It's Your Turn to Tell the Story! 🎯✨
Bonjour tout le monde ! 👋
This week, I have a special challenge for you: narrate our story “La montagne Simeli“! 🏔️
When you narrate, your brain has to actively retrieve and reconstruct what you heard. You’re not just passively receiving the language – you’re making it YOUR OWN.
You’re recalling vocabulary, recreating sentence structures, and thinking IN French rather than ABOUT French. 🧠✨
This is where the magic happens!
And I want to invite you – yes, YOU – to take the challenge and share your narration in the Community Chat: https://www.aliceayel.com/community-chat/
Don’t worry about perfection. Don’t worry about getting every detail right. Just tell the story as YOU remember it, with the French you have right now.
That’s exactly what matters. 🌟
How to Narrate “La montagne Simeli” 🎧📖
First, watch and listen to the story to understand it. Don’t pause, don’t look up words, don’t stress.
Just follow along and get the gist – who are the characters? What happens? How does it end?
Let the story wash over you and see what sticks. 👀
Then, tell it back in your own words. You can do this orally (speak it aloud to yourself, a family member, your pet, or even record a voice memo!) or in handwriting (grab a pen and a notebook).
Start in whatever language feels comfortable – your mother tongue with French words mixed in, mostly French with some mother tongue, or entirely in French if you’re feeling brave!
There’s no “right” way, only YOUR way. ✍️🗣️
The key is to retrieve what you absorbed without looking back at the transcript. What do you remember? What moments stood out? What phrases stuck with you?
Trust that your brain captured more than you think! 💭
Grace Shows Us How It’s Done! 👏🎉
One of our wonderful community members, Grace, took the challenge and shared her narration. I want to show you what she wrote – not because it’s perfect (it’s not!), but because when I read it, I understood the gist of the story perfectly.
And that means Grace truly understood “La montagne Simeli“! 💙
Here’s Grace‘s narration with just a few gentle corrections in brackets:
“Il était une fois un homme généreux et pauvre. Il a un frère égoïste et riche. Un jour, [l’]homme généreux [est allé] dans [une] forêt et il a vu [une] montagne très [haute]. Il a aussi vu 12 hommes [forts] en bas de la montagne. Les 12 hommes ont dit « montagne, ouvre[-]toi ». Ils [sont entrés dans la] montagne et [ils ont] pris des sacs de richesse et ils ont dit « montagne[,] ferme[-]toi ». Après [que] les 12 hommes [sont sortis], l’homme généreux était [curieux] et il a dit à la montagne « montagne, ouvre[-]toi ». L’homme est [entré dans] la montagne et il a pris quelques [choses précieuses] comme [de l’]or et il [est retourné] à sa maison. Le frère égoïste a vu que son frère avait [de l’]or et [qu’]il [était devenu] riche. Alors, le frère égoïste était jaloux et il a demandé pourquoi son frère [était] devenu riche. Il a [entendu parler de la] montagne [et de sa] richesse. Par conséquent[,] le frère égoïste [est allé à] la montagne et il a dit « montagne, ouvre[-]toi ». Il a vu beaucoup de richesse et il était heureux. Cependant, quand il [a voulu] sortir, il a dit « montagne [Simeli], ferme[-]toi », [à la] place [de] montagne [Simeli]. Ça n’a pas marché. Soudain, les 12 hommes [forts] [sont arrivés] et [i]ls ont dit à l’homme égoïste : « c'[est] toi qui [as pris notre] richesse ! » et ils ont coupé sa tête.”
Grace, this is WONDERFUL! 🎊 You retold the entire story with all the key plot points: the two brothers, the magic mountain, the magic words, the greedy brother’s mistake, and the tragic ending.
Your verb usage shows you understood the sequence of events. Your vocabulary choices show you grasped the emotions and actions. Yes, there are some small grammar adjustments (articles, verb agreements, past tense forms), but that’s completely normal and those will smooth out naturally with more exposure and practice.
What matters is that you COMMUNICATED the story! ✨
This is exactly what narration is about: expressing what you understood with the French you have right now. Not perfection. Progress. 🌱
Your Turn! 🇫🇷💬
Now I want to hear from YOU! It’s not too late to take the challenge.
Watch “La montagne Simeli,” then narrate it in your own words and share it in the Community Chat.
Why share it publicly? Because it makes you accountable. Because seeing others’ narrations inspires you. Because the community will celebrate with you. Because putting yourself out there – even imperfectly – is how courage builds and confidence grows. 💪
Your narration doesn’t need to be as long as Grace’s. It doesn’t need to be in perfect French. It just needs to be YOURS.
