How to Learn French Quickly? Here are 10 tips to Master the Language!

You may be wondering how to quickly learn French. Très bien! With official status in 29 nations, French is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world. In North America, these include Canada and Haiti; in South America, French Guiana; in Africa, more than a dozen countries; in Europe, five nations; and in Oceania, Vanuatu, and several French overseas territories. French is a beautiful, popular, and extremely useful language But there is one thing that French isn’t, despite what some native speakers would have you believe. It’s difficult. This article will provide you with 10 tips to master the language and improve your chances of learning French.

Also Check out: Best Foreign Language to Learn

Learn 30 Words and Phrases Each Day

You’ll have learned roughly 80% of the language in 90 days. Because the most popular words account for the majority of encounters, begin with memorizing the most common words. 

• Make sure to maintain practicing the terms you’ve already learned so you don’t lose them as you learn new ones.
• The following are the top ten most common French words: être (to be, being), avoir (to have), je (I), de (of, from, by, then, in, with), ne (not), pas (not; step, pace), le (the; him, it (referring to a masculine singular noun)), la (the; her, it (referring to a feminine singular noun)), tu (you), vous (you, yourself).
• Label everything in your home with the French word, and read the words aloud whenever possible.
• Make yourself some flashcards and use them on the bus, during commercials while watching TV, or whenever you have some leisure.

Must Read: Master 50 Common Words In French With Examples!

Learn the Language’s Structure

Learn how verbs interact with nouns and with one another. Things you learn at the beginning of French make more sense as you progress through the language. Take a look at how the pronunciation works.

• Grammar is critical when learning a language. To properly speak it, you must understand how verbs function, how the present, past, and future tenses work, and how genders work with nouns. In English, for example, we say things forward. The bathroom, whereas the French (and the rest of the world) say things backward, taking longer to say it, for examples, the bathroom.
• Learn how to pronounce words. This is especially crucial in French because the written words appear nothing like the spoken language of English speakers. For example, in French, vowels such as “Eau” are pronounced “o” and “oi” are pronounced “wa.” You’ll need to understand how these pronunciations function.

Listen to Songs/ Watch French Movies

Play some French music or watch a French-dubbed version of your favorite movie. Look for French films, television shows, and radio stations. Experiment with replicating what you’re hearing.

• Many polyglots (those who speak more than one language) swear by the “shadowing” approach for swiftly learning a language. Put on your headphones and go outside. Walk quickly while you practice the language. Repeat what you’re hearing out loud and clearly as you walk. March, march, march. This will assist you in connecting movement with the language and retraining your focus so that you are not obsessed with memorization.
• Listening to native French speakers will help you understand how fast French is spoken and how intonation works. The more you pay attention, the better you will become.
• To begin, turn on the French subtitles while watching a movie so you can better follow up with the dialogue and begin to see how the words you’ve been reading act when spoken.

Also Read: Best Sounding Languages You Should Learn!

Speak the Language More

This is one of the most crucial aspects of learning French. You must speak the language, even if you are embarrassed by your lack of knowledge. Everyone begins by speaking poorly, but with practice, you will improve.

• Find a pen pal or a Skype friend who speaks French as their first language. There are numerous programs available on the internet or through colleges and local language schools that can connect persons who speak French.
• Don’t be offended if someone criticizes your pronunciation. Instead, thank the critic and strive to improve.
• Talk to yourself in French out loud. Explain what you’re doing. Talk about it while doing the dishes or driving a car. Take note of your intonation and pronunciation.

Be Consistent

To learn rapidly and effectively, one must work every day, even if only for five minutes. Even learning a language rapidly necessitates dedication and patience. There’s no reason you can’t learn French well if you study hard and practice what you’re learning!

