Surviving Your First Day in France
Like Duolingo, but for Surviving Your First Day in France. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android

Key ideas in Surviving Your First Day in France
- Bonjour is a social 'unlock' required before any transaction
- The greeting must precede the language inquiry
- Starting with a request without a greeting is seen as rude
- Establishing rapport happens before the information exchange
- Applying 'Bonjour' as a social prerequisite before making a request
- The correct sequence for initiating an interaction when you don't speak French
- Bonjour signals respect for the other person's humanity
- Omitting the greeting is often interpreted as a personal slight
- The phrase 'Je ne parle pas français' communicates a total lack of fluency
- Starting with 'Bonjour' is a mandatory social lubricant in France
- Saying nothing or just nodding will encourage the speaker to continue in French
- Stating your limit before asking for English manages the speaker's expectations
- Early admission prevents the speaker from wasting time on complex French explanations
- Clear boundaries signal the need for a different communication strategy (gestures or English)
- Choosing the correct phrase to halt a conversation you cannot follow
- The polite sequence for admitting a language barrier
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Surviving Your First Day in France the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
You want to ask if someone speaks English. What should you say first?
Get it right to open this lesson and 25 more in the app.
Where Surviving Your First Day in France takes you
Don't panic when a local speaks to you! Learn how to politely navigate conversations, ask for help, and gracefully admit your French is still a work in progress.
- 1
Get What You Need Right Away
- The Magic Word: Saying Hello
- How to Say You Don't Speak French
- Asking Someone to Speak English
- Politely Asking for a Slower Pace
- 2
Navigate Real-World Situations
- Ordering Food Without the Stress
- Asking Where the Bathroom Is
- Understanding 'Yes', 'No', and 'Maybe'
- How to Say Thank You and Goodbye
- Reading Essential Street Signs
- Dealing with Numbers and Prices
- 3
Understand the Logic Behind the Words
- Why French Sounds So Smooth
- The Secret to French Politeness
- Spotting English Words Hiding in French
3 sections · 13 units · 26 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
You pick the voice
Surviving Your First Day in France is taught in the Explain Like I'm 5 style: no big words. promise.. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
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Start Surviving Your First Day in France today.
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