French the natural way: 🧀 Do You Like Cheese?

Coucou les French learners,

A (Not-So) Secret Confession About Cheese

Let me start with a question: do you like cheese?

I know, it’s a classic French stereotype, but I have a confession to make. When I was a child, and even as a teenager,

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abisproduction224 accountability191 accountable191 advanced beginner466 autonomouslearner225 becomeamember222 beginnerplus155 boost207 booster202 charlottemason94 charlottemasoninspired94 cheese10 community178 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehensibleinput254 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 consistency159 consistent160 dailyfrench213 determined155 development60 discipline151 disciplined166 easyreader106 engage173 engaged161 enjoytheride169 event79 fle292 frenchbeginner158 frenchcheese2 frenchclass96 frenchclasses67 frenchcommunity250 frenchforall216 frenchhabits116 fromage4 fun436 habit156 habits144 homeschool93 homeschooling94 immersion116 inputaloneissufficient246 intensive170 interact206 intermédiaire600 intermediate730 journey189 keepmotivated196 language acquisition252 learner240 lefrancaisensemble229 lire132 lireenfrançais180 lisenfrançais205 listen306 motivate174 motivated166 motivation224 motivationbreak171 narration104 natural188 novice high264 novicehigh349 online learner210 personal development59 plaisirdelire103 pleasure147 pleasurereading136 progress124 reader168 readforpleasure119 reading275 slow french334 startnew102 storylistener126 storylistening165

French the natural way: Why Can’t you Speak French Yet? 🐾

Coucou les French learners,

Have you ever wondered why speaking French fluently feels so far away?

Let’s think about it like this: starting to speak French is a lot like a baby learning to crawl before they walk.

I recently read a wonderful reflection by Martina Bex,

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abisproduction224 accountability191 accountable191 advanced beginner466 autonomouslearner225 becomeamember222 beginnerplus155 boost207 booster202 charlottemason94 charlottemasoninspired94 community178 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehensibleinput254 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 consistency159 consistent160 dailyfrench213 determined155 development60 discipline151 disciplined166 easyreader106 engage173 engaged161 enjoytheride169 event79 fle292 frenchbeginner158 frenchclass96 frenchclasses67 frenchcommunity250 frenchforall216 frenchhabits116 fun436 habit156 habits144 homeschool93 homeschooling94 immersion116 inputaloneissufficient246 intensive170 interact206 intermédiaire600 intermediate730 journey189 keepmotivated196 language acquisition252 learner240 lefrancaisensemble229 lire132 lireenfrançais180 lisenfrançais205 listen306 motivate174 motivated166 motivation224 motivationbreak171 narration104 natural188 novice high264 novicehigh349 online learner210 personal development59 plaisirdelire103 pleasure147 pleasurereading136 progress124 reader168 readforpleasure119 reading275 slow french334 startnew102 storylistener126 storylistening165

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).

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abisproduction224 accountability191 accountable191 advanced beginner466 autonomouslearner225 becomeamember222 beginnerplus155 boost207 booster202 charlottemason94 charlottemasoninspired94 community178 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehensibleinput254 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 consistency159 consistent160 dailyfrench213 determined155 discipline151 disciplined166 easyreader106 engage173 engaged161 enjoytheride169 event79 fle292 frenchbeginner158 frenchclass96 frenchclasses67 frenchcommunity250 frenchforall216 frenchhabits116 fun436 habit156 habits144 homeschool93 homeschooling94 immersion116 inputaloneissufficient246 intensive170 interact206 intermédiaire600 intermediate730 journey189 keepmotivated196 language acquisition252 learner240 lefrancaisensemble229 lire132 lireenfrançais180 lisenfrançais205 listen306 motivate174 motivated166 motivation224 motivationbreak171 narration104 natural188 novice high264 novicehigh349 online learner210 plaisirdelire103 pleasure147 pleasurereading136 reader168 readforpleasure119 reading275 slow french334 startnew102 storylistener126 storylistening165

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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abisproduction224 accountability191 accountable191 advanced beginner466 autonomouslearner225 becomeamember222 beginnerplus155 boost207 booster202 charlottemason94 charlottemasoninspired94 community178 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehensibleinput254 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 consistency159 consistent160 dailyfrench213 determined155 discipline151 disciplined166 easyreader106 engage173 engaged161 enjoytheride169 event79 fle292 frenchbeginner158 frenchclass96 frenchclasses67 frenchcommunity250 frenchforall216 frenchhabits116 fun436 greekmyth13 habit156 habits144 homeschool93 homeschooling94 immersion116 inputaloneissufficient246 intensive170 interact206 intermédiaire600 intermediate730 journey189 keepmotivated196 language acquisition252 learner240 lefrancaisensemble229 lire132 lireenfrançais180 lisenfrançais205 listen306 motivate174 motivated166 motivation224 motivationbreak171 narration104 natural188 novice high264 novicehigh349 online learner210 plaisirdelire103 pleasure147 pleasurereading136 reader168 readforpleasure119 reading275 slow french334 startnew102 storylistener126 storylistening165 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,

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abisproduction224 accountability191 accountable191 advanced beginner466 autonomouslearner225 becomeamember222 beginnerplus155 boost207 booster202 charlottemason94 charlottemasoninspired94 community178 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehensibleinput254 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 consistency159 consistent160 dailyfrench213 determined155 discipline151 disciplined166 easyreader106 engage173 engaged161 enjoytheride169 event79 fle292 frenchbeginner158 frenchclass96 frenchclasses67 frenchcommunity250 frenchforall216 frenchhabits116 fun436 greekmyth13 habit156 habits144 homeschool93 homeschooling94 immersion116 inputaloneissufficient246 intensive170 interact206 intermédiaire600 intermediate730 journey189 keepmotivated196 language acquisition252 learner240 lefrancaisensemble229 lire132 lireenfrançais180 lisenfrançais205 listen306 motivate174 motivated166 motivation224 motivationbreak171 narration104 natural188 novice high264 novicehigh349 online learner210 plaisirdelire103 pleasure147 pleasurereading136 reader168 readforpleasure119 reading275 slow french334 startnew102 storylistener126 storylistening165 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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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 audiobook63 audiolivre19 becomeamember222 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté71 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 expressfluency77 expressfluency20235 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour15 intensive170 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble229 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen306 listentostories41 liveclass98 livreaudio40 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench205 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening165 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.

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acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 becomeamember222 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté71 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench264 comprehension273 connect127 connection128 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble229 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen306 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench205 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening165 thinkfrench28 understand67 understandfrench35 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70