Coucou les French learners,

Do you find yourself captivated by the dramatic melodies and heart-wrenching tales of opera?

I am an opera lover, and there’s nothing quite like the experience of witnessing a live performance in the theater. The way the music intertwines with the lyrics, creating such an emotionally charged experience, truly touches my heart.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see several operas, but two stand out as my absolute favorites: Carmen and La Traviata. Both are stories of love and loss, and their tragic nature is precisely what draws me in (maybe because I am French?!).

This attraction for tragic love stories extends to my love for sharing the stories behind these operas.

Lully’s Roland: A New Story Unveiled

My Dear Man & I are excited to present the release of our new free video, where I delve into the story of Roland by Jean-Baptiste Lully.

And, you guessed it, it’s yet another tragic love story! Jean-Baptiste Lully was a prominent composer in the court of Louis XIV, and “Roland” is a compelling opera based on the epic poem “Orlando Furioso.” The opera follows the knight Roland as he grapples with love, jealousy, and madness.

Watch the video of me telling the story of Roland using the Story Listening approach.

Alongside the video, you’ll find its transcript and audio available on our website, perfect for learners at every level. Click here, it’s FREE!

All you need to do is relax, enjoy the narrative, and try to grasp the overall meaning with the aid of my drawings on the board and visual cues.

Your primary goal is to absorb the French language through the context and flow of this engaging narrative.

Narration: Engaging Your Mind and Heart

Take it a step further and try to narrate the story in your own words.

Narration engages higher cognitive functions compared to rote memorization, as it necessitates active engagement with personal comprehension.

This process enhances understanding and also fosters connections across time and space, allowing you to relate to characters like Roland.

By retelling a story, you activate more complex cognitive processes, leading to deeper assimilation of the French language.

The act of narration transforms passive absorption into acquisition.

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Very well structured courses with a wide variety of materials. All very clearly explained by an ever cheerful Alice.