Even a few sentences are enough! Tell us what you remember about the two brothers, about the magic mountain, about what happened. Use English if you need to. Mix languages. Do whatever feels right. Just TRY. 🎯
I’m waiting to read your stories!
Let’s fill the Community Chat with your versions of “La montagne Simeli” – each one unique, each one valuable, each one proof that you’re not just listening to French… you’re ACQUIRING it. 🏔️✨
À très bientôt!
Alice 🇫🇷
P.S. If you feel nervous about sharing, remember: every single person in this community started exactly where you are. We’re all learning together, growing together, and celebrating every brave step forward – including yours! 🌟
Could 15 Minutes Change Everything? ⏰
Bonjour tout le monde ! 👋
I’ve been thinking about something lately, and I shared it with you in this week’s Community Chat discussion about Spending Time Wisely ⏰.
It’s a topic that’s been on my mind because, honestly, I struggle with it myself – especially when it comes to my Chinese journey! 😅
Here’s what I keep wondering: How much time do we spend each day scrolling through social media, checking news feeds, or just… passing time on our phones? 📱
An hour? Two hours? Maybe more? (No judgment here – I’m right there with you!)
Now imagine this: What if you took just 15-20 minutes of that time – not all of it, just a tiny slice – and redirected it to listening to a French story? Just one story. That’s it. 🎧✨
You don’t need to overhaul your entire life or carve out massive blocks of study time. You just need 15 minutes for YOU – for something that actually lights you up, something that moves you toward a dream instead of just filling empty space.
Your French dream is worth 15 minutes, don’t you think? 🇫🇷
I’d love to hear from you 💬
How do YOU currently spend your “in-between” time? (Waiting in line, during your morning coffee, before bed, etc.)
What would it take for you to redirect just 15 minutes a day to French?
What’s the biggest obstacle – time, motivation, remembering to do it, something else?
Have you found ways to make French a natural part of your day?
What’s working for you? What’s not?
Let’s talk about this! I think we can all learn from each other’s strategies (and struggles!).
Share your thoughts in the Community Chat: https://www.aliceayel.com/community-chat/
A Glimpse into Karel’s Daily Rhythm 🏡
One of our wonderful community members, Karel, shared his daily routine, and I think there’s something we can all learn from his approach.
Karel has the luxury of time and has built a well-established routine that works beautifully for him.
He wakes up, enjoys breakfast with coffee while reading the newspaper for an hour, then dedicates an hour to acquiring French (or another language).
After a coffee break, he does some DIY projects or gardening. Following a hot lunch (his main meal), he checks emails, watches French (or another language) YouTube videos, then returns to his language studies and hands-on activities.
At 6 PM, he has dinner, followed by more studying and reading before heading to bed at a reasonable hour.
On average, Karel dedicates three to four hours daily to language acquisition! He admits he’s not sure if it’s always efficient, but it’s an excellent way to spend his time – and most importantly, it works for him and keeps him motivated. 🌱
Read Karel’s article about learning another language. Click here!
What I love about Karel’s story is this: he’s found HIS rhythm. Your rhythm might look completely different – and that’s perfect!
The key is finding what works for your life, your schedule, your energy.
The Secret Ingredient: Narration 📝✨
Here’s something powerful: simply watching or listening to stories is wonderful, but there’s one practice that transforms passive listening into deep acquisition – narration.
When you narrate a story (either by speaking it aloud in your own words or writing it by hand), something magical happens in your brain. 🧠
You’re no longer just receiving the language – you’re actively reconstructing it, making it yours. You’re recalling vocabulary, recreating sentence structures, and thinking IN French rather than ABOUT French.
Oral narration builds your speaking confidence and helps you think on your feet, while handwritten narration deepens your connection to the spelling, flow, and rhythm of the language.
Both methods make you retrieve what you’ve absorbed, which is exactly how language moves from passive recognition to active use.
So after you watch or listen to a story, take just a few minutes to tell it back – to yourself, to a pet, to your mirror! 🪞
Or grab a notebook and write what you remember.
It doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t need to be long. Just your version of the story, in your words, with the French you have right now.
You’re Doing Beautifully 💫
Thank you for being here, for showing up, for dedicating even small moments to your French journey.
Remember, the journey itself IS the reward – every word you understand, every story that makes you smile, every tiny moment of “I got that!” is a victory worth celebrating. 🎉
I’d love to see you in the Community Chat this week!
