French the natural way: it’s OK not to understand!

Coucou les French learners,

Today, I want to touch base on a common concern that many of you might encounter: the feeling of being lost when you don’t understand a story… Or even its gist!

Have you ever found yourself in this situation?

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 engage185 engaged173 fle304 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchreader46 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 livre63 moments15 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 new year22 novice high276 novicehigh361 objective21 online learner222 progress136 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 total physical response14 understandfrench35 upper beginner449

French the natural way: how to make sure you understand it!

Coucou les French learners,

As language learners, we often wonder how well we’ve understood a video, a story or a text. We find ourselves asking:

Did I understand the message? Did I grasp the main idea? Did I really get the gist of it?

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 engage185 engaged173 fle304 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchreader46 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 livre63 moments15 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 new year22 novice high276 novicehigh361 objective21 online learner222 progress136 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 total physical response14 understandfrench35 upper beginner449

French the natural way: how to let go of translation

Coucou les French learners,

Over the weekend, Angus, one of our dearest member shared:

When I found Alice’s site I subscribed immediately. It is three years later now and not a day goes by when I don’t feel gratitude to Alice.

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 advanced beginner478 audiobook63 audiolivre19 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 beginnerplus167 boost219 booster214 cicommunity114 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 consistency171 consistent172 dailyfrench225 determined167 engage185 engaged173 fle304 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner170 frenchcommunity263 frenchforall228 frenchreader46 fun448 inputaloneissufficient258 intensive182 interact218 intermediate742 journey201 keepmotivated208 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 livre63 moments15 motivate186 motivated178 motivation236 motivationbreak183 natural200 new year22 novice high276 novicehigh361 objective21 online learner222 progress136 reading287 reboot101 reward36 slow french346 speakfrench212 total physical response14 understandfrench35 upper beginner449

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. 

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 acquire50 acquiring18 adultstage1 advanced beginner478 authentic168 autonomouslearner237 bandedessinnée6 bd6 becomeamember234 cicommunity114 comic book2 comics7 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 course124 dailyfrench225 dailyreading32 fle304 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity263 frenchculture296 frenchfluency19 frenchforall228 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient258 intermédiaire612 intermediate742 journey201 keepgoing27 keepmotivated208 language45 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 massiveinput10 motivated178 motivation236 motiver4 natural200 online learner222 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress136 read40 reading287 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french346 speakfrench212 tips50 total physical response14

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,

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner478 authentic168 autonomouslearner237 bandedessinnée6 bd6 becomeamember234 cicommunity114 comic book2 comics7 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 course124 dailyfrench225 dailyreading32 fle304 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity263 frenchculture296 frenchfluency19 frenchforall228 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient258 intermediate742 journey201 keepgoing27 keepmotivated208 language45 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 lisenfrançais217 listen318 massiveinput10 motivated178 motivation236 motiver4 natural200 online learner222 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress136 read40 reading287 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french346 speakfrench212 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14

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.

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner478 authentic168 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 cicommunity114 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 course124 dailyfrench225 dailyreading32 fle304 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity263 frenchculture296 frenchfluency19 frenchforall228 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient258 intermediate742 journey201 keepgoing27 keepmotivated208 language45 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 listen318 massiveinput10 motivated178 motivation236 motiver4 natural200 online learner222 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress136 reading287 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french346 speakfrench212 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14

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.

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abisproduction236 accountability203 accountable203 acquire50 acquiring18 advanced beginner478 authentic168 autonomouslearner237 becomeamember234 cicommunity114 community190 comprehensiblefrench276 comprehensibleinput269 comprehension285 course124 dailyfrench225 dailyreading32 fle304 fluency107 freewrite50 frenchacquisitionforall34 frenchcommunity263 frenchculture296 frenchfluency19 frenchforall228 frenchjourney20 frenchreaders66 iceberg6 icebergimage6 improve19 improvement15 inputaloneissufficient258 intermediate742 journey201 keepgoing27 keepmotivated208 language45 language acquisition264 learner252 lefrancaisensemble241 listen318 massiveinput10 motivated178 motivation236 motiver4 natural200 online learner222 process22 produce12 production44 productive9 progress136 reading287 rester-motive23 selftaught48 slow french346 speakfrench212 teenstage16 tips50 total physical response14