ehoui! – Episode 155: Pourquoi mes élèves progressent ?

Host: Virginie Cutulic
Date: October 16, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Virginie Cutulic addresses a core question many French learners have: “Why do my students make progress?” Sharing insights from her fifteen years as a French as a Foreign Language teacher, Virginie dives deeply into her teaching philosophy, centered around five essential pillars. The episode is both a pep talk and a practical guide, with real-life anecdotes about her students, reflections on common learning blockages, and a clear breakdown of what truly helps learners advance from intermediate to advanced French.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Motivation as "Terreau" (Potting Soil)

• [03:38] Virginie compares motivation in language learning to the "terreau"—the nutrient-rich soil required for plants to flourish.
  • Quote: “La base pour l'apprentissage du français et un apprentissage efficace, le terreau, c'est la motivation.” (03:38)
• Without deep personal motivation, learning is much harder and drop-out rates are high.
• Many learners "block" or quit after the first big challenge—not because of their abilities, but because of the way French is traditionally taught.

2. The Five Pillars of Her Method: “Ta voix française”

Virginie’s method is structured around five pillars, each designed to build independence, confidence, and genuine progress for learners.

Pillar 1: S’EXPRIMER – Dare to Speak Out

• [06:42] Speaking is the greatest fear of most learners, even though it seems basic.
  • Quote: “La peur numéro 1 des apprenants de français... c'est s'exprimer.” (07:05)
• Learners prefer their comfort zones, but without speaking, the fear persists—a vicious cycle.
  • Analogy: "C'est le serpent qui se mord la queue.” (07:41)
• Small group settings (5–6 students max), especially in her book clubs and grammar groups, provide a safe space to practice.
• Real-life student example: An advanced American student, when corrected, repeats the correct phrase aloud multiple times—a powerful habit for anchoring new language.

Pillar 2: STRUCTURER – Building Structure

• [14:23] Autonomy is good, but can lead to poor habits if unchecked.
• Many students create their own “rules” during self-study, which are often incorrect.
• Facing correction in a supportive environment helps build real, correct reflexes.
  • Quote: “C'est difficile d'accepter d'être corrigé, mais en même temps, c'est la seule façon de ne plus refaire les mêmes erreurs.” (18:30)
• Storytelling exercises (mini-monologues) are powerful tools for building structure. They require learners to actively think about tense, vocabulary, and coherence.

Pillar 3: CLARIFIER – Make Yourself Understood

• [19:19] Structured speech leads to clarity, which makes it possible to both understand and be understood.
• The goal of language learning is not perfection, but effective communication.
  • Quote: “Le but d’apprendre une langue, c’est pas de faire des exercices de grammaire et d’avoir aucune erreur. Le but d’une langue, le but ultime, c’est de comprendre et de se faire comprendre.” (19:40)
• Virginie points out the myth that language can be learned “sans grammaire.” Apps and games (e.g., Duolingo) can give a false sense of progress without real structure.
  • Quote: “Toutes ces applications par le jeu, ça sert seulement à donner bonne conscience.” (21:50)

Pillar 4: PRENDRE LE TEMPS – Progress Takes Time

• [23:00] The myth of rapid progress (“A0 to B2 in two months!”) is dispelled.
  • Quote: “Les bons réflexes, ça se développe avec le temps.” (23:15)
• Mastery comes through repetition and exposure over time, not through quick fixes.
• Stopping after a few lessons without continued exposure is simply “de l’argent jeté par les fenêtres.” (Throwing money out the window).

Pillar 5: PROFITER – Enjoy the Process

• [27:00] Lasting progress only happens when learning is enjoyable and personally meaningful.
• Virginie chooses not to work with adolescents forced by their parents—she wants motivated, engaged adult learners.
• Personalized courses built around students’ interests are much more effective than generic group classes.
  • Example: A Polish student who prefers one-on-one sessions with Virginie rather than institution-funded group classes because of the tailored approach.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fear of speaking (07:05):
  “La peur numéro 1 des apprenants de français... c'est s'exprimer.”

• On comfort zones (07:41):
  “Mais le problème, c'est que c'est le serpent qui se mord la queue.”

• On the importance of being corrected (18:30):
  “C'est difficile d'accepter d'être corrigé, mais en même temps, c'est la seule façon de ne plus refaire les mêmes erreurs.”

• On the real goal of learning French (19:40):
  “Le but d’apprendre une langue, c’est pas de faire des exercices de grammaire et d’avoir aucune erreur. Le but d’une langue, le but ultime, c’est de comprendre et de se faire comprendre.”

• On language apps and gimmicks (21:50):
  “Toutes ces applications par le jeu, ça sert seulement à donner bonne conscience.”

• On progress over time (23:15):
  “Les bons réflexes, ça se développe avec le temps.”

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [00:00–01:45] – Pre-episode Announcement (Book Club, skip for content)
• [03:38] – Motivation as the foundation (“terreau”) for learning
• [06:42] – Pillar 1: S’exprimer, the imperative to speak and leave one’s comfort zone
• [14:23] – Pillar 2: Structurer, and the role of correction and oral exercises
• [19:19] – Pillar 3: Clarifier, and the myth that grammar isn’t needed
• [23:00] – Pillar 4: Prendre le temps, and rejecting “magic bullet” learning promises
• [27:00] – Pillar 5: Profiter, the importance of enjoying the learning process

Tone and Style

Virginie’s style is warm, honest, and occasionally blunt. Her approach is deeply practical but rests on a belief in meaningful, student-centered learning. She peppers her explanations with French metaphors (“serpent qui se mord la queue,” “argent jeté par les fenêtres”), real student stories, and a motivational call to embrace the journey, not just chase quick results.

Summary Table: The Five Pillars

| Pilier | Explication | Exemple/Astuce | |-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | S’exprimer | Oser parler, sortir de sa zone de confort | Répéter à voix haute après correction | | Structurer | Organiser son discours, accepter la correction | Exercice de mini-monologue | | Clarifier | Parler simplement, être compris et comprendre | Privilégier la structure aux applis ludiques| | Prendre le temps| Laisser le temps aux réflexes de s’ancrer | Accepter la lenteur, éviter les quick-fixes| | Profiter | Trouver du plaisir dans l’apprentissage, personnaliser | Cours adaptés aux centres d’intérêt |

Conclusion

Virginie closes by restating the necessity of all five pillars for meaningful, long-term progress in French. She encourages listeners to take charge of their learning and step fully into the process, promising support and genuine results—if they’re ready to leave their comfort zone and invest in the journey.

To contact Virginie or learn more:
hello@ehuionline.com | ehuionline.com

Perfect for any learner discouraged by slow progress or seeking a sustainable, joyful path to real French fluency.