When you or your children first start learning French, you're all excited to be able to learn a new language. You repeat the new words or the new expressions that you just learned and you promise yourself and your teacher that you will be very serious in learning that language or in helping your kids learn it. Then a few weeks later, some of you, unfortunately, start losing some of their enthusiasm. They begin to lose their interest in learning as sometimes they seem not to notice any progress or sometimes you just feel discouraged. What to do in this case?
Whether it's about hobbies, foreign languages, habits, diets or exercising, most people always start with excitement, eagerness and big interest then after a few weeks they start losing interest in the new things they have started to learn and some of them even drop them altogether. The best thing to do in these cases is to avoid discouragement. How? When it comes to learning foreign languages, there are a few things to do to keep ones' interest high. Here you are some of them:
1-Keep it light. Don't take learning a foreign language too seriously. If you're trying to remember a word and you can't, don't be hard on yourself. The harder you try to remember it, the less likely you will. If you don't remember, that's fine! All you need to be sure of is that you didn't lose it. It's stored somewhere in your brain and it will show up when you expect it the least. So my advice to you is that if you can't find the word and you know that it's on the tip of your tongue, just take a deep breath and forget about it. Change your sentence in a way that you won't need that word anymore. For example: You want to say: "Je m'appelle Paul" because you learned that that's the best way to say " My name is Paul", but you just can't remember " Je m'appelle" so instead of trying hard, just let it go and try to say what you want to say in another way: For example" Mon nom est Paul" Even though, it's better to say " Je m'appelle Paul" than to say " Mon nom est Paul" it's still correct and people will understand you. Very soon, " Je m'appelle" will come back to you: either you will see it in writing or you will hear it in conversations or in songs and then you won't have any problem remembering it anymore. The key is not to get frustrated. It comes when it comes.
2-Go step by step. Start learning simple words, simple expressions, use them as often as possible, master them before you move to more complicated words and expressions . For example, you just learned how to introduce yourself, where you live, what you do for a living etc.. Try to practice saying for example: " Je m'appelle Paul. J'habite à Randolph. Je travaille à la banque" Say it as often as possible before you start learning other things. Here is another example. Let's say that you learned a few names of some colors: rouge, jaune, bleu, vert. Don't learn other names or colors until you make sure that you have learned the basic names of colors. Then, you can start learning: marron(brown), gris (grey), violet (purple), etc...
3-Sing along! I have said it one million times and I say it again: One of the best ways of learning a foreign language is through songs. Go to YouTube and look up some French songs and choose songs that inspire you. I recommend songs with French subtitles. There are many of them for all tastes. I’m sure you still remember “ Frère Jacques” or “Alouette gentille alouette” even if you have never learned French. How can that be possible? The brain has its mystery! We tend to learn more easily things that the brain labels as enjoyable. And what can be more enjoyable than music and songs! When you listen to French songs, you not only improve your pronunciation and your vocabulary, but you also develop fluency and overcome those blocks that prevent you from speaking the language. I have one song for you that you might like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0feNVUwQA8U&feature=related
Edith Piaf is an icon of La grande chanson française. Her “r” is very pronounced; that might help those who have trouble with this sound.
4-Skype away! If you have never heard of Skype, it is a program that you can download online and that will allow you to talk, chat or video chat with all people in the world. It is free and very easy to install. You can search contacts in France or other French speaking countries and simply drop a line asking them if they want to chat with you in French. A lot of them would be pleased to do it. (A word of caution for children. Do it under the supervision of your parents. Never contact or reply to messages online from people you don’t know)
5-Don’t get frustrated when you can’t talk or understand French. Some students expect to be able to talk or understand everything after a few months of learning French. That’s not possible even with the most talented and gifted students. You have to understand that learning a foreign language takes time and like any other skill, it’s not the goal that matters the most; it’s rather the path you take to get to the goal and the enjoyment you get along the way. Make it fun. When you happen to meet a French native speaker, greet her/him in French and tell him/her that you are learning French and would like to speak with them in French. When a word or an expression doesn’t come easily, don’t get frustrated. Just smile and tell them “ Je ne parle pas encore très bien.” That will get you back in track and words will come easily. Also make sure you ask them to speak a little slower, by saying: “Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement s’il vous plaît?”
There are many ways around frustration. These were only a few ones. Bottom line: Never give up!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
The importance of Reading /L'importance de la lecture
Reading is one thing that I always recommend doing when one is learning any foreign language. When students read aloud they not only develop their reading skills but they also improve their pronunciation, their spelling, their vocabulary and also their writing. Moreover, they will learn new cultural concepts related to the language they are learning.
I generally recommend reading a book at least once a day and of course all depends on the age and the level of the students. However, when shopping for children French books online or at the bookstores it’s very rare that we find good ones. Most of the books found in U.S. bookstores are translations. Translated texts can never render the essence nor the subtleness of the meaning of the original texts. Sometimes, they can even alter the meaning and thus make it hard for the reader to understand what the writer wants to say. That’s why I always recommend French books written originally in French. The students get to learn the exact expressions as they are used in French speaking countries.One important point to consider when you purchase books for your kids is whether the book is written in French only or written in French and English. I have to say that I am not a big fan of foreign language story books or foreign language learning books that are written in both languages. I know that some would object and wonder how they would be able to understand the instructions or sentences if they were not written in English. I would say: All depends on the level of the student. For kids, I would say that instructions in English are not necessary. All you need is a nice picture book. Kids love pictures and can understand the meaning just by looking at pictures. When you buy your children books written in English and French, they would always rely on English rather than try to understand what the French words mean or get used to those words. They have a good alternative, why bother!
