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“On ne comprend jamais tout à fait une langue avant d’en comprendre au moins deux.”
It took 43 years for me to lastly study the French alphabet, and once I say study I imply learn how to correctly pronounce every letter, even after taking French lessons in school after which once more taking French 102 and 103 again in 2016 at our local people school.
After sharing this with somebody not too long ago, they checked out me perplexed, however you see I by no means enrolled in French 101 because it was a fall course, and throughout the 2015/16 college 12 months I used to be head-first transitioning into my new instructing place right here in Bend, so waited till I used to be settled with my very own schedule to discover French lessons. Backtrack to school, as defined intimately in my first book, an identical state of affairs; I started my research throughout winter time period somewhat than fall resulting from a shift in my life journey and needing to accumulate the mandatory conditions to review overseas in French the approaching summer season.
With that stated, studying the alphabet, and singing the French jingle to assist cement the sounds of every letter into my reminiscence was one of the vital thrilling and appreciative moments of my novice French studying expertise to date.
As I shared above, in 2016 I enrolled in night French language programs provided by our local people school. I shared in this three-part series – the primary two elements draw from my expertise as a pupil in school, and the third how I continued to study by myself throughout the summer season that adopted. Life then appeared to take off and turn out to be busier and busier (work started on my second guide, the cooking present premiered and between instructing full time and a rising weblog that I used to be overjoyed was doing nicely, my targeted turned to those two focuses and I used to be unable to proceed my French research); nonetheless, over the three years that adopted, I had the chance to journey to France twice which additional instilled in me the dedication to not quit attempting to turn out to be an intermediate speaker of the French language as every journey took me out of Paris and into the countryside, the place I fell additional in love with the French tradition.
However why proceed to study a language some might say I don’t technically have to study?
To the neighborhood right here at TSLL, that’s possible the silliest or best query to reply, and talking for myself, there are numerous causes.
- First, from an expert perspective, after studying one too many podcast evaluations from listeners annoyed by my poor French, one thing I by no means professed to be any good at, solely having a keenness and respect for the tradition and language, I used to be nicely conscious I wanted to get severe about my French pronunciation.
- Second, and these aren’t in a precedence order, I wish to sincerely know learn how to communicate with fluency a second language, and a second language I like utilized in a tradition I am keen on and proceed to be a pupil of its methods.
- Third, for ease of journey, as I favor to journey exterior of Paris into the small nation cities and villages, and it’s a excessive likelihood, in my expertise, that lower than half of the locals communicate English.
So, to simply put it on the market, my objective after nonetheless many programs it takes is to achieve B degree proficiency. It’s the B1 degree that you have to attain to be able to achieve citizenship in France, together with different elements past language, however relating to the language, I wish to attain this objective for the three causes I shared above in addition to the chance, ought to I be brave sufficient to some day dwell in France for lengthy durations of time (my pup or pups would include me bien sûr!)
With all of that stated, I’ve a little bit of a methods to go, however all of us have to start out someplace, on course, to be able to arrive on the above objectives, and enrolling in Washington D.C.’s Alliance de Française’s Zoom language programs has answered the query of learn how to study nicely the language so I can turn out to be extra fluent.
Starting at this time is a return to the sequence I started in 2016, so at this time’s episode/submit is labeled as Partie Quatre (half 4). As I make my method by my programs – a brand new quarter/course every season – search for future posts/episodes to be shared. You possibly can discover all of my French-themed posts and episodes through the respective hyperlinks.
1.How one can correctly pronounce the letter ‘Y’ in French
Let’s start with the alphabet. As I shared above, this was a day of ahas for me. I had NOOOOO concept that the letter ‘y’ was pronounced because it was. [igrec] Yep, [igrec] is the letter ‘Y’. It truly is the little gaps of studying that I missed which can be making all the distinction now in my complete studying of the language.
2. Understanding the English language nicely is a strong base to study the fundamental clause building in a brand new language
I shared in Partie Trois that it was my sound understanding of the intricacies of the English language resulting from my having been an English trainer for 20 years and for 11 of these years an AP Language (rhetoric) teacher that originally made it irritating as I spotted how little I comprehended of a second language. Nonetheless, this realization additionally concerned and deepened my appreciation for all that I do perceive in my native language and inspired me to turn out to be an much more considerate and clear communicator.
With that stated, understanding how an adjective, a possessive pronoun, articles, preposition and all different types of phrases operate in a sentence has made it simpler to grasp how and when to make use of these types of phrases within the French language. These guidelines, typically talking, are the identical in French. Now all I’ve to do and am at present engaged on is memorizing what these phrases are.
