French the natural way: How Did Josh Go from “Bonjour” to Fluent French? Could You Be Next? 🇫🇷✨

Coucou les French learners,

I asked Josh, a dedicated member of our site, how he mastered speaking French so naturally.

His answer was inspiring and shows just how powerful Story Listening and comprehensible input can be in helping learners achieve real fluency:

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French the natural way: When Was the Last Time You Got Lost in a Great Story?

Coucou les French learners,

When is the last time you listened to an interesting story, one that made you forget the world around you and left you wanting more?

Every truly captivating story has a few magical ingredients: a touch of suspense, relatable characters, a twist or two,

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abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 advanced beginner477 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 beginnerplus166 boost218 booster213 charlottemason105 charlottemasoninspired105 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 connect138 connection139 consistency170 consistent171 dailyfrench224 determined166 discipline162 disciplined177 easyreader117 engage184 engaged172 enjoytheride180 event79 fle303 frenchbeginner169 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity261 frenchforall227 frenchhabits127 fun447 greekmyth13 habit167 habits155 homeschool104 homeschooling105 immersion127 inputaloneissufficient257 intensive181 interact217 intermédiaire611 intermediate741 journey200 keepmotivated207 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 lire143 lireenfrançais191 lisenfrançais216 listen317 motivate185 motivated177 motivation235 motivationbreak182 narration115 natural199 novice high275 novicehigh360 online learner221 plaisirdelire108 pleasure158 pleasurereading141 reader179 readforpleasure130 reading286 slow french345 startnew113 storylistener137 storylistening176 tradition57

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 becomeamember233 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté77 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehension284 connect138 connection139 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble240 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen317 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench211 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening176 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 becomeamember233 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté77 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehension284 connect138 connection139 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble240 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen317 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 pureci43 reality4 senior9 seniors2 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench211 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening176 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 becomeamember233 becomefluent60 befluent23 bulletjournal21 ci145 class31 communauté77 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehension284 connect138 connection139 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble240 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen317 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 storylistening176 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: silence speaks louder! The secret weapon to mastering French

Coucou les French learners,

When Chris spoke French for the first time during our French Accountability Hour last Monday, I was a amazed. Chris spoke in full correct sentences with a beautiful French accent.

Je n’en croyais pas mes oreilles ! My ears couldn’t believe it!

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember233 becomefluent60 befluent23 bulletjournal21 ci145 class31 communauté77 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehension284 connect138 connection139 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble240 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen317 listentostories41 low affective filter25 mai7 may15 muguet10 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 pureci43 sessions10 shadowing3 silence7 silent10 sla123 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening176 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70