Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Getting Acquainted
• Method 2 of 4: Use an item translator
• Method 3 of 4: Start learning a language program
• Method 4 of 4: Keep Working
• Tips
• Warnings

French is spoken fluently by approximately 175 million people worldwide. Although French originated in France, today it is spoken all over the world and is the official language in 29 countries. It is the second most studied language in the world after English - so there are plenty of reasons to learn it. This guide will help you on your difficult journey to learning French.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Getting Acquainted

1. 1 Buy a dictionary. This is le premier a step in learning a new language. Whenever you come across un problème, you should be able to get back on track within seconds.
   • Le Grand Robert or Le Petit Larousse are high standard dictionaries. Of course, unless you plan on getting too deep into your studies, a pocket-sized vocabulary is sufficient.
   • Purchase a frequency dictionary. Such dictionaries contain the most common words of a particular language, which makes it possible to quickly build vocabulary without having to memorize what is less common.
   • There are many dictionary sites out there. Be careful! They are not always correct. Always be careful when translating whole sentences.
2. 2 Take advantage of high technology. With all les options it's easier than ever. Sure, your local library is a reliable option, but you can find resources from the comfort of your own home.
   • There are free French radio stations (some for beginners!); you may also be able to find cable packages with programs in French.
   • There are many mobile apps that can help you memorize words - one of the most popular is repetition-based LingLing - spending 20 minutes a day can memorize 750 words a month.
   • YouTube has dozens of resources for beginners to learn French.
   • Amelie is not the only French film. Go to your nearest video store or search the Internet - sometimes you can find rare (or documentaries) films there for free.
     • Watch your favorite foreign films with French subtitles. Even if you don't know French at all, choosing a movie you are familiar with will give you context.
   • Watch programs like French in Action on local public service broadcasters.
3. 3 Sign items in your home. If you just learn the words, after a while they will be forgotten. By signing items in your home, you will create long-term memories that are not easy to forget. Try FlashAcademy, it allows you to learn a language quickly and fun - you bring your phone, for example, to the refrigerator, FlashAcademy scans it and gives you a translation.
   • Don't forget the genus! There are two genders in French: masculine and feminine. This will come in handy later when you need to use pronouns.
     • The above words are la chaise, la fenetre and le lie. Grab your pen now!
   • Speak words for better memorization.
     • l'ordinateur - lor-di-na-ter - computer
     • la chaîne hi fi - la-sheng-hee-fi - music center
     • la télévision - la-te-le-viz-on - television
     • le réfrigérateur - le-re-fries-ge-ra-ter - refrigerator
     • le congélateur - le congélateur - freezer
     • la cuisinière - la cuis-zing-er - plate

Method 2 of 4: Use an item translator

1. 1 Use an application that can scan, recognize and translate various objects. As we mentioned above, one of these is FlashAcademy. It has a built-in object translator - just point the camera at an object and the application will translate it. This way you can scan objects in your room, while walking and even while traveling! A great way to enrich your vocabulary!

Method 3 of 4: Start learning a language program

1. 1 Buy training materials. Some require a hefty fee, some don't. Ask around une opinionmaybe your friend has a set of CDs or a program that you can borrow. Popular language programs: Rosetta Stone, Pimsler's audio course, and Michelle Thomas's program. Each program is suitable for a different type of student.
   • The Pimsler Method course has no textbook. This is a set of CDs that is good for listening training and those who take a long time to commute to and from work. The method uses the native language and makes it possible to translate. He uses chaining techniques such as porte, la porte, -ez la porte, Fermez La Porte to practice pronunciation.
   • The Rosetta Stone technique is a computer program. She does not allow the use of her native language and relies heavily on photographs. It includes memory games and is ideal for visuals and kinesthetics.
   • Michelle Thomas's program (on CD and YouTube) promotes a slightly different teaching style. It highlights patterns in the language. You start with one basic sentence, for example, "Je vais au restaurant" (I'm going to a restaurant), and end with "Je vais au restaurant ce soir parce que c'est mon anniversaire" (I'm going to a restaurant tonight because this is my birthday). Your vocabulary expands as you build sentences from the blocks you already know.
   • Duolingo is another great site for learning French: memorization happens by practicing translation (from Russian to French and vice versa), while listening to audio, and more.
2. 2 Take classes. The best way to learn a language (other than living in the country, of course) is to train every day with others. Attending lectures forces you to include learning in your schedule, disciplines, and provides other benefits that simply would not exist otherwise.
   • Find out if French is taught at your local college or university. While classes can be more expensive, the benefits of student status and access to tuition facilities will lessen the blow to your wallet.
   • Find a language school. Classes in these schools are often much cheaper, take less time and are available in the evenings or on weekends. If you live in an area with developed infrastructure, the language school should not be too far away.
3. 3 Hire a tutor. The internet is a good invention. Lots of people are looking for an easy way to earn extra money. You can incorporate learning into your work schedule and develop your own curriculum.
   • Your mentor should not be the first person you meet. Knowledge of a language does not guarantee the ability to teach it to others. Look for someone who taught French before, not someone who studied French for four years at university.
4. 4 Join a group of like-minded people. There are tons of people of all ages and backgrounds out there who want to learn French just like you. Visit local institutes or language schools for more information.
   • Practice with someone. You can find a pen-friend on the internet or visit your local French Alliance office. Check your online contacts to find someone who can help you learn French - it could be a friend from the institute who studied abroad, or your cousin Andrew, who moved to Vancouver. Do your best and you will surely succeed!

