French the natural way: 4 steps to read French books

Coucou les French learners,

The other day, I was listening to the French radio and I learned that the word livre, book comes from the Latin word liber which means free. 

When you read a book, you learn something new,

[read more…]

alexandredumas1 amelienothomb1 authentic168 authres1 autonomous reader42 autonomouslearner202 bookreview10 brandonbrown2 chapter book9 children book18 ci145 compelling input31 coucou9 easy reader35 enjuinlisenfrançais5 fluencymatters2 free voluntary reading32 french acquisition12 french literature69 frenchbooks5 frenchbooster24 frenchreading11 fvr53 inputaloneissufficient223 keepreading6 languageboost18 languagebooster16 lefrançaisnaturellement92 literature92 online french22 online french tutor4 personal13 petitnicolas1 plaisirdelire92 pleasurable activity5 pleasure124 pleasurereading125 rich content105 richinput154 romans13 self confidence54 self confident37 self selected book12 sla123 TCI74 trusttheprocess78 weekly videos55 youtubeuse33

French the natural way: Bonne Année 2018 !

Bonne Année, Happy New Year to all French learners!!!

In France, people usually say ” Bonne Année, bonne santé ” which literally translates to “Good year, good health”. However I could not wish this new year to come better than Belgium singer Jacques Brel:

[read more…]

20181 ci145 easy french51 fle269 fluent in French7 french for free4 french for fun44 french made easy9 french online15 french singer1 frenchculture295 frenchexpressions46 frenchtradition49 grateful3 happy new year8 histoires en français12 jacques brel1 laminutefrançaise2 language acquisition229 learnfrench20 lefrançaisavecaliceayel50 lefrançaisnaturellement92 new french season2 new year22 newbeginnings1 newseason7 newvideos10 nouvelleannee10 online french sessions37 online learning15 online teaching29 personal13 pureci43 resources online3 sla123 storylistening142 storytelling39 teachfrench12 thankful3 thankyou3 TPRS71 weekly french33 weekly videos55 wish3 wishes3

French the natural way: the only cure is more input!

Coucou les French learners,

Last night, I was tutoring a 12 years old French student and she had to learn a list of vocabulary about all the different rooms in a school: la cantine, le gymnase, la salle des profs, le laboratoire… Instead of having the learner memorize each word and repeat them after me,

[read more…]

acquire french11 acquisition process41 apprendslefrançais91 belles histoires1 challenge22 challenge de la semaine1 children magazine2 children story15 ci145 ciworks1 compelling input31 comprehensible100 comprehension250 daily french3 daily french input12 easy french51 Education20 enjoy48 enjoyable39 fle269 french acquisition12 french children books8 french for free4 french immersion23 french teacher4 frenchstorytime26 language acquisition229 learnfrench20 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen283 messages3 natural approach59 online tutor3 podcast127 read40 self french205 setting2 setyourself3 sla123 spanishplans1 Stephen Krashen11 stories40 TCI74 teachfrench12 Tuesday french stories3 understand67 watch52 weekly french33 weekly videos55 youtube67 youtube channel52

French the natural way: input is crucial

Coucou les French learners,

Lately I have been reading a lot of articles and blog posts on how to keep up with learning a new language. La rentrée is over and most of us are back to work and to our daily chores.

[read more…]

affective filter6 angel pretot1 apprendslefrançais91 beginner french28 busy2 ci145 compelling input31 comprehend52 comprehensible input36 comprehension250 consistent137 Cooking41 easy french51 effortless9 french beginner3 french for free4 french in one minute2 french love6 french lover3 french recipe6 frenchstorytime26 fun story10 have fun3 interesting23 keepmotivated173 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listeningfirst20 motivation201 newsletter5 one minute2 online french sessions37 regular practice1 schedule1 self confidence54 self confident37 self french205 simplissime1 slow french311 Stephen Krashen11 stressfree43 TCI74 TPRS71 upper beginner449 verbling6 weekly videos55 youtube67 youtube channel52

French the natural way: how to access input?

Coucou les French learners,

I have just finished reading this fascinating article by Steve Kaufmann on how learning a new language is a subconscious process. Basically, the author explains how he learned Romanian by first reading a lot about Romania in Romanian! He says: “

[read more…]

acquisition process41 Cannes2 Cannes festival3 challenge22 ci145 cinema35 compelling39 comprehensible100 cultural10 culture246 engage150 engaging10 enjoy48 enjoyable39 film41 film festival3 films2 french actor2 french film5 french joke1 french online15 ilini2 listening52 may challenge7 natural165 natural approach59 natural way9 opening ceremony1 pleasurable activity5 processing input2 reading252 story46 subconscious5 subtitles5 teenager story1 TPRS71 weekly videos55 youtube67 youtube channel52

Let it flow!

I have been busy in good way lately. I am now offering French online tutoring on Verbling and I get to meet new learners from all around the world with different needs. It has been a steep learning curve for me to try to facilitate comprehensible input at different levels and needs but it has also been a great source of joy and accomplishment.

[read more…]

acquire50 acquisition65 acquisition process41 approach38 brain break6 compelling39 comprehensible100 comprehensible input36 Education20 flow9 flowing2 French41 french videos6 input47 inspiration4 invisibles2 language45 listen283 listening52 motivation201 natural approach59 natural way9 online language session16 online learning15 personal13 processing input2 resource102 ressources40 Spanish33 stories40 story asking15 story listening19 TPRS71 tutor3 tutoring2 verbling6 videos24 weekly videos55 youtube67