When you have a few free minutes throughout the day, pull out your flashcards and go through some of the stack. Alternate which sides of the cards you start with—French or your native language—each time. Continually add to your flashcard stack with new words, and pull out words that you’ve mastered. (But keep these pulled cards handy for occasional review sessions. )
Thanks to the ubiquity of music streaming services, it’s easier than ever to get access to an endless supply of French-language music. Singing along in the shower is a great way to build your vocabulary and pronunciation skills!
You can start out with the subtitles on, but turn them off after you start to get more comfortable with the language. U. S. cable TV systems sometimes carry, for example, France24, which covers global news, and/or TV5Monde, which carries a range of French language shows. You can also access videos and some shows from these stations online.
The more intently you can listen, the better. So, you may get faster results if you ride the bus rather than drive for your commute. But you can also listen while doing the dishes or gardening!
Keep a French-English (or your native language) dictionary handy, especially at first. However, always try to use context clues first to figure out the meaning of a word or phrase.
Your notes and recaps may start out very basic: “L’homme était fâché que son équipe ait perdu. ” (“The man was angry that his team lost. ”) But you’ll be able to write in more detail over time. People sometimes overlook competency in written expression when learning a language, but this is generally considered to be an important aspect of fluency.
Switching things up regularly also helps to ward off boredom. After you’ve gotten used to Le Monde’s take on the news, see what Le Figaro has to offer.
Online classes are a decent alternative if you can’t find in-person classes nearby. However, many learners benefit from interacting in person with their instructors and fellow students.
If you know any fluent French speakers who live in the neighboring town or halfway around the world, use Skype or another option to have French-language conversations with them once or a few times per week. Mixing group-based instruction (like a French class), one-on-one exposure (like tutoring), and self-guided work (like flashcards and watching French TV) offers a well-rounded path to fluency for many learners.
If you’re in college, for instance, you might set up a French club with a few friends who are also trying to master the language. You could meet up weekly at a local cafe and converse only in French.
When you’re trying to practice your French with a native speaker, you may find that they want to speak your language instead so they can practice (especially if you’re a native English speaker). Set a schedule so you can spend a roughly equal amount of time speaking your language and French. France isn’t your only option here, of course. If you’re in the U. S. , for instance, you could head up to Quebec in Canada. You can also find countries with large numbers of French speakers in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean, among other places.
For instance, if reading fluency is your primary goal, you can focus more of your efforts there. Or, if you work with a group of French-speaking scientists, you can tailor your training to emphasize the vocabulary used in your field.
You might consider yourself fluent, for instance, if you can use the language to learn more of the language, and if don’t need to rely on your native language to express yourself in French under typical circumstances. [14] X Research source Or, in more simple terms, you might define fluency as confidence—that is, to mean that you are confident that you can comprehend and express yourself in French whenever needed. [15] X Research source If you need to demonstrate fluency for a particular job, as part of your education, or for immigration or citizenship purposes, make sure you clearly understand the criteria for fluency.
Oral expression: for example, joining in a conversation seamlessly. Listening comprehension: for instance, comfortably following along while listening to a lecture. Written expression: for example, sending long emails back and forth with a friend. Reading comprehension: for instance, reading a French newspaper each morning without having to regularly look up words.
For example, you might set a goal to confidently order dinner for two at a posh French restaurant by the end of next month, or to watch a full French newscast without subtitles by mid-summer. Reward yourself when you achieve an intermediate goal. Find a French bakery and indulge yourself!