Again all depends on the level and the age of your child. If you start your children early ( at 3 or 4) you will need picture books with audio CDs . This way, you can give your child the book; he/she will listen to the CDs, look at the pictures and look at the words at the same time. The sounds that he/she learns will never get lost. They will be stored in a safe place in his/her brain. Have you forgetten the songs “ Alouette, gentille allouette” or “ Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques” that you learned decades ago? I doubt it. Everytime I listen to songs that I haven't heard for years, I'm amazed how easy it is for me to remember the words even if I haven't sung the song in years. No matter how long ago you learned it, the tune and some of the words remain familiar for ever.
To help you decide which books to get for your children or for yourselves, I have the selected the best ones that I could find in Amazon.com. I always remember how it was hard for me to get a French book for my daughter or for me. They are almost inexistent in bookstores and if I am lucky enough to find some of them, they are generally translations and bad translations on top of that. One day I had the bright idea to look in Amazon.fr. I found many interesting books, but I was shocked when I found out that for one tiny used book, I had to pay the equivalent of 20 dollars as the shipping alone costs more tha 10 dollars! Unless you go to France and get good French books for yourselves and your kids, I suggest to look at the list that I have prepared for you. I constantly go through Amazon.com and look for good French books that are suitable for each level. There is not a big choice, I admit; however, I'll do my best to select only the best ones that are well written and are garanteed to help you or your children learn French at its best.
For the list of the books we recommend, click here
Why French?
French has always been one of the most popular language in the world. French is not just a romance language. If you thought that French is mostly used in romantic conversations, posh restaurants and cafés or in fashion events, you’re in for a surprise. According to Richard Shryock of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, http://www.fll.vt.edu/French/whyfrench.html
Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages, after English. The International Organization of Francophonie has 56 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages.” He also advises English speakers to choose French when deciding for a foreign language as it will give them better opportunities in their studies and careers. He gives more details about the importance of the French language in his website mentioned above. We will just retain the most important facts about the French language:
We really recommend to visit www.drenchinfrench.com for more facts about the French language that will make you eager to start learning French or to consolidate what you have already learned. For all the reasons mentioned above and so many more, we decided to create the above mentioned website that will hopefully help you achieve your goal of speaking, understanding, reading and writing French.
The website is being updated and expanded everyday so we recommend you bookmark it and check it as often as possible.
While any language will be useful for some jobs for some regions, French is the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world as well as in the United States. French as a foreign language is the most frequently taught language in the world after English. The International Organization of Francophonie has 56 member states and governments.
- French, along with English, is the official working language of the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the European Community, the International Red Cross etc...
- One example of the importance of French can be seen in a recent listing of international jobs distributed by the US State Department: 92 required or preferred French, 36 Spanish, 11 a UN language.
- Of the various types of professional positions for which international organizations recruit, four required French, two Spanish and one Arabic according to the fact sheet released by the Bureau of International Organization Affairs of the U.S Department of State.
The website is being updated and expanded everyday so we recommend you bookmark it and check it as often as possible.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
It's the back to school week!
C'est la rentrée!!!!
A lot of parents and students are both excited and anxious to resume the school- year routine. I happen to be a parent of a new kindergartner. My 5 year -old daughter is going to start school on September 7th and I must say that I am a little apprehensive. My daughter never did any daycare or any preschool. She and I are always together. Wherever I go, I take her along. So I have to admit that it's going to be a trying experience having her away from me the whole day, five times a week. However, I can't hide my joy when I hear her talking about school with such excitement and eagerness. She is READY to start. No doubt about it!
I feel that I share the same apprehensions and excitement that a lot of parents feel right now especially those who either are new kindergartners' parents or first-grade parents whose children will start the French-Immersion program for the first time. I understand their worries. After all their children will start learning a foreign language, a foreign language that the parents themselves don't understand. They worry that they won't be able to help. I just want to tell them that there are many ways they can help their children in their first exposure with a foreign language. Here you are a few of them:
1- Tell them about how wonderful it is to be able to speak and understand a foreign language on top of the language that they use at home. Tell them how fun it is to learn a new language. Children love to learn new things as their brains are like sponges absorbing new concepts all the time.
2-Plan a trip to the French Cultural Center. Take your first-grader and give him a taste of what he will be learning. Get him accustomed to hear French and expose him to the French and Francophone culture in general.
3-Each day after school, play a game. Ask him/her how many words in French he learned and have him teach you what he learned. Children love to play teachers.
4-Try to get him/her to listen to French music as often as possible. This can be extremely helpful. I will soon add a list of the French song Cds I recommend on my Books I Recommend page. Please review it as often as possible.
