French the natural way: how to transition to thinking in French

Coucou les French learners,

Here is something that that could be a game-changer for your French journey.

One of our community members, Eric, recently opened up about a common challenge that many language learners face.  While he can understand French well, he still struggles to think in French.

[read more…]

abisproduction202 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner444 authentic168 autonomouslearner203 becomeamember200 beginner french28 cicommunity102 community155 comprehensiblefrench242 comprehensibleinput232 comprehension251 course124 dailyfrench191 dailyreading32 fle270 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity227 frenchculture295 frenchfluency19 frenchforall194 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient224 intermediate708 journal53 journaling46 journey167 language45 language acquisition230 learner218 lefrancaisensemble207 listen284 massiveinput10 natural166 novice168 novice high242 online learner188 process22 produce12 production44 progress102 reading253 selftaught48 slow french312 speak85 speakfrench194 speech9 teenstage16 tips50 translate7 translating6 upper beginner449 write59

French news: celebrating small victories (and join me live!)

Coucou les membres de la communauté,

Today, I want to start by celebrating a small victory with you all. Elena, who joined us in April this year, recently shared that she listened to La Pause Café avec Elodie Caussé and she was able to understand the gist of it.

[read more…]

accountability169 accountable169 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner444 advanced french93 amusing47 beginner318 celebrate26 circomlocution2 classesdefrançais40 conversation311 feedback42 feelgood30 frenchclass85 frenchclasses56 frenchculture295 frenchhistory88 frenchnews27 frenchsong14 guidance35 infolettre35 interact184 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate708 lessons36 live session100 liveclass97 motivation202 novice168 observe25 online teaching29 progress102 speak85 speakfrench194 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 success17 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 victory4 youcandoit70 youcandothis44 zoomclass82

Minou – Le chat qui pue

You need to be logged in to view this content. Please Log In. Not a Member? Join Us

[read more…]

active listener94 advanced beginner444 adventure65 audio55 audiobook63 aventure49 baby-listen58 beginner318 book95 cat38 clues5 débutant268 débutant avancé390 easy300 family164 frenchbook36 friends53 friendship63 listen284 livre63 livreaudio40 marieetmédoràparis24 novice168 novice high242 pet12 pets13 podcast127 present565 present tense435 stink1

French the natural way: from words to meaning, use circumlocution

Coucou les French learners,

Have you ever found yourself struggling to find the right words in French, only to resort to using English or relying on gestures to get your point across?

You’re not alone.

As a language learner, you know that speaking spontaneously in French can be a daunting task,

[read more…]

abisproduction202 accountability169 accountable169 advanced beginner444 autonomouslearner203 becomeamember200 beginnerplus133 boost185 booster180 classes39 comprehensiblefrench242 comprehensibleinput232 comprehension251 consistency137 consistent138 dailyfrench191 determined133 discipline129 disciplined144 engage151 engaged139 enjoytheride147 event78 fle270 french for fun44 frenchbeginner136 frenchcommunity227 frenchforall194 fun414 inputaloneissufficient224 intensive148 interact184 intermediate708 journey167 keepmotivated174 language acquisition230 learner218 lefrancaisensemble207 lisenfrançais183 listen284 live61 live event55 liveclass97 motivate152 motivated144 motivation202 motivationbreak149 natural166 novice high242 online learner188 partnership52 pleasure125 pleasurereading125 reading253 reboot79 reward36 slow french312 speakfrench194 upper beginner449

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…]

accountability169 accountable169 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner444 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 community155 comprehension251 conversation311 feedback42 feelgood30 frenchclass85 frenchclasses56 frenchcommunity227 frenchnews27 gocommunity26 guidance35 infolettre35 interact184 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate708 lessons36 live session100 liveclass97 motivation202 novice168 observe25 online teaching29 progress102 pronounciation43 questions74 research17 speak85 speakfrench194 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 study3 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 warmup43 zoomclass82

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…]

abisproduction202 accountability169 accountable169 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner444 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 comprehensible100 comprehensible input36 comprehensiblefrench242 feedback42 fle270 freetraining2 freevideo2 guidance35 infolettre35 inputdriven1 intermediate708 lessons36 live session100 moreinput5 motivation202 novice168 observe25 online teaching29 period3 phase3 progress102 pronounciation43 silence7 silent10 speak85 speakfrench194 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 train29 training56 upper beginner449 video350 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…]

accountability169 accountable169 acquirefrench76 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 advanced294 advanced beginner444 advanced french93 beginner318 classesdefrançais40 community155 conversation311 feedback42 feelgood30 frenchclass85 frenchclasses56 frenchcommunity227 frenchnews27 gocommunity26 guidance35 infolettre35 interact184 interaction47 interactive43 intermediate708 lessons36 live session100 liveclass97 motivation202 novice168 observe25 online teaching29 progress102 pronounciation43 research17 speak85 speakfrench194 stayontrack35 stepstospeaking58 study3 teaching42 train29 training56 upper beginner449 warmup43 zoomclass82