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!

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abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 cicommunity103 communauté67 community169 communitylive84 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 feedback49 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 grammar74 groupdiscussion10 grouptalk10 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narrate20 narration95 natural179 newdesign9 newsite9 novice high255 novicehigh340 online learner201 personal development50 pleasure138 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reflect25 reflection28 slow french325 speakfrench201 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156 telegram10

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.

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abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 community169 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 expressfluency72 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchclass91 frenchclasses62 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschoolfrench17 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narration95 natural179 novice high255 novicehigh340 onestoryaday11 online learner201 personal development50 plaisirdelire98 pleasure138 pleasurereading131 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reboot91 retireelearning17 slow french325 slowfrench70 slowlearning7 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156

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).

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abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 communauté67 community169 communitylive84 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 feedback49 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 grammar74 groupdiscussion10 grouptalk10 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narrate20 narration95 natural179 newdesign9 newsite9 novice high255 novicehigh340 online learner201 personal development50 pleasure138 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reboot91 redesign8 reflect25 reflection28 slow french325 speakfrench201 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156 telegram10 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…]

abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 community169 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 expressfluency72 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchclass91 frenchclasses62 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschoolfrench17 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narration95 natural179 newyear26 newyear20262 noël23 novice high255 novicehigh340 onestoryaday11 online learner201 personal development50 plaisirdelire98 pleasure138 pleasurereading131 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reboot91 retireelearning17 slow french325 slowfrench70 slowlearning7 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156

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…]

abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 communauté67 community169 communitylive84 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 feedback49 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 grammar74 groupdiscussion10 grouptalk10 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narrate20 narration95 natural179 newdesign9 newsite9 novice high255 novicehigh340 online learner201 personal development50 pleasure138 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reboot91 redesign8 reflect25 reflection28 slow french325 speakfrench201 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156 telegram10 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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abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 christmas27 christmas spirit16 christmascountdown19 community169 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 expressfluency72 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchclass91 frenchclasses62 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschoolfrench17 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narration95 natural179 newyear26 newyear20262 noël23 novice high255 novicehigh340 onestoryaday11 online learner201 personal development50 plaisirdelire98 pleasure138 pleasurereading131 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reboot91 retireelearning17 slow french325 slowfrench70 slowlearning7 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156

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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abisproduction215 accountability182 accountable182 advanced beginner457 aliceayel45 autonomouslearner216 becomeamember213 beginnerplus146 boost198 booster193 charlottemason85 charlottemasoninspired85 communauté67 community169 comprehensiblefrench255 comprehensibleinput245 comprehension264 connect118 consistency150 consistent151 dailyfrench204 determined146 development51 discipline142 disciplined157 easyreader97 engage164 engaged152 enjoytheride160 feedback49 fle283 frenchbeginner149 frenchcommunity241 frenchforall207 frenchhabits107 frenchwithstories86 fun427 grammar74 groupdiscussion10 grouptalk10 habit147 habits135 homeschool84 homeschooling85 immersion107 inputaloneissufficient237 intensive161 interact197 intermédiaire591 intermediate721 journey180 keepmotivated187 language acquisition243 learner231 lefrançaisavecaliceayel64 lefrancaisensemble220 lire123 lireenfrançais171 lisenfrançais196 listen297 motivate165 motivated157 motivation215 motivationbreak162 narrate20 narration95 natural179 newdesign9 newsite9 novice high255 novicehigh340 online learner201 personal development50 pleasure138 progress115 reader159 readforpleasure110 reading266 reboot91 redesign8 reflect25 reflection28 slow french325 speakfrench201 startnew93 storylistener117 storylistening156 telegram10