Secret to Learning French: Six Great Tips

Because you are planning a trip to Paris and don’t want to appear like a typical American tourist who doesn’t know a word of the local language, have you been considering learning a second language, such as French?

Are you confused about what to do next? Are the BerlitzTM DVDs or the Duo LingoTM app not quite aligned with your particular learning style for some reason? If this describes you, I’ve met a lot of people who share your frustration, which is why I’m going to give you six ideas for learning a new language.

For simplicity’s sake, we’ll assume that you want to learn French; However, it goes without saying that any language you want to learn can benefit from these six suggestions.

#1. Don’t worry about it!

Dr. Stephen Krashen, one of the world’s leading experts on learning a second language (L2), says that learning L2 is best done in a low-stress environment. Stress never exists for children learning their first language (L1).

There are no parental deadlines to meet, and making mistakes does not result in embarrassing or awkward situations. Children learn L1 without difficulty, at their own pace, and without any pressure or time constraints.

One of the most important components of “the natural approach,” a teaching method developed by renowned linguists Tracy Terrell and Stephen Krashen, is learning L2 in a stress-free environment, just like a child would.

#2. Avoid using strict grammar.

Dr. Krashen says that learning a language is mostly a subconscious process that doesn’t require a lot of conscious grammatical rules or long drills. “Osmosis” is the best way to learn a language.

Besides, this is how we acquired our native tongue. We did not receive a list of new words to memorize by rote as young children, and we did not pay much attention to grammatical rules. We acquired our knowledge simply by necessity and immersion in our language.

We learned by relating words to their context; “Look at the cute kitty,” for instance, mother says as she points to a cat. This is picked up by the child, who discovers what a “kitty” is. Contextual learning, also known as “learning from everyday experiences,” is significantly more effective than “learning by rote.”

Naturally, doing this when surrounded by native speakers is easier. The good news is that you don’t have to be in the country where L2 is spoken to get some exposure. One can, for instance, order in French at the local French restaurant or join a French speaking club made up of native speakers and French expats.

#3. Immerse yourself in the L2

This is much simpler now than it was 30 years ago because you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Get a French pen pal from sites like MyLanguageExchange.com, watch movies in French with English subtitles, listen to French news stations like France 24, watch any kind of French video on YouTube, or hire a competent French tutor.

Many people who learn French complain that once they get to a point where they can read and understand the language, they can’t tell the difference between spoken and written French.

When it comes to this, watching movies in French with English subtitles enabled is extremely helpful: The subtitles significantly improve comprehension by separating the words from one another. Keep in mind that not all translations are accurate, but the majority are at least very similar to actual dialogue.)

In addition, there are numerous stories and articles available in French. There is a plethora of beginning French material available online, including books for children and others.

#4. Use French to talk to yourself.

As strange as it may sound, the faster you learn French the more you talk to yourself in the language. After all, you won’t always have access to a native French speaker to converse with.)

A great way to learn new words is to talk to yourself or try to think in French. When you are contemplating your day at work in French, you will constantly be presented with new words and idiomatic expressions. For instance, rather than thinking in English: Gee,

I need to finish that spreadsheet by tomorrow. If you think about it in French, you’ll find that you need to look up the French word for spreadsheet, and voilà: A brand-new word will be added to your ever-growing vocabulary.

Remember: If you keep thinking and talking to yourself in French, you will probably have your first dream in French when you get good enough, usually when you least expect it!

#5. Dedication.

Dedication and consistency are essential. Sincerely, attempting to learn any second language without it is a waste of time. Every day, practice and learn your target language!

Adult learners who routinely lie to themselves and claim that they had no time to learn French this week due to work, school, family obligations, etc. are simply insufficiently committed, causing them to likely stagnate.

Furthermore, is one really that occupied? Are you overworked? During your daily commute to work, why not watch a French learning DVD or listen to French music?

#6. Last but not least, have fun with it.

In general, learning is most effective when one enjoys the process; On the other hand, when learning becomes a chore, it reduces one’s capacity for learning.

A few ideas are as follows: use the French language option to play Trivia Crack TM, learn a simple French joke, or watch a French comedy like Le Diner de Cons. It’s a very satisfying feeling to see yourself getting better and better at your chosen L2!

It is true that you will encounter plateaus along the way—those frustrating but brief hiatuses in the learning curve—but you should not let this discourage you because, if you persevere, you can eventually rise above those brief plateaus and possibly reach the glorious heights of native fluency! Good luck!

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