How to Learn French? [12 Best Ways]

The French language is considered a Romance language because of its elegant culture and artistic treasure. However, many beginners find it difficult to learn this language because of its complex grammar and pronunciation.

Nobody can deny that learning French opens doors to multiple opportunities and countless benefits. From knowing about French culture and making a career in that to enhancing your career in fields like international business and tourism.

Usually, people believe that learning French and becoming fluent in it can take them years but that’s certainly not the case. With focus and right tips or strategies, you can start speaking French in just a couple of months.

Lydia Machove, a polyglot and TED speaker, says that there are no shortcuts to learning languages. You simply need to find ways to enjoy the process and how to turn language learning from a boring school project, subject job, pleasant activity, which you do not mind doing every day.

This blog is your guide to learning French, especially as a beginner. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, you will find practical tips and effective strategies to help you get a hold over the language.

So, let’s prepare yourself to engage in effortless conversations with locals and get ready to say ‘Bonjour’ with confidence!

Best Ways to Learn French Language

When you start learning a new language, you often feel confused as you don’t have the right idea of where to start.

So, to help you with that problem, here are the 12 best ways to help you with the question “How to Learn French”, which you can follow to be able to speak the language:

1. Explore French alphabets and their sounds

Pronouncing French and getting a hold of the Language can be challenging for the beginners as certain alphabets or words used in the French language have accents.

So, to overcome this problem, you can use phonetic guides to understand the correct pronunciation of the French words. Multiple reputed online dictionaries like Merriam-Webster and online websites like Forvo and Phonetic Translator provide phonetic transcriptions.

Now, once you understand how the words are pronounced, you can try to imitate the sounds or the pronunciation of the words. This will help you in developing the right muscle memory for the correct French pronunciation.

You can also try practicing your pronunciation in front of a mirror as it will allow you to watch your tongue movements, produce the correct sound, and identify areas of improvement.

2. Understand the French grammar

Grammar is often considered as the basic building block of any language. So, in order to learn a new language, it is always a good practice to learn the basic grammar of that particular language to have a better foundation.

Let’s start with the Articles in the French language. The French language has both definite and indefinite articles, and their usage varies based on the number of nouns and the gender.

Definite articles

There are 4 definite articles in the French language which include le, la, les, and l’. You can think of these as the different replacement versions for the English word “the”.

The French word equivalent for the word “the” is

• “Le”, if followed by a masculine singular noun. For example, Le livre (the book).

• “La”, if followed by a feminine singular noun. For example, La maison (the house).

• “Les”, if followed by any masculine or  feminine plural noun. For example, Les livres (the books) and Les maisons (the houses).

Note: When any noun begins with a vowel or a silent “h,” “le” and “la” become “L’”. For example, L’homme (the man) and L’arbre (the tree).

Indefinite articles

There are 3 indefinite articles in the French language which include un, une, and des.

• “Un” is used for masculine singular nouns. For example, Un Jour (a day)

• “Une” is used for feminine singular nouns. For example, Une Heure (an hour)

• “Des” is used for masculine and feminine plural nouns. For example, Des Jours (days)

Another important part of grammar is Tenses (present, past, future) and Verb Conjugations. Initially, it is better to start with the present tense and then move to the past in future tenses and their conjugations gradually.

3. Learn to use the right grammar at the right time

As explained in the earlier point, for learning any new language, it is essential to learn its grammar. However, learning the grammar itself is not. It is also equally important to use the right grammar at the right time.

As a beginner, it is pretty obvious to make mistakes and take time while learning a new language, especially a new one like French, and hence, cracking the grammar can feel overwhelming and tricky.

This can result in mistakes when using grammar in speaking or writing. Therefore, it is recommended to practice basic grammar daily to prevent confusion and avoid using incorrect grammar.

Use online resources or invest in a good French grammar textbook like Grammaire en dialogues – Niveau grand débutant by Odile Grand-Clement and Practice Makes Perfect: Complete French Grammar by Annie Hemingway to practice applying grammar rules.

4. Find a private language tutor

Having a language tutor helps you have proper conversations in the new language that you are trying to learn, while correcting you at the same time.