• Consider thinking in French. Set aside some time during the day to think in French. Go to the grocery store and reflect on the goods you buy and the interactions you have with others. Experiment with translating those exchanges into French.
• Change the language settings on Facebook (or other social media platforms) to French. You still know where everything is, but it forces you to put what you’re learning into practice.
• Never give up! It may appear that you will never obtain it, but you will. There is no reason why you cannot learn French if you practice and alter your learning methods.

Must Read: Best French Language Certificate Courses

Make Mistakes

If the First Golden Rule of language acquisition is to practice every day, the Second Golden Rule is to not be scared to make mistakes. Many people are uneasy while speaking a new language because they are afraid of saying something incorrectly and appearing foolish. However, admitting and being comfortable with making mistakes is one of the keys to becoming a successful language student.

Those who are willing to try are the best language learners. Don’t think these people make fewer blunders than the rest of us. The inverse is true. They speak up and make numerous blunders. That is precisely why they are successful.

Of course, when learning French, you will make mistakes. You must accept this and recognise that no one will mock you. You learn every time you make a mistake. And one of the most important things you can do is make errors.

Talk to Yourself

It is a prevalent misperception that practicing conversation with native speakers is necessary for it to be useful. While speaking with native speakers will be good, simply speaking in French is always beneficial, even if you make mistakes that aren’t corrected.

Even if you don’t have a learning partner, you can practice by talking to yourself!

This may appear strange at first, but it works. Try it for five or ten minutes per day and you will notice a difference. If you make it a practice to talk to yourself in French anytime you’re alone, your fluency will skyrocket.

Use an App

Language exchange apps, such as Tandem or HelloTalk, are an excellent resource that is only now coming into its own.

They make it possible to locate native French speakers who want to practice English. You can use these applications to set up a language exchange to practice and assist each other learn.

You can begin by texting or sending audio messages. However, once you’ve gained confidence, you can make phone calls or video conversations using the program.

Must Read: What’s the Best App to Learn French?

Study Abroad

Nothing beats studying in France for accelerating your language learning. Whether you’re there for a few weeks or a few months, being entirely immersed in French improves your skills. You’ll read and hear French wherever you go, from taking the bus to class to staying with a host family, continuously developing mental associations and strong language memories. Problem-solving and practice will enhance your accent, extend your vocabulary, and boost your conversational confidence far faster than learning at home.

Must Read: French Education System

Focus on the Easy Aspects

It’s good to be a beginner, and if you’re just beginning your language learning journey, whether through a language school, the French immersion method, or simply teaching yourself, you won’t do yourself any favours by pushing yourself too quickly into Advanced French.

You don’t have to read Les Miserables in the original French right now, nor do you have to read Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s work without subtitles.

If you start with the essentials and let your growth unfold naturally, you’ll make far faster progress and stay a lot more motivated.

Bonjour! Learn the 10 Best Ways to Say Hello in French!

(Bonus) How Long will it Take to Learn French on Your Own? 

The truth is that we cannot provide a precise figure. The length of time it takes to acquire a language is determined by a variety of factors. The good news is that if English is your first language, you will find it easier to learn French. This is due to the tight relationship between English and French. French is a Category 1 language according to the Foreign Service Institute. This means that fluency would take about 24 weeks or 600 hours to achieve. Of course, this is dependent on how much time you devote to your study. That is, it is perfectly possible to learn French in as short as three months. By following these top suggestions for learning French, you will undoubtedly accelerate your progress.

Conclusion

So there you have it, our top 10 tips to learn French quickly. I’m sure there are plenty more that others can provide you with or that you may uncover for yourself. However, if you follow these guidelines and make learning, practicing, and utilizing French a part of your everyday life, you may be surprised at how rapidly your French improves.

Soon, you’ll be ready to partake in café culture, savoring a glass of wine or an espresso at a fashionable Parisian bar or a rural refuge while conversing in French with the locals.

FAQs

These are the top 10 tips to learn French quickly. If you’re planning your study abroad journey, connect with our Leverage Edu counsellors at 1800 57 2000 and book your 30-minute free consultation.