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.
Understanding and applying this principle can make a significant difference in how you acquire French.
I know how tempting it can be to dive headfirst into speaking French, wanting to practice as much as possible. I’ve been there myself, eagerly trying to converse in Portuguese and often feeling frustrated when I struggled to find the right words.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing too much on output (especially speaking) too soon, instead of building a solid foundation through comprehensible input (listening and reading).
Applying Pareto’s Law to Your French Journey
To make steady progress in French, it’s essential to balance your efforts effectively:
- 80% comprehensible input (listening and reading): Dedicate the majority of your time to comprehensible input. This means immersing yourself in French through our variety of resources (stories, videos, slideshows, audiobooks…)By absorbing the language in this way, you naturally pick up vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
- 20% output (speaking and writing): Allocate the remaining time to producing French. Start with our pronunciation videos to get a feel for the sounds and intonation of French.Gradually, as you build confidence, engage in more speaking and writing activities.You can read out loud, speak to yourself or start journaling. When you are producing French, try to let it flow, don’t focus on making no errors (or it is going to be very fustrating for you!)
This Week’s Live Sessions
You can spend the 20% of your output time by attending the live sessions with me or with the community:
- Wednesday:
We will be reading and discussing the story of the peacock and the feathers (Les plumes du paon). This session is a fantastic opportunity to improve your reading comprehension and start discussing narratives in French. - Thursday:
We will have an authentic conversation about stress and techniques to calm down. This topic is not only relevant but also provides a great context for using everyday vocabulary and expressions.
Speak and improve your French in an engaging and supportive atmosphere. Click here to sign in!
Additionally, you can join our Community Live Meetings on Mondays and Thursdays.
These sessions are run by our dear members (A special MERCI to Barry Rico!). They allow you to meet other community members and speak French in a supportive environment.
It’s a great way to build confidence and reduce the fear of making mistakes. Click here to join!
By focusing on input and gradually increasing your output, you’ll find yourself speaking French with more ease and confidence.
Looking forward to seeing you all in the upcoming sessions!
Cordialement,