A private tutor becomes your immediate contact whenever you have any doubts. They provide you with the right guidance and direction on the basics of the language. This ensures that you don’t focus on or practice concepts in the wrong way.

This helps you in building the confidence to speak the language and be fluent in it.

You can consider Wiingy’s 1-on-1 French lessons with online French tutors. Wiingy offers highly affordable 1-on-1 online tutoring starting at $28 per hour and helps you with tutor selection. You can chat with a Wiingy academic advisor and share your learning needs, and they will provide a tutor accordingly.

Wiingy also offers a free trial lesson for every student. Share your learning needs with them and based on your learning needs, you will be matched with a tutor who will take your free trial lesson.

5. Master the reading comprehension

In order to learn any new language, it is important to be able to understand its literature. This will not only help you in building fluency but also enrich your vocabulary.

Lydia Machnova, a famous polyglot, says that “If you want to learn a language fluently, you need a bit of patience. It is not possible to learn a language within two months, but it is definitely possible to make a visible improvement in two months. If you learn small chunks every day in a way that you enjoy.”

So, with patience, start reading on a daily basis and as a beginner, you should start reading French story books and magazines that are easy to understand, suit your genre, and have a lot of pictures as books filled with just text might bore those who do not like to read much.

It is a crucial step to learn French effectively. However, do not just stick to the simple texts and keep increasing the difficulty level gradually.

You should consider reading the following:

• Le Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb) by Charles Perrault
• Les Trois Mousquetaires (The Three Musketeers) by Alexandre Dumas
• Cendrillon (Cinderella) by Charles Perrault

These books are considered as the French classics and the French version of the iconic stories which makes them ideal for beginners. You can pick other such books based on your preference.

6. Make audio a special part of your learning routine

Once you feel you have reached pro (or close to pro-level) in reading comprehension, it is time to switch to the audio part.

French is a language that involves a lot of accents, so the difference in reading and listening to the French language feels massive to beginners. To deal with this, you should consider the following points:

• Listen to French music using apps like Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Music, even though it sounds gibberish initially.

• Listen to French podcasts as per your interests or consider the ones that are beginner-friendly like Learn French with Pascal, French Easy, and Coffee Break French.

• Watch random YouTube videos of native French speakers and pay attention to the way they pronounce the words. You can also join online language exchange communities like HelloTalk and Italki to experience this.

• You can also try listening to the audiobooks as per your interest on audible.

• Explore YouTube channels which are meant for beginners, who are looking to learn the French language such as FrenchPod101 and French with Vincent.

7. Practice writing in French

After feeling confident in reading and and listening to the French language, make yourself proficient in writing it too.

Moving forward, start writing everything into the French language. This can include writing your journal, making a shopping list, or even your random thoughts.

You can also join writing communities like Lang-8, WordReference Forums, HiNative, and Reddit communities.

If you are worried about too many mistakes in your piece of writing, you can share that on these platforms and receive feedback from native speakers who can help you understand and learn the French language better.

8. Watch French movies or TV shows

Movies and TV shows are considered a great source of entertainment and there’s no better way to learn something new while getting entertained.

This practice is an effective way to learn French and will help you understand the flow of the language and the use of common words and slang.

The ideal way to start with this practice would be to watch the movie or series with subtitles. However, always consider turning them off in between as with subtitles being on, your mind will stay focused on reading the subtitles and you will not be able to give enough attention on looking at pronunciation.

To overcome this problem, you can follow two ways. The first one is to watch a movie or a series with subtitles while keeping your focus only on the subtitles and watching the same movie or series once again.

This time your focus will not only be on the subtitles and more on the visuals. Now, you might think, who watches the same movie or series twice? Well, it will not hurt you and you will end up getting better and more confident with the language.

Some of the movies that you can watch as a beginner include Intouchables, Amelie, La Haine, and A Monster in Paris.

These films offer a variety of genres and themes but always remember, it’s important to choose films that you enjoy watching. The more you enjoy the content, the easier it will be to follow the story and learn French.

