French the natural way: discover the power of taking notes

Coucou les French learners,

C’est la rentrée ! It’s back to school (or work) in France. This phrase is commonly used in French to refer to the time when people return to school or work after summer vacation. Because, you know, les vacances, c’est sacré !

[read more…]

abisproduction235 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 beginner french28 cicommunity113 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 journal53 journaling46 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 listen317 massiveinput10 natural199 notes2 novice168 novice high275 novicehigh360 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 progress135 reading286 selftaught48 slow french345 speak85 speakfrench211 speech9 takingnotes2 tips50 upper beginner449 write59

Adult Stage – Conclusion

Coucou la communauté des French learners !

L’étape adulte est terminée. Tu as complété toutes les sessions de l’« Adult Stage », félicitations !

Je vais continuer de parler en Français parce que maintenant, tu peux comprendre tout ce que je dis (ou presque !) en Français.

adult-progress32 adult-stage32 advice23 apprendslefrançais91 approach38 communauté77 community189 conclusion5 course124 culturefrancaise80 culturefrance2 experience15 frenchacquisition135 frenchcommunity261 frenchjourney20 histoiredefrance137 howto49 intermédiaire611 intermediate741 labase65 method20 natural approach59 nextstep4 nextsteps4 notes2 optimalinput74 ownexperience9 plenary5 plenarysession5 presentation140 presenting102 read40 readandshare5 recommendation11 script201 scripts113 self french205 series71 share17 slow french345 slow pace126 takingnotes2 tips50 upper beginner449 video351 vivelacommunautédefrenchlearners15 vocabulary256 vocabularylist84 write59

French the natural way: how writing prepares you for fluent speaking

Coucou les French learners,

I hope you are enjoying l’été, summer time! I love this time of the year because as some of you may know already, I am a frileuse. This French word cannot really be translated in English but it basically means I am sensitive to cold.

[read more…]

abisproduction235 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 beginner french28 cicommunity113 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 journal53 journaling46 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 listen317 massiveinput10 natural199 novice168 novice high275 novicehigh360 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 progress135 reading286 selftaught48 slow french345 speak85 speakfrench211 speech9 teenstage16 tips50 translate7 translating6 upper beginner449 write59

French the natural way: to dare is to do

Coucou les French learners,

Today, I have received the most uplifting message from Christine, a dear member and committed learner:

On this day of thanksgiving (USA), I especially thank you for your special companionship on my French language acquiring journey. I wouldn’t be where I am without your presence in my life on my journey. 

[read more…]

abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 adultstage1 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 bandedessinnée6 bd6 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 comic book2 comics7 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermédiaire611 intermediate741 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 lisenfrançais216 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 read40 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19

French the natural way: become a joyful reader

Coucou les French learners,

Last week was full of events as we commemorated the end of la Grande Guerre, the Great War. The 11th of November is un jour férié, a bank holiday in France and it celebrates l’Armistice which happened in 1918,

[read more…]

abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 bandedessinnée6 bd6 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 comic book2 comics7 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 lisenfrançais216 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 read40 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19

French the natural way: keep it up!

Coucou les French learners,

To be honest, watching and hearing my own children speaking Portuguese fluently and sounding like natives, makes me feel discouraged sometimes. I struggle to speak Portuguese fluently, to let it flow!

I was reading this interesting article about the best age to learn a language.

[read more…]

abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19

French the natural way: give yourself a productive French hour!

Coucou les French learners,

Le mois de novembre est là !

“November is beautiful month. But one has to like grey. And the eye has to catch its light.” Gilles Vigneault is a poet from Québec.

[read more…]

abisproduction235 accountability202 accountable202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner477 authentic168 autonomouslearner236 becomeamember233 cicommunity113 community189 comprehensiblefrench275 comprehensibleinput265 comprehension284 course124 dailyfrench224 dailyreading32 fle303 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity261 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall227 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient257 intermediate741 keepgoing27 keepmotivated207 language45 language acquisition263 learner251 lefrancaisensemble240 listen317 massiveinput10 motivated177 motivation235 motiver4 natural199 online learner221 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress135 reading286 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french345 speakfrench211 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14 tpr19