Learning French: 6 tips for beginners

If you are struggling to find time to revise French grammar books then our 6 tips for learning French will help you fit your language-learning around your busy life

Written by Alice Phillpott

Talk to any language teacher and they will probably agree that the secret of effective language learning is little and often. Spending 15 minutes a day fully focussed on French will instantly bring better results than slaving over a grammar book for hours on end. Here are some tips for learning French that you can fit into your busy lives:

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

• Play a language learning CD in your car, such as the set from Michel Thomas – remember repetition is key, and listening will also help to highlight the pronunciation. Memorise full sentences, as these are more beneficial than isolated words.

• Get back to basics – master the French alphabet properly; its importance should never be underestimated.

• Embrace any opportunity while in France to practise what you have learnt. Set yourself the goal of ordering your lunch in French while resisting any attempt to convert the conversation to English. Any exchange in French, no matter how small, will work wonders for your confidence.

• Keep reviewing what you have learnt – whether vocabulary lists or a sequence of dialogue. As a beginner, it can be tempting to concentrate on new material, but a sound understanding of previous language is important too.

• Stick sticky notes with troublesome verb conjugations on the bathroom mirror, so that you can revise them while brushing your teeth.

• Beware of people seeking to practise their English to your detriment. This is possibly the biggest obstacle you may need to overcome, and as a beginner you are particularly vulnerable. Perseverance is key!