French the Natural Way

Bonjour wonderful French learners!

As I write to you this week, I’ve just finished an inspiring week of our Art & Conversation course with a wonderful group of people.

Each day, we took a moment to stop, pause, and reflect on a beautiful piece of art together.

We began by quietly gazing at a painting for three full minutes. Not just as a break, but as an invitation to look deeper and experience the artwork with renewed attention and sensitivity.

This stillness created a unique opportunity to slow down the rush of everyday life.

Register for the next sessions. Click here!

What happens when we truly inhabit an artwork with our gaze, let ourselves linger with presence, and allow the painting to slowly speak to us?

As Charlotte Mason beautifully said,

“Just as we let the author tell his own story when we read a worthy book, we let a picture tell its story through the artist’s medium.”

⏳ The Power of a Pause: 5 Minutes a Day for French

This week’s Art & Conversation reminded me how important it is to pause and reflect, even if only for a few minutes each day.

Just take five minutes daily for a simple but powerful French session.

Find a story on our site that truly captivates you, something with a theme that draws you in, and dedicate just five minutes to watching, reading, or listening to it.

Committing to these small daily moments will lead to genuine progress.

It’s about quality, not quantity, and about connecting with stories that inspire you personally.

To start your five-minute-a-day journey, I suggest the story “Le cancer”, a Greek myth full of depth and emotion.

You can find it here: Le cancer.

Thank you for your continuous dedication.

Remember, the journey itself is the reward.

À bientôt,
Alice 🌸🇫🇷

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 💕🇫🇷🎶

Bonjour wonderful French learners!

A Wonderful Message from Our Community 💬

This week in our Community Chat, Tina from Germany 🇩🇪 shared her heartfelt journey:

“Dear Alice, I started in January with the Baby Stage level (I had 5 years French at school… but that’s some years ago… :)), books, Infant Stage level, books, every day some minutes, then Teen Stage… I was so proud and felt the success… I really appreciated your Teen Stage input, thank you so much. But now I lost my motivation, I have difficulties with the Teen Stage Stories, for me there is no order in the ‘motivation tutorials’. What can I do to continue with joy and success?”

Thank you, Tina! Your honest words echo what so many of us feel on our language journey.

The Motivation Rollercoaster: It’s Normal! 🎢

If you’ve lost momentum at any point, you are not alone!

Motivation is not a straight line.

Sometimes, it soars high when you try something new or feel proud of a small win. Other times, it dips when you hit a rough patch or things feel repetitive.

This is completely normal! Our energy and enthusiasm naturally ebb and flow, influenced by what’s happening in life, with French, and even our own moods.

Don’t be hard on yourself. Every learner faces these ups and downs!

Why Motivation Isn’t Linear 🔄

Imagine acquiring French as a journey through beautiful hills and valleys, rather than a straight, flat road.

Progress happens in cycles. you surge forward, you plateau, then you rise again, stronger.

Each plateau is a chance for your brain to catch up and let all that wonderful French knowledge soak in before you step up to the next level.

Feed Your Motivation: Revisit Your “Why” 🪴

When motivation waivers, take a moment to reconnect with the reasons you started learning French.

Why did you begin this journey in the first place? Do you dream of traveling to France, understanding films, or chatting with friends and family?

If you haven’t written down your “why,” now is the perfect time!

Reflect, refine, and jot down your reasons in a notebook.

Your “why” is the fuel that keeps your engine running, especially in those challenging moments.

Celebrate Your Small Victories & Journal Your Journey 🥳

Create a special page for your “small victories.”

Write down even the tiniest successes: “I listened to a whole story in French!” or “I understood a new word without translating.”

Each accomplishment, big or small, is proof that you’re moving forward.

Keep a notebook nearby to record your highs (moments of confidence, flow, or fun) and your lows (times when it felt tough).

Over time, you’ll see how much you’ve grown and understand that ups and downs are a key part of your French adventure.

Tips to Rekindle Your Motivation: Try These! ✨

If, like Tina, you’re looking for new ways to spark your motivation and organize your journey, here’s what you can do:

• Search for Story Listening videos by typing “babyvideos”, “infantvideos”, or “teenvideos” in the search box. This helps you find videos at your level and rediscover the joy of stories at your own pace.

• Explore our new karaoke feature! Simply type “karaoke” in the search box and sing along. Music makes language playful and memorable.

