French the natural way: is it OK to translate?

Coucou les French learners,

This week, I got a good question from a new member who struggles to acquire French. This new member wants to remain anonymous and he is a total French beginner. He commented in the Chat:

I’m struggling to understand anything without translating every single word.

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abisproduction201 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner443 authentic168 autonomouslearner202 babystage24 becomeamember199 beginner french28 beginnercourse68 cicommunity102 community154 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 course124 dailyfrench190 dailyreading32 fall17 fall lessons2 fle269 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity226 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall193 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient223 intermediate707 journey166 language acquisition229 learner217 lefrancaisensemble206 listen283 live61 liveclass97 natural165 novice168 novice high241 novicehigh326 online learner187 process22 produce12 production44 progress101 reading252 reboot78 selftaught48 slow french311 speak85 speakfrench193 teenstage16 tips50 tpr19 translate7 translating6 translation4 upper beginner449 write59

French the natural way: 5 tips to improve your French pronunciation

Coucou les French learners,

Two weeks ago, I posted Antony’s question about having the correct pronunciation in French. The challenge of the French language is pronunciation. It is challenging to read in French because spelling does not match pronunciation.

There are also all those “weird”

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abisproduction201 advanced beginner443 authentic168 autonomouslearner202 babystage24 becomeamember199 beginner french28 beginnercourse68 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 course124 dailyfrench190 dailyreading32 expressfluency66 fall17 fall lessons2 fle269 freewrite50 frenchcommunity226 frenchculture295 frenchforall193 frenchreaders66 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient223 intermediate707 language acquisition229 learner217 lecture28 lefrancaisensemble206 lisenfrançais182 listen283 natural165 novice168 novice high241 novicehigh326 online learner187 progress101 prononcer5 pronounce31 pronunciation11 reading252 reboot78 selftaught48 slow french311 speak85 speakfrench193 storyasking15 summercourse8 teenstage16 tips50 upper beginner449 write59

French the natural way: French reboot

Coucou les French learners,

Est-ce que vous profitez de l’été ? Are enjoying summer?

Un tournesol ( lisez l’histoire du tournesol ! ), un château de sable au bord de l’océan Atlantique et un coucher de soleil.

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abisproduction201 advanced beginner443 authentic168 autonomouslearner202 babystage24 becomeamember199 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 course124 dailyfrench190 dailyreading32 expressfluency66 fle269 freewrite50 frenchcommunity226 frenchculture295 frenchforall193 frenchreaders66 frenchtraditions29 fvr53 inputaloneissufficient223 intermediate707 july4 july20221 language acquisition229 learner217 lecture28 lefrancaisensemble206 lisenfrançais182 listen283 natural165 novice168 novice high241 novicehigh326 online learner187 reading252 reboot78 selftaught48 slow french311 speak85 speakfrench193 storyasking15 summer28 summer20222 summercourse8 teenstage16 upper beginner449 write59

French the natural way: enjoy the summer and read!

Coucou les French learners,

J’adore l’été ! I love summer! Time to go outside, have long walks, enjoy the swimming-pool and read, read, read!

I have just finished reading Terre des hommes by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

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abisproduction201 advanced beginner443 art41 authentic168 autonomouslearner202 babystage24 becomeamember199 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 comprehension250 course124 dailyfrench190 dailyreading32 easy reader35 expressfluency66 extensivereading15 fle269 frenchcommunity226 frenchculture295 frenchforall193 frenchreaders66 frenchtraditions29 fvr53 infantstage16 inputaloneissufficient223 intermediate707 language acquisition229 learner217 lecture28 lefrancaisensemble206 lisenfrançais182 listen283 livre63 livredumoment19 natural165 newplaylist9 novice168 novicehigh326 online learner187 painting33 pausecafe10 peinture20 pentecôte2 podcast127 reader145 reading252 selftaught48 slow french311 speak85 speakfrench193 storyasking15 summer28 summer20213 summercourse8 upper beginner449

French the natural way: discipline over motivation

Coucou les French learners,

C’est presque le début de l’été, it is nearly the start of summer! And it actually pretty hot over here, in Portugal!

On Sunday, we celebrated Saint Antoine, the saint patron of Portugal. about his incredible life and when you are a member,

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French the natural way: BOOST your FRENCH

Coucou les French learners,

Today is Lundi de Pentecôte. It is part of the Catholic tradition held 50 days after Easter to celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (disciples of Jesus Christ).

While it is a religious celebration following Easter,

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abisproduction201 advanced beginner443 art41 authentic168 autonomouslearner202 babystage24 becomeamember199 brain61 brain work49 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench241 comprehensibleinput231 course124 dailyfrench190 dailyreading32 easy reader35 expressfluency66 fle269 frenchart6 frenchcommunity226 frenchculture295 frenchforall193 frenchreaders66 frenchtraditions29 fvr53 infantstage16 inputaloneissufficient223 intermediate707 language acquisition229 learner217 lefrancaisensemble206 lisenfrançais182 listen283 livre63 livredumoment19 natural165 newplaylist9 novice168 novicehigh326 online learner187 painting33 pausecafe10 peinture20 pentecôte2 podcast127 reader145 selftaught48 slow french311 speak85 speakfrench193 storyasking15 summer28 summer20213 summercourse8 upper beginner449

The many benefits of online teaching

I must confess that since teaching students via Skype or Google hangout, I am having a lot of fun! I have also noticed the many benefits of online instruction.

First of all, the learner is in the comfort of his home which helps lowering the affective filter.

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