Share your thoughts on spending time wisely, tell us about your daily rhythm (messy or structured – all are welcome!), and if you’re feeling brave, share a narration of one of our stories.
Your voice matters in this community.
À bientôt!
Alice
See It Before You Speak It: The Power of Visualization in French Learning 🧠✨
Bonjour tout le monde ! 👋
I hope you’ve been enjoying your French journey this week!
If you haven’t stopped by the Community Chat lately, you’re missing out on a really fascinating conversation happening right now: visualization and French acquisition. 💭
Head over to https://www.aliceayel.com/community-chat/ and join in!
The insights people are sharing are genuinely thought-provoking, and I think you’ll find it both inspiring and practical.
Your Brain Can’t Tell the Difference Between Imagination and Reality 🧠💫
Here’s something that blew my mind when I first learned about it: neuroscience research shows that mental rehearsal activates similar neural pathways as actual experience.
In other words, when you vividly imagine yourself doing something, your brain is literally practicing it – even though your body isn’t moving. 🤯
I use this when I play Touch football. Every time I have a competition coming up and I start to feel that familiar stress about catching the ball, I close my eyes and visualize a specific play I did well: catching the ball from a long pass and scoring a try.
That mental image is stored in my brain, and when I recall it vividly – the feeling of the ball in my hands, the rush of running, the satisfaction of scoring – my brain activates the same pathways as if I were actually doing it.
And you know what? It works. My confidence goes up. My performance improves. 🏉✨
Athletes use this technique constantly. Performers use it before going on stage. So why not language learners?
Think about it: if your brain can’t distinguish between vividly imagined experience and real experience, then you can literally practice speaking French successfully just by visualizing it!
How to Visualize Your French Success 💭✨
So how do you actually do this? It’s simpler than you might think!
You can visualize something that already happened (like I do with Touch football), or you can visualize something you wish would happen – a future moment of French success. 🌟
Here’s what I want you to try:
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Now see yourself, as vividly as possible:
💫 Understanding a French conversation without translating in your head – you just… get it. The meaning flows directly to you. No English intermediary needed.
💫 Responding naturally, without that panic or freezing feeling – the French words come out smoothly. You’re not scrambling for grammar rules. You’re just communicating.
💫 Feeling that incredible rush of “I can actually do this!” – that moment of pure joy when you realize you just had a real conversation in French. The pride. The disbelief. The excitement.
Really see it. Feel it. Make it vivid and real in your mind. 🎬
Here’s why this matters: Your brain needs to believe the outcome is possible before it will commit full resources to achieving it. Visualization isn’t wishful thinking or fantasy – it’s neural priming. It’s preparing your brain for success. 🧠💫
And here’s something else to remember: We’re living in an era where cognitive capacity extends far longer than previous generations. The question isn’t “Can I still learn?”
The question is “What story am I telling myself about what I can learn?” 🌟
If you keep telling yourself “I’m too old” or “I’ll never be fluent,” your brain believes that story and acts accordingly. But if you visualize yourself succeeding – understanding, speaking, thriving in French – your brain starts building the pathways to make that real. ✨
What Our Community Is Visualizing 🇫🇷
I asked you to share what you visualize when you think about your French success, and the responses have been so beautiful! 😊
Nadya shared: “I imagine myself in a group of French friends talking about something interesting and humorous – I understand what they say and they understand me, not just the language, but the shared culture, background, ideas.”
How wonderful is that? Nadya isn’t just visualizing words – she’s visualizing belonging, connection, shared understanding. That’s the real goal, isn’t it?
Grace said: “Thank you so much, Alice. I’m hoping to speak with a native speaker soon to practice my French. In the meantime, talking to myself is helping me feel a bit more confident about it! 😊”
Grace is already practicing! Talking to herself IS practicing – and visualization will make those solo practice sessions even more powerful. You’re doing great, Grace! 🌟
And Margot shared: “I will try visualizing on my flight to Paris next week!!!”
YES, Margot! What better time to visualize than on your way to France?! Close your eyes on that plane and see yourself ordering at a café, asking for directions, having conversations. Your brain will be ready when you land! 🇫🇷✨
What about YOU? What do you visualize when you imagine yourself succeeding in French? A conversation at a Parisian café? Reading a French novel cover to cover? Chatting with French-speaking family members? Speaking confidently at a French meetup? 💭
Head to the Community Chat and share your visualization with us! 👉 https://www.aliceayel.com/community-chat/
There’s something powerful about putting your vision into words and sharing it with a supportive community. It makes it more real. More possible.
