French the Natural Way

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

What a wonderful Wednesday we shared together!

Our recent Zoom Community session was truly a magical moment that felt like a warm family reunion. Your vibrant contributions and enthusiastic participation made the event truly special.

If you missed the live session or if would like to revisit our time together, watch the replay and experience live Story Listening using optimal input. Click here!

Understanding Optimal Input

Optimal input is a vital concept for natural French acquisition.

It emphasizes the importance of comprehensible language that you can understand, even if you miss some details.

Optimal input allows for the natural absorption of the language without relying on explicit grammar instruction.

Optimal input should be content-rich, providing a diverse range of vocabulary and structures within meaningful contexts. This richness helps you acquire language holistically.

The input should also be engaging and interesting to you. When the content is compelling, you are more likely to remain focused and motivated, leading to more effective acquisition.

That is why a story-based approach is highly effective, starting with simple narratives and gradually increasing complexity to match your progress.

It’s about immersing yourself in comprehensible, compelling content.

The magic of this method lies in its ability to help you acquire French effortlessly, just as you acquired your first language, through rich, engaging stories that capture your imagination.

By focusing on understanding the message rather than dissecting grammar rules, you’ll find yourself acquiring French unconsciously and enjoyably.

Exciting Book Club Opportunities: Limited Spots Available

Our January book clubs are filling up quickly, offering another avenue for receiving optimal French input!

Advanced Beginners Book Club

There are only 2 spots left for our reading of “Le Château de Chambord” by Theresa Marrama. This intimate group of 8 participants will ensure everyone has a chance to engage with the text.

Click here to join the French Reader Club!

• Strengthen your understanding of frequently used French structures
• Expand your vocabulary in context
• Improve your reading comprehension with guided support
• Enhance your speaking abilities through group discussions
• Build confidence in using French in everyday situations

Advanced French Learners Book Club

Another 3 spots remain for our exploration of “La Vénus d’Ille“, a captivating short novel by Prosper Mérimée from the 19th century. This club promises rich discussions and profound language immersion.

Click here to join the French Book Club!

• Improve your reading comprehension of authentic French literature
• Expand your vocabulary in context
• Enhance your speaking abilities through guided discussions
• Gain cultural insights into French society and diverse perspectives
• Build confidence in expressing complex ideas in French

A Heartfelt Conclusion

Your continued support and passion for acquiring French inspire us every day.

My Dear Man & I are grateful for this incredible community of language learners who are committed to acquiring French the natural way.

Just last week, Imteyaz commented on Trustpilot:

Le français naturellement is a fantastic language learning platform with a strong focus on storytelling, which greatly aids in understanding French. The site is uniquely structured, allowing you to click on words for definitions, read along with audio, and watch video retellings by Alice herself. This method has been crucial in advancing my language skills. Although I started with a beginner level in speaking and listening, the program has helped me progress quickly, reinforcing new vocabulary through repeated exposure. Alice’s instructional videos, live classes, and private lessons have been enjoyable and effective. I highly recommend it for anyone serious about learning or practicing French. Merci, Alice!

If you’ve found value in our approach, we would be tremendously appreciative if you could share your experience on Trustpilot.

Spread the joy of language acquisition and support others on their French journey!

Cordialement,

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

Tomorrow, you have an exciting opportunity to enjoy an immersive French experience!

I have a special treat in store for you, an adorable story about a Christmas tree that will surely get you into the holiday spirit.

Free French Session: Une histoire de l’Avent

Join me this Wednesday for a special one-hour free French session on Zoom.

This session is open to all levels, so feel free invite your friends, colleagues, clients, family who are interested in acquiring French!

JOIN ME FOR 1 HOUR LIVE
FOR LA PAUSE DE DECEMBRE 2024 !

Wednesday December 4
4pm UK / 5pm France / 11am EST / 8am PST

Click here to join the FREE session!

During our session, I’ll be using the Story Listening method developed by Beniko Mason.

This approach focuses on providing comprehensible input through storytelling, allowing you to naturally absorb the language without the stress of formal instruction.

Read and listen to Wednesday’s story now! Click here.

Plus, reading along as I narrate allows you to engage with the material without the pressure of having to speak right away.

As you become more comfortable with the text, you’ll feel more prepared to participate actively in future discussions.

It is a powerful tool that enhances your listening abilities, comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, confidence, fluency, and overall enjoyment of acquiring French.

I’m excited to share this experience with you during our session!

Connect with Fellow French Learners

This session is not just about French; it’s an opportunity to meet other French enthusiasts.

