1. Education Apps/Websites
Whether you’re a teenager, an adult, a student, or a parent, education apps will be your best friend when it comes to learning a new language! Many of us do not have the time, nor the available resources to learn a new language from a tutor or a teacher. This is where language apps come into play: they allow you to learn at your own pace, anywhere at any time. I personally use Duolingo to sharpen my French skills while I’m not at school. However, there are plenty of other language apps to help you get started. These include:
- Memrise
- Busuu
- Babbel
- HelloTalk
- Pimsleur
- FrenchPod101
2. French Media
Living in a place where the main language isn’t French can be especially challenging if you’re trying to learn the language. One important thing that comes with language learning is surrounding yourself with speakers of the tongue. Lucky for you, the internet has numerous resources to help you progress your experience with French! Delving into French media will allow yourself to more easily learn the language, as they offer a more authentic exposure to the language–unlike any classroom, teacher, or learning app can. You will also receive the added skills of an enhanced listening and reading comprehension, a broader vocabulary, and more cultural understanding. You can easily find French podcasts, movies, TV shows, and books online. I prefer listening to podcasts, as I can easily listen to them on the go! My favourite podcast is LearningFrench on Spotify. It’s hosted by a French professor based in Poland, who designed it for beginner-intermediate learners of French.
3. Goals
The next stop on your French journey is goals! Without having a destination in sight, it can be hard to maintain momentum, and commit to learning a new language. It’s good to start small. You can aim to memorize 20 French words/phrases, master verb conjugations, or simply practice the unique sounds of French. As a French student, my goals are catered more towards my success in school. I strive to improve my listening and writing comprehension, but this is definitely a goal that any other French learner can commit to as well.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
The key to success in French is, ultimately, practice! How can you expect to be good at anything without trying to get better? Focus on consistent and varied practice, so that you don’t get bored. Plus, you could even find yourself a language partner, and practice speaking French with them. Remember that regular practice is essential to making progress. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes–allow them and grow from them. Most importantly, have fun. Learning a new language should be enjoyable!
With these tips, soon you’ll be able to call yourself a French superstar!