Keep Going – You’re Doing Amazing 🌟
You’re showing up. You’re listening to stories. You’re engaging with new ideas like visualization. You’re practicing, even when it feels hard. You’re not giving up. 💪
Every story you listen to, every moment you visualize success, every time you show up to practice – that’s progress. That’s acquisition happening. That’s you becoming the French speaker you’re visualizing. 🦋✨
Celebrate every little win. Understood a whole sentence today? Celebrate! 🎉
Remembered a word without looking it up? Celebrate! 🎉
Visualized yourself speaking French and felt that spark of “yes, I can do this”? CELEBRATE! 🎉
You’re not just learning French. You’re proving to yourself that growth never stops, that your brain is still beautifully capable, that you can do hard, wonderful things. And that’s worth celebrating every single day.
Keep visualizing. Keep listening. Keep showing up. You’re closer than you think. ✨
À bientôt, mes amis!
Alice
P.S. Don’t forget about our Members Community Live calls! 📞 Every Monday and Thursday, you gather to share our journeys, practice French, ask questions, and support each other. These calls are driven by YOU – our wonderful members. There’s no formal agenda, just genuine connection and shared learning. 🤗
Join here: 👉 https://www.aliceayel.com/members-community-live/
Whether you want to share your visualization practice, try speaking a little French, or just listen and be part of the community – you’re so welcome! See you there! 🌟
"It's Both Exciting and Stressful" - And Other Questions That Make You Think in French 🤔
Bonjour tout le monde 👋
A Question from the Teen Stage 🌟
I hope you’ve been enjoying your French journey this week!
Our member @Grzesiek is working through the Teen Stage (congrats, @Grzesiek! 🎉), and has been answering the question “Qu’est-ce qui me stresse en ce moment?” (What’s stressing me out right now?) from Video 7.
If you’re not familiar with the Teen Stage yet, it’s designed for upper beginners and intermediate learners who are ready to start outputting in French – meaning you’re ready to write and speak, not just listen and read. It’s such an exciting milestone! ✨
Click here to start the Teen Stage!
The Teen Stage is the perfect opportunity to experiment with free writing – which simply means writing in French (or mixing French and English if you need to!) without worrying about grammar, spelling, or being “correct.”
Just let your thoughts flow onto the page for 5-10 minutes without stopping to edit yourself.
The beauty of free writing is that it takes all the pressure off. You’re not writing for a grade or for anyone’s approval – you’re writing for YOU.
It helps you discover what French you already know (spoiler: it’s more than you think!), it makes the language your own, and it builds confidence because there’s no “wrong” way to do it.
So @Grzesiek was doing this beautiful work of expressing himself in French when he asked a great question:
“How would you say in French: ‘it’s both exciting and stressful’?” 🤔
Finding the Right Words for “Exciting and Stressful” 🎯
I love this question because it shows @Grzesiek is thinking deeply about nuance – and that’s what real fluency looks like!
Here’s what I told him, and I think all of you might find it helpful too. 😊
There are actually several ways to express “it’s both exciting and stressful” in French, each with a slightly different feel:
C’est à la fois excitant et stressant is the most direct translation. However, just be aware that excitant can sometimes have a suggestive meaning when talking about people (though it’s usually fine when describing activities or experiences). If you want to play it safe, there are other great options!
C’est à la fois passionnant et stressant is my personal favorite. Passionnant means “fascinating” or “gripping” and doesn’t have any ambiguous undertones. It’s perfect when you mean something is intellectually or emotionally engaging. 💫
C’est à la fois palpitant et stressant uses palpitant, which means “thrilling” – like when your heart is racing with adrenaline or suspense. It’s a bit more dramatic! 🎢
C’est à la fois enthousiasmant et stressant is another safe, beautiful choice. Enthousiasmant means “energizing” or “inspiring” and works well in any context. ✨
So depending on exactly what feeling you want to express, you can choose the one that fits best! For most situations, passionnant or palpitant are excellent choices.
Isn’t French wonderful? So many ways to paint the exact picture you want! 🎨🇫🇷
Join Us for Live Community Calls! 📞
Speaking of community, I want to remind you that we have Members Community Live meetings every Monday and Thursday! 🗓️
You can find all the details here: https://www.aliceayel.com/members-community-live/
These calls are driven by YOU.
It’s an opportunity to share your journey acquiring French, ask questions, practice speaking, and connect with fellow learners who totally get what you’re going through. 🤗
Sometimes someone shares an article or a question that sparks a fascinating discussion.
Yesterday, for example, @Margot shared an article about the Jules Verne restaurant on the Eiffel Tower that included the phrase “il faut montrer patte blanche” (you must show your credentials – literally “show a white paw”).
