French is a very valuable language to learn. It is widely spoken throughout the world, and in fact there are 29 countries around the world that list French as an official language. Learning French can be a challenge for some people, especially adults. It is tough for older people to acquire any kind of new language, especially one that is as difficult for English speakers as French is. Adult learners can follow these tips on the best ways to learn to speak French.
Learn Useful Things First
There is no better impetus to learn than necessity. Adult learners should take advantage of this fact. Travelers that are headed to a French-speaking country should first learn valuable vocabulary that will help them on their trips. This includes things like asking directions, counting numbers and conducting retail transactions. Mastering things that will be useful is one of the best things new French students can do.
Audio, Audio, Audio
The most important, difficult element of learning French for English speakers is the spoken word. It is easy to read French words with their English pronunciations, which is very detrimental to new learners. Avoid this problem by practicing with audio tapes or online drills. The French language is very counterintuitive for English speakers, so time spent practicing speaking French is very key in improving the mastery of the language.
One tip often given to those struggling with their French pronunciation is to shut their eyes while drilling audio exercises. The problem is that many students pronounce French words incorrectly while reading them. Closing the eyes removes this influence and allows students to perfect their pronunciation by imitating the voices in the audio drills.
Daily Practice
One of the most important things necessary to improve French is consistent practice. Taking time off often leads to language skills being lost. Memory has an unfortunate tendency to release foreign concepts much more quickly than native ones. Avoid this by practicing French daily. Even if it is just 5 or 10 minutes a day, it will force the brain to refrain from discarding any knowledge related to French.
Have Fun
Many foreigners learn their English by watching Hollywood TV shows and movies. Luckily for French students, the country has a very proud tradition of cinema as well. There are hordes of great French movies out there. Listening to French music is another great way to have fun and get French practice at the same time. Sing along with the music to help pronunciation.
Have Patience
Learning a new language as an adult is a difficult process. Students need to realize they are going to have setbacks at times. Do not get frustrated when things seem to go backwards during the journey to learn to speak French. Days like this are often a precursor to an immediate leap forward in ability. Having patience with slowly moving forward is the most important thing. Getting frustrated is a great way for students to lose interest and give up.
Immersion
Most adult students of French are planning on heading to a French-speaking country. Those who wish to ramp up their rate of French acquisition will really benefit from heading out to a French-speaking country as soon as possible and immersing themselves in the language. Immersion is absolutely the best method to learn any language. It is also the most enjoyable way.
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