After a month of silence, I'm back — and I have a very good reason for disappearing.

Instead of my usual self-study routine, I did something completely different: I enrolled in the Saturday Express course at Institut Français in South Kensington, London. Five full Saturdays. A real classroom. Real classmates. And a very honest wake-up call about where my French actually stands.

In this episode, I share:
✅ How I learned French from A1 to A2 as a busy adult with zero immersive environment
✅ How a random conversation with my French tutor led me to Institut Français
✅ What my first day of French school actually felt like (spoiler: very nervous)
✅ The real pros AND cons of group language learning vs. self-study
✅ What I discovered about my speaking and listening skills
✅ Whether I'd do it again — and the smarter way to approach it

🎁 FREE French Vision Board (desktop + mobile wallpaper):
Get my French Fluency Vision Board
→ https://rachelwmak.com/newsletter/

📺 Watch the full video on YouTube (includes the assessment, classroom footage & my French journal entry — can you understand it without subtitles?) https://youtu.be/BkBF5bLYBpA

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🔗 LINKS MENTIONED
- Institut Français London: https://www.institut-francais.org.uk
- Saturday Express course: https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/french-courses/saturday-express/#/
- My 30-Day French Speaking Challenge (YouTube): https://youtu.be/WjGJU9LD6mQ
- How I Learn French Without Living in France (YouTube): https://youtu.be/iROGBIXhlZc
- Free French Vision Board download: https://rachelwmak.com/newsletter/

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💬 LET'S CONNECT
I'd love to know — what's YOUR biggest challenge as a French learner right now?
Speaking? Listening? Finding the time?

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review — it genuinely helps other
French learners and francophiles find this podcast. Merci beaucoup! 🇫🇷

#LearnFrench #FrenchLearning #AdultLanguageLearner #InstitutFrançais
#FrenchInLondon #Francophile #LanguageLearningJourney

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Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

In this episode, I reflect on a real classroom moment from my university years in Hong Kong and how learning French later helped me understand it differently. From French philosophy and education to the famous thèse, antithèse, synthèse structure, this is a story about how culture quietly shapes our voice.

It’s not about one culture being better than another — it’s about understanding why silence feels safe for some, and expression feels natural for others.

If you love French culture, are learning French, or are curious about communication, identity, and critical thinking, this episode is for you.

🎁 Free Download:
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→ https://rachelwmak.com/newsletter/

🎧 Recommended listening
If you haven’t yet, you might enjoy the previous episode:
Why French Culture Is So Irresistible to Me

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🧡Support the show

Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

In this episode, I share how I manifested my French fluency — not in a magical or unrealistic way, but through mindset shifts and real-life practices that genuinely worked for me and helped me build calm, confidence, and consistency in French.

If you’re a French learner, a francophile, or someone who feels stuck despite years of learning, I hope this video gives you encouragement and a different way of seeing your journey.

🎁 Free Download:
Get my French Fluency Vision Board
→ https://rachelwmak.com/newsletter/

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🧡Support the show

Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

This gentle language learning meditation is for anyone who feels afraid, blocked, or hesitant about speaking French.

If learning French has ever made you doubt yourself, feel behind, or feel “not good enough”, I hope this meditation helps you feel a little safer, a little softer, and a little more patient with yourself.

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🧡Support the show

Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

Have you ever felt like you’re not “qualified enough” to do the thing you love?

In this episode, I share why I stopped waiting to be fluent, confident, or “ready” before talking about French — and how a quiet year without big milestones actually helped me grow more than expected.

This episode is about manifestation in real life, not wishful thinking.
About trusting the pause.
About becoming — before arrival.

If you love French culture, are learning French, or feel called to a future you can’t fully see yet, this episode is for you.

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🧡Support the show

Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

Whenever I tell people I love French culture, they assume it’s because of Paris, fashion, or luxury brands like Hermès and Chanel — but the truth goes so much deeper. In this episode, I share the meaningful side of French culture that I fell in love with: the real self-love and boundaries, the freedom of expression, the pride in traditions, art and cuisine, the magic of l’apéritif, and the everyday beauty of l’art de vivre.

I draw from my experience living in Toulouse as an exchange student, growing up as a polyglot, and rediscovering French through language learning — all the things that shaped my love for this culture.

If you're learning French or you're a total francophile, this episode will make you nod the whole way through.

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Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

After four years of learning French, I’ve made every possible mistake — and learned what truly matters.

In this honest reflection, I share what actually worked for me, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently if I could start again.

You’ll hear:
📚 The methods that helped me make real progress (and the ones that wasted my time)
🗓 How I fit learning into a full-time job and family life
💬 Why your personality type matters more than your study method
🌿 The mindset shifts that made learning French lighter, happier, and more natural

If you’re learning French — or any language — and you feel stuck or guilty for “not doing enough,”
this episode will remind you that language learning isn’t a race; it’s a lifestyle.

🎧 Listen now and take what works — leave what doesn’t.

🌿 Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

✨ Languages connect us — one story at a time.

#learnfrench #languagelearning #frenchlearner #frenchpodcast #rachelmaisrachelle #languagejourney #selfgrowth #bilinguallife #studyhabits #slowlearning #frenchmotivation

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🧡Support the show

Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

Between school runs, work, and family life, it sometimes feels impossible to find time for French — or anything new, really.

In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I’ve managed to fit French learning into my busy life as a mum — without feeling guilty, overwhelmed, or burned out.

You’ll hear:
🕐 How I weave French into everyday moments (instead of “study hours”)
💬 Why short, joyful learning works better than long, forced sessions
🌿 The mindset shift that helped me stay consistent — even when I’m tired
❤️ How I learned to see French not as a subject, but as part of who I am

If you’ve ever felt too busy to keep up with your language goals, I hope this gives you practical ideas — and a little permission to go easy on yourself.

🎧 Listen now and discover a gentler, more sustainable way to learn French — even when life is full.

🌿 Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com

✨ Languages connect us — one story at a time.

#learnfrench #languagelearning #frenchpodcast #busymumlife #mumlife #selfgrowth #slowlearning #frenchlearner #burnoutrecovery #languagejourney #rachelmaisrachelle

Support the show

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🧡Support the show

Hosted by Rachel W. Mak — creator of Rachel mais Rachelle en français

🎬 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@rachel_mais_rachelle
🌍 More reflections & updates: rachelwmak.com/podcast
💌 Say bonjour: hello@rachelwmak.com