French news: focus on the meaning rather than the form

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

You know it: receiving comprehensible input is powerful. It is the key to unlocking your French fluency.

You know it too: the journey to mastering French is challenging.

The good news is that input alone is sufficient to first understand,

[read more…]

accountability203 accountable203 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner478 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 community190 comprehension285 conversation311 feedback60 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity263 frenchnews27 gocommunity27 guidance35 infolettre35 interact218 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate742 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 novice168 novicehigh361 observe25 online teaching29 progress136 pronounciation43 questions74 research17 speak85 speakfrench212 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 study3 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 warmup43 zoomclass84

French the natural way: 3 signs you need more input

Coucou les French learners,

When I started teaching French in England (many, many years ago!), I believed that speaking was the first step toward French fluency. I was asking my students to repeat over and over again phrases they didn’t understand… As expected, most of them ended up hating French!

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner478 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 comprehensible100 comprehensible input36 comprehensiblefrench276 feedback60 fle304 freetraining2 freevideo2 guidance35 infolettre35 inputdriven1 intermediate742 lessons36 live session100 moreinput5 novice168 novicehigh361 observe25 online teaching29 period3 phase3 progress136 pronounciation43 silence7 silent10 speak85 speakfrench212 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 train29 training56 upper beginner449 video351 warmup43

French news: maximize your French experience with the 80/20 rule

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

Today, I want to share a principle that has profoundly impacted my own language experience: Pareto’s Law, also known as the 80/20 rule.

This concept, named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, suggests that roughly 80% of results come from 20% of efforts.

[read more…]

accountability203 accountable203 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner478 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 community190 conversation311 feedback60 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchcommunity263 frenchnews27 gocommunity27 guidance35 infolettre35 interact218 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate742 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 novice168 novicehigh361 observe25 online teaching29 progress136 pronounciation43 research17 speak85 speakfrench212 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 study3 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 warmup43 zoomclass84

French the natural way: from silence to speech – When to to start speaking?

Coucou les French learners,

This week, I want to highlight a thoughtful comment made by Sherezade in response to my recent video about reading aloud.

Sherezade suggests that reading aloud using the shadowing technique is beneficial because speaking is a physical activity.

She emphasizes the importance of physically training the tongue,

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner478 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 comprehensible100 comprehensible input36 comprehensiblefrench276 feedback60 fle304 freetraining2 freevideo2 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchnews27 guidance35 infolettre35 intermediate742 lessons36 live session100 novice168 novicehigh361 observe25 online teaching29 period3 phase3 progress136 pronounciation43 silence7 silent10 speak85 speakfrench212 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 train29 training56 upper beginner449 video351 warmup43

French news: achieve more with less – The power of comprehensible input

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

I have some exciting news to share with you this week!

Dr Beniko Mason, who has just published groundbreaking research on language acquisition, has had the biggest impact on my way of teaching French. It is thanks to her Story Listening method that I came to build our site and provide you with comprehensible French stories.

[read more…]

accountability203 accountable203 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner478 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 conversation311 feedback60 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchnews27 guidance35 infolettre35 interact218 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate742 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 novice168 novicehigh361 observe25 online teaching29 progress136 pronounciation43 research17 speak85 speakfrench212 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 study3 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 warmup43 zoomclass84

French the natural way: how should you start reading?

Coucou les French learners,

This week, I want to share a great question from Pete, one of our dear members, which I believe will resonate with many of you:

How should I read? Should I read the French words to myself (in my head like the adult I am) or will it be best to read out loud as I did as a child (70 years ago) when I was learning to read English?

[read more…]

abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 classes39 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 discipline163 disciplined178 engage185 engaged173 enjoytheride181 event79 fle304 french for fun44 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 live62 live event55 liveclass98 motivate186 motivated178 motivationbreak183 natural200 novice high276 novicehigh361 online learner222 partnership52 pleasure159 pleasurereading141 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 upper beginner449

French news: uncover the legend of the Pont d’Avignon (and join me live!)

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

Today, during my Monday live class, I shared the legend of the Pont d’Avignon. This legendary tale captivated everyone and sparked a lot of interest in learning more about this iconic piece of French history.

New Resource: The Bridge of Avignon

[read more…]

accountability203 accountable203 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner478 advanced french93 amusing47 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 conversation311 feedback60 feelgood30 frenchclass101 frenchclasses72 frenchculture296 frenchhistory88 frenchnews27 frenchsong14 guidance35 infolettre35 interact218 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate742 lessons36 live session100 liveclass98 novice168 novicehigh361 observe25 online teaching29 progress136 pronounciation43 silence7 silent10 speak85 speakfrench212 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 warmup43 zoomclass84