5-The thing that I often recommend my students' parents to do is to get TV5, a French TV channel. All you need to do is contact your cable provider. You can do that online or by phone. It costs 10 dollars a month and it's worth a million! From 4:30pm to 5:30 pm there are cartoons for all ages made in France. Please if you think that your kids, at this early stage of French learning, won't understand much
of the cartoons or the French programs, you are wrong. By linking the images they see to the words they hear, their brains can unconsciously make out the meaning and that's how they learn. Plus they will be used to hearing French spoken by kids their age and believe me everything they hear won't be lost.
6-If you feel helpless or sometimes frustrated not to be able to help your children do their homework, relax and know that sometimes parents need to back off and let their children create their own ways to learn. You'll be surprised how efficiently little children can solve problems provided they are given guidance and encouragement. Be there for your children and encourage them to be creative. If they are stuck, don't hesitate to have them ask their teacher that they didn't understand how to do their exercises. The teacher knows what you're going through and is understanding. Teach your child that whenever he has trouble doing an exercise, not to be ashamed to ask his/her teacher to explain the instructions again. I will soon write a blog article about the ways to help your kids do his/her homework without the frustrations and helplessness that come with it.
These were a few recommendations to enable parents of young children who just started the French Immersion program, but they are also applicable for the parents of older children who are learning French or any foreign language. Adults learning French can also benefit from those recommendations.
Please don't hesitate to post a comment or a question about this article or if you want to talk about your experience.
Bonne rentrée à tout le monde!
A lot of parents and students are both excited and anxious to resume the school- year routine. I happen to be a parent of a new kindergartner. My 5 year -old daughter is going to start school on September 7th and I must say that I am a little apprehensive. My daughter never did any daycare or any preschool. She and I are always together. Wherever I go, I take her along. So I have to admit that it's going to be a trying experience having her away from me the whole day, five times a week. However, I can't hide my joy when I hear her talking about school with such excitement and eagerness. She is READY to start. No doubt about it!
I feel that I share the same apprehensions and excitement that a lot of parents feel right now especially those who either are new kindergartners' parents or first-grade parents whose children will start the French-Immersion program for the first time. I understand their worries. After all their children will start learning a foreign language, a foreign language that the parents themselves don't understand. They worry that they won't be able to help. I just want to tell them that there are many ways they can help their children in their first exposure with a foreign language. Here you are a few of them:
1- Tell them about how wonderful it is to be able to speak and understand a foreign language on top of the language that they use at home. Tell them how fun it is to learn a new language. Children love to learn new things as their brains are like sponges absorbing new concepts all the time.
2-Plan a trip to the French Cultural Center. Take your first-grader and give him a taste of what he will be learning. Get him accustomed to hear French and expose him to the French and Francophone culture in general.
3-Each day after school, play a game. Ask him/her how many words in French he learned and have him teach you what he learned. Children love to play teachers.
4-Try to get him/her to listen to French music as often as possible. This can be extremely helpful. I will soon add a list of the French song Cds I recommend on my Books I Recommend page. Please review it as often as possible.
5-The thing that I often recommend my students' parents to do is to get TV5, a French TV channel. All you need to do is contact your cable provider. You can do that online or by phone. It costs 10 dollars a month and it's worth a million! From 4:30pm to 5:30 pm there are cartoons for all ages made in France. Please if you think that your kids, at this early stage of French learning, won't understand much
of the cartoons or the French programs, you are wrong. By linking the images they see to the words they hear, their brains can unconsciously make out the meaning and that's how they learn. Plus they will be used to hearing French spoken by kids their age and believe me everything they hear won't be lost.
6-If you feel helpless or sometimes frustrated not to be able to help your children do their homework, relax and know that sometimes parents need to back off and let their children create their own ways to learn. You'll be surprised how efficiently little children can solve problems provided they are given guidance and encouragement. Be there for your children and encourage them to be creative. If they are stuck, don't hesitate to have them ask their teacher that they didn't understand how to do their exercises. The teacher knows what you're going through and is understanding. Teach your child that whenever he has trouble doing an exercise, not to be ashamed to ask his/her teacher to explain the instructions again. I will soon write a blog article about the ways to help your kids do his/her homework without the frustrations and helplessness that come with it.
These were a few recommendations to enable parents of young children who just started the French Immersion program, but they are also applicable for the parents of older children who are learning French or any foreign language. Adults learning French can also benefit from those recommendations.
Please don't hesitate to post a comment or a question about this article or if you want to talk about your experience.
Bonne rentrée à tout le monde!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Welcome/Bienvenue
Bonjour,
We just want to welcome everybody in our blog. This blog will be devoted to articles about learning French as a foreign language. It will include tips and ways to improve your French learning experience. The most important feature of this blog is the ability to post comments. So please feel free to post comments about the content of the website and the blog or any question you might have that is related to learning French.
Bienvenue mes amis!
We just want to welcome everybody in our blog. This blog will be devoted to articles about learning French as a foreign language. It will include tips and ways to improve your French learning experience. The most important feature of this blog is the ability to post comments. So please feel free to post comments about the content of the website and the blog or any question you might have that is related to learning French.
Bienvenue mes amis!
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