Free guides and bilingual stories

Practical guides, 10-minute lessons and bilingual stories for Spanish, German and French learners, written to help you speak with confidence.

Learning tips · MethodCan you learn a language in 10 minutes a day? A realistic planTen minutes a day adds up to 60 hours a year. Here's what that can realistically get you, and a day-by-day routine that makes every minute count.3 min read French · PronunciationFrench pronunciation: silent letters and liaisons made simpleWhy is so much of French written but not spoken? Learn which final letters are silent, when liaisons link words together and the rules that cover most cases.3 min read German · GrammarDer, die or das? 9 patterns that predict German gendersGerman noun genders aren't random. Learn the word endings and categories that tell you whether a noun is der, die or das most of the time.3 min read Spanish · GuideSpanish greetings beyond hola: what native speakers really sayBuenos días, ¿qué tal?, ¿cómo va? and more: how to greet people in Spanish at the right time of day, in the right register, in Spain and Latin America.3 min read German · Bilingual storyBilingual story: Der letzte Zug (A2–B1)A short German story with line-by-line English translation: Jonas misses the last train home from Hamburg. With vocabulary, separable verbs and questions.3 min read Spanish · GrammarSer vs estar: the simple rule that actually worksBoth mean 'to be', but they're not interchangeable. Learn when Spanish uses ser and when it uses estar, with a memorable rule, examples and the classic traps.3 min read French · Expressions15 everyday French expressions for real conversationsÇa marche, du coup, bof, n'importe quoi: fifteen French expressions you'll hear every day in France, with meanings, examples and when to use them.3 min read Spanish · GuideHow to order coffee in Spanish (and understand what you get)Café solo, cortado, con leche: a practical guide to ordering coffee in Spain and Latin America, with the phrases you need and a full sample dialogue.3 min read German · 10-minute lessonGerman word order in 10 minutes: the verb-second ruleWhy does the German verb sometimes come second and sometimes jump to the end? Learn the three word-order rules that cover almost every sentence, in ten minutes.3 min read Learning tips · MethodWhy you should start speaking a new language from day oneWaiting until you're 'ready' to speak is the most common reason learners stall. Here's why speaking early works and how to do it without embarrassment.3 min read Spanish · PronunciationHow to roll your R in Spanish: a step-by-step methodCan't trill the Spanish RR? Most adults can learn it in a few weeks. Here's where your tongue goes, five exercises that work and how to use the tap R meanwhile.3 min read German · Expressions10 German idioms that make you sound like a nativeTomaten auf den Augen, Schwein haben, Daumen drücken: ten everyday German idioms explained, with literal translations, real meanings and example sentences.3 min read Spanish · Expressions12 everyday Spanish expressions you won't find in a textbookVale, qué fuerte, me da igual, ojalá: twelve Spanish expressions native speakers use every day, what they really mean and how to use them naturally.3 min read German · GuideDu or Sie? How to choose the right 'you' in GermanGerman has an informal du and a formal Sie. Learn who to address with each, how to switch politely, and what changes in the verbs and possessives.3 min read Spanish · Bilingual storyBilingual story: El mercado de los sábados (A2)A short Spanish story for A2 learners, with English translation line by line: Clara's Saturday at the market, plus vocabulary and comprehension questions.3 min read French · Bilingual storyBilingual story: Le café du coin (A2)A short French story for A2 learners with line-by-line English: a rainy morning at a neighbourhood café in Lyon. With vocabulary and comprehension questions.3 min read Spanish · 10-minute lessonLearn Spanish numbers in 10 minutesCount from 0 to 1,000 in Spanish in ten minutes: the patterns behind the numbers, the irregular ones to watch, and how to say prices, phone numbers and years.3 min read Learning tips · MethodSpaced repetition explained: remember vocabulary for goodWhy you forget new words within days, and how spaced repetition fixes it. A plain-English guide to the forgetting curve, review intervals and good flashcards.3 min read