Bonjour French Story Listener,
Boa passagem de ano!
That’s what people say here in Portugal, where I live now – “Good passage into the new year!“
Isn’t that beautiful? Not just “Happy New Year” but a passage – like crossing a threshold, moving gently from one season of life into another.
This is what happens when you learn a new language. You don’t just collect words – you discover new ways of seeing the world.
Expressions that didn’t exist in your mother tongue suddenly give you permission to feel things differently, to notice what you hadn’t noticed before.
The Portuguese wish you a good crossing. A safe journey into what’s ahead.
May your passage into 2026 be gentle, hopeful, and full of stories.
This week’s French story: Le trésor des trolls
This week, we’re traveling to Sweden for a tale about a clever elf who dared to steal a magnificent necklace from the trolls’ treasure hoard.
But why would an elf risk his life for a piece of jewelry? And how did he outsmart creatures far stronger and more dangerous than himself?
→ Watch it here 🎥 https://youtu.be/nE0RKZAB4gE
Your gentle tip for this week: Listen for meaning, not form
As you watch, resist the urge to translate every word or analyze every grammar structure.
Instead, ask yourself:
- Why did the elf want that necklace?
- What gave him the courage to steal it?
- How did he escape the trolls’ revenge?
Listen with care to the story itself – the plot, the emotions, the turning points.
Here’s why this matters: Your brain is incredibly intelligent.
When you focus on meaning, your brain subconsciously absorbs the form – the grammar, the sentence structures, the natural French patterns.
But if you focus on form first (analyzing, translating, worrying about verb tenses), you miss the story.
And without the story, there’s nothing for your brain to hold onto.
Meaning comes first. Form follows naturally.
Trust this process. Your brain knows what to do.
You’re doing better than you think
Every story you listen to – even imperfectly – is building your French foundation.
The comprehension will come.
Keep showing up, keep listening, keep trusting the passage.
À bientôt,
Alice 💕
P.S. Ready to deepen your French practice this winter? I’m launching live Zoom courses starting next week – from upper beginner to advanced levels. Weekly classes, small groups, real conversation practice. If you’re ready to speak, not just listen, join us: https://expressfluency.com/product-category/french/