There are plenty of fun techniques that can be used by language enthusiasts to enhance and accelerate learning a foreign language like French. This article presents seven tried and tested recommendations that are guaranteed to speed up the process.
Learning a foreign language is great fun and a key to creating new opportunities - personally as well as professionally. However, learning to speak a foreign language, even to a basic conversational level, does take time, commitment, and dedication.
Investing in a language system that suits your personal learning style is crucial. There are plenty of great systems out there to suit every style and need. Once a new language enthusiast has settled into a course of study, there are plenty of fun techniques that can be used to enhance and accelerate the learning process.
Here are seven tried and tested recommendations that are guaranteed to speed up the process.
1. Read children's books in French (with a dictionary at hand). Not only is this a great way to get the feet wet in a light-hearted and enjoyable way, but it can also shed light on the culture of the country whose language you are learning. eBay and Amazon are both great places to find inexpensive used children's books in foreign languages.
2. Subscribe to a magazine or periodical in French. Magazines are great because they are low commitment. They can be put down and picked back up much later without feeling fragmented - there is no pressure to "complete the assignment". Furthermore, the enjoyment and motivation factors can be high if the magazine subject is about a hobby or topic of interest.
3. Buy favorite movies on DVD in French. This is a brilliant way to develop an ear for the French language, which is crucial to understanding and processing conversation. Because the plot and the dialogue are already familiar, there will be no pressure to keep up or feelings of frustration due to missing context. Subtitles can also help enormously to gain an understanding of idioms and colloquialisms.
4. Re-read favorite books, but this time in French. Again, this is low commitment and low pressure, because the plot and dialogue are already familiar. The story is already a favorite, so the experience is enjoyable.
5. Buy music CDs in French. There is plenty of great French music on the market. Because modern CDs nearly always include the lyrics, the poetry of the language can be read, processed, and understood. This helps to gain a grasp of the broader meanings and uses of words.
6. Find a "French buddy". Combining efforts with someone else who is learning French can be invaluable. Emails and text messages can be sent, or "French lunch breaks" can be taken together, in which the buddies try to express themselves only in French. This helps the learner to think in French, which is crucial for progressing from being a passive to an active French speaker.
7. Subscribe to an audio magazine in French. This is one of the most powerful tools for accelerating comprehension of the language, as well as gaining valuable insight into the customs and mentality of the country. Audio magazines are structured and delivered in both audio and written format. Articles are recorded on CD for spoken comprehension, while transcripts of the articles are delivered in pamphlet or magazine format to enable the reader to review and digest what has been said.
Learning a foreign language is a life-enriching undertaking that is certainly worth the effort. Whether the goal is to travel more, to communicate with current or new acquaintances, or to improve job opportunities, it is a skill that can open new doors.
Fortunately, with modern technology, learning languages is more approachable and easier than ever.
By Becca Kline Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com
Learning a foreign language is great fun and a key to creating new opportunities - personally as well as professionally. However, learning to speak a foreign language, even to a basic conversational level, does take time, commitment, and dedication.
Investing in a language system that suits your personal learning style is crucial. There are plenty of great systems out there to suit every style and need. Once a new language enthusiast has settled into a course of study, there are plenty of fun techniques that can be used to enhance and accelerate the learning process.
Here are seven tried and tested recommendations that are guaranteed to speed up the process.
1. Read children's books in French (with a dictionary at hand). Not only is this a great way to get the feet wet in a light-hearted and enjoyable way, but it can also shed light on the culture of the country whose language you are learning. eBay and Amazon are both great places to find inexpensive used children's books in foreign languages.
2. Subscribe to a magazine or periodical in French. Magazines are great because they are low commitment. They can be put down and picked back up much later without feeling fragmented - there is no pressure to "complete the assignment". Furthermore, the enjoyment and motivation factors can be high if the magazine subject is about a hobby or topic of interest.
3. Buy favorite movies on DVD in French. This is a brilliant way to develop an ear for the French language, which is crucial to understanding and processing conversation. Because the plot and the dialogue are already familiar, there will be no pressure to keep up or feelings of frustration due to missing context. Subtitles can also help enormously to gain an understanding of idioms and colloquialisms.
4. Re-read favorite books, but this time in French. Again, this is low commitment and low pressure, because the plot and dialogue are already familiar. The story is already a favorite, so the experience is enjoyable.
5. Buy music CDs in French. There is plenty of great French music on the market. Because modern CDs nearly always include the lyrics, the poetry of the language can be read, processed, and understood. This helps to gain a grasp of the broader meanings and uses of words.
6. Find a "French buddy". Combining efforts with someone else who is learning French can be invaluable. Emails and text messages can be sent, or "French lunch breaks" can be taken together, in which the buddies try to express themselves only in French. This helps the learner to think in French, which is crucial for progressing from being a passive to an active French speaker.
7. Subscribe to an audio magazine in French. This is one of the most powerful tools for accelerating comprehension of the language, as well as gaining valuable insight into the customs and mentality of the country. Audio magazines are structured and delivered in both audio and written format. Articles are recorded on CD for spoken comprehension, while transcripts of the articles are delivered in pamphlet or magazine format to enable the reader to review and digest what has been said.
Learning a foreign language is a life-enriching undertaking that is certainly worth the effort. Whether the goal is to travel more, to communicate with current or new acquaintances, or to improve job opportunities, it is a skill that can open new doors.
Fortunately, with modern technology, learning languages is more approachable and easier than ever.
By Becca Kline Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com
