Stressless French Learning

30Jul 2020 by Cathy No Comments

How to learn French during summer holidays

It's hot and sunny outside, it's hard to focus. Maybe you're supposed to go on vacation in July or August. Suddenly, you're wondering how you can still learn French during the summer holidays. How can you sustain your French learning routine? The one you struggled to establish and were finally accustomed to... And first of all, should you even keep studying? Aren't vacation supposed to be "down" time, where you do nothing and just enjoy life without obligations? Let's see what are your options. Of course, everyone's different so it's not a one-size-fits-all approach. Should you learn French during your summer holidays? Our brain is partisan du moindre effort ("supporter of the least effort") which means it likes to save its energy and do the least amount of effort to…

26Jun 2020 by Cathy No Comments

How to use spaced repetition to learn French more efficiently

Exam preparation: pass the DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF!, Stressless French Learning

Can you use spaced repetition to learn French? Of course! I'm sure you're already familiar with the principle of spaced repetition: this is the underlying method behind all language learning apps. But you don't have to rely solely on an app to use it. Let's see how you can take control of your learning process to make it more efficient. I'll explain: what is the forgetting curvewhy you should look further than the graph and a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your brain. What is the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve? The psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus modelized "the forgetting curve" in 1885 to show how much information your brain has retained after a certain amount of time. As you can see on the picture below, the memories…

26May 2020 by Cathy No Comments

French novels you can read at an intermediate level

French immersion

Reading in French can feel quite intimidating and if you don't pick a novel at an appropriate level for you, it will feel overwhelming. If you don't enjoy it, chances are you will give up but it's worth making an effort to overcome the first hurdles and to start getting used to reading in French. I've curated a short list of contemporary authors and French novels you can start reading at an intermediate level. In this post, let's find out the many benefits, like how you will stop translating in your head before you speak, and how to get started. Choose the books wisely I'd like to share with you my personal experience with English.The first book I read was Harry Potter. I assumed it would be easy because it…

26May 2020 by Cathy No Comments

French reading intermediate level: shorter alternatives to novels

French immersion

French reading at intermediate level can be complicated. When we're writing we usually use a wider variety of vocabulary and more complex sentences. You probably haven't been exposed much while you were learning French unless you've studied at post-secondary level. However, if you want to reach an advanced level and enjoy the richness of French literature (and even classic movies) you take the plunge and dive into pieces written in French. I know I focus a lot on test preparation but we all need to take a break from studying sometimes. Reading is a great way to stay immersed in the language while enjoying a relaxing time. The following list focuses on shorter pieces of content to get you started and keep your motivation up as you notice your progress!…

26Mar 2020 by Cathy No Comments

Speak French fluently: first, learn to manage your stress

Stressless French Learning

You're dreaming of a time when you'll be able to speak French fluently but every time you open your mouth you freeze. You also seem to forget words you've learnt. Stress can be paralyzing and it's hard to get out of "panic mode". Let's look at 3 ways to "lift the fog" that's slowing your brain down and preventing you from speaking to the best of your beat abilities. You'll notice that all 3 ways invite you to reconnect with your body and use some kind of mouvement. As with everything, you need practice so I'm including some activities for you to experiment and find techniques that might work for you. Try each one a few times (2-3 a week) for a short period of time over the course of…

25Mar 2020 by Cathy No Comments

How understanding the connection between your brain and body will help you improve your French

Stressless French Learning

It will help you in 3 ways at least. #1: At any moment, bring the tension down Speaking a foreign language is stressful so it's important to practice some techniques to be able to bring the tension down and not let your emotions take control. When you start to feel the panic rise, it's comforting to know you have at least 2 or 3 techniques up your sleeve to make it go away. And if the techniques require nothing but your own body (like breathing and visualisation), you know you can apply them wherever and whenever you need. Read also: 3 ways to lower your stress #2: Bring back focus to your conscious brain Once your mind is cleared of that stress-generated fog, your conscious brain can stay in control of things and learn…

15Mar 2020 by Cathy No Comments

Songs to practice French

French immersion

When you need to take a break from studying but still want to immerse yourself in the French language, why not put on some music? It's a great way to learn new French words, to practice pronunciation and listening comprehension. I've selected mostly clips with lyrics so you can sing along. There's a variety of old and new songs, different styles of music. Find the ones you prefer and then follow Youtube's suggestions to find more songs you like!

05Jan 2020 by Cathy No Comments

Best resources to immerse yourself in the French language

Content in French, Exam preparation: pass the DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF!, French immersion

If you're preparing for a French test, you should focus mostly on the second category but if you're aiming for a C1 or C2 level you should also get some exposure with more formal language. Best resources for formal language You can read newspapers like Le Monde, Le Devoir (Canada), Courrier International (translation in French of articles from all over the world). Read classic French litterature and some of the contemporary writers (André Malraux, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Albert Camus, Georges Simenon, Amélie Nothomb, Jean-Christophe Ruffin, Delphine de Vigan...). Listen to France Culture, Radio France International, go to conferences if you live in a francophone country. Best resources for standard to casual language Read blogs about topics you like and some contemporary novels (some books by Albert Camus have simpler language,…