The sound of the French language has a beauty that cannot be denied. Yet, many newcomers struggle to learn it due to linguistic obstacles such as complicated grammar and pronunciation.
Step 1: Get Some Basic French Phonetics
There are no differences between the English and French alphabets, yet approximately 28% of English words have French roots. Certainly more than in any other language. As a result, it’s among the simplest languages for native English speakers to pick up. One notable exception is the use of accents on a few characters.
The French alphabet consists of 23 consonants and 16 vowel sounds. You probably understand 20 consonants and 6 vowels if you can speak English. Only three new consonants and ten new vowels remain.
Understanding French letters and how the letters sound is essential if you want to communicate effectively. It’s now the remainder of the day’s assignment for you to begin learning the French pronunciation of various sounds.
Step 2: Communicate in French (now)
It’s important to start small and work to gain trust if you’re nervous about speaking French for the initial moment.
The following are some actions you may take to hone your public speaking abilities:
- Invest in a French teacher.
Incorporating passive and active hearing into daily life is simple, but conversing with native speakers is significantly more challenging. Private, in-person French classes with native speakers are available via italki. You’ll be able to hone your French listening, speaking, and conversational abilities in this way.
- Discover a language partner.
You may learn French from local speakers and educate them on your original tongue via language exchange applications. In a language exchange, a buddy may serve as an unofficial French instructor, to the advantage of both participants.
As exchanges are available but French classes are typically rather pricey, this is an excellent choice for those on a tighter budget. Unfortunately, language conversations are sometimes unstructured and hinder learning, so finding a “genuine” instructor is best.
- Try to learn some French
Participate in French-related events and gatherings hosted by local organizations. Get started learning French by enrolling in classes related to your favorite hobbies. Why not pick up a new hobby or talent in French while you’re at it?
In addition, take full advantage of the delicious French cuisine and wine. Find out if there are any restaurants or pubs in the area where you may use your newfound French language skills. If so, make use of it. You may have some difficulty in the beginning, but if you keep at it, you will soon be able to communicate with ease.
Step 3: Take in Some French Films and TV
As a result, watching movies in the target language may be a great way to improve one’s linguistic abilities. Why not enjoy your favorite films in French when you have some leisure time? This exercise will aid in your comprehension of the language’s linguistic and cultural norms. Seeing French films has the added effect of making you more likely to engage in linguistically-based thought processes in French.
It is recommended that you start off watching films with French captions, but that you eventually disable them to strengthen your hearing and comprehension skills without depending on the text. In addition, feel free to stop, write down, and repeat certain sentences. Having this exhaustive catalog of films to watch when learning French is helpful.
If it’s easy to delve headfirst into French-language shows and films, a good place to begin is with familiar films translated into French from another language (a common practice in France). As a result, you may relax knowing that you won’t get lost in the storyline while attempting to grasp the French dialogue.
Step 4: Focus on the sound.
Even if your French reading skills are excellent, you may still struggle to understand native speakers. This is because written and spoken French may seem quite distinct from one another.
Because of this, you should make hearing a regular part of your French study. It’s an excellent method to learn new words in French, but don’t expect to be able to communicate with the lady of the local bakery only by reading.
Conclusion
It might be difficult to study a foreign language on your own, but if you adhere to the suggestions we provided, you’ll be off to a nice beginning. To learn French faster and more efficiently, and to practice the language on a routine basis, we strongly advise you to get a teacher as early as you can.
Communicate in French as often as possible, and do the same with literature, hearing, and composition. Weekly reviews of your performance and the lessons you’ve learned are recommended for the same reasons.
If you want to learn French, italki can help you find a competent French teacher online in your area who can help you. In that case, why delay any longer? With italki, you can connect with the greatest French tutors and get started on your path to French proficiency right now. Voilà!