Top Ten Things you should know before learning French!

“A different language is a different vision of life” – Federico Fellini

Are you also looking for a different vision in your life? Thinking of learning a new language? Oh great! Thinking of FRENCH?

Then, in this blog we shall share with you top ten things you should know before learning French!

The popularity of French language is totally indisputable. It is the language of artists, poets, fashion, and food. Learning French is the joy of learning an alluring and melodious language that has been known as the “Romance Language” or “Language of love” throughout the world.

Today, French is one of the most spoken languages in the world. It’s the offcial language in countries like France, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. It is also the second most widely learned foreign language after English that is ideal for travelling, studying abroad or even for a hobby. It opens a world of opportunities and broadens your knowledge outside of the languages you already know.

Yes, learning any language is a soulful and heartfelt escapade. One of the most beautiful things about learning a new language is the enthusiasm of it. Exhilaration is great but, before you learn French let’s look at the top ten things you must know.

1. Learning French is easy

Well, learning French may seem hard if you are an English speaker but luckily, it’s much easier than you think. The fact is that about 30% of English words are of French origin or Latin origin words that exist in French as well. So, technically speaking, unconsciously you already have a good enough vocabulary in French. Usually, we don’t relate that these are French words in English until we discover them in French reading and then identify with them.

A few examples are:

“haute couture” (meaning fashion), “cuisine” – (meaning kitchen), “chic” (meaning
elegant), “rendez-vous” (meaning appointment) etc.
You must have surely encountered these words in English.

2. French pronunciations are difficult

One of the biggest challenges in learning French language is its pronunciation. You can mispronounce something in English, yet people can interpret but it is not the same in French. If you mispronounce something in French, the meaning of the word you use can change dramatically. The French language can be difficult to pronounce at first because they are made up of sounds that English speakers are not used to making. How you speak matters as much as what you speak and the only way to master the pronunciation is practice, practice, and practice.

3. Dedicated time and interest

Learning a foreign language like French requires a dedicated amount of time and practice. You cannot master French by looking for some magical course that could make you fluent quickly. You must be consistent and allocate a few hours every day to practice and study. At the same time, you must be motivated to learn French. Forcing yourself in learning French or learning French just to be in the trend of learning a foreign language serves no purpose. You will only be bringing more stress and pressure which is futile to learning. Love for learning French should come from within and not just following a trend.

4. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

It is quite natural that when you start learning something new you are surely going to commit mistakes so, don’t shy away from it. When you learn to play a musical instrument, you easily accept your mistakes because you are not interacting with another person but when it comes to learning any language you know that you must communicate with other people, so you may become conscious of embarrassing yourself with your accent and errors. Just keep going, make silly mistakes so, that you can rectify them. Learning French can be challenging initially but if you don’t try, you won’t succeed. Brace yourself to make mistakes after all it’s the first step to learning.

5. Be open to learning about French culture and traditions

Not only do you learn the language but also learn about the country’s culture, tradition, food, tourism, and people. France is a beautiful, fascinating country full of art and culture. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations so learning about its diversified culture only makes your learning French even more captivating. Learning language goes far beyond its vocabulary and grammar. You must be open to learning the customs and traditions that differ from yours.

6. Must make time for French movies and music

If you are determined to learn French then you must make time for French movies and music so that you connect with the language emotionally. By doing this you will not only pick up the correct accents and intonation but also the right grammar without making conscious effort. Watching movies without English subtitles is very effective as your focus would be on French. If you think this won’t work, then the fact is that babies learn their first language in this way!

7. No translations

Never do a literal translation from English to French and vice versa, 9/10 times it won’t work. When you are just starting to learn French, you will surely be doing some translations but most of the time the translations are not accurate and may misguide you. The phrases, idioms and grammar may not be properly translated leading to wrong learning. So, it’s best to avoid translations and refer a dictionary or ask the right tutor.

8. Motivation is the key

You must be continuously motivated to learn the language. There may be times when you may find learning French a tedious task and get frustrated. But don’t give up! If you are motivated to learn then you will never lose faith in yourself and will surely put high quality efforts that will aid you in performing better. A motivated student has the internal power to learn, discover and improve on his abilities and perform better. Learning a language requires ample amount of time and patience and being motivated helps you to progress in your long journey of learning.

9. Choose your learning style

Follow the learning style that suits you. Some prefer to learn by writing, some by listening and some by reading or memorizing. Whatever the method you choose make sure you alter it to your learning style. But listening French is one of the best ways to communicate, understand as well as speak. So, you must incorporate the auditory learning style in whatever learning style u pick.

10. Good Tutor

Lastly but not the least finding the right instructor. A tutor with the right expertise can mentor students, inspire them, rectify mistakes, and teach in the most interesting ways. Yes, nowadays a lot of free material is available on the internet but everything that is free may not be a value for your time and effort. So, if you are serious about learning French you need to follow a structured course that will take you through the different stages of the French learning. A well-designed course can make your experience of learning French beautiful and memorable. Especially, having a native French tutor can give you an exposure to the correct accents and pronunciations which is the key to learning French.

Any language can be easy or hard to learn depending on your level of practice and the quality of your teacher. We at Learn From Native guarantee you with the best native French tutors who can make your learning an unforgettable journey.

“If the learning process is too difficult it probably isn’t working and if it’s too easy then it’s not challenging enough” – with this thought make your French learning an experience that you will cherish an entire lifetime. Go and explore the world of French in your learning!

Hope the above ten points are an encouragement for you to learn French and lead you into making the best choices.