Learning a new language is difficult and takes a lot of mind-juggling. Therefore, it can be useful to keep some tricks in mind to make the process easier. Here are some tips that you might find useful, but remember that everyone learns differently, so feel free to pick and choose what works best for you. 1. Makeup scenarios and dialogues
When learning a language, it is important to be as creative as possible. It can help to make up dialogues in your head and play them out. For example, if you are learning about food and drink, dream up a scenario where you order a meal in a French restaurant. You might start by telling the waiter you have a reservation, and then choose from the menu or à la carte. You can make these dialogues as easy or complicated as you like but try to practice them with another French speaker once you feel you have mastered the phrases. 2. Be diligent with your learning Create a learning routine that you can stick to. It must not be too demanding that you won’t be able to keep to it but must also be challenging. You can set yourself goals. These could be daily, weekly, or monthly. You could aim to learn a new word a day and incorporate it into your daily activities. 3. Revise weekly what you have learned so you don’t forget things It may seem obvious but find time at the end of each week to revise what you’ve learned. In modern life, it’s very easy to put things into our short-term memory, so this is a good way to stay on top of all the work you’ve put into your language learning. 4. Keep a notebook where you can write down vocabulary or phrases that you don’t know As you learn nouns make sure you learn their gender at the same time. Native English speakers may find using the correct gender a stumbling block when learning a romance language. Find a memorization method that works for you - perhaps come up with little memorable phrases using adjectives in their same gender: la dame blanche, le poireau vert, la jupe violette… With every verb you learn, aim to recite it in its conjugation in the present, imperfect, future and conditional tenses. To test yourself create a sentence that can be transposed into the various tenses: Le garçon boit un jus d’orange (present) Le garçon buvait un jus d’orange (imperfect) Le garçon boira un jus d’orange (future) Le garçon buvait un jus d’orange (conditional) You can also learn specific phrases that are commonly used in the French language. Practice saying them through repetition so that they roll off the tongue, and you’ll sound like a true native. 5. Work on your pronunciation French vowel sounds are particularly hard for anglophones to articulate as we use a different part of our mouth when we speak. To improve your pronunciation, listen to recordings of French speakers saying the word in question and repeat it yourself. You can also record yourself saying the same word, and then compare. The more confident you feel in your pronunciation, the easier it will be to talk freely. Even if you don’t feel 100% confident, you must still be brave and not be afraid to make mistakes! 6. Watch French films with French subtitles on Resources such as the YouTube Channel Easy French are really useful for learning languages from native speakers. A good technique is to listen to the podcast, write down what you hear, and then make a translation. Then you can put the channel’s subtitles on and check to see how you’ve done. These podcasts expose you to various accents from all around France. You can also watch French series or films. First watch with the French subtitles on, noting down any unfamiliar grammar or phrases, and then try without to see how easily you can follow. For a younger audience, you can try “Asterix and Obelix” or “Lupin”, whilst the more mature audience might enjoy programs such as “Le Bazar de la Charité” or “Dix pour Percent”. 7. Get a pen pal If you are unable to visit a Francophone country this is a useful way of practicing your French with a native, and you can make a good friend at the same time. If you are currently at school, you might be able to join an exchange program. Otherwise, there are plenty of online resources that you can use to find a French pen pal. Websites and apps such as My Language Exchange and Hello Talk provide you with someone with whom you can communicate in either written or spoken dialogue. 8. Learn French songs and read books Listening to French music is a wonderful way to embrace the country’s culture. It can be exciting to do your research on Spotify or YouTube, find francophone songs that you like, and learn the lyrics. This is a really good way of learning new vocabulary, common phrases, and the general flow of the language. It will also help loads with your pronunciation. To get you started here are a few artists: Edith Piaf, Yves Montand, Paris Combo, Coralie Clement, Zaz, and Stromae. Reading is also a really good way to build your vocabulary and knowledge of the culture. It is great to read aloud to ensure you don’t miss anything, and feel free to take your time to look up anything you don’t know. 9. Play games Playing games is a fun way to learn a language. It requires you to finesse your social communications, ask questions, and cooperate or hide things from other players. If you know some other French speakers around, get together to play some board games, 20 questions, or word games. Alternatively, you can find games online to play on your own or with others such as at Digital Dialects. You can also come up with games to help you memorize vocabulary or learn your conjugations, maybe flashcards would work well for you. It all depends on what sort of learner you are so take the time to find the method that works best for you. 10. Go to France and immerse yourself in the culture and language Lastly, if you can, there is nothing better than to immerse yourself in a French-speaking country. Enjoy being surrounded by the language and do as many activities as you can! Be as brave as you can, let your imagination run free, and enjoy the process of learning a beautiful language such as French! If you would like to learn more about our course offerings at the Music & Language Learning Center, schedule a free consultation with us.
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