The Steps to Learning French (or another language)

I get asked almost daily by my guests how long it took to learn French, and I always tell them that I am still learning. That in fact, I will always and forever be learning French. As I am learning later in life, it will never be as good as my native language, but I have hopes as it improves daily that it will become second nature. I am not quite there yet.

In fact, I am far from there yet. I am not good at studying, never have been. Rather a learner by osmosis, but even this is possible to do, just slower. So there is hope for all of us. Whatever age.

In the Beginning

To start, forget the crap they teach you in school (in English speaking countries). Well, actually, don’t forget, but certainly shelve it. I had French when I was a teenager in the USA, and it was all about studying the grammar. The written word. And I can tell you, that is almost completely useless when you are starting to learn a language.

Certainly it is helpful in the long run, but in terms of actually opening your mouth and asking a question or listening and understanding – useless. Look to how babies and children learn. How we all learned our mother tongue, by listening, absorbing and then using. If you wish to try to learn another language, apply this method. It really works.

Learning a Language

I began my journey in learning French in France. It certainly helps to be surrounded by the language, so if you have the opportunity to immerse yourself, whether for a week or preferably more, it will truly help your endeavours. But even if you can’t, then it’s about immersing yourself as much as possible in the audible side of language learning.

Find courses, tapes, podcasts, whatever your preference where you listen. No written words provided. At least to start. I personally recommend something you can listen to, alone, on headphones. 15 minutes a day, more if you can manage. But even 15 minutes will make a difference. And the great thing about short audible courses, there is nothing stopping you going back to the beginning and starting again. It’s a good way to cement the basics, and bonus point realise what you already know.

My Recommendations

I started with Michel Thomas, whose method I really rate as it made such a difference to my learning French. I would go for a walk and listen on each of these walks. Out in nature, no distractions. Very quickly, and I do mean quickly, I learned the basics. Enough that within a few weeks I was able to converse slightly with my neighbour, on the basics. (She was a former teacher, so she did have the patience to speak slowly and let the conversation be boring.)

I progressed to Coffee Break French, which again was completely about listening. (The free version is audible only, you pay for the written exercises that accompany.) These were 15 minute podcasts that talked you through helpful topics, from car breakdowns to booking a hotel to eventual listening in on and understanding conversations.

Step-by-Step

There’s a natural progression to learning, whether you are diligent and do it quickly, or like me take moments to learn. First you have to learn a few basic words – bonjour, merci. Then you progress to small memorised and useful phrases – je voudrais… (I would like… – a very helpful phrase I still use a lot.) You grammar orientated folks reading this may have noted that ‘I would like’ is the present conditional tense – but honestly it truly does not matter, because all you wish to learn at this stage is how to ask for something. So spend your time learning how to say it, not why you say it.

More complex sentences follow, though I personally stay away as much as possible from complexity. It’s too easy to get the brain bogged down in how to say rather than saying. Those pesky who owns what pronouns are a struggle. His book, her pencil, but even more so when added into a more complex sentence – mon canard adore le vernis à ongles rose sur tes orteils. C’est leur couleur préférée. (My duck loves the pink nail polish on your toes. It’s their favourite colour.)

Let alone getting into familiar and formal aspects of a language. Argghhh! Nope, keep it simple. It leads to less frustration and less inhibition of wanting to learn. (Note: I stick to the formal (vous) always, unless under pressure from French speaking friends.)

Shifts in the Paradigm

What I find truly interesting, on how the brain connects when it comes to language, is the points of progression. And this is true of any language. You suddenly realise you know more. Like a hill or mountain crested, you have a new view.

This could be realising you are actually able to communicate what you need easily. (Though this may not mean you always understand the response.) That you understand more of what is being said to you. Or that you realise you are able to say stuff without really thinking, eg you are no longer translating noticeably, slowly, in your head.

Language is a natural progression, and I personally absolutely adore when one of these milestones suddenly becomes apparent. I never know when they will occur, or even what the next one will be, after all I am on a journey of discovery, but I love when one is realised.

Final Tips

Don’t strive for perfection. Strive to simply be understood. And then to understand in return. Take it slow, no matter how fast, or not, you learn. It’s not a race, it’s a learning experience. One to jump into with both feet, and at times wade out from when overwhelmed.

Learning a language is tiring. Your brain is being pushed, whatever your level. When I speak to my fellow tour guides, who are French but speak English, they tell me how tired they are at the end of a days guiding, because they have had to communicate in English all day. I feel the same when I have a very French focused day.

You will make mistakes. Some will be funny, some serious. That is a given, so get over it, and use it as your impetus to want to learn more. You will get thoroughly frustrated in not being able to make yourself understood. (Even if you are all but fluent, sometimes there are just some people in this world who choose to not understand you, and that is their xenophobic problem.) And you will get even more frustrated in not being able to understand others all the time. But. With time and learning, you will get better. Don’t strive for perfection, just strive for the next milestone.