When Stories Connect Us Across Continents: This Week’s Bulgarian Folktale

Coucou les French Story Listeners,

What a joy it is when our stories spark creativity!

Last week, Nadya shared the most adorable crochet work inspired by “Chat et souris associés” on our Telegram group.

Look at this precious orange cat and tiny white mouse she created – complete with whiskers and that unmistakable mouse tail!

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abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 cicommunity110 communauté74 community183 communitylive91 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 feedback56 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 grammar81 groupdiscussion17 grouptalk17 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narrate27 narration109 natural193 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high269 novicehigh354 online learner215 personal development64 pleasure152 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reflect32 reflection35 slow french339 speakfrench208 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170 telegram17

Why Your Brain Doesn’t Need a Dictionary (And a Hedgehog Tale to Prove It)

Dear French Story Listeners,

Have you ever caught yourself frantically translating every French word back to English in your mind?

Like a mental ping-pong match that leaves you exhausted before the story even ends?

Here’s the lovely truth: your brain is already wired for language.

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abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 community183 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 expressfluency79 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchclass98 frenchclasses69 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschoolfrench24 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narration109 natural193 novice high269 novicehigh354 onestoryaday18 online learner215 personal development64 plaisirdelire105 pleasure152 pleasurereading138 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reboot98 retireelearning24 slow french339 slowfrench77 slowlearning14 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170

Heather’s discovery: “Never trust a cat” (+ this week’s tale)

Chers amis,

Last Saturday’s gathering was warm and intimate—like sitting together by a winter fire.

We talked about your French habits for the new year.

We worked through connecting to Telegram step-by-step (if you missed it, watch the replay here—I walk you through the whole process on screen).

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abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 communauté74 community183 communitylive91 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 feedback56 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 grammar81 groupdiscussion17 grouptalk17 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narrate27 narration109 natural193 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high269 novicehigh354 online learner215 personal development64 pleasure152 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reboot98 redesign8 reflect32 reflection35 slow french339 speakfrench208 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170 telegram17 zoomcall2

Monday French Story: When Hunger Tests Friendship 🐱🐭

Dear French Story Listeners,

Every Saturday at 2pm, a new story arrives. And every Monday, I write to you.

This week’s tale from the Grimm Brothers is longer than usual – 30 minutes. It asks something of you: your full attention.

“Chat et souris associés”

[read more…]

abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 community183 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 expressfluency79 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchclass98 frenchclasses69 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschoolfrench24 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narration109 natural193 newyear26 newyear20262 noël23 novice high269 novicehigh354 onestoryaday18 online learner215 personal development64 plaisirdelire105 pleasure152 pleasurereading138 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reboot98 retireelearning24 slow french339 slowfrench77 slowlearning14 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170

Bonne année—let’s gather this Saturday ☕

Bonne année et bonne santé, dear friend,

I hope 2026 has begun gently for you.

Can I be honest? Of our 1,100+ French Story Listeners, only 56 have joined our Telegram community so far. And I’ve been wondering why.

Maybe the tech feels confusing.

[read more…]

abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 communauté74 community183 communitylive91 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 feedback56 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 grammar81 groupdiscussion17 grouptalk17 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narrate27 narration109 natural193 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high269 novicehigh354 online learner215 personal development64 pleasure152 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reboot98 redesign8 reflect32 reflection35 slow french339 speakfrench208 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170 telegram17 zoomcall2

This week’s French story: How an elf outsmarted the trolls

Bonjour French Story Listener,

Boa passagem de ano!

That’s what people say here in Portugal, where I live now – “Good passage into the new year!“

Isn’t that beautiful? Not just “Happy New Year” but a passage –

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abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 christmas27 christmas spirit16 christmascountdown19 community183 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 expressfluency79 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchclass98 frenchclasses69 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschoolfrench24 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narration109 natural193 newyear26 newyear20262 noël23 novice high269 novicehigh354 onestoryaday18 online learner215 personal development64 plaisirdelire105 pleasure152 pleasurereading138 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reboot98 retireelearning24 slow french339 slowfrench77 slowlearning14 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170

A Christmas gift: Let’s meet live next week

Bonjour French Story Listener,

I’m writing to you from my kitchen table, still surrounded by the happy chaos of Christmas – my family’s laughter echoing through the house, the smell of hot chocolate lingering in the air.

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abisproduction229 accountability196 accountable196 advanced beginner471 aliceayel59 autonomouslearner230 becomeamember227 beginnerplus160 boost212 booster207 charlottemason99 charlottemasoninspired99 communauté74 community183 comprehensiblefrench269 comprehensibleinput259 comprehension278 connect132 connection133 consistency164 consistent165 dailyfrench218 determined160 development65 discipline156 disciplined171 easyreader111 engage178 engaged166 enjoytheride174 feedback56 fle297 frenchbeginner163 frenchcommunity255 frenchforall221 frenchhabits121 frenchwithstories100 fun441 grammar81 groupdiscussion17 grouptalk17 habit161 habits149 homeschool98 homeschooling99 immersion121 inputaloneissufficient251 intensive175 interact211 intermédiaire605 intermediate735 journey194 keepmotivated201 language acquisition257 learner245 lefrançaisavecaliceayel78 lefrancaisensemble234 lire137 lisenfrançais210 listen311 motivate179 motivated171 motivation229 motivationbreak176 narrate27 narration109 natural193 newdesign10 newsite10 novice high269 novicehigh354 online learner215 personal development64 pleasure152 progress129 reader173 readforpleasure124 reading280 reboot98 redesign8 reflect32 reflection35 slow french339 speakfrench208 startnew107 storylistener131 storylistening170 telegram17