Another way you can follow is to watch an English movie or a series that is dubbed in the French language. Such movies or series include The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter series, FRIENDS, Avatar, How I Met Your Mother, and Titanic.

According to Hyunwoo Sun, a famous polyglot and entrepreneur, “The best way to learn a new language is to spend as much time as possible with the language learning. If you spend enough time, you will find various ways that will work for you.”

By doing this, you don’t have to worry about the visuals or plot of the movie as you will already be familiar with it. You can keep your entire focus on reading and keeping up with the subtitles.

9. Immerse yourself in French culture

The best way to learn any new language is to get involved in the culture and its country of origin.

So, the best way to learn French would be to immerse yourself in French culture as much as possible till the point where you even start to think in that language.

Start integrating the French language into your daily activities and keep a goal to not just learn the language but to experience it every moment till you learn it.

A simple yet effective way to achieve this is to change the default settings on your phone, laptop, or any gadget that you use, because nowadays, almost everyone is on their phone all the time.

10. Vocabulary building

To learn any new language, it is also essential to have a great hold over the basic vocabulary of that language, which you can ideally use to greet other people or introduce yourself.

So to figure out how to learn French and build your vocabulary, you can use phrases which include:

• Bonjour: Hello
• Bonsoir: Good evening
• Au revoir: Goodbye
• À bientôt: See you soon
• Bonne journée: Have a good day
• Bonne soirée: Have a good evening

• Merci: Thank you
• S’il vous plaît: Please
• Pardon: Excuse me
• De rien: You’re welcome
• Excusez-moi: Excuse me (for interrupting)
• Je m’appelle… My name is…

To build your vocabulary, you can also create flashcards with French words and their English translations so that you can review them on a regular basis and memorize them.

You can organize those flashcards by theme as well, like using movie names, travel, destinations, food, animals, etc., to make the learning process more interesting.

11. Use language learning apps

Language learning apps offer interactive and engaging ways to learn French. There are multiple language learning apps available so you can choose any app that suits your learning style.

One of the best things about using language learning apps is that they are convenient and you can learn anytime anywhere, regardless of time constraints.

Some of the language learning apps include:

• Duolingo: It offers interactive lessons, exercises, and a gamified approach to learning.
  
• Babbel: Provides structured courses with audio and video content.
  
• Memrise: Uses spaced repetition to help you memorize vocabulary and grammar.
  
• Busuu: Offers lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, with a focus on real-world language use.
  
• FluentU: Offers authentic French videos with interactive subtitles and quizzes.

12. Be consistent and set realistic goals

Consistency is the key to language learning success. So, set aside a certain amount of time daily to practice the French language and monitor your progress on a daily basis to stay updated on the areas you still need practice.

Apart from this, set realistic goals, as it will help you in staying motivated for a longer period of time. If you have a study plan, consider breaking that into smaller and manageable steps so that you will not get overwhelmed.

Also, don’t forget to reward yourself for reaching your goals as this will push you to do better each time.

Conclusion

Learning a new language is not an easy task, but with the right tips and strategies, anything can be achieved. By following the tips suggested in this blog and staying consistent, you can have a structured yet fun plan to learn the French language.

Remember, learning a new language takes time, so don’t get discouraged by setbacks. The key to mastering French lies in consistent practice and a passion for the language.

As much as it feels easy and simple to learn French with the ways mentioned in this blog, you can also go for Wiingy’s 1-on-1 French lessons with online French tutors. Wiingy offers highly affordable 1-on-1 online tutoring starting at $28 per hour and helps you with tutor selection. You can chat with a Wiingy academic advisor and share your learning needs, and they will provide a tutor accordingly.

So, what are you waiting for? Start implementing these ways from today and experience the joy and fulfillment that comes with fluency. Bon voyage!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

References

• The secrets of learning a new language: TED. (n.d.). Retrieved from August 23 , 2024, from https://youtu.be/o_XVt5rdpFY?si=cviJZUCI11FjTgPr
• Best Tips to Learn Languages from Polyglots: Ling Learn Languages. (n.d.). Retrieved from August 25 , 2024, from https://youtu.be/s9OyLFk2-T4?si=mZrh9F3Rf0txisOH