When Stories Connect Us Across Continents: This Week’s Bulgarian Folktale

Coucou les French Story Listeners,

What a joy it is when our stories spark creativity!

Last week, Nadya shared the most adorable crochet work inspired by “Chat et souris associés” on our Telegram group.

Look at this precious orange cat and tiny white mouse she created – complete with whiskers and that unmistakable mouse tail!

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 cicommunity114 communauté78 community190 communitylive95 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 feedback60 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 grammar85 groupdiscussion21 grouptalk21 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narrate31 narration117 natural200 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 personal development71 pleasure159 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reflect36 reflection39 slow french346 speakfrench212 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180 telegram21

Why Your Brain Doesn’t Need a Dictionary (And a Hedgehog Tale to Prove It)

Dear French Story Listeners,

Have you ever caught yourself frantically translating every French word back to English in your mind?

Like a mental ping-pong match that leaves you exhausted before the story even ends?

Here’s the lovely truth: your brain is already wired for language.

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 expressfluency83 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschoolfrench29 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narration117 natural200 novice high276 novicehigh361 onestoryaday21 online learner222 personal development71 plaisirdelire108 pleasure159 pleasurereading141 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reboot101 retireelearning27 slow french346 slowfrench80 slowlearning18 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180

Heather’s discovery: “Never trust a cat” (+ this week’s tale)

Chers amis,

Last Saturday’s gathering was warm and intimate—like sitting together by a winter fire.

We talked about your French habits for the new year.

We worked through connecting to Telegram step-by-step (if you missed it, watch the replay here—I walk you through the whole process on screen).

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 communauté78 community190 communitylive95 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 feedback60 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 grammar85 groupdiscussion21 grouptalk21 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narrate31 narration117 natural200 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 personal development71 pleasure159 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reboot101 redesign8 reflect36 reflection39 slow french346 speakfrench212 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180 telegram21 zoomcall2

Monday French Story: When Hunger Tests Friendship 🐱🐭

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”

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 expressfluency83 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschoolfrench29 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narration117 natural200 newyear26 newyear20262 noël23 novice high276 novicehigh361 onestoryaday21 online learner222 personal development71 plaisirdelire108 pleasure159 pleasurereading141 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reboot101 retireelearning27 slow french346 slowfrench80 slowlearning18 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180

Bonne année—let’s gather this Saturday ☕

Bonne année et bonne santé, dear friend,

I hope 2026 has begun gently for you.

Can I be honest? Of our 1,100+ French Story Listeners, only 56 have joined our Telegram community so far. And I’ve been wondering why.

Maybe the tech feels confusing.

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 communauté78 community190 communitylive95 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 feedback60 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 grammar85 groupdiscussion21 grouptalk21 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narrate31 narration117 natural200 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 personal development71 pleasure159 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reboot101 redesign8 reflect36 reflection39 slow french346 speakfrench212 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180 telegram21 zoomcall2

This week’s French story: How an elf outsmarted the trolls

Bonjour French Story Listener,

Boa passagem de ano!

That’s what people say here in Portugal, where I live now – “Good passage into the new year!“

Isn’t that beautiful? Not just “Happy New Year” but a passage –

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 christmas27 christmas spirit16 christmascountdown19 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 expressfluency83 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschoolfrench29 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narration117 natural200 newyear26 newyear20262 noël23 novice high276 novicehigh361 onestoryaday21 online learner222 personal development71 plaisirdelire108 pleasure159 pleasurereading141 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reboot101 retireelearning27 slow french346 slowfrench80 slowlearning18 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180

A Christmas gift: Let’s meet live next week

Bonjour French Story Listener,

I’m writing to you from my kitchen table, still surrounded by the happy chaos of Christmas – my family’s laughter echoing through the house, the smell of hot chocolate lingering in the air.

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 aliceayel69 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 charlottemason109 charlottemasoninspired106 communauté78 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 connect139 connection140 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 development72 discipline163 disciplined178 easyreader118 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 feedback60 fle304 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchhabits128 frenchwithstories107 fun448 grammar85 groupdiscussion21 grouptalk21 habit168 habits156 homeschool105 homeschooling107 immersion128 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrançaisavecaliceayel85 lefrancaisensemble241 lire144 lireenfrançais192 lisenfrançais217 listen318 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 narrate31 narration117 natural200 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 personal development71 pleasure159 progress136 reader180 readforpleasure131 reading287 reboot101 redesign8 reflect36 reflection39 slow french346 speakfrench212 startnew114 storylistener138 storylistening180 telegram21