Dear French Story Listeners,
Every Saturday at 2pm, a new story arrives. And every Monday, I write to you.
This week’s tale from the Grimm Brothers is longer than usual – 30 minutes. It asks something of you: your full attention.
“Chat et souris associés” tells of a cat and a mouse who became unlikely friends, prepared for winter together, and then… well, hunger reveals who we truly are.
→ Watch it here 🎥 https://youtu.be/nE0RKZAB4gE
This week’s tip: How to stay present for 30 minutes
A longer story deserves your undivided attention. Here’s how to give it:
Before you begin:
- Put your phone face-down, out of reach
- Close other tabs and windows
- Tell anyone nearby: “I need 30 minutes”
- Breathe: Inhale deeply, exhale slowly. Five times. Let your mind arrive where your body is.
As you watch:
- If your mind wanders, that’s normal – gently bring it back
- Don’t pause to look up words – let the story carry you
- Trust that understanding comes through context, not translation
When it ends:
- Sit for a moment before moving on
- What moment stayed with you? The beginning of their friendship? The first temptation? The ending you saw coming—or didn’t?
Narrate the story back to yourself. Even just the parts you remember.
This is where acquisition happens.
Your encouragement this week
Thirty minutes of French is no small thing.
You’re training not just your ear, but your capacity to stay with a story until it’s fully told.
Some of the richest language experiences require us to sit still long enough to receive them.
You’re capable of this. You’ve got this.
Share your thoughts in the comments – I’m there, reading every one.
À bientôt,
Alice 💕
Know someone ready for a longer French story? Forward this their way.