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options Viewing Do You Know the Best Way to Learn French?

 

 Do You Know the Best Way to Learn French?  
It should be no surprise to discover that the best way to learn French is the best way to learn any foreign language. This article presents a step-by-step plan. Keep practicing and following your plan, and you will be speaking French in no time!

By Samantha Asher

The best way to learn French is the best way to learn any language.

First, you need to get your tools. Get a grammar textbook, preferably with vocabulary, a two-way dictionary, a phrasebook, a newspaper or book in French, and a notebook, pen, etc. These are just the basics, but you can supplement them with other materials such as software, audio programs, pronunciation guides, or other books with practice exercises.

Now you need to plan your learning. You can create individual courses based on your material, or just create an ongoing plan. I like to start with a beginner textbook and use it as a planning guide for the rest of the first course. Decide how much time you will spend studying. Try to spend time every day. For example, spending 20 minutes a day every day is better than 3 hours on Saturday.

You will have several activities in your course including textbook/grammar study, vocabulary study, reading/translating, speaking, writing, and listening. All of these things will come together to help you learn French as efficiently and effectively as possible.

You can do one of these each day such as grammar on Monday, vocabulary on Tuesday, etc. Alternatively, you could spend an amount of time on each one every day. This would work better for someone studying an hour or more every day, otherwise you should break it up.

When it's time for grammar/textbook, just go through your book. Start with the first lesson, read it, and study it. Make sure you clearly understand it. Then, do the exercises given in the book. If your textbook doesn't have exercises, practice writing sentences on your own. For vocabulary, study the words given in each chapter. Make sure you master every vocabulary word. Also, refer back to old words often to make sure you haven't forgotten them.

Then you can move on to reading/translating. Take your reading material and translate it one sentence at a time. Add the words you don't know to your vocabulary list. Also, make sure you clearly understand the sentence, including the grammar. You need to be able to comprehend it clearly. Next, write. Keep a journal just for French. You can make your own writing prompts, or you can just practice your exercise. Either way, make sure you write several sentences at a time.

Now for the audio. If you have an audio program, listen to it often. Don't move on to the next lesson until you have the first mastered. If you don't have an audio program, use your software. If you don't have software, watch a French movie. You don't have a French movie? Actually, if you have DVDs, you probably do. Many DVDs offer tracks in Spanish and French.

Tackle one movie at a time and watch it several times to see how much more you can comprehend. In addition to listening, speak in French. When you are working in the house or garage, or getting ready for something, talk to yourself in your language. Find someone who speaks French if you can and have a conversation with him or her.

Keep practicing and following your plan, and you will be speaking French in no time!

About the Author:

If you want to learn to speak French and need resource recommendations and more help, go to LearningaSecondLanguage.info for more information on language learning. Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com


  Article added 12/19/08.

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