Method 4 of 4: Keep Working

1. 1 Practice every day. Learning a language is different from learning any other subject. Your knowledge should be embedded in the subconscious and become, as far as possible, natural. The only way to keep and improve your skills is to practice every day.
   • Use repetition until knowledge is firmly in place. You can't build complex sentences if you forget how to build simple ones.
   • Even if the classes last only half an hour, it will be worth it. Make yourself think en francais... Once you get used to thinking in French, you cannot refuse it.
   Specialist Answer Question

   "Is it easy to learn French?"

   
   

   

   Lorenzo garriga

   French translator and native speaker Lorenzo Garriga is a native speaker and connoisseur of the French language. He has many years of experience as a translator, author and editor. A composer, pianist and traveler who has been wandering the world for over 30 years on a tight budget and with a backpack on his back.

   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   Lorenzo Garriga, translator from French, replies: “It all depends on your native language. Some sounds are difficult for Spanish speakers to pronounce, while German speakers find German easy to learn. The difficulty of French is that the pronunciation and spelling of French words is very different. "

   
   
2. 2 If you know English, learn related words. Depending on the source, about 30% of all English words come from French. If you're just starting out, this is an easy way to immerse yourself in the language and become familiar with the meanings of words.
   • Often the more convoluted verb is French and the "normal" verb is German. Compare "start", "commence", "help" and "aid", "understand" and "comprehend". The French equivalents for these verbs are "commencer", "aider" and "comprendre" respectively.
   • Some of the endings of English words directly indicate their French origin. For example, words in "-ion", "-ance", or "-ite". Television, billion, religion, nuance, endurance, granite, opposite are all French words. Well, English too.
3. 3 Memorize new phrases. Always improve your vocabulary. As your knowledge grows, take time to incorporate new phrases into your active vocabulary.
   • Think about a new topic. If you are lacking in vocabulary on the topic "Time", target this section. If you need to know the names of products, focus on that. Open yourself up.
     • Quelle heure est-il? (What time is it?)
       
       Bon, euh, je ne sais pas ... (Um, I don't know ...)
       
       Oh, non! C'est déjà 17 h! Je dois etudier mon vocabulaire français! (Oh no. It's 5 o'clock! I have to learn French!)
4. 4 Repeat the conjugation of the verbs. The biggest difference between English and French is that the French conjugate verbs based on tense and subject. Generally speaking, the conjugation of verbs goes in the order “I, you, he / she / it, we, you, they”.
   • Start with the simple present tense of verbs ending in -er (manger - is):
     • Je mange - tu manges - il / elle / on mange - nous mangeons - vous mangez - ils / elles mangent
   • Simple present of verbs ending in -ir (choisir - to choose):
     • Je choisis - tu choisis - il / elle / on choisit - nous choisissons - vous choisissez - ils / elles choisissent
   • Simple present of verbs ending in -re (vendre - sell):
     • Je vends - tu vends - il / elle / on vend - nous vendons - vous vendez - ils / ells vendent
   • Often the endings of words are not pronounced. Je choisis sounds like choisy and ils mangent sounds like il mange.
   • Explore other tenses later. Once you have mastered the simple present, move on to passé composé.
5. 5 Think aloud. If there are people around, it can be annoying to those present, but it's worth it! They don't have to understand you, only you have to understand yourself. This is bonne idée, is not it?
   • The French language is strongly integrated into the English language. In addition to using simple phrases like “Bonjour!”, “Merci beaucoup” or “Je ne sais pas” that are known to many people, use slightly more complex phrases when talking to yourself or let your roommates try to understand you!
     • Où est mon sac? - Where's my bag?
     • Je veux boire du vin. - I want to drink wine.
     • Je t'aime. - I love you.
   • If you say to yourself, "Oh, I see an apple!" - translate into French: "Je vois une pomme". Practice this whenever you can — in the car, in bed, in the bathroom, everywhere.
6. 6 Travel to a French speaking country. If it is not possible to live there, then visiting such a place is the second best option. If you have the finances and go on vacation, take your books and CDs with you!
   • Talk to locals and get a feel for the culture. Sitting at a McDonald's next to the Louvre (or Starbucks for that matter) isn't exactly the educational or cultural experience you're looking for.
   • You don't have to go to France to find francophones. However, know what dialect you are looking for; a trip to Quebec will introduce you to French culture, but you will hear Quebec dialect on the street - and it can be difficult to understand!

Tips

• Print or buy a French calendar and replace your regular calendar with it. Whenever you look at a date, you will quickly learn French numbers, days of the week, and months. And when you celebrate an event, look up it in the dictionary and write it in French.
• At the store, count in French how many fruits you put in your basket.
• Make French your main language. Make a site in French the start page of your browser.
• Understand that language learning is a time consuming task. If you wander around and teach a teaspoon per hour, you will probably regret it later when you actually want to speak French.
• Buy the Becherel grammar. This book contains the conjugation of each verb. Francophones often refer to her.
• Be positive about your activities. Sometimes you will get frustrated and forget your main motives for wanting to learn French. The fact that 175 million people worldwide speak French is a good motivation. Also, consider how few people know one language - these days, knowing two or more languages ​​is becoming more and more the norm.
• Consider France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Quebec, New Brunswick, or Louisiana as a tourist itinerary.
• You can find French speaking people on many sites. It will make it easier for you to find friends and improve your French. Ask them to help you improve your skills, and you teach them your language in return.
• For convenience, always keep a notebook handy in order to write down words and phrases that you will come across in one way or another. This will make you more motivated to keep learning French!
• Study hard, put in the right effort, and you will succeed in the end. The main thing is to be patient.

Warnings

• Learning a language is challenging, time consuming task. Nothing will come of this venture if you do not devote yourself completely to this occupation.
• Watch out for masculine and feminine gender, as well as the plurals of nouns, verbs, and the corresponding adjective.