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?
It’s natural especially when you immerse yourself in new content. How to ensure you’re truly getting the most out of the acquisition process?
Here are 2 simple yet effective techniques I apply when I am trying to understand a Chinese video. You can try on your own too!
#trusttheprocess #enjoytheride
Ask yourself key questions
After watching a video, listening to a story or reading a text, close your eyes and ask yourself key questions about the story:
- Who are the main characters? Qui sont les personnages de l’histoire ?
- Where does the story take place? Où se passe l’histoire ?
- Is there a problem? What is the problem? Il y a un problème? Quel est le problème ?
- How does the story end? Comment se termine l’histoire ?
When you are a beginner, ask those questions in your native language. As you are reading and listening to more and more French content, you will then be able to ask and answer those questions in French. No worries! The transition will come naturally.
You start to think French naturally because you understand French with ease!
When you answer those questions, try to visualize the story too, don’t try to translate into your native language. This will train your brain to think French.
Create a visual representation
It is time to retell the story! It helps you internalize the main events and ideas. Remember, you don’t need to understand the story word for word. You need to understand the gist. So when you are retelling the story, you are summarizing it.
When you are at the beginning stage of your French journey, retell the story with drawings, diagrams, or mind maps. By doing this, you reinforce your understanding of the plot and characters. Visual cues help you clarify complex concepts.
Look at this beautiful representation by Rob, our dear member.
It is about the first Baby Stage session for complete beginners.
As you make progress and understand more and more French, you can then write the main ideas in French. Finally, at some point in your journey, when you are able to start producing French, you can retell the story aloud or in writing.
Again, this process will train your brain to think French naturally!
Ready to try out?
We have a special story for you whether you are a beginner or upper beginner. The video, text and audio are FOR FREE. They are part of our self-paced online course called the Infant Stage designed to help you understand French with ease.
Watch the video (you can also read and listen to the story aftewards).
Then close your eyes and ask yourself key questions about the story.
Create a visual representation of the plot and characters.
See for yourself how efficient this approach is!
Join us and gain
CLARITY: progress step by step through stages and make French become clear to you. Understand French with ease.
COMMUNITY: meet weekly and keep yourself accountable through the most caring and invested community. Think French naturally.
TRANSFORMATION: feel empowered. Be fluent in French. Transform yourself and get a new soul. Speak French freely.