Question – in the sequence of ‘a’ with /ae/ sound, the last word I understood was ‘ape’ – but is the word she’s trying to say is ‘apt”?

Again, with the French language rules that exist and the very structured French language courses throughout the French public school system, every Frenchman/woman carries over their pronunciation rules/habits to other second languages. Regarding teaching English, more emphasis is put on grammar for better reading and writing skills than on correct listening/speaking skills where pronunciation is less of a concern. So, all these errors make sense to me. English words that are used in French are pronounced with the French accent/intonation (no stress rules are taught here). Chips, weekend, city…
When I speak English with French speakers, they often to not understand my accent because of syllable stress. So depending on their language level, I sometimes revert to the French accent for that word! I have my work cut out!!