French the natural way: Why Drawing Stories Makes All the Difference! 🎨🇫🇷

Coucou les French learners,

Have you ever noticed how picture books show everything all at once, making it hard to focus?

That’s why drawing while telling a story works so much better during Story Listening (a method developed by Dr. Beniko Mason).

[read more…]

abisproduction201 accountability168 accountable168 advanced beginner443 autonomouslearner202 becomeamember199 beginnerplus132 boost184 booster179 charlottemason71 charlottemasoninspired71 community154 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 consistency136 consistent137 dailyfrench190 determined132 discipline128 disciplined143 easyreader83 engage150 engaged138 enjoytheride146 event78 fle269 frenchbeginner135 frenchclass85 frenchclasses56 frenchcommunity226 frenchforall193 frenchhabits93 fun413 habit133 habits121 homeschool70 homeschooling71 immersion93 inputaloneissufficient223 intensive147 interact183 intermédiaire577 intermediate707 journey166 keepmotivated173 language acquisition229 learner217 lefrancaisensemble206 lire109 lireenfrançais157 lisenfrançais182 listen283 motivate151 motivated143 motivation201 motivationbreak148 narration81 natural165 novice high241 novicehigh326 online learner187 plaisirdelire92 pleasure124 pleasurereading125 reader145 readforpleasure96 reading252 slow french311 startnew79 storylistener103 storylistening142

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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abisproduction201 accountability168 accountable168 advanced beginner443 autonomouslearner202 becomeamember199 beginnerplus132 boost184 booster179 charlottemason71 charlottemasoninspired71 community154 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 consistency136 consistent137 dailyfrench190 determined132 discipline128 disciplined143 easyreader83 engage150 engaged138 enjoytheride146 event78 fle269 frenchbeginner135 frenchclass85 frenchclasses56 frenchcommunity226 frenchforall193 frenchhabits93 fun413 greekmyth13 habit133 habits121 homeschool70 homeschooling71 immersion93 inputaloneissufficient223 intensive147 interact183 intermédiaire577 intermediate707 journey166 keepmotivated173 language acquisition229 learner217 lefrancaisensemble206 lire109 lireenfrançais157 lisenfrançais182 listen283 motivate151 motivated143 motivation201 motivationbreak148 narration81 natural165 novice high241 novicehigh326 online learner187 plaisirdelire92 pleasure124 pleasurereading125 reader145 readforpleasure96 reading252 slow french311 startnew79 storylistener103 storylistening142 testimonial20 testimonies17 testimony17

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,

[read more…]

abisproduction201 accountability168 accountable168 advanced beginner443 autonomouslearner202 becomeamember199 beginnerplus132 boost184 booster179 charlottemason71 charlottemasoninspired71 community154 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 consistency136 consistent137 dailyfrench190 determined132 discipline128 disciplined143 easyreader83 engage150 engaged138 enjoytheride146 event78 fle269 frenchbeginner135 frenchclass85 frenchclasses56 frenchcommunity226 frenchforall193 frenchhabits93 fun413 greekmyth13 habit133 habits121 homeschool70 homeschooling71 immersion93 inputaloneissufficient223 intensive147 interact183 intermédiaire577 intermediate707 journey166 keepmotivated173 language acquisition229 learner217 lefrancaisensemble206 lire109 lireenfrançais157 lisenfrançais182 listen283 motivate151 motivated143 motivation201 motivationbreak148 narration81 natural165 novice high241 novicehigh326 online learner187 plaisirdelire92 pleasure124 pleasurereading125 reader145 readforpleasure96 reading252 slow french311 startnew79 storylistener103 storylistening142 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.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 audiobook63 audiolivre19 becomeamember199 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté59 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 expressfluency66 expressfluency20235 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour14 intensive147 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble206 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen283 listentostories41 liveclass97 livreaudio40 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench193 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening142 summer28 summercourse8 thinkfrench28 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

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.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 becomeamember199 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté59 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour14 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble206 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen283 listentostories41 liveclass97 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench193 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening142 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.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 age2 aging2 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember199 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté59 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour14 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble206 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen283 listentostories41 liveclass97 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 pureci43 reality4 senior9 seniors2 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench193 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening142 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.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 age2 aging2 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember199 becomefluent60 befluent23 bulletjournal21 ci145 class31 communauté59 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehension250 connect104 connection105 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble206 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen283 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 storylistening142 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70