French Learning Tips

Fashion, food, wine, captivating architecture are some of the things associated with French. French, being the fifth most widely spoken language across the globe is also the second most widely learned as a foreign language after English and is among the very few taught in every nation of the world. Here are some tips and tricks to learn French for global communication that can open up the world to you.

• Focus on core vocabulary

You may not need to master thousands of words to start a conversation. At the beginner level, you can concentrate on core vocabulary that is essential to start and continue a conversation. These words are good enough to strike a conversation around common topics like ordering at a restaurant or asking for directions. Initially, you may just want to focus on relevant vocabulary like words related to work, home, food, travel, etc. that you would use frequently in your everyday life.

• Cognates help

Cognates are words that have the same root and there are many in English and French. Thanks to cognates, once you start learning French you may be surprised to find many words that you can recognize. This makes it a little easier to memorize words and improve your vocabulary.

Always find opportunities to strike a conversation with a native speaker – Learning a language is fun if you are able to speak to a native speaker. You just have to look around to find native speakers with whom you can strike a conversation. You may not live in a French-speaking country but through the internet, you may definitely find someone who is interested in learning your language and in turn help you with French. Yes, you get it right. A language exchange program, offered by many platforms these days, even free of cost can be your solution.

• Replace your native language with French wherever possible 

Smartphones, an integral part of our lives today can be your best friend in learning French.  You can always switch the language settings on your phone or computer to French. Watch French movies, listen to radio and podcasts in French, and also try to read articles and books that interest you in French.

• Do not feel embarrassed when you speak

A non-native speaker, especially during the initial days of learning to communicate in French might sound funny. Don’t worry, this is a common situation that all language learners face. Do not let this stop you from speaking it or wait till you master the language. A language can be mastered only by practice so you can never wait to become perfect in French. Start early to reach the near-perfect level at the earliest.

• Try different tricks that work for you 

Flashcards, mnemonics, or shadowing are all fun ways to learn a language. You can use any or all of them to learn French at a faster pace.

Acquiring fluency in any language is all in your hands and it’s the same with French as well. These tips and tricks to learn French for global communication can definitely help you reach your goal in a comparatively shorter span of time.