15.23 - Poetry, Music, Hidden Villages & Birthday Wisdom: Your French Journey Starts Here
In this FREE edition of le Bulletin we discover: where poetry meets science, milestone birthdays & village gem. A French exposé like never before!
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes amis !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today! Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll:
- You’ll meet new Contributor Morgane Andersson
- Find her article about learning French with the help of science!
- Then, Joanna explores new projects as she reaches a milestone birthday.
- Next, Kelsy Rose takes us way off the beaten path to a small village she stumbled upon
- And then finally, Pierre Guernier has prepared an exposé of his favourite 10 Villages in the Luberon in Provence!Watch out for the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin this weekend: “15.23.a - The Villages That Refused to Fade: Discovering Rural France's Remarkable Revival ”- It’s not too late to subscribe←
→Are you ready to deepen your French knowledge and connection?
🔓 Here you can UNLOCK EXCLUSIVE FRENCH STORIES:
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À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy - 7.6.2025
2. New articles in MyFrenchLife Magazine
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
Introducing a new Contributor to MyFrenchLife Magazine: Morgane Andersson
I am delighted to welcome Morgane Andersson to our Contributor team, and we look forward to enjoying her articles as we dive into French poetry and more!
Here is how Morgane introduces herself:
I’m a French writer and certified teacher with a deep love for poetry and literature. For over a decade, I’ve been teaching French to students of all levels, using immersive and creative approaches to help them connect meaningfully with the language. Originally from Bretagne, I now lives with my little trilingual family in Copenhagen. I’m the founder of French en Poésie, a space that blends language learning with art, music, and literature, making French not just a subject to study, but an experience to live” says Morgane.
NOTE: I’m inserting this video from ‘Neuroscience News’. I found it very interesting and may give an introduction to Morgane’s style of teaching. Morgane has not provided this video.
Now let’s enjoy Morgane’s introductory article:
a) →Why Learning French Through Poetry is the Most Beautiful Way to Learn… and It’s Backed by Science.
by Morgane Andersson
Bonjour à tous,
This is something I believe with my whole heart, and something I’ve seen time and time again, not just in my own life, but in the lives of my students.
If you want to learn French not just well, but deeply in a way that sticks, moves you, and makes you want to come back to the language again and again, then learn it through poetry.
I know that might sound romantic, or even a little old-fashioned. But it’s not.
In fact, it’s one of the most scientifically effective, emotionally rich, and neurologically smart ways to learn.Let me show you why.
Morgane
Read the entire article and explore Morgane’s learning philosophy ←
b) →New Year: New Horizons - looking ahead and nostalgia
by Joanna MacLennan
We lead such busy lives… I’m sure that you’ll relate to this article by the very talented and creative Joanna, as she makes plans for a new year and contemplates a new direction. PS: She’s soon to give us an update on this new direction project…
“… And so the project begins - a year when I turned 50 and of course, some of my closest friends too. It is an intimate and attainable project, which is so important when starting them.
Starting projects is easy - finishing them is so much harder, but for me the start was 1 January 2024, and it will finish on 31 December 2024.” says Joanna
Would you be interested in working on such a project with your family?
Discover more - Read Joanna’s article ←
c) → Little-Known French Towns: Tulle
by Kelsey Rose
Driving along the autoroutes in France is a treat for one thousand reasons—one of my favorites being the large, brown tourism signage.
It seems that every few minutes, you’re meeting a new one on the roadways. They’re always quite simplistic: a town’s name in sans serif type, a varying hue of marron (brown), and a stylized drawing depicting the notable monuments or productions of the spot.
Read this wonderful article and share Kelsey Rose’s serendipity- →
d) Provence: The Luberon You Haven’t Seen — A Guide to 10 Lesser-Known Villages
by Pierre Guernier
Discover Peaceful Villages and Scenic Landscapes Far from the Crowds of Provence’s Golden Triangle. Here are TEN superb villages. How many have you visited?
I’ve known Provence all my life, yet it was only as an adult that I truly got to explore its depths, from the Alpilles to the Comtat plains, and of course, the Luberon.
Among Provence’s natural regions, the Luberon stands out as one of the most popular with visitors. But, as you might imagine, it’s easy to think the area is overrun with tourists and, sometimes, it does feel that way.
Thankfully, knowing the Luberon as I do, I can confidently tell you that even in the height of summer, there are peaceful corners that remain blissfully free from the crowds.” says Pierre
Discover much more about these 10 off-the-beaten-path French villages.
3. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’ the newsletter of MyFrenchLife Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Chers amis (dear friends), as I finish writing this edition, I can't help but smile thinking about how each of you might connect with these stories differently. Perhaps Morgane's scientific approach to learning through poetry will inspire your next French lesson, or maybe Pierre's village recommendations will find their way onto your travel bucket list?
What I love most about our community is how we all bring our own perspectives to this shared passion for France. Have you experienced that magical moment when French culture suddenly clicks into place? Or have you discovered your own creative approach to connecting with the language?
Partagez vos expériences (share your experiences)—I read every single message, and they truly brighten my day!
À très bientôt (see you very soon),
Warmly yours,
Judy
judy@myfrenchlife.org
P.S. Don't miss our weekend subscriber special about villages that refused to fade—it's filled with hope and resilience, just like the French spirit we all adore!
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What a great issue of Le Bulletin today!
I've been reading Morgane Andersson's publication and love it. Even though I'm no longer a real "French learner," there's always something to learn. When I taught French, I too used a lot of songs and a bit of poetry, and agree they are great learning tools.
And Pierre Guernier's photos of lesser-known villages in the Luberon are stunning. They would appear to be truly off the beaten track. I've only been to one, Oppède-le-Vieux, and hadn't even heard of the others.
Like Kelsey Rose, I find those brown signs indicating various towns or regions on the freeway fascinating. Sometimes it's clear what the actual site is all about, but other times you need to have some advance knowledge of the place to interpret the sign.
Loved Kelsey Rose’s postcard about Tulle. Would love to learn more about the history and process of creating tulle.