Linguarama Newsletter: May 2026
Updated: May 8
Behind the scenes: Building Français Plus – the French B1+ Pathway
We caught up with Cathy Ryland, who has led Pathway projects across the other languages, to understand how a project like the recently completed Français Plus actually comes together – and gets over the finish line.
Cathy has been with Linguarama since 2002 and is not only the Director of Studies (DoS) in Turin, but responsible for Group Ped Support and the TOL Pathways. She speaks four main languages: English, German, French and Italian; and is currently teaching herself Spanish and Māori. Why Māori? “Because it presented such a challenge, being so different from European languages.” A self-confessed language nerd, she brings both experience and curiosity to the role.
How to build a Pathway
Every Pathway starts with what Cathy calls the “menu”: a set of 20 modules that define its scope. One key difference between the English Pathways and those for other languages is the broader context of their learning: learners of French, German, Spanish, Italian or Dutch are frequently living in the country. As a result, the Pathway needs to support not only business communication, but also the everyday interactions that happen outside the workplace.
Finding the right balance is not straightforward. Topics need to be relevant to a wide range of learners, while maintaining a mix of skills and language areas. There is also a conscious effort to avoid making the Pathway feel too heavy in one direction, for instance with too great an emphasis on grammar; while still providing a clear and useful
structure that learners can rely on in their own context.
Collaboration
Creating a Pathway is a collaborative process that draws on input from across the Linguarama group. Once the modules are agreed, contributors work on developing content, designing activities and recording audio. Using real voices from within the company adds authenticity for learners, but it also brings practical challenges, such as when speakers are in different locations and recordings need to be combined afterwards.
Managing this process requires careful coordination. As Cathy puts it, “I had a big Excel table where I could see what had been done, who was doing it, and when it was ready to be sent.” For Français Plus, Arnaud Sicoux (DoS in Amsterdam) played a central role, creating much of the core content and helping shape the overall structure. It’s a reminder that behind the finished product is a significant amount of organisation, iteration and teamwork.
Français Plus
Français Plus came with an added challenge: a particularly tight timeline. Arnaud defined it as "a sprint rather than a marathon". Despite this, the team is pleased with the outcome, especially how clear and user-friendly the Pathway feels. One highlight for Cathy is the Le logement module which Arnaud developed and which combines a range of practical activities, including a word cloud.
Whether you teach French or you’re simply curious, the best way to explore it is to try it out. Training sessions are being recorded, but logging in and experiencing the Pathway yourself is a great place to start.
Training in May
Sign up via the Staff Portal to one of the following sessions, which are open to all trainers and staff:
Présentation de Linguarama Connect Français Plus
Exploiting articles and news reports
Integrare Linguarama Connect Italiano
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