Coucou les membres de la communauté,
I’ll admit, I’ve been struggling a bit with keeping up with my Chinese acquisition lately. With the warm summer weather, I’d much rather be outside enjoying the sunshine than cooped up watching Chinese videos!
Can you relate? Has your French journey taken a backseat to summer fun and relaxation?
If so I’ve got some tips to help you stay on track with your French this summer. (I plan to implement these practical tips myself with Chinese!)
Keep going!
Make it a social activity. Join our online community and discuss your favorite French stories with other learners. The Story of the Day which I post in the Community Chat and in the weekly suggestions is a good start to comment and share.
Change up your routine. Instead of being inside, take your French outside. Listen to our French podcasts on a walk, read our stories in the park, or watch videos while relaxing poolside! A change of scenery will boost your motivation.
Just last week, Tracy shared:
Merci beaucoup pour L’Instant Thé podcast. J’ai écouté six conversations au cours de la dernière semaine. Si j’écoute à x0.75 vitesse, je peux comprendre beaucoup! J’aime écouter pendant mes promenades. Vos invités sont très intéressants et j’ai appris beaucoup de choses pendant les podcasts.
Set mini-goals. Aim to watch one French video or read one story per day, no matter how short. Small, consistent steps add up over time. Celebrate each mini-milestone!
Remember your “why”. Reconnect with your reasons for acquiring French. Visualize yourself fluently conversing with native speakers or reading French literature. Let your big goals fuel your French routine.
Every bit of French you consume is moving you closer to fluency. #trusttheprocess #youcandothis
Remember, progress isn’t linear. Some days will be easier than others. The key is to be kind to yourself and keep showing up, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.
Answer yes/no questions
Our last live session on Wednesday was a blast!
We read the classic fable “Le renard et le bouc” together. It was so much fun discussing the story and helping each other understand. I’m already looking forward to our next live sessions in September.
During the session, we took the time to answer yes/no comprehension questions. It is such an effective way to improve your French phrasing and sentence structure. By responding to these questions, you need to restate the question in the affirmative or negative.
Read the fable and answer the yes/no questions at the end of the story. Click here!
To negate a sentence in French, you need to use the negative particle “ne…pas” around the conjugated verb. Answering yes/no questions pushes you to conjugate verbs correctly and place the negation properly.
This back-and-forth process helps your brain become more efficient at rephrasing questions as statements, which is crucial for fluid conversation in French.
Don’t underestimate the power of simple yes/no questions! Incorporate them into your French routine, after watching, reading or listening to a story. Your French phrasing and confidence will improve.
Bon courage et bon été à tous ! Enjoy the sunshine and keep up the great journey.
Don’t miss out on these chances to connect, acquire, and grow together!
Cordialement,