Coucou les French learners,

Recently, I’ve been receiving numerous inquiries about progressing from an intermediate to an advanced level in French.

In fact, just this week, Mohammed commented on my latest YouTube video, asking:

I have DELF B1 and I would like to progress to reach DELF B2, but I remain stuck at DELF B1 level?

This is a recurring question, as many of you find yourselves plateauing at the intermediate level, unable to move forward. #youarenotalone

In this newsletter, I’ll explain one simple yet effective habit
to help you break through this barrier. #youcandothis

The Intermediate Plateau: A Common Hurdle

The journey from intermediate to advanced French proficiency is often challenging.

At the intermediate level, what I refer to as the Teen Stage in your linguistic development, you can usually communicate in everyday situations and understand the main points of clear, standard speech.

However, when you reach an advanced level, what I refer to as the Adult Stage, you should be able to express yourself fluently and spontaneously, comprehend complex texts, and use language flexibly in social, academic, and professional contexts.

Many of you find yourselves stuck at the intermediate level.
It is a normal part of the language acquisition process.

This plateau occurs because you have mastered basic communication skills but you struggle to integrate more complex language structures and nuanced vocabulary into their everyday use.

Narration: The Key to Advancing Your French

The simple yet powerful habit I recommend to progress beyond the intermediate level is “narration.”

This method, popularized by Charlotte Mason, a British educator from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, involves retelling a story or passage in your own words.

I discovered Mason‘s work thanks to our members (Merci @3Wonders!),
and her approach has proven to be remarkably effective.

Charlotte Mason‘s educational philosophy relates to my approach to French acquisition. Mason advocated for short, focused lessons, narration (retelling), and plenty of time in nature. She believed in treating children as capable learners, avoiding external motivators like rewards or punishments, and instead nurturing their natural curiosity and love for learning.

Implementing Narration in Your French Journey

To make narration become a habit at home, select a story from our site or a French book appropriate for your level.

Read or listen to a short passage once (about 5-10 minutes long) without taking notes. Then, close the book or pause the audio and retell the story in your own words in French.

Aim to speak for about 5-10 minutes, focusing on conveying the main ideas and details you remember. Don’t worry about perfection; your goal is to express yourself using the language you’ve acquired.

Start now! Try to retell the story of the amazing discovery
of the Lascaux grotto.
Click here! It is free!

The Benefits of Narration

Narration encourages active engagement with the French language.

It improves retention of vocabulary and structures, and develops your ability to express complex ideas fluently. By regularly narrating what you read or listen to, you’ll naturally incorporate more sophisticated language into your speech, bridging the gap between passive understanding and active use.

This habit will help you move beyond simple conversations to expressing nuanced thoughts and opinions, a key characteristic of advanced French proficiency.

I encourage you to try narration if you’re ready to speak and eager to progress to an advanced level.

Join our program to access a wealth of compelling stories perfect for narration.
Click here to join us!