Bonjour wonderful French learners!
I’m back! After three unforgettable weeks of adventure in Ireland and Scotland with my family, I’m so happy to return to our French family at aliceayel.com 💕.
This trip was full of stunning landscapes, happy moments, and also…Touch rugby!
I had the great privilege of playing Touch rugby for the Portuguese Mixed team, which was such an honor. For those of you who don’t know yet, Touch rugby is a true passion (and an addiction!) for me.
Interestingly, I find so many parallels between training for this sport and acquiring a new language.
In the coming newsletters, I’ll share in more detail how sport and language acquisition are more connected than you may think! 🌟
🧐 A Brilliant Question from Chuan
This week, I received an excellent question from Chuan, who is in the Baby Stage of acquiring French. Chuan asked:
“Hello Alice! I noticed that your texts use different tenses. As French learners, do we really not need to consciously study these grammar rules, such as verb conjugations and the different forms of the past tense, but simply listen, read, and focus on understanding a lot? If so, how do we acquire grammar naturally?”
My answer may bring you relief:
You don’t need to study all those tricky grammar rules to get started.
Just like children don’t sit down to learn verb charts, you too can acquire French through constant exposure.
By listening, reading, and focusing on understanding, your brain will pick up patterns and structures automatically. 💡
Grammar grows naturally.
Through meaningful input (stories, conversations, readings), you start recognizing forms of verbs and tenses without even trying.
Of course, a little conscious learning can sometimes support you, but the real magic happens when you trust the process.
Surround yourself with French, enjoy it, and let your mind absorb the language over time.
Your French will flourish beautifully this way! 🌸
🎨 Looking Ahead: Art & Conversation
Before I close, a big merci 🙏 to all of you for your dedication and constant commitment to this journey.
I’m excited to remind you that the online course “Art & Conversation” starts next week. It is designed for intermediate to advanced learners.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to express thoughtful ideas in French while exploring art.
The spots are very limited, so if this speaks to you, I encourage you to grab your place quickly 👉 https://expressfluency.com/product/french-art/
Let’s continue to grow, discover, and enjoy French together. 🌟
Avec toute mon amitié,
Alice 💕🇫🇷🎶