Share your experiences, challenges, and triumphs in your French journey. Building a community of learners can be incredibly motivating and supportive.

Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, this session offers a unique opportunity to enhance your French abilities in a relaxed, engaging environment.

Acquire, connect, and grow in your French language journey!
Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

Cordialement,

P.S. If you’ve been enjoying our online French program, My Dear Man & I would be grateful if you could share your experience by leaving a review on Trustpilot. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more French learners like yourself! Click here to post your review.

Just this week, Ali shared:

I can recommend her content without hesitation. I had a rough journey with learning French, but that changed in this year since I found comprehensible input and the Alice Ayel Platform that provides exactly that. Since then I found real motivation and joy in learning French and I believe this is how we learn best. My journey is still ongoing, yet being subscribed here helped immensely. If you are looking for good immersion material as a very beginner or even if you are already further along, I would give it a go 🙂 I find it’s also a very fair deal in terms of price.

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

Yesterday, I had the delightful opportunity to have lunch with Ann, one of our cherished members, who traveled all the way from Wyoming to Braga.

Our conversation revolved around our nurturing community, and Ann fondly remembered all the participants of our Community Live Meetings: Barry, Karel, Lynn, and Jeff…

It truly felt like a family gathering, filled with warmth and camaraderie.

Come and connect with other members in the community during a live Community Session! Click here.

These calls are driven by our members themselves. It is an opportunity to share your journey acquiring French and read, listen and speak French in a safe environment.

Insights from My Conversation with Sophie Roubertie

In other news, I recently collaborated with Sophie Roubertie on a podcast and YouTube video discussing her latest book, “Je reconnais les Saints dans les églises et les musées.”

Click here to listen to our conversation.

Sophie is an esteemed cultural commentator and has been actively involved in promoting French art and history.

Her book provides a comprehensive guide to identifying saints in French churches and museums, which I believe is essential for understanding the rich tapestry of French religious art.

Recognizing these saints enhances your appreciation of art and also deepens your understanding of France’s cultural heritage.

Saints also have incredible lives! During our discussion, Sophie and I explored several significant saints in French history, including Saint Martin de Tours.

Saint Martin is revered for his role in Christianizing France, a pivotal moment in the country’s history. When we talked about him, I told a part of his story that Sophie didn’t know!

I shared the amazing story of Saint Martin during our last Community session on Zoom. You can watch the replay here.

Save the Date for Our Next Community Session

JOIN ME FOR 1 HOUR LIVE
FOR LA PAUSE DE DECEMBRE 2024 !

Wednesday December 4
4pm UK / 5pm France / 11am EST / 8am PST

More details will follow soon!

One of our members, @Noemis, has embarked on the Senior Stage and shared her thoughts on the first session:

J’aime bien écouter et comprendre la grammaire avec les exercices. Vos explications sont vraiment exceptionnelles. Merci Alice.

Keep sharing your comments and reviews, they are invaluable to us.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and Happy French Acquisition!

Cordialement,

P.S. Your Feedback Matters!

Remember to fill out the survey regarding a potential week in Pau next year. We need more responses to make this trip a reality! Click here to fill it in!

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

This is a gentle reminder to fill out our very short survey regarding the organization of our immersive French week in Pau next year.

My sister, Astrid, and I need enough responses to plan this exciting event effectively.

Carolyn shared:

I had a great time despite knowing less French than everyone else. What a lovely group! And fun lessons.

Your participation is crucial, so please take a few minutes to
complete the survey here!

New Stories for Intermediate and Advanced Learners

Read & listen to our new stories specifically designed for intermediate (Adult Stories) and advanced (Senior Stories) French learners. These stories come with in-depth analyses and opinion questions with answers included.

Liberté ou responsabilité ? Read and listen to this Adult Story
and give your opinion in the comment section.

To master French at an advanced level, it is essential to understand complex texts that feature richer vocabulary and structures, as well as to express your ideas and opinions with fluidity and nuance.

You will be able to communicate effectively in various situations and fully appreciate the richness of the French language.

How to reach an advanced level

Read and listen to rich, engaging stories rather than simplistic or “twaddle” content.

The difference lies in the depth of the material and the complexity of the language used. By exposing yourself to authentic and varied French, you naturally enrich your vocabulary and enhance your understanding of grammatical structures.

Additionally, I encourage you to narrate these stories in your own words, either orally or in written form.

Read or listen to a short passage once (about 5-10 minutes long) without taking notes. Then, don’t look at the text or pause the audio and retell the story in your own words in French.

