So what is the best way to learn the French language? That's a good question! The answer is not that clear, however--to find success, you will need to choose a method that fits with your own personality and schedule. Here's a rundown of the various methods you have to choose from:
* purchase language learning software * hire a private French tutor * enroll in French class * take part in a language swap program * total French immersion! * language-learning textbooks or audio lessons
Start your journey on the right foot by asking yourself the following questions:
“Do I want to study French by myself, or do I want to interact with other students or teachers? How disciplined am I? Can I stay motivated on my own, or do I need a constant push? Can I afford lessons, or do I need a really cost-effective way to learn French?”
Depending upon your preferred learning style and your budget, your main course of French study will either be a teacher-student situation or a self-learning program.
Need a little help figuring out how to go about learning French? Here's a run-down of the pros and cons between 3 of the best ways to learn French:
Hiring a Private Tutor:
Pros: Apart from total immersion in a French-speaking country, hiring a private tutor is probably the best way to thoroughly learn French. The one-on-one attention is invaluable because the tutor will work with you from the level where you are at, and help you learn new material at your ideal pace. Many private French tutors will be native speakers, too, and it will boost your learning to hear the words and sentences formed by native tongue.
Cons: Private tutors are generally very expensive, so this might not be an option if you're on a tight budge.
Signing up for a French class:
Pros: Taking a French class also affords the benefit of learning from a native French speaker. You will also have ample opportunities to hear and speak French with your teacher and other students--one of the best ways to learn any language is to practice with others and engaging in conversations. Being surrounded with other students who are learning French can really help motivate and energize you, too.
Cons: Taking a class is also very expensive, depending on what type of program it is and where it is. You may also find yourself restricted a bit, since you will be learning at the same pace as many other students (you may be able to push ahead faster with a tutor).
Self-study:
Pros: Most folks looking to learn French will opt for self-study, which makes sense: It is generally the cheapest option and can fit into any type of schedule. If you're looking to start out on your own, you have a lot of choices for your materials, such as a multitude of software programs, books, flash cards, tapes and CDs, podcasts, and even internet lessons.
Cons: Motivation, motivation, motivation! You'll need it keep yourself on track, or else it's easy to stuck and spin your wheels. You need to set your own schedule and try to avoid frustration...this option is clearly not for everyone. Also, you lose out on being able to partake in real-life French conversations when you so self-study, eliminating the thinking on your feet that really helps drive the language learning home.
Here are some good rules of thumb to keep in mind, regardless of which method of learning French you choose:
* Start simple: don’t dive in with complicated grammar and obscure vocabulary. It's a recipe for disaster and frustration. Stay motivated by learning and re-learning all the common words and phrases first. If you ever feel overwhelmed or lost, retrace your steps and go back to easier lessons until you've really absorbed the necessary material.
* Try to speak French as much as possible. It can be easy to people to overlook the oral aspect of learning French, especially they study on their own. They put so much effort into memorization and listening that they miss out on the crucial element of speaking and conversing in the language.
* Put emphasis on writing in French. Writing in French can help you get a better grasp of how the sentences and phrases are structured, which helps put the words in stronger context.
Above all, you need to really dedicate yourself to the whole process of learning, no matter what method you choose. Persistence and repetition are key to thoroughly absorbing the language. Never lose sight of the ultimate goals when you stumble.
It's going to be challenging to learn to speak French, but it's also going to be very rewarding! Figure out the best way to learn French for you, stick to your guns, and enjoy the journey! If you make the right choices now, you'll be speaking French with confidence in just a few months.
