Coucou les French learners,

Last week, Alissa asked a good question:

So is the material that is already on the website (I know the Senior Stage is not yet fully ready and I’m far away from that anyways ☺️) enough to reach fluency ?

And how much input do you recommend each day to advance fast in the language ? I guess that is individual but still maybe you have some sort of guidelines

Just want to say that I really enjoy your way of teaching and the stories and I’m very happy to have found you.

Here is our best possible answer to Alissa:

The materials available on our website provide a strong foundation to acquire French, but achieving fluency isn’t solely reliant on these resources. Becoming fluent in French depends on regular abundant input. Input alone is sufficient to become fluent in French.

The amount of daily input can vary based on your schedule, but consistency is key. Aiming for regular exposure, even if it’s a short duration daily, contributes significantly to progress. While there’s no fixed guideline, striving for around 20-30 minutes of focused interaction with French content daily can be a great starting point.

The more consistent you are hearing and reading French, the more progress you’ll notice in the long term toward fluency. Alissa, remember the journey itself is incredibly rewarding and should be enjoyable. Your main emphasis is on comprehension.

When you comprehend what you hear and read in French effortlessly, your brain naturally starts to internalize the language. It progresses from understanding without conscious effort, to thinking in French, and eventually culminates in speaking French spontaneously and effortlessly.

Here are your 3 steps: U(nderstand)-T(hink)-S(peak)

This pain-free, simple approach will transform your French experience from an arduous task into a joyful adventure. #trusttheprocess

Understand French now!

Listen Actively: Engage with comprehensible French content. Start with simple stories or stories you know already in your own language. When you are a beginner, start by watching stories.

Your focus is on comprehension rather than stressing over vocabulary memorization or grammar rules, making it an engaging and effective way to acquire French.

You should be captivated, making the language acquisition process enjoyable and accessible.

Here are some cues:
– Read and listen to stories at your level. If you are a beginner, explore the 81 Baby Stories available.
– Listen to our audiobooks. These are French readers specifically written for French learners.
– Explore our diaporamas. You can follow songs’ lyrics or learn about a true story or tradition.
– If you are short on time, watch our one minute videos with subtitles. That way, you are still exposed to French input daily.

Now if

• you prefer to set your own pace without the influence of a group, allowing you to focus on you individual needs.
• being part of a community involves scheduled meetings or interactions, which do not align with your availability or preference for flexible acquisition times.
• joining a community induces anxiety because you feel uncomfortable speaking or sharing your progress in front of others.
• you don’t want to pay a recurring fee and you just want to pay once.

You can now choose to GO SOLO !

Until January, 31 get 50% OFF for one French Stage. Enter Coupon Code : COUCOU2024
Get full Access to

• Step by step videos with transcripts, audio and glossaries.
• Stories adapted to the chosen Pack.
• Exclusive full-HD videos download.
• One-time payment.
• Lifetime access!

Think French

Reading in French is a powerful tool for thinking in the language because it helps internalize sentence structure, provides cultural context, aids memory recall, and establishes connections between words and concepts.

Regular reading promotes fluid thinking in French.

Now, this is very exciting news!!! Barry, one of our very dear members wrote a truly captivating book, all in comprehensible French!

You probably know the adventures of Marie and her clever dog, Médor. But do you know Marie’s magical uncle, Tonton Nono? He has a giant flying orange to take Marie wherever she wants to go. Tonton Nono‘s real name is Bruno, and he is Marie‘s mother’s brother. Here is his story when Bruno was young and how he discovered magic.

A comprehensible story written in the past tense with unique characters and exciting twists to keep you wanting more! Rich vocabulary and structures are repeated throughout the stories to provide optimal input. Reading this book will help you think in French. #readingispower

Download the pdf version here.

Speak French

Our first gathering in Pau in October 2023 was a tremendous success. It was a week filled with authentic French conversations, quality time in delightful restaurants, and, most importantly, lots of laughter and joy.

While many of you expressed interest in joining, my sister, Astrid and I opted to keep this experience limited to a small group to ensure a more enriching time together.

That’s why we’re having a new reunion in Pau from June 17-21, 2024.

This is another special gathering, distinct from the one in October. It’s a unique 5-day immersive program with only 10 spots available, so be sure to secure your spot promptly!

You can find all the details, along with pricing, here.

About Pau 2023, Carolyn shared:

I had a great time despite knowing less French than everyone else. What a lovely group! And fun lessons.