French news: highlights from our live Zoom session – get ready to respond

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our members who joined the free live session on Zoom last Wednesday!

We had a fantastic time answering “this or that” questions about summer and sharing our favorite activities to enjoy when the weather is hot and sunny.

[read more…]

accountability204 accountable204 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner479 advanced french93 automaticity1 autonomouslearner238 beginner322 classesdefrançais40 conversation311 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchnews27 guidance35 infolettre35 interact219 interaction47 interactive43 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 motivation237 novice168 novicehigh362 observe25 online teaching29 progress137 prononciation26 pronounce31 pronounciation43 speak85 speakfrench213 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 success17 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner453 warm up36 warmup43 youcandoit70 youcandothis45 zoomclass84

French the natural way: overcome the “Freeze” in conversations

Coucou les French learners,

Have you ever found yourself in this situation? A native French speaker asks you a question. You understand every word, but when it’s time to respond, your mind goes blank. The words are there, somewhere, but they refuse to come out. You’re frozen,

[read more…]

accountability204 accountable204 acquire50 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner479 advanced french93 beginner322 classesdefrançais40 community191 comprehension286 conversation311 feedback61 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity266 frenchnews27 gocommunity27 guidance35 infolettre35 inputaloneissufficient259 interact219 interaction47 interactive43 keepgoing27 keepitsimple10 keepmotivated209 memorize11 memorizing6 memory8 moreinput5 motivation237 novice168 novicehigh362 observe25 online teaching29 progress137 questions74 research17 speakfrench213 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 teaching42 thinkfrench28 train29 training56 upper beginner453 visual5 visualize4 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 youcandothis45

French the natural way: unlock your potential – You don’t need a good memory!

Coucou les French learners,

A common misconception about learning languages is that you need to have a fantastic memory to be successful.

I’ve often heard people say that my ability to speak several languages (English, Spanish, and a bit of Portuguese) comes from having a great memory.

[read more…]

accountability204 accountable204 acquire50 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner479 advanced french93 beginner322 classesdefrançais40 community191 comprehension286 conversation311 feedback61 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity266 frenchnews27 gocommunity27 guidance35 infolettre35 interact219 interaction47 interactive43 keepgoing27 keepitsimple10 keepmotivated209 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 memorize11 memorizing6 memory8 motivation237 novice168 novicehigh362 observe25 online teaching29 progress137 questions74 research17 speakfrench213 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner453 visual5 visualize4 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256

French news: engage, understand and enjoy!

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

Reading stories that are tailored to your level is a powerful way to enhance your French.

Our comprehensible stories often repeat key structures and frequently used vocabulary.

Key structures refer to essential elements that form the foundation of sentences.

[read more…]

accountability204 accountable204 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner479 advanced french93 amusing47 beginner322 celebrate26 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehension286 comprehensionquestions20 conversation311 feedback61 feelgood30 frenchculture298 grammaire28 grammar86 guidance35 infolettre35 interact219 interaction47 interactive43 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 motivation237 novice168 novicehigh362 progress137 readfrench17 readingcomprehension10 readingispower21 readstories4 speak85 speakfrench213 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 success17 summer28 summer20249 teaching42 train29 training56 understand67 understandfrench35 upper beginner453 youcandoit70

French the natural way: what to read when you are at an intermediate level?

Coucou les French learners,

This weekend, Cristiane asked me for book recommendations for French learners at the intermediate level.

This is a fantastic question, as finding the right reading material can be a real challenge when you’re past the beginner stage but not quite ready for full-fledged French literature.

[read more…]

abisproduction237 accountability204 accountable204 advanced beginner479 autonomouslearner238 becomeamember235 beginnerplus168 boost220 booster215 classes39 comprehensiblefrench277 comprehensibleinput279 comprehension286 consistency172 consistent173 dailyfrench226 determined168 discipline164 disciplined179 easyreader119 engage186 engaged174 enjoytheride182 event79 fle306 french for fun44 frenchbeginner171 frenchcommunity266 frenchforall229 frenchreader46 frenchreaders66 fun449 inputaloneissufficient259 intensive183 interact219 intermédiaire617 jelisdoncjesuis25 journey202 keepmotivated209 language acquisition265 learner253 lefrancaisensemble242 lire145 lireenfrançais193 lisenfrançais218 listen319 motivate187 motivated179 motivation237 motivationbreak184 natural201 novel51 novice high277 novicehigh362 online learner223 partnership52 plaisirdelire108 pleasure160 pleasurereading141 reader181 readforpleasure132 reading288 readingjournal5 shortstories49 slow french347 summer20249 summerreading3

French news: struggling to stay motivated in French this summer? Here’s how to keep going!

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

I’ll admit, I’ve been struggling a bit with keeping up with my Chinese acquisition lately. With the warm summer weather, I’d much rather be outside enjoying the sunshine than cooped up watching Chinese videos!

Can you relate?

[read more…]

accountability204 accountable204 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner479 advanced french93 amusing47 beginner322 celebrate26 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehension286 comprehensionquestions20 conversation311 feedback61 feelgood30 free writing37 freewrite50 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchculture298 frenchhistory88 frenchnews27 grammaire28 grammar86 guidance35 infolettre35 interact219 interaction47 interactive43 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 motivation237 novice168 novicehigh362 observe25 online teaching29 progress137 speak85 speakfrench213 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 success17 summer28 summer20249 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner453 youcandoit70

French the natural way: This summer read in French!

Coucou les French learners,

Summer is the ideal season to incorporate French reading into your life.

For one, the warmer weather and longer days put you in a more relaxed, open mindset. You’re more inclined to stick to habits when you’re not bogged down by the stresses of the regular school or work grind.

[read more…]

abisproduction237 accountability204 accountable204 advanced beginner479 autonomouslearner238 becomeamember235 beginnerplus168 boost220 booster215 classes39 comprehensiblefrench277 comprehensibleinput279 comprehension286 consistency172 consistent173 dailyfrench226 determined168 discipline164 disciplined179 engage186 engaged174 enjoytheride182 event79 fle306 french for fun44 frenchbeginner171 frenchcommunity266 frenchforall229 fun449 inputaloneissufficient259 intensive183 interact219 jelisdoncjesuis25 journey202 keepmotivated209 language acquisition265 learner253 lefrancaisensemble242 lire145 lireenfrançais193 lisenfrançais218 listen319 motivate187 motivated179 motivation237 motivationbreak184 natural201 novice high277 novicehigh362 online learner223 partnership52 plaisirdelire108 pleasure160 pleasurereading141 readforpleasure132 reading288 readingjournal5 reboot101 reward36 slow french347 speakfrench213 summer20249 summerreading3 upper beginner453