France is one of the world’s most enchanting countries, and it’s capital city Paris is the number one most visited destination by American tourists. Whether you choose to visit the most romantic city on Earth and see the Eiffel Tower or instead head to the spectacular beaches of the Cote d’Azur, it’s a perfect holiday destination you’ll want to visit again and again. To make the most of your vacation in France, however, it helps if you have at least some understanding of the French language. That doesn’t have to be as daunting as you may think if you follow our seven tips on how to improve your French quickly and effectively.
1. Study French At Night School
Did you enjoy learning languages at school? Don’t worry if you didn’t because the likelihood is that you’ll find it a much more enjoyable experience as an adult, and that can also help you gain much better results. When we learn French as a pupil at school, we’re doing it because we have to, and we may think that it will have little relevance in later years; when we learn it in later life, however, we realize how useful it will be on the amazing French vacations we have planned, and that can be powerful motivation. French lessons are widely available, so check out what courses are available at your local college or night school; the teacher-pupil dynamic is very different when you return to learning as an adult, so don’t let memories of school days put you off.
2. Study Online
Modern life is increasingly fast-paced, and with family, personal, and work commitments to juggle, it may be that you don’t have time to embark upon a course of formal study. The good news is that expert sites such as Talk In French can help you learn the language in depth, or simply the phrases that will make every day on your vacation that little bit easier. They cover everything from how to ask for names and order food to how to give or ask for directions. These phrases are short but incredibly useful, and you can even download them as a PDF and carry them around you. If you want to learn more phrases, a complete language course is available at the click of a button.
3. Head Down To The Library
Technology has certainly made it easier to learn French than ever before, thanks to websites such as Talk In French and other online resources, but there’s still a wealth of help available in bookshops and at your local library. Loaning a French-language guide or phrasebook from a library can be a very economical move, as it allows you to borrow the book for the duration of the vacation and then return it when you arrive home. You may also be able to look through a number of such books and find the one that matches your requirements and current level of knowledge.
4. Take Personal Tuition
Different people learn more effectively in different ways, which is why it can make sense to try different methods until you find the one that’s right for you. Some people find that they take in information more easily when they are learning in a one-on-one environment, rather than in the competitive atmosphere of a classroom, so if that sounds like you then taking personal tuition in French could pay dividends. Personal French tutors can be found using an online search, and you’ll be able to learn at times of your choosing, which can make this a smart choice for those who work long or irregular hours.
5. Watch Classic French Movies
The more you hear a language, the more you learn it, even if you don’t appreciate it at the time. This immersive method can work particularly well when combined with a structured method of learning as well, whether online or in a classroom, and you don’t have to head to a French-speaking area to do it. French movies are some of the best in the world, so sit back, turn the dubbing off but subtitles on, and compare the English translation with the French words you’re hearing. If you like romantic comedies then ‘Amelie’ is perfect for this, or you could try cool classics such as ‘Jules et Jim’ or the chic musical ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’.
6. Use The Latest Language App
Apps have transformed our phones, and they’re transforming our lives too, so where would we be without them? A perfect example of this is the proliferation of language learning apps; you can now learn a vast number of languages wherever you are using your tablet or smartphone. One reason that they’re so effective is that they make learning fun, and it can be a great way for a couple to learn languages together as you race to see who can make the most progression in their French language knowledge.
7. Translate Via Your Phone
There’s another way that your phone can come in handy if you want to speak the native tongue in France, as you can now use them to rapidly translate what you’ve just heard as well as quickly translating what you want to say from English into French. Using this method can lead to a stilted conversation, but it can certainly be effective if all else fails, and it may be useful when in shops or restaurants, for example. It might not, however, give you the satisfaction of learning another language that the six other methods outlined above can.
When you can speak some French, you’ll enjoy your vacations in this exciting and diverse country even more. Locals will really appreciate your attempts to speak their language, even if you don’t always get the pronunciations exactly right, so having even a few handy French phrases to use can open doors and cause smiles to appear. Whether you learn online, via an app, at school or from a book or personal tutor, learning the basics of French today can be a piece of gateau.