French the natural way: how writing prepares you for fluent speaking

Coucou les French learners,

I hope you are enjoying l’été, summer time! I love this time of the year because as some of you may know already, I am a frileuse. This French word cannot really be translated in English but it basically means I am sensitive to cold.

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abisproduction230 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner472 authentic168 autonomouslearner231 becomeamember228 beginner french28 cicommunity110 community184 comprehensibleinput260 comprehension279 course124 dailyfrench219 dailyreading32 fle298 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity256 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall222 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient252 intermediate736 journal53 journaling46 journey195 language45 language acquisition258 learner246 lefrancaisensemble235 listen312 massiveinput10 natural194 novice168 novice high270 novicehigh355 online learner216 process22 produce12 production44 progress130 reading281 selftaught48 slow french340 speak85 speakfrench208 speech9 teenstage16 tips50 translate7 translating6 upper beginner449 write59

French the natural way: 3 strategies for natural conversations!

Coucou les French learners,

As the French Beginner Intensive Week ended, I got this question coming up:

How can I improve my conversational skills?

Sign up for our next Intensive Week! There are still a few spots available!

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abisproduction230 advanced beginner472 authentic168 autonomouslearner231 becomeamember228 beginnerplus161 boost213 cicommunity110 communicate9 communication10 comprehensibleinput260 comprehension279 consistency165 consistent166 course124 dailyfrench219 dailyreading32 enjoytheride175 été5 expressfluency80 fle298 frenchbeginner164 frenchcommunity256 frenchforall222 fvr53 inputaloneissufficient252 intensive176 interact212 intermediate736 july4 keepmotivated202 language acquisition258 learner246 lecture28 lefrancaisensemble235 lisenfrançais211 listen312 motivate180 motivated172 motivation230 natural194 novice168 novice high270 novicehigh355 online learner216 reading281 reboot99 slow french340 speak85 speakfrench208 summer28 summer20232 summercourse8 upper beginner449

French the natural way: Join my French summer intensive for fun and fluency!

Coucou les French learners,

– L’été s’impose et contraint toute âme au bonheur – André Gide

Make the most of summer (my favourite season!)! Join my online French courses.

Maintain language momentum. Fit my French sessions into your summer plans.

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abisproduction230 advanced beginner472 authentic168 autonomouslearner231 becomeamember228 beginnerplus161 boost213 cicommunity110 comprehensibleinput260 comprehension279 consistency165 consistent166 course124 dailyfrench219 dailyreading32 enjoytheride175 été5 expressfluency80 fle298 frenchbeginner164 frenchcommunity256 frenchforall222 fvr53 inputaloneissufficient252 intensive176 interact212 intermediate736 july4 keepmotivated202 language acquisition258 learner246 lecture28 lefrancaisensemble235 lisenfrançais211 listen312 motivate180 motivated172 motivation230 natural194 novice168 novice high270 novicehigh355 online learner216 reading281 reboot99 slow french340 speak85 speakfrench208 summer28 summer20232 summercourse8 upper beginner449

French the natural way: 3 techniques to break free from translation

Coucou les French learners,

Last week, I received a message from Josh, who recently joined our community:

I’ve finished the Baby stage and gone through video 9 of the Infant stage. My comprehension has improved A LOT in only 5-6 weeks of being a member in relation to my very beginner level from when I started.

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French the natural way: break free from translation with these 3 expert strategies!

Coucou les French learners,

Having a growth mindset is crucial when you embark on your French journey. The ability to learn and improve is indeed essential when you are acquiring French (or any other languages).

At the start of our intermediate online class, I asked learners to shift their thoughts.

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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 becomeamember228 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté74 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehension279 connect133 connection134 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories101 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble235 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen312 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench208 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening171 thinkfrench28 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: fluency at any age, 3 benefits of acquiring French

Coucou les French learners,

In response to last week’s newsletter, Debra wrote to me:

I started seriously learning French when I was 58. I’m 68 now. Not “fluent” but conversational. And, yes. I forget things I know but I do that in English too.

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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 age2 aging2 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember228 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté74 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehension279 connect133 connection134 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories101 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble235 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen312 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 pureci43 reality4 senior9 seniors2 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench208 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening171 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: age with grace and French: grow and thrive!

Coucou les French learners,

Do you remember Chris? When she spoke French for the first time during our French Accountability Hour, I was shocked. Chris sounded fluent! How did she do it? Well, Chris kindly shared her French routine:

I am retired now and have lots of free time to spend with my target language.

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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 age2 aging2 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember228 becomefluent60 befluent23 bulletjournal21 ci145 class31 communauté74 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehension279 connect133 connection134 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories101 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble235 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen312 listentostories41 low affective filter25 mai7 may15 muguet10 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 pureci43 reality4 senior9 seniors2 sessions10 shadowing3 silence7 silent10 sla123 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening171 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70