Learning another language is not the easiest task and many people abandon once they realise the complexity of the task. It takes a lot of time and I don’t mean in that it will all consume your life but it literally takes years to become linguistically competent in another language. If you live in the country then you have a ready made playing field but it’s surprising how difficult many find it to actually go out and use this. We need to take advantage of the French life around us and use it to our advantage.
Small measures every day are far more effective than big occasional bursts.
The big question is are you prepared to create this habit and change your lifestyle accordingly?
Here are a few tips that can help you enjoy the journey and to simply make learning French part of your life so that you don’t have to think of it as a task to tick off your to-do list. Ideally, you want it to become a habit that is slotted easily in to your day. So put down the grammar books and take a look at what you can do to start forming the habit of daily French learning and then ….
Tu vols! You fly!
1. Every morning put the French radio on … listen to the weather, catch the news, let your brain start listening to the language as early as you can. Find a radio station that you find easier to understand, the local ones are usually the best and very relevant to your community life. I like listening to Manu 6/9 on NRJ in the morning when I’m doing the school run, it’s lively and funny and you’ll hear very useful, everyday French. (100.4FM)
2. Have a coffee stop! The French have a morning coffee culture and if you can integrate this in to your morning routine, spend 5 minutes taking a quick coffee in your local bistro. Most of the time there’s a newspaper that you can grab if you don’t feel like making polite conversation or want something to occupy you. Avoid looking at your phone as it will make you seem removed and distant from the scene… and you need to make this a whole French experience!
3. Join a sports group or exercise class with French people. Many of us are health conscious and enjoy doing sport or exercise. Joining an exercise class, such as pilates or yoga or your local gym is an easy way to meet French people who share your common interest. At first conversation will probably be short and sweet but if you’re consistent in your attendance you will get to know people and have French conversation on-tap.
4. Go to the local market. Most French towns still have weekly markets and it’s a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, listening and observing. It’s such a great way to get to know the local produce and stall holders, who are generally very friendly and chatty, especially if they see your face regularly.
5. Watch French TV: Possibly the most overlooked resource. We can get too comfortable within our cultural habits. It’s like comfort eating; it’s familiar, it’s cozy, it’s secure. Yes, but watching English TV doesn’t help you learn French or teach you anything about French culture and the country in which you are living. Do I sound like I’m telling you off? I am! Get some French TV on, it’s so easy to do nowadays and your brain needs to hear and see it! The excuse about not having the connection is easily solved with the purchase of a box from your local hard ware store or quite simply by using the internet.
6. Attend local events: This is easy if you have children at school as events are common throughout the year, if you’re really brave you can even join the school parents teacher association (A.P.E. Association des parents élèves).
Otherwise find out about other associations that exist and volunteer for events. Your interaction within your local community will enable you to practice your French, get you meeting the local people on a deeper level and will gain you respect for being the foreigner who “makes an effort”!
7. If you have children volunteer for school trips – the schools are generally crying out for parents to accompany them on their school trips. This is a great way to get to know the teachers and the children. The trips are very often great fun and informative and once again show your willingness to participate in local life.
8. Read French, no matter what your level, try to start reading things as soon as possible. It will cement your knowledge and allow you to see the construction of the language clearly. Adapt the material though, it may be slightly adventurous to start with Victor Hugo. Local community newsletters and newspapers for kids such as “Le Petit Quotidien” are a good start!
9. Write your shopping list in French. This will get your brain working and you’ll gather lots of useful vocabulary.
10. Enjoy the process, take pleasure in your learning every step of the way. Treat it like a game and with a good dollop of humour. Chances are you get by very well even with a limited amount of French so you’ve got nothing to lose!
Allons-y et Bon Courage!