Aim to speak for about 5-10 minutes, focusing on conveying the main ideas and details you remember. Don’t worry about perfection; your goal is to express yourself using the language you’ve acquired.

La sortie des classes : what about narrating this text from an African novel?
It is a Senior Story.

Improve your fluency, and develop your ability to express complex ideas in French!

An Inspiring Testimonial

To conclude, I would like to share an encouraging message posted this morning by @Angus888 in our Community Chat:

One of the things that stands out on Alice Ayel’s site, above all other comprehensible input in French available on the internet and YouTube, is that Alice’s stories are INTERESTING. I am so bored of French acquisition videos on YouTube developed using AI that just list people’s days. I could count on two hands the number of truly interesting language acquisition stories in French on YouTube, and I have listened to a lot. Most of the time, they use the verb tense of literary French, which is not great for people wanting to acquire spoken French. That is why I linger on Alice’s site way beyond the point of completing her stages – I just love the stories and her other resources.

Your dedication to acquiring French inspires us to continually improve our offerings.

If you’ve found value in our resources, please share your experience by posting a review on Trustpilot.

Your feedback helps us grow and also assists other language learners in discovering our community.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and Happy French Acquisition!

Cordialement,

P.S. Remember to complete the “week in Pau’ survey as soon as possible. Click here to fill it in!

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

This week, My sister, Astrid & I are thrilled to announce our upcoming French immersion week in the charming city of Pau, nestled in the heart of southwestern France.

This 5-day intensive course promises to be an unforgettable experience, combining French acquisition with cultural exploration. This is a unique opportunity to boost your French.

To help us tailor this experience to your needs and preferences, we kindly ask you to fill out our brief survey.

It will only take two minutes of your time, and your input is invaluable in helping us create the best possible program for you.

Please click on the following link to access the survey: Fill Out the Survey!

A Safe Space for All Learners

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, our program provides a safe and relaxed environment for you to confidently express yourself in French.

You’ll return home with a deeper understanding of the French way of life and a renewed passion for the language.

Your 5 reasons to join :

1. Improve your French in just 5 days
2. Enjoy a relaxed and welcoming ambiance in a small group
3. Renew your motivation for French acquisition
4. Live the French lifestyle and find your joie de vivre !
5. Make memories to cherish forever

Pau 2023

From her week in Pau, Judy shared :

I think for a first immersive experience this was perfect — fun and not too demanding, and very accepting/welcoming. And this particular group of people was just wonderful, a real pleasure to spend the week with. Alice, I love and appreciate your demeanor and would love to do another, more intensive immersion with you.

Get Inspired: What Awaits You in Pau

Pau, the charming capital of Béarn, is an ideal destination for experiencing the French way of life and joie de vivre. It combines urban sophistication with small-town charm.

The city features a vibrant cultural scene, including the Art museum. Its historic center is filled with narrow medieval streets and Renaissance architecture.

The Boulevard des Pyrénées offers stunning views of the Pyrenees mountains. 

Gastronomy thrives in Pau, with local markets and restaurants serving regional specialties like Jurançon wine.

Barry shared:

I have been telling friends that the experience was really helpful, mostly thanks to you and Astrid being at our sides when on walks or at lunch because you encouraged the use of French by speaking slowly and listening. While traveling I try my French with natives, but I often feel like I am wasting the time of a server/shopkeeper/tourist office worker so we switch to English. But in the group, especially at lunches, we had the time to gather thoughts and speak (no matter how badly) because you both were so good at listening and making us feel welcome to try.

For a glimpse of what you could potentially do during our week in Pau,
explore this page: Experience the Magic of Pau.

Secure Your Spot!

Astrid & I can’t wait to embark on this French adventure with you in 2025!

Please complete the survey as soon as possible.
Click here to fill it in!

Your responses will help us secure a date in the calendar for next year, allowing you to make your travel arrangements to Pau well in advance.

Lyn wrote:

The manner in which I felt my French improve was I was able to recognize the kinds of errors I make when I speak. This type of breakthrough is such a helpful improvement for me, because I can continue to pay attention and refine on my own.
Furthermore, I did appreciate all the ways this week integrated oral comprehension (comprehensible input). This was incredible on many levels. Lastly, while I’m sure being “on” all the time for you, Alice, is exhausting, in reality, it is your creativity, innovative method for making everyone feel comfortable, your accessibility, encouragement, and acceptance that made this a fantastic week. I cannot forget to also remark at the many ways Astrid was a complement to the experience as well. Her contributions emphasized the quality of this immersion.

I would absolutely love it, if you would consider it again. Many, many thanks !!! (three magical exclamation points)

Cordialement,