Which is to say, studying French whereas making use of my information of English has really enabled me to strengthen and higher perceive with much more readability my information of my native language. The quote on the high of at this time’s submit speaks to this realization, translated as “You possibly can by no means perceive one language till you perceive not less than two.”
3. I lastly perceive learn how to use the salutation coucou
A easy factor to know, however each time my pricey pal Veronique (who’s Belgian) would textual content me over time, she started with Coucou! With the context, I figured it was a salutation, however particularly what it imply and what the distinction was between ‘bonjour’, I didn’t not know.
Now I do! Coucou is the informelle type of a heat whats up to a pal or somebody you’re shut with. Aha!
4. How one can correctly pronounce the season ‘Automne‘
Don’t pronounce the ‘m’. It’s as straightforward at that.
5. The right use of Quelle/Quel (s) versus Quoi
First, whether or not Quel is masculine or female, singular or plural, it’s pronounced the identical, and the phrases asks the questions ‘what?’ or ‘which’, however Quoi additionally asks the query ‘what’. So learn how to distinguish between utilizing the 2?
Typically we’d hear Pourquoi – translated as ‘for what’ or that means ‘why?’, however what I’ve discovered that helps me distinguish when to make use of which is that Quelle/Quel/Quels/Quelles (a pronoun and adjective) will at all times be a part of an entire sentence and start stated sentence the place as Quoi, (an oblique object) could be requested solitarily, corresponding to ‘Quoi?” with the understood topic being unstated. For instance, somebody has acknowledged one thing you didn’t fully hear or imagine, and also you reply, “Quoi?” to both inquire as to what they really imply or to repeat themselves whereas Quelle/Quel/and so forth. must be adopted by a noun.
~Learn more about these two words with detailed examples on this post from Be taught French at Residence.
6. Preserve a working record of nouns and at all times embrace the article (that designates gender)
This was a suggestion a fellow pupil in my course this fall prompt, and I’ve since begun to heed her recommendation. Every time a brand new noun is taught, I write it down and embrace both un/une or le/la.
One of many variations between the French and the English language, as I shared in Partie Une, is that each French noun is both masculine or female, and it’s good to know the distinction to assemble your sentences correctly must you be combining the article with a preposition (i.e. à or de), which you ceaselessly might be doing or seeing in writing. You additionally have to know learn how to correctly pronounce the distinction of the articles définis (particular articles) between le, la, l’, and les which is one thing I took detailed bracketed notes on (le [lu], la [la], l’ [“l” sound blended with the vowel that follows], les [lay]).
7. Watching French reveals and movies usually has helped immensely
In 2016 MHzChoice wasn’t an possibility as a streaming service, however over the previous handful of years, with entry to this overseas language on-line platform for watching reveals (with English subtitles) from France (and different international locations all through Europe and South America), my ears have gotten extra attuned to what’s really being stated with out wanting on the subtitles. Whereas I nonetheless very a lot want the subtitles, with every week that passes having taking my French lessons this 12 months, I’m noticing my information is strengthened. I’m listening to phrases and understanding what they imply earlier than checking the subtitles (and once I see that I used to be right, I smile in celebration!)
This previous August throughout TSLL’s 7th Annual French Week I shared a submit that’s now one of the vital fashionable posts of all time on the weblog that features why I like to recommend this streaming platform and 11 reveals I get pleasure from watching. I have to replace this submit as extra reveals have been launched that I completely get pleasure from. Search for that to occur quickly, however within the meantime, remember to cease by every Friday for the usually posting of This & That as I embrace the brand new sequence I uncover on this submit.
8. Approaching a brand new language by instructing the fundamental grammatical parts first has been simplest for my studying
As I shared in Partie Trois, there have been two theories in learn how to method studying (or instructing) a brand new language, and whereas each have validity, upon taking French 101 and now 102 for the third time, it has been my expertise that the method getting used at present is the best for studying the language to speak fluently.
Sure, studying just a few key phrases is a good concept should you merely wish to get by while you’re touring. I fully perceive and agree with this technique, however as a pupil who needs to grasp the ‘why’ and ‘how’, studying the elemental parts – letter pronunciation, particular and indefinite articles, interrogative constructions, prepositions, possessive pronouns, and so forth. – has crammed the lacking gaps I used to be lacking and what made translating what I used to be studying unimaginable.
