Coucou les membres de la communauté,
Community Spotlight: When Should You Start Reading French? 📚
This week in our vibrant Community Chat, @brookinsfamily asked a wonderful question:
“Bonjour! I’m using this for my daughter for French for our homeschool. We’ve loved the videos so far (still in Baby Stage!) but I’m wondering when and how I should start to integrate reading the stories? Is there an order that makes sense? Or do we just pick some? When I’m assigning things for her, how often should I assign the videos vs the written stories? Thank you!”
Thank you, @brookinsfamily, for voicing a question that many parents and learners share!
My Response: Balancing Listening and Reading for Natural Progress 🚀
At the Baby Stage, the heart of language acquisition is listening and understanding spoken French, just as children do with their first language.
However, if you are curious or excited to read, you can absolutely begin introducing written stories alongside the videos.
A great way to start is by choosing the written stories that match the videos you have already watched.
This familiarity will make the reading experience enjoyable and successful.
Stick to stories that correspond to the same stage as the videos to ensure vocabulary and grammar remain accessible and not overwhelming.
That said, if you want to reread a favorite or explore something new, let your curiosity be your guide!
The most important ingredient is your enjoyment and motivation to engage with French.
Here’s a simple routine you might find helpful:
Alternate between videos and written stories. For example, watch a video one day, then read the matching story the next.
You can also read the story after watching, and then listen to the audio or re-watch the video while following along with the text.
This gentle repetition across formats helps deepen comprehension and memory.
Exciting News: Our Podcast Is Now on Pocket Casts! 🎧
My Dear Man & I are delighted to announce that our podcasts are now available on Pocket Casts!
This means you can enjoy my conversations with fascinating guests on one of the most user-friendly podcast platforms, making it even easier to listen on the go, whether you’re at home, in the car, or out for a walk.
Simply suse this direct link to start listening: Pocket Casts
Happy listening!
Inspiration Corner: A Habit That Makes French Stick 🌱
As we all know, the journey to French fluency is built on small, consistent steps.
This week, I want to share a gem from our community: Lette Berhe’s Substack post, “The Little Habit That’s Made My French Practice Stick”.
Lette beautifully captures how a simple, daily habit can transform your language experience and make progress feel effortless.
I highly recommend giving it a read for a dose of motivation and practical tips!
Merci & A Gentle Reminder 🌷
Thank you to every member of our community for your dedication, curiosity, and kindness.
Remember, in language acquisition, the journey truly is the reward.
Every story you listen to, every word you read, and every moment you share with French brings you closer to fluency and joy.
With gratitude and encouragement,