What is the Best Way to Learn French?
Posted on October 20, 2009
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Many people ask: what is the best way to learn the French language? That’s a good question! The answer is not that clear, however–you really need to follow your own learning path in order to find success. When you decide to take the first step, you will most likely choose one of the following French learning methods:
- purchase language learning software
- take lessons from a private tutor
- take French classes at a local college
- take part in a language swap program
- total French immersion!
- self-study with podcasts, CDs, books, etc.
Start your journey on the right foot by asking yourself the following questions:
“Do I want to study French by myself, or do I want to interact with other students or teachers? Do I need guidance and motivation from outside sources or can I really push myself to learn? How much money am I willing to spend in order to learn French?”
Depending upon your preferred learning style and your budget, your main course of French study will either be a teacher-student situation or a self-learning program.
Need a little help figuring out how to go about learning French? Here’s a run-down of the pros and cons between 3 of the best ways to learn French:
Private Tutor:
Pros: Apart from total immersion in a French-speaking country, hiring a private tutor is probably the best way to thoroughly learn French. A private tutor will help you learn French at your own pace, and the one-on-one interaction is invaluable. If your tutor is a native French speaker (which is preferable), you will have the added benefit of regularly hearing words and sentences formed in native tongue.
Cons: Private tutors are generally very expensive, so this might not be an option if you’re on a tight budge.
Signing up for a French class:
Pros: Like a private tutor, your teacher in a French class will most likely be a native French speaker, which is always an added benefit. In a class, you get the opportunity to both hear spoken French and speak French aloud yourself–one of the best ways to learn any language is to practice with others and engaging in conversations. You will also find yourself motivated by the other students to keeping pushing forward, since you’re all striving for the same goal.
Cons: Taking a class is also very expensive, depending on what type of program it is and where it is. Also, by being in a class, you end up learning French at a pace comfortable with all other students, so it’s not nearly as efficient as private tutoring.
Self-study:
Pros: The vast majority of people who want to learn to speak French engage in some form of self-study, and for good reason: this is the most cost-effective way to do it. There’s no shortage of materials available if you’re considering the self-study route: French learning software galore, textbooks, videos, podcasts, flash cards, etc.
Cons: Motivation, motivation, motivation! You’ll need it keep yourself on track, or else it’s easy to stuck and spin your wheels. You need to set your own schedule and try to avoid frustration…this option is clearly not for everyone. Also, you lose out on being able to partake in real-life French conversations when you so self-study, eliminating the thinking on your feet that really helps drive the language learning home.
Here are some good rules of thumb to keep in mind, regardless of which method of learning French you choose:
* K.I.S.S. — Keep it simple, stupid! Don’t try to swim in the deep end with all the complicated grammar and vocabulary before you have a grasp on the basics. Seems like a no-brainer, but this is where most beginners get hung up. By learning the basics through and through, you’ll keep your confidence and motivation up. It’s also important to go back to earlier lessons if you ever get overwhelmed or hung up by a particular step in the process.
* Speaking and even thinking in French will really help you out. Most people who are learning a language overlook the speaking part. They are so busy listening to the audio tapes and trying to memorize the words that they miss out on the crucial element of speaking and conversing in the language.
* Get comfortable not only hearing and reading, but also writing French. Writing in French can help you get a better grasp of how the sentences and phrases are structured, which helps put the words in stronger context.
Remember again that no matter what course of action you choose, you really must dedicate yourself to learning process. Patience, consistency, and persistence are extremely important. Never lose sight of the ultimate goals when you stumble.
It’s going to be challenging to learn to speak French, but it’s also going to be very rewarding! Hopefully this article has helped you determine the best way to learn French., and enjoy the ride! If you make the right choices now, you’ll be speaking French with confidence in just a few months.
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