French news: focus on the meaning rather than the form

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

You know it: receiving comprehensible input is powerful. It is the key to unlocking your French fluency.

You know it too: the journey to mastering French is challenging.

The good news is that input alone is sufficient to first understand,

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French the natural way: how should you start reading?

Coucou les French learners,

This week, I want to share a great question from Pete, one of our dear members, which I believe will resonate with many of you:

How should I read? Should I read the French words to myself (in my head like the adult I am) or will it be best to read out loud as I did as a child (70 years ago) when I was learning to read English?

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 classes39 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 discipline163 disciplined178 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 event79 fle304 french for fun44 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 live62 live event55 liveclass98 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 partnership52 pleasure159 pleasurereading141 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 upper beginner449

French the natural way: discover the joy of reading in French!

Coucou les French learners,

Are you eager to read a book in French but unsure which one to choose? You’re not alone! This is a common challenge for language learners at all levels.

When I first started to acquire Portuguese, I was eager to dive into classic literature.

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 classes39 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 discipline163 disciplined178 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 event79 fle304 french for fun44 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 live62 live event55 liveclass98 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 partnership52 pleasure159 pleasurereading141 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 upper beginner449

French the natural way: it’s OK not to understand!

Coucou les French learners,

Today, I want to touch base on a common concern that many of you might encounter: the feeling of being lost when you don’t understand a story… Or even its gist!

Have you ever found yourself in this situation?

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 engage185 engaged173 fle304 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchreader46 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 livre63 moments15 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 new year22 novice high276 novicehigh361 objective21 online learner222 progress136 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 total physical response14 tpr19 understandfrench35 upper beginner449

French the natural way: how to make sure you understand it!

Coucou les French learners,

As language learners, we often wonder how well we’ve understood a video, a story or a text. We find ourselves asking:

Did I understand the message? Did I grasp the main idea? Did I really get the gist of it?

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 engage185 engaged173 fle304 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchreader46 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 livre63 moments15 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 new year22 novice high276 novicehigh361 objective21 online learner222 progress136 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 total physical response14 tpr19 understandfrench35 upper beginner449

French the natural way: how to let go of translation

Coucou les French learners,

Over the weekend, Angus, one of our dearest member shared:

When I found Alice’s site I subscribed immediately. It is three years later now and not a day goes by when I don’t feel gratitude to Alice.

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 audiobook63 audiolivre19 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 engage185 engaged173 fle304 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchreader46 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 livre63 moments15 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 new year22 novice high276 novicehigh361 objective21 online learner222 progress136 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 total physical response14 tpr19 understandfrench35 upper beginner449

French the natural way: Join me for one hour live tomorrow!

Coucou les French learners,

Just a quick reminder that we are meeting live for
la Pause du mois d’avril 2024 ! Wednesday April 24
4pm UK / 5pm France / 11am EST / 8am PST

Join me live on Zoom for a very special reading session followed by lively chats,

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 classes39 coach23 coaching23 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 discipline163 disciplined178 engage185 engaged173 event79 expressfluency83 fle304 french for fun44 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 fun448 gocommunity27 gosolo7 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 live62 live event55 liveclass98 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 partnership52 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 stayinfrance21 upper beginner449