed to be paced out over a week, and includes 2.5 hours of recorded video content, as well as printable worksheets, pdf resources, and quizzes.
You will gain a deep understanding of not only when to use the subjunctive, but why we use it.
I will teach you the most commonly used verbs and phrases, breaking them down in English so you can actually understand how to compose sentences with these building blocks.
Most importantly, you’ll stop “dancing around” this perplexing grammatical feature of the French language.
"I will admit that I was surprised by just how much Alex's Everyday Subjunctive course leveled up my French speaking. The lessons are easy to follow and provide the essential building blocks for communicating and understanding French. I was always intimidated and frustrated by French grammar, but Alex has devised a unique concept that is more coaching than traditional teaching. I promise the short and targeted course will undo years of frustration and anxiety in learning French. Don't hesitate."
- Robin, California
"The Everyday Subjunctive course was a perfect balance between informal dialogue about the topic and clear examples and homework.
The approach by Alex as a native English speaker really helped me understand because he would address uncertainties and questions I had in my head that sometimes get overlooked by other teachers. Highly recommended!"
- Oliver, Paris
"When Alex says to “stay calm,” you can’t help but actually stay calm. Whereas other language courses can feel like you are participating in a rigged WWE (wrestling) match, taking courses from Alex feels like being taught French by Mr. Rogers.
The subjunctive is a daunting subject as there isn’t an obvious correlation in the English language. I’ve taken several general courses that include the subjunctive, as well as specialty classes on the subject, and always finished those classes with a general understanding of the topic, but little ability (or desire) to incorporate the subjunctive in my everyday use of the French language. This is especially so since the idea of changing a verb based on mood doesn’t come instinctually to a native English speaker.
After finishing Alex’s course, changing the way I express something to include the subjunctive does come to mind more naturally as I am speaking. Instead of forcing examples on awkward topics or manners of speech that never appear in my everyday life, Alex uses real-world examples that are more “normal” in everyday speech, thus making the subjunctive transition quite easy.
Alex makes the subjunctive accessible by presenting it in digestible pieces and, more importantly, in a way that is usable so that it actually sticks. As soon as I finished the subjunctive course, I immediately purchased his other courses!"
- Lindy, California
"Alex is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to learn French effectively and confidently. A native English speaker, Alex understands the challenges faced by English speakers learning French. Having gone through the same journey, he can empathize with the struggles and questions encountered along the way.
Alex is adept at explaining complex grammar concepts and linguistic nuances in a manner that resonates with English-speaking students. He will help bridge the gap between the two languages to demystify the intricacies of French to accelerate the learning process.
Having personally studied with Alex and taken his subjonctif course, I can attest to his unwavering commitment to a native English speaker's progress to learning French. Definitely sign up for his courses, you won't regret it."
- Tiffany, Switzerland