Tips for Learning French As an Adult

Learning French as an adult is not the same thing as learning it as a child. Children pick up language intuitively, without having to be taught grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. When learning their first language, they have nothing to compare it to, and they can often learn a second language the same way. Adults, on the other hand, tend to learn a language by comparing it to their native language - learning about similarities and differences. Adults often want to know why something is said a certain way in the new language, and tend to be frustrated by the usual response thats just the way it is. On the other hand, adults have an important advantage in that they choose to learn a language for some reason (travel, work, family) and being interested in learning something is very helpful in ones ability to actually learn it. The bottom line is that it is not impossible for anyone to learn French, no matter what their age. Ive received emails from adults of all ages who are learning French—including a woman of 85. Its never too late! Here are some guidelines that can help you learn French as an adult. What and How to Learn Start Learning What You Actually Want and Need to KnowIf youre planning a trip to France, learn travel French (airport vocabulary, asking for help). On the other hand, if youre learning French because you want to be able to chat with the French woman who lives down the street, learn basic vocabulary (greetings, numbers) and how to talk about yourself and others—likes and dislikes, family, etc. Once youve learned the basics for your purpose, you can start learning French related to your knowledge and experiences—your job, your interests, and from there onto other aspects of French. Learn the Way  That Works Best for YouIf you find that learning grammar is useful, learn that way. If grammar just frustrates you, try a more conversational approach. If you find textbooks daunting, try a book for kids. Try making lists of vocabulary—if that helps you, great; if not, try another approach, like labeling everything in your house or making flash cards. Dont let anyone tell you that there is only one right way to learn.Repetition is KeyUnless you have a photographic memory, youre going to need to learn and practice things a few or even many times before you know them. You can repeat exercises, answer the same questions, listen to the same sound files until you feel comfortable with them. In particular, listening and repeating many times is very good—this will help you improve your listening comprehension, speaking skills, and accent all at once.Learn TogetherMany people find that learning with others helps keep them on track. Consider taking a class; hiri ng a private tutor; or learning along with your child, spouse, or friend.br/>Daily LearningHow much can you really learn in an hour a week? Make a habit of spending at least 15-30 minutes a day learning and/or practicing.Above and BeyondRemember that language and culture go hand in hand. Learning French is more than just verbs and vocabulary; its also about the French people and their art, music, etc.—not to mention the cultures of other francophone countries around the world. Learning Dos and Donts Be RealisticI once had a student in an adult ed. class who thought he could learn French along with 6 other languages in one year. He had a terrible time during the first few  classes  and then dropped. The moral? He had unreasonable expectations, and when he found out that French was not going to magically flow out of his mouth, he gave up. If he had been realistic, committed himself to one language, and practiced regularly, he could have learned a lot.Have FunMake your French learning interesting. Instead of just studying the language with books, try reading, watching TV/movies, listening to music—whatever interests you and keeps you motivated.Reward YourselfThe first time you remember that difficult vocabulary word, treat yourself to a croissant and  cafà © au lait. When you remember to use the subjunctive correctly, take in a French film. When youre ready, take a trip to France and put your French to the real test.Have a GoalIf you get discouraged, remember why you want to learn. That goal should help you concentrate and stay inspired.br/>Track Your ProgressKeep a journal with dates and exercises to make notes about your progress:  Finally  understand  passà © composà © vs  imparfait! Remembered conjugations for  venir!  Then you can look back over these milestones when you feel like youre not getting anywhere.Dont Stress Over MistakesIts normal to make mistakes, and in the  beginning,  youre better off getting several sentences out in mediocre French than just two perfect words. If you ask someone to correct you all the time, you will get frustrated.  Learn about how to  overcome speaking anxiety.Dont Ask Why?There are lots of things about French that youre going to wonder about—why things are said a certain way, why you cant say something another way. When you first start learning is not the time to try to figure this out. As you learn French, you will start to understand some of them, and others you can ask abou t later.Dont Translate Word for WordFrench is not just English with different words—it is a different language with its own rules, exceptions, and idiosyncracies. You must learn to understand and translate concepts and ideas rather than just words.Dont Overdo ItYoure not going to be  fluent  in a week, a month, or even a year (unless maybe if youre living in France). Learning French is a journey, just like life. There is no magical point where everything is perfect—you learn some, you forget some, you learn some more. Practice makes perfect, but practicing for four hours a day might be overkill.   Learn and Practice Practice What Youve LearnedUsing the French youve learned is the best way to remember it. Join the  Alliance franà §aise, put up a notice at your local college or community center to find people interested in a  French club, chat with French-speaking neighbors and shopkeepers, and, above all, go to France if at all possible.Listen PassivelyYou can get extra practice by listening to French during your commute (in the car, on the bus or train) as well as while walking, jogging, biking, cooking, and cleaning.Vary Your Practice MethodsYou will almost certainly get bored if you just do grammar drills every day. You might try grammar drills on Monday,  vocabulary work  on Tuesday, listening exercises on Wednesday, etc.Act FrenchSome people find it useful to use an exaggerated accent (à   la  Pà ©pà © le  pou  or Maurice Chevalier) to help them get into their studies more. Others find a glass of wine loosens their tongue and helps gets them into the French mood.Daily Frenc hPracticing every day is the single most important thing you can do to improve your French. There are numerous ways to  practice every day.