French the natural way: imagine!

Coucou les French learners,

On May 1st, it is common for French people to offer lily of the valley flowers, le muguet to their loved ones as a symbol of good luck and happiness. So here is un brin de muguet for you,

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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember233 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté77 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench275 connect138 connection139 enjoytheride180 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories106 joinus23 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble240 lefrançaisnaturellement92 lily of the valley4 listen317 listentostories41 low affective filter25 mai7 may15 muguet10 natural approach59 online french sessions37 pureci43 sessions10 sla123 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening176 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: you want to speak, listen first!

Coucou les French learners,

As a French teacher, I often hear from my eager French learners who are determined to speak the language. They’re excited to start having conversations in French, but they quickly run into a problem: they struggle to maintain a conversation, they freeze.

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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember233 becomefluent60 befluent23 challenge22 ci145 class31 communauté77 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench275 connect138 connection139 enjoytheride180 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories106 joinus23 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble240 lefrançaisnaturellement92 letsdraw7 listen317 listentostories41 low affective filter25 natural approach59 online french sessions37 pureci43 sessions10 sla123 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening176 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: become enlightened

Coucou les French learners,

Qu’est-ce que vous lisez en ce moment ? What are you reading?

Deb Nicholson who is also a member of our community recommended Writing to the bones by Natalie Goldberg. I am savoring each page of this wonderful book,

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abisproduction235 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 b21 becomeamember233 book95 cicommunity113 classes39 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 course124 dailyfrench224 delf1 delfb21 exam4 expressfluency82 expressfluency20235 fle303 french lessons7 frenchcommunity261 frenchforall227 fvr53 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 language acquisition263 learner251 lecture28 lefrancaisensemble240 lessons36 lisenfrançais216 listen317 live62 natural199 novice168 novice high275 novicehigh360 online38 online learner221 personal13 prononcer5 pronounce31 pronunciation11 reading286 reboot101 selftaught48 sing32 singing7 slow french345 speak85 speakfrench211 storyasking15 test14 understand67 understandfrench35 upper beginner449 winter11 write59

French the natural way: to dare is to do

Coucou les French learners,

Today, I have received the most uplifting message from Christine, a dear member and committed learner:

On this day of thanksgiving (USA), I especially thank you for your special companionship on my French language acquiring journey. I wouldn’t be where I am without your presence in my life on my journey. 

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abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 adultstage1 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 bandedessinnée6 bd6 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 comic book2 comics7 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermédiaire611 intermediate741 journey200 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 lisenfrançais216 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 read40 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19

French the natural way: become a joyful reader

Coucou les French learners,

Last week was full of events as we commemorated the end of la Grande Guerre, the Great War. The 11th of November is un jour férié, a bank holiday in France and it celebrates l’Armistice which happened in 1918,

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abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 bandedessinnée6 bd6 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 comic book2 comics7 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 journey200 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 lisenfrançais216 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 read40 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19

French the natural way: keep it up!

Coucou les French learners,

To be honest, watching and hearing my own children speaking Portuguese fluently and sounding like natives, makes me feel discouraged sometimes. I struggle to speak Portuguese fluently, to let it flow!

I was reading this interesting article about the best age to learn a language.

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abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 journey200 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19

French the natural way: give yourself a productive French hour!

Coucou les French learners,

Le mois de novembre est là !

“November is beautiful month. But one has to like grey. And the eye has to catch its light.” Gilles Vigneault is a poet from Québec.

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abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 journey200 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19