• Most importantly, listen to French every day, even if just for a few minutes. Choose what you enjoy, and don’t pressure yourself!

Keep Going & Celebrate—with Us! 🎈

No matter where you are on your French journey, remember: every step counts.

Celebrate your victories in the Community Chat, big and small. Click here!

Your stories encourage others, just as Tina’s message has inspired us this week.

Let’s keep moving forward together, one joyful step at a time.

Bonne continuation et à très bientôt pour de nouvelles aventures en français !

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

Bonjour wonderful French learners!

💬 Jasmine’s Question: Where Should I Start as an Intermediate Learner?

This week, I’d love to highlight a great question from Jasmine, a new member of our community:

“Hi! Looking forward to trying this method! But, I’m a little lost wondering what to do as an intermediate learner. I tried starting at the Baby stage, but I feel maybe I’m wasting time. Would it work if I started at the infant, or maybe teen stage? I’m not sure how the process works, I don’t want to miss anything, but it’s rather boring for me to start from the beginning!”

Thank you, Jasmine! This is a question many learners have when they join us.

Unlike other online courses, aliceayel.com is designed for flexibility and enjoyment.

You are absolutely free to start at the stage that feels right for you. There’s no need to complete every lesson in order.

The Baby Stage is perfect for complete beginners, but if you’re already an intermediate learner, you’ll likely find more challenge and engagement at the Infant or Teen stages.

Our stories and resources are created for all levels.

The most important thing is to stay motivated and enjoy your French journey!

Explore, jump around, and choose the stories and stages that interest you most.

There’s no “wrong” way to acquire here, just follow your curiosity and have fun! 🎉

🧚‍♀️ Have You Explored Our New Story? “Les fées et l’homme marié”

This enchanting tale comes from Wales, a land famous for its lush landscapes and magical folklore. 🐉

Wales is known for its rich tradition of fairy tales and legends, with fairies often appearing as mysterious and powerful beings in local stories. 🏞️✨

Watch, read and listen to our latest Infant story for upper beginners. Click here!

How to make the most of this story:

1. Watch the video first: Try to understand the overall gist of the story through my drawings and gestures. Don’t worry if you don’t catch every word! 🎥

2. Read & Listen again: Use the text and audio to go over the story a second time, focusing on the parts you didn’t fully understand before. This will help reinforce new vocabulary and expressions. 📖🎧

3. Narrate the story: Retell the story in your own words, in French or in your native language. This step helps you remember the story and truly make it your own. 🗣️🌟

4. To help you stay engaged and accountable, add a comment at the end of the story page sharing what you understood or what you found interesting. It helps me see how you’re progressing and tailor future content to your needs!

🙏 Thank You for Your Dedication!

Thank you for being such a dedicated and inspiring part of our French community.

Your curiosity and commitment are what make aliceayel.com so special!

Keep exploring, keep enjoying, and remember: your French journey is uniquely yours.

Bonne continuation et à très bientôt pour de nouvelles aventures en français !

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

Bonjour wonderful French learners!

🙏 Thank You for Joining Our Community Reunion!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our Community reunion on Wednesday!

It was such a joy to discover our brand new karaoke feature together.

Your energy and smiles made the session truly special.

Christine shared,

“Merci Alice for yesterday’s community gathering. It was so fun and I enjoyed experiencing the new karaoké feature.”

And Lidia added,

“I really enjoyed the class today. I think this is an excellent addition to the resources you offer on your website.”

Your kind words inspire us every day! 💖

🎥 Missed It? Watch the Replay!

No worries if you couldn’t make it live!

You can catch the replay here 👉Happy Hour!

See how to use the karaoke feature on our site!

There are now many stories with karaoke, just type #karaoke in the search box and dive in!

It’s a playful and musical way to boost your French abilities. 🎉🎤

🎵 Why Karaoke is a Game-Changer for Your French

Karaoke isn’t just about singing, it’s about acquiring French naturally.

When you sing along, you absorb full sentences, perfect pronunciation, and the rhythm of the language. 🧠🎶

This makes French stick in your brain like your favorite tune!

Instead of “learning” French the hard way, you’re living it joyfully and effortlessly. C’est cool, non ? 😍🇫🇷

💕 Together, We’re a French Family!

Thank you for your dedication and passion.

Every step you take brings us closer as a community.

Together, we form a warm, supportive French family, making this language journey fun and rewarding.

Let’s keep singing and growing!

A très bientôt! 🌟🎉