Learning in the classroom is usually not enough to master a language, that's why for each hour of lessons, students should devote at least three hours to language practice.
And when it comes to complex university-level subjects like medicine, science or law, even 5 hours may not be enough!
What options do beginners and advanced learners have? Do they have to revise lists of vocabulary and grammar rules for weeks?
That may make you think of your experience as a school student when you had to learn long paragraphs from textbooks by rote. Or were you rather a reluctant reader aiming only at a passing grade?
When we talk about a French course, we often imagine that it is going to be like that, too.
But wait a minute, was learning French your decision? Whether you decided to enrol in a language school or signed up for a university course?
Let us tell you about more fun and dynamic ways to progress in the language of Molière, which can work for both beginners and advanced learners.
Superprof tutors offer engaging French classes all across New Zealand and online.
Learning French alongside other activities
For a lot of people, a diligent student is someone spending long hours at his desk, whether they are learning the French language or physics and chemistry.
Of course, we agree that a quiet environment is perfect for any kind of learning, including French vocabulary and conjugation. But what if you don't have time to memorise lists of French words?
The best way to improve your French skills is to actually speak, which means that you can work on them while going to your course or even when shopping.
If you are learning to conjugation verbs: j'ai, tu as, il a – etc. You can repeat them while walking or cycling until they become natural to you.
Do you enjoy jogging in the morning? That can be a great moment to revise tenses, too!
The same goes for the pronunciation of difficult sounds such as nasal vowels.
Instead of verb forms, you can choose a series of words containing the sounds in question, like pont, faon, mont, rien, and keep uttering them in a low voice!
You have probably already heard that over 20% of everyday English vocabulary derives from French.
A lot of French words will sound familiar to you, such as deja vu, Mardi Gras and many other expressions.
Then, you can also pick up a few French idioms, such as être dans la lune or faire la grasse matinée with which you can impress native French speakers
Even though French grammar can be challenging since a lot of its rules, such as grammatical gender or conjugation aren't present in English, French also has a lot of funny and evocative phrases used in certain situations. Exploring them can be very entertaining for both a beginner and an advanced student.
And some French expressions are still present in the English language:
For instance, honi soit qui mal y pense is the motto appearing on the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom!
You can work on your French pronunciation by uttering words and phrases at any time, such as when walking your dog or even working out.
Then, all you need is to find an opportunity to use the phrases you've learnt!
Exercise all Aspects of the Language
A lot of language students think that copying words from their textbooks into a notebook will help them remember them for the next lesson. Disclaimer: that often doesn't work.
It is not unusual that students learning foreign languages focus more on reading and writing rather than spending time having conversations. As a result, oral skills turn out to be more difficult to master.
This applies to all languages, including French.
You may be surprised that students should be more eager to spend time writing in French instead of actually speaking it with fun.
There are a few reasons that may explain that attitude:
- shyness: when we are learning a new tongue, we don't always feel confident enough to speak in public
- fear of making mistakes: learners often think that grammar mistakes are something truly horrible
- modesty: a student may hesitate to imitate the right French pronunciation fearing that others may think they are showing off
- low confidence, which is often results from the previous elements
As a result, students often end up in a vicious circle: you need practice to gain confidence but you don't dare to start speaking for one of the aforementioned reasons.
That is where qualified French teachers can be of help. They can devote equal time to different language skills in their courses and create a safe environment to help students start speaking step by step.
If you enjoy making flashcards to remember new words, that's a great approach for a beginner or an intermediate learner. But make sure to put your vocabulary into practice at some point.
You might ask how can New Zealand students speak in French if there are no native speakers around them?
The solution is to find a tutor, set up conversation groups with your classmates or search for a language partner online!
Online language learning resources
There are lots of online apps and websites on which you can learn French. They include such programmes as Rosetta Stone, Babbel and Buzu. Some of them are free and some require a subscription.
Online apps can be very helpful to beginners and advanced learners. They provide fresh content and allow students to acquire language skills through fun activities, like games, flashcards and quizzes.
Their main shortcoming is that they don't offer opportunities to speak!
For instance, Rosetta Stone and Duolingo mostly focus on reading and translation. Students don't get used to expressing their own thought in French and don't have the possibility to try out their skills with a native speaker.
Conversations about your favourite topics with native French speakers are the best way to make quick progress in the language.
Among other things, dialogues with natives will give you a clue about the natural ways to express yourself in French and you can even pick up some slang phrases for everyday life.
Another point is it will be easier to master pronunciation and imitate the rhythm of the French language if you hear it regularly and in real contexts – not just individual sentences on an app or in a textbook.
However, the main problem is still there: how can learners meet native speakers to improve their skills, especially if they live outside big urban areas where foreigners tend to settle down?
One option is online French classes. Another one is language exchange with French people learning English.
Alliance Française
Created in 1883 in Paris, L'Alliance Française aims to promote French language and culture all around the world.
It is present in over 135 countries on all five continents and offers classes to millions of students every day.
In New Zealand, the organisation has today seven offices in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Nelson and Christchurch, which, in addition to language courses, hold regular cultural events.
You can either sign up for a group course or take personal lessons with teachers!
Alliance is the right for an immersion into French culture and intensive language practice with teachers and other learners.
An alternative option is to look for language learners online and talk to them on Skype or Zoom!
A great platform for that can be wespeke. Wespeke isn't just a learning site. It is a language exchange platform where you can get in touch with francophones and have one-to-one conversations.
You can not only boost your understanding and speaking skills but also store tips from your partner in a virtual notebook right on the webpage!
One more good language exchange site to check out is Conversation Exchange. You can meet French speakers learning English and give them a hand with French.
With your learning partners, you can boost your pronunciation, understand French word order and grammar and expand your vocabulary.
You can practise greetings, and idioms or just build regular sentences while having enjoyable conversations. Your speaking skills are bound to progress thanks to regular exchange and support from your French partners!
What's more, language exchange is a great opportunity to learn more about French culture and make new friends!
Finally, if the aforementioned solutions don't satisfy you, Superprof is always there to help you find a qualified French tutor! Everyone can meet a qualified French tutor on the platform, from complete beginners to fluent speakers preparing for DELF!
And to get used to the French accent, we recommend that you listen to the French radio or watch TV regularly!
Successful French Immersion
Regular chatting with friends and in class as well as French lessons with tutors can get you closer to becoming a francophone, but what if you struggle to understand French speakers?
Indeed, listening skills can be tough to learn.
French is spoken in lots of countries, including Canada, Belgium, Senegal, Gabon and many others... the French spoken in each of these countries has its own particularities as compared with so-called standard French spoken in France.
If your goal is to speak French like a Parisian, watching French TV and shows can be a great way to pick up the accent.
While language courses usually consist of simplified materials for learners, TV broadcasts and radio podcasts are made for native speakers, so the rate of speaking will be much higher and words may be pronounced less clearly.
Such programmes can be an outstanding tool to train your ear in real-life conditions. As a positive side-effect, your pronunciation can also improve.
What makes it better is that you can listen to a podcast anywhere and at any time!
French classes are only the first step to achieving fluency.
When taking a French course, you should also make sure to practise in your free time and you will certainly advance quickly enough.
And if you struggle to choose a resource for language practice, why not ask your regular teacher for advice?
You can always find qualified French teachers on Superprof. You can learn about the cost of French lessons in our article on the topic.
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