@BarryR, @Margot, and the group discovered something delightful! This expression comes from a tale that’s right here on our site: Le loup et les sept petites chèvres (The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats)! 🐺🐐
Click here to read & listen to this tale!
These are the kinds of magical moments that happen when you learn together.
So please, join the community! Even if you just want to listen at first, you’re so welcome.
Keep Going – You’re Doing Great! 🌟
Remember: the journey IS the reward.
Every story you listen to, every question you ask, every time you show up – that’s progress. That’s acquisition happening.
You’re not just learning French; you’re proving to yourself that growth never stops, that curiosity is ageless, that you’re capable of beautiful, challenging things. 🦋
And you’re not alone on this journey. We’re all here together – stumbling, laughing, discovering, growing.
So please, share your experiences, your questions, your “aha!” moments in the Community Chat: https://www.aliceayel.com/community-chat/
Your voice matters. Your journey matters. And we’d love to hear from you. 💬
Keep listening, keep enjoying, and keep acquiring that gorgeous French of yours! 🇫🇷✨
À bientôt, mes amis!
Alice 💕
P.S. If you’re in the Teen Stage like Grzesiek, give that free writing exercise a try this week! You might surprise yourself with how much French is already living inside you, just waiting to come out. 📝✨
Should You Use a Textbook Alongside Story Listening? 📚🤔
Bonjour dear French family 👋
I hope you’ve been enjoying your French journey this week. 🇫🇷✨
Some really wonderful conversations are happening over in the Community Chat at https://www.aliceayel.com/community-chat/
If you haven’t stopped by lately, you’re missing out on some thoughtful discussions! 💬
A few days ago, @jandyman asked a question that I think many of you might be wondering about too:
“I’m enjoying your program as my main method for learning French, but would also like a physical book for reference and so forth. I’m looking at the Living Language series, it seems like maybe a good match. Do you have any opinions about it or other complementary materials?“ 📖
It’s such a good question and I think it touches on something important about how we acquire language. 🧠
My Take: Stories Over Textbooks 📚✨
I’m not familiar with the Living Language series specifically, so I can’t offer an opinion on it.
But instead of reaching for a textbook for reference, why not consider exploring French readers?
Like the audiobooks we have available on our site at https://www.aliceayel.com/audiobooks/ 🎧📖
Here’s why this matters: language acquisition is organic. 🌱
It happens when your brain absorbs language naturally through compelling stories, not when you study rules and flip through reference charts.
Textbooks give you knowledge about French – they explain how the language works.
But stories? Stories give you French itself. 💫
Think about it this way: you didn’t learn your first language from a grammar book. 👶 You absorbed it by hearing it used around you, in context, with meaning attached.
French readers and audiobooks let your brain do that same beautiful, natural work. ✨
When you’re immersed in a good story, your brain is making connections, recognizing patterns, and acquiring the language without the stress and overwhelm of trying to memorize rules. 🧩
Give the audiobooks a try and see how it feels. I think you’ll be surprised at how much more the language sticks when you’re simply enjoying a compelling story. 😊
That said, this is just my perspective based on how I teach and what I’ve seen work for thousands of learners. 🌟
I know some of you might have different experiences or approaches that work well for you, and I’d love to hear about them! 💭
If you’ve found reference books helpful alongside Story Listening, or if you have recommendations for @jandyman, please jump into the Community Chat and share your thoughts. 💬
Click here!
Our community is so generous with their wisdom and experience – don’t be shy about asking questions or sharing what’s working for you! 🙌
Your Voice Matters 💙
Your commitment to showing up, listening to stories, engaging with the community, and trusting this process – it means the world to me!
You’re not just learning a language; you’re proving that growth, curiosity, and joy have no expiration date. 🌟
Thank you for being here. Thank you for choosing joy and curiosity. Thank you for being part of this beautiful community. ✨
Keep listening, keep enjoying, and keep acquiring that gorgeous French of yours! 🎧🇫🇷
À bientôt,
Alice 💕
P.S. I have to share some exciting news – congratulations to Nadya, who just earned a lifetime membership! 🎉🎊
Marie et Médor !
Nadya has been one of our most wonderful contributors since joining us in 2024. If you’ve spent any time in the community, you surely know her amazing “peluches” – those adorable stuffed characters she knits from our stories! 🧶🐻💕
Nadya, your creativity, generosity, and enthusiasm light up our community. Thank you for everything you bring to this space. We’re so lucky to have you!