The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Yourself French
To all the French beginners who have been wanting to know the best way to learn French, we have good news. You no longer have to take traditional French classes in order to (finally) learn how to speak.
By following these steps, you can tackle your French language learning dreams. With the right learning strategies, you can improve how much you learn from French lessons online and speed up the learning process overall. Read on for the ultimate guide to finding the best way to learn French.
Commit Yourself to French Language Learning
It's basic psychology that you are more likely to stick to a goal if you make a plan that outlines your objectives. Whether it is a New Years resolution or a workout schedule, having a goal and setting up a plan can be the difference between success and failure.
Do more than just make it a plan. Tell yourself that you WILL learn French, and set a realistic goal so that you can envision it in your near future. Plan to finish reading a French book by a certain date, or aim to understand the lyrics to a French song.
Write down your goal and anticipated date and post it on your fridge, in your room, and in other visible places to serve as a constant reminder.
Don't forget the importance of remaining positive. When we feel optimistic about a goal, we are more likely to stick with it.
Immerse Yourself
One of the best ways to learn a language is to watch foreign movies. Cinema is truly an art form for the French, so watching a good French movie would be a great way to experience the language and culture.
Another way to experience French immersion is to listen to French music whenever possible. Whether you are in your car, sitting at home or taking a shower, tune into Stromae, Edith Piaf, George Brassens, and other French classics. Singing is a sure way to remember vocabulary and pronunciation.
When you have a few moments at night, you can start reading a simple French book. If you're not sure where to start, look into Speechling's excellent article on French books for some suggestions. Remember that you don't need to understand every single word. You just need to get the gist by using context.
If you don't have time for a book, just try to read one magazine article a night, whether on a well-known French newspaper article like LeMonde or a fun, laid-back editorial on France's Huffington Post.
Mimic French Classes With Post-It Notes
Vocabulary can be tough to memorize if you are not taking formal French classes. Studying with Post-It Notes can be a fun, effective way to learn.
You can take a post-it note and cover one room per week, focusing on the major vocab words. For example, go with your kitchen and focus on those high-frequency words like fork, knife, spoon, etc.
Post-It Notes can be particularly helpful for you to remember genders. You can aim to cover one room each week with post-it notes that state the gender and name of the object.
Get Free French Lessons Online With a Penpal
There are tons of resources for you to find a penpal online who will want to share your love of languages. Many sites will even allow you to choose whether you want to talk to a girl or guy. You can even pick the place where the person lives.
To make it a really beneficial exchange, set some parameters in the beginning. Offer to write in French and, in turn, be willing to read their English. The relationship will be sure to last if both sides feel their language skills are benefitting.
Work On Pronunciation With a Coach
Not too many online language learning platforms use both technology and an actual person to help you speak better. Speechling offers you a coach who will cheer you on while providing helpful feedback.
Speechling can help you focus on bettering conversational skills in a fun, relaxed environment from the comfort of your own home. The coaches are super approachable and are invested in your improvement.
Meet Up With Other French Speakers
Social media can be a great way to find French speakers in your area, whether they are native speakers or other French beginners. Certain sites like MeetUp are dedicated to gathering groups of people who share the same hobbies.
Another idea is to check out Facebook pages that have been set up for French beginners. When you're waiting in line at the store or sitting on the couch, you can spend a few minutes looking at these pages. Speechling maintains an amazing Facebook group that offers support, tips and fun ways to learn French. Another great page to check out is The Lazy Frenchie.
You can also "like" French websites' pages so that they come up in your newsfeed. Remember that even if you don't understand evey word in an article, you're still learning a ton.
Plan a Trip to Learn French
Of course, immersion in a Francophone place is one of the best things you can do for your speaking skills. Use your vacation time to visit the City of Lights or the beautiful Côte d'Azur, and you'll really be able to experience the best way to learn French.
If you can’t go to France, you can always go to a closer place such as New Orleans to experience Mardi Gras, skiing in Canada or bathing in the beautiful waters of the French Caribbean.
Your dreams of speaking French can finally come to fruition with these tips. From turning your house into a learning zone to finally getting hooked up with one of Speechling's personal coaches, your French-speaking goals are within reach.