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?

[read more…]

abisproduction212 accountability179 accountable179 advanced beginner454 autonomouslearner213 becomeamember210 beginnerplus143 boost195 booster190 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehensibleinput242 comprehension261 consistency147 consistent148 dailyfrench201 determined143 engage161 engaged149 fle280 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner146 frenchcommunity238 frenchforall204 frenchreader46 fun424 inputaloneissufficient234 intensive158 interact194 intermediate718 journey177 keepmotivated184 language acquisition240 learner228 lefrancaisensemble217 lisenfrançais193 listen294 livre63 moments15 motivate162 motivated154 motivation212 motivationbreak159 natural176 new year22 novice high252 novicehigh337 objective21 online learner198 progress112 reading263 reboot89 reward36 slow french322 speakfrench199 total physical response14 tpr19 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?

[read more…]

abisproduction212 accountability179 accountable179 advanced beginner454 autonomouslearner213 becomeamember210 beginnerplus143 boost195 booster190 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehensibleinput242 comprehension261 consistency147 consistent148 dailyfrench201 determined143 engage161 engaged149 fle280 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner146 frenchcommunity238 frenchforall204 frenchreader46 fun424 inputaloneissufficient234 intensive158 interact194 intermediate718 journey177 keepmotivated184 language acquisition240 learner228 lefrancaisensemble217 lisenfrançais193 listen294 livre63 moments15 motivate162 motivated154 motivation212 motivationbreak159 natural176 new year22 novice high252 novicehigh337 objective21 online learner198 progress112 reading263 reboot89 reward36 slow french322 speakfrench199 total physical response14 tpr19 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.

[read more…]

abisproduction212 accountability179 accountable179 advanced beginner454 audiobook63 audiolivre19 autonomouslearner213 becomeamember210 beginnerplus143 boost195 booster190 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehensibleinput242 comprehension261 consistency147 consistent148 dailyfrench201 determined143 engage161 engaged149 fle280 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner146 frenchcommunity238 frenchforall204 frenchreader46 fun424 inputaloneissufficient234 intensive158 interact194 intermediate718 journey177 keepmotivated184 language acquisition240 learner228 lefrancaisensemble217 lisenfrançais193 listen294 livre63 moments15 motivate162 motivated154 motivation212 motivationbreak159 natural176 new year22 novice high252 novicehigh337 objective21 online learner198 progress112 reading263 reboot89 reward36 slow french322 speakfrench199 total physical response14 tpr19 upper beginner449

French the natural way: how to understand French better?

Coucou les French learners,

As you know, our approach to acquiring French emphasizes understanding the language in context rather than focusing solely on memorization and grammar rules.

When you understand French with ease, you start to think in French naturally and then you speak French freely.

[read more…]

abisproduction212 accountability179 accountable179 advanced beginner454 audiobook63 audiolivre19 autonomouslearner213 becomeamember210 beginnerplus143 boost195 booster190 cicommunity102 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehensibleinput242 comprehension261 consistency147 consistent148 dailyfrench201 determined143 engage161 engaged149 fle280 focus36 french for fun44 french immersion23 frenchbeginner146 frenchcommunity238 frenchforall204 frenchreader46 fun424 inputaloneissufficient234 intensive158 interact194 intermediate718 journey177 keepmotivated184 language acquisition240 learner228 lefrancaisensemble217 lisenfrançais193 listen294 live session100 livre63 moments15 motivate162 motivated154 motivation212 motivationbreak159 natural176 new year22 novice high252 novicehigh337 objective21 online learner198 ownapack11 pack11 progress112 reading263 reboot89 reward36 slow french322 speakfrench199 upper beginner449

French the natural way: 3 techniques to break free from translation

Coucou les French learners,

Last week, I received a message from Josh, who recently joined our community:

I’ve finished the Baby stage and gone through video 9 of the Infant stage. My comprehension has improved A LOT in only 5-6 weeks of being a member in relation to my very beginner level from when I started.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 audiobook63 audiolivre19 becomeamember210 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté65 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehension261 connect115 connection116 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 expressfluency71 expressfluency20235 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories83 happyhour15 intensive158 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble217 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen294 listentostories41 liveclass98 livreaudio40 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench199 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening153 summer28 summercourse8 thinkfrench28 understand67 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: break free from translation with these 3 expert strategies!

Coucou les French learners,

Having a growth mindset is crucial when you embark on your French journey. The ability to learn and improve is indeed essential when you are acquiring French (or any other languages).

At the start of our intermediate online class, I asked learners to shift their thoughts.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 apprendslefrançais91 becomeamember210 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté65 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehension261 connect115 connection116 dreamfrench2 easyfrench66 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories83 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble217 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen294 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 parlefrancais29 pureci43 reality4 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench199 speaking73 speaking skills8 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 stepstospeaking58 storylistening153 thinkfrench28 understand67 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70

French the natural way: fluency at any age, 3 benefits of acquiring French

Coucou les French learners,

In response to last week’s newsletter, Debra wrote to me:

I started seriously learning French when I was 58. I’m 68 now. Not “fluent” but conversational. And, yes. I forget things I know but I do that in English too.

[read more…]

acquisition65 acquisition process41 active listener94 activelistener54 activelistening78 age2 aging2 apprendslefrançais91 artdevivre14 becomeamember210 becomefluent60 befluent23 ci145 class31 communauté65 comprehend52 comprehensible100 comprehensiblefrench252 comprehension261 connect115 connection116 fluency107 France221 French41 frenchlearner58 frenchwithstories83 happyhour15 joinus23 journal53 journaling46 joy27 keep motivated23 keepgoing27 keeplearning42 learnfrenchthenaturalway59 lefrancaisensemble217 lefrançaisnaturellement92 listen294 listentostories41 liveclass98 low affective filter25 myths4 natural approach59 nopressure5 online french sessions37 pureci43 reality4 senior9 seniors2 sessions10 sla123 speakfrench199 stay15 stayinfrance21 step-by-step18 storylistening153 understand67 update13 vocabulaire22 vocabulary256 weekly videos55 youcandoit70