"Where am I? What is this place? As my mind slowly starts to awaken again, memory comes back to me, peu à peu, little by little... yeah. It's all flooding back to me now: I am in Montreal. Montréal !" Ella's impulsivity got the better of her once again. First, she thought it was a great idea to go to Montreal, sign up for French classes, live with a local family, and become bilingual in a heartbeat. Now she's just cold, scared, and miserable. Follow Ella's adventures through her diary, as she adapts to the cold of winter and the warm Quebec culture, by making friends with Québécois and people from abroad. The story begins in English, and as it progresses, Ella (and you) will discover new French words (written in blue). As new French vocabulary is being introduced, the proportion of French words increases until the last page, which is written entirely in French! Here's what a reader had to say: "An original and well-thought-out concept for a first contact with the language, using everyday words whose meaning is easily understood thanks to the paraphrase or context. A very enjoyable novel with an engaging character; we're eager to read more of Ella's adventures, to follow her progress in French and to discover with her Montreal and elements of Quebec culture. What a clever way to introduce a country's culture!" I didn't imagine that I would be picking up French vocabulary so fast! It's like tagging along with this cool girl in Montreal, figuring out French as she goes. I could relate to her on so many levels. It was hard to put down. A charming and fun way to learn French. I think teachers would love to use this in their curriculum. The bilingual dialogue made it easy to learn new words and phrases, and understand their context. I read this book before my own first visit to Montreal, & I was so much more comfortable attempting interactions en français than I was after taking 4 years of high school French classes. A clever, delightful read. As Ella gains confidence, so will you. Besides learning French, you'll navigate Montreal food, cafés, people and public transit. I adore the few phonetic examples of a charming French accent speaking English. Such a great, fun, entertaining way to learn French. I smiled and laughed while reading and learning. It felt like an immersion, you pick up new words without even noticing. Such a smart approach. Can't wait for the other tome. I read 3 chapters the day I got it. It is such a great read and what an excellent concept. I can't tell you how much I have struggled with learning French, this was the first time it felt intuitive and not forced. Highly recommend getting the book. This book is perfect to learn French. Love Ella. Reading it for the second time. Ella is such a fun character who helps you learn French little by little. I have never studied French and was able to follow the progression and understand the vocabulary. I think that this should be required reading for any student, old or young, that is learning French! Lucie is an author and seasoned language teacher who draws from her years of travel and education to create immersive, bilingual stories for language learners. Having lived in Costa Rica, Québec, and other parts of the world, she has embraced diverse cultures and languages, infusing them into her writing. Her Ella Speaks French - A Bilingual Adventure series showcases a unique language-learning approach, designed to engage both teens and adults. With a background in French and second language teaching, Lucie's work blends adventure and linguistic challenges, helping readers discover and master new languages in a fun, authentic way. Edgar Bridwell is a visual artist from Vancouver BC, who began his studies at Emily Carr University. After a year at ECU, he moved to Montreal to attend the Fine Arts school at Concordia University, where he received his BFA with distinction. Montreal remained home for over ten years. Edgar has worked on a myriad of projects during his thirty-plus years in the animation industry, as a supervisor, animator, as well as an assistant animator on feature films. He was a teacher at the Vancouver film school for twenty years and has taught occasional workshops at Capilano University. He continues to pursue visual art through illustration, graphics, and photography, as well as being a professional musician, and an avid student of French.