What has occurred as we study the above guidelines and constructions is that the phrases, the extra vocabulary are sprinkled all through the instructing. Our teacher ceaselessly pauses to ask if we’ve any questions – whether or not about vocabulary or in any other case – so we technically are receiving each approaches directly, however the precedence is given to the development and verbs and nouns come naturally from the topic issues we talk about.
9. Realizing the distinction in building between open (ouverte) and closed (fermée) questions
There are some phrases I’ve simply retained over time, not at all times understanding totally what they imply, however typically understanding when to make use of them. Qu’est-ce que is what such phrase, however I couldn’t have advised it was asking the query particularly ‘what’s’ or ‘what’s that’. However now I do know that Qu’est-ce que is the open (ouverte) query (Qu’est-ce que + topic + verb + complement). For instance: Qu’est-ce que qu’il cherche? (translation: What’s he in search of?)
A closed (fermée) query begins with the phrase Est-ce que . . . Primarily a sure or no response, thus why it’s referred to as a closed (fermée) query. (Est-ce que + topic + verb + complement). For instance: Est-ce que il est dans le centre? (translation: Is it within the city heart? [response: yes or no])
Little question, French audio system are verbally saying aloud as they learn this, nicely, duh Shannon, however these are the straightforward differentiations and items of data I used to be missing and have been missing for years. Fortunately, I’ve an teacher who solutions all of our questions, irrespective of how easy or apparent it could appear to a speaker of the language, and for that I’m grateful.
10. Reviewing in between lessons together with doing the homework is regularly strengthening language reminiscence abilities
Returning to being a pupil is a brand new routine to step again into, however what I’ve discovered useful about being in these programs hosted on Zoom by Washington D.C.’s Alliance de Française is the accountability. Not that I didn’t have fellow college students within the earlier lessons I took, however every of the scholars needs to be there, is keen to study and to be able to sustain, it’s good to purchase the previous lessons classes in an effort to transfer ahead with the category. There’s a regular tempo of ahead studying that’s assumed you’ll attain, so you can’t maintain again when you have questions. Understanding, clarifying should you don’t, reaching out to the professor in school or exterior of sophistication is predicted in order that the category can transfer ahead as deliberate.
The man college students within the now two programs I’ve enrolled in have been inspiring. We’re of quite a lot of ages, professions and life experiences, and as I’m from Oregon, from throughout the nation (most are from the D.C. space as these programs solely started being provided on-line throughout the pandemic – fortunately they’ve stored these digital lessons). All of us who proceed to indicate up for every class are decided to study and include completely different expertise with the language, however that’s what deepens my understanding of this lovely language much more. Their questions, whereas they could be mine, affirm or additional make clear what I believed I knew, and moreso than ever on this third go-round of trying to study the language I’m not afraid to ask questions when I’m confused, even when it could be an apparent reply to different college students.
11. As a way to take up and study the language I want an precise teacher (and digital isn’t a detriment as I believed it may be)
Whereas I’ve used varied apps and listened to numerous podcasts to strengthen my French language abilities, what I’ve found is most respected to my long-term and correct studying of the language is working with an teacher in real-time who sees me and is aware of I’m within the class in order that I can have interaction immediately.
Whereas I had assumed (wrongly) that I wanted to be within the bodily room to study the language, fortunately I found this isn’t the case as I really feel I’m studying way more and the language is far clearer based mostly on the standard of the instruction.
12. Bringing my humility is vital to raised studying
There have been moments of full perplexity, however as I shared above, I simply stored asking questions, and fortunately, the professor stored hanging in there with me and explaining in quite a lot of methods till the lightbulb clicked.
The ego have to be stored in test, and as adults who could also be extremely proficient in different areas of experience, on this case the place I’m studying a language that has taken a very long time to even turn out to be near barely greedy, reminding myself to be humble and don’t be hesitant to say I’m open to studying as a result of it simply doesn’t make sense as been one of the best drugs to take with me to every class. I additionally wish to hold this quote shared by Amy Chua in thoughts to shift my lack of proficiency within the language right into a optimistic, “Are you aware what a overseas accent is? It’s an indication of bravery.“
And with that I’ll wrap up this quatrième partie of what I’ve discovered in French language class up to now. Might the training proceed and proceed to enhance. À la prochaine!
Petit Plaisir
~Bottle Shock, a movie (2008)
~The Easy Sophisticate, episode #349
~Subscribe to The Easy Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube | Spotify | Amazon Music
