My name is Carole and I am French. I was born and raised in Paris, and I want to help you test your French in real-life situations! As the founder of Test Your French, I am very versed in learning French. In my experience, it’s best to have a method that you like. Here is How to get better at French!
All the pictures in this article are from my personal collection.
Read on and get ready like nobody else!
First of all, bravo for learning French! You are doing so much good for yourself. Learning a new language boosts your brainpower in many ways. You are staying sharp because of it! It opens doors to a fascinating new culture. It makes your French travels so much more fun and interesting.
Plus French is a category 1 language, meaning it’s among the easiest languages to learn in the world. I know that it does not feel like that. But think of Chinese or Arabic, those are category 5 languages. Imagine how much more difficult it could be! So keep up the good work with French, you’re doing magnifique !
Read on and improve your French fast!
The method on how to get better at French is composed of 4 principles, 8 tips and 1 French routine planner.
Table of Contents
How to get better at French: 4 powerful principles
Here are 4 powerful principles to elevate your French quickly:
- Speak Up: force yourself to speak French aloud. Verbalization builds muscle memory for fluent speech. Talk to your pet, your favorite TV characters, yourself. Anything that works for you.
- Listen Closely: Pay attention to how French is spoken and try to mimic the sounds and rhythms. Do it when you are alone. Get used to listening and repeat with confidence.
- Be aware of Your Learning Style and Build on it: Use the learning method that has worked best for you when you were a student. For example, if it’s visual, do a lot of written flashcards. If it’s auditory, listen to podcasts.
- Test Your French Regularly: assess your progress to identify areas for improvement and stay motivated.
PRO Tip How to get better at French: Take our free quiz ASAP!
How to get better at French: 8 actionable tips
Now let’s break down these 4 principles into practical steps. Here are 8 actionable tips to help you implement them in your daily routine:
- Find a Language Partner: Engage in spoken conversations with a native speaker or language exchange partner, online or in-person.
- Embrace Background Noise: Surround yourself with spoken French while doing chores. Listen actively and anytime you understand something, repeat aloud. I call it French bingo!
- Watch French Films, Cartoons or Shows: Watch French movies and shows with French subtitles first, then without. Visual context aids comprehension.You can also watch an English speaking movie you love dubbed in French.
- Listen actively to French music: listen to a French song while reading the lyrics. That will strengthen your hearing muscle.
- Create your own flashcards: Write them by hand (it’s better for memorising) and do a few every day.
- Journal in French: Write a short journal entry in French, reflecting on your week or a topic of interest.
- Participate in a Language Exchange Meetup: join a language exchange meetup with other French learners (online or in your town or both)
- Take French quizzes regularly: go online to find ressources, take our free quiz and create your own quizzes to test your French. Handwritten quizzes are a great way to reinforce learning and improve memory retention.
PRO Tip How to get better at French: if you need to watch French movies with English subtitles because you want to understand the story, it’s fine. Just watch it again with French subtitles so you can focus more on the language and not the plot.
How to get better at French: French Routine Planner
“Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.” (Little by little, the bird builds its nest.)
The key to succeed is to organise your learning through routines. Routines help you stay focused, learn faster, and feel less stressed. When you have a routine, your brain knows what to expect, so it can work more efficiently. This means you can learn new things more quickly and remember them better.
Routines can also help you manage your time better. When you know what you need to do and when, you’re less likely to waste time.
For example:
Daily routine: Everyday, during breakfast, I…
…review 5 French flashcards.
Weekly routine: Every Sunday, I…
…watch a French movie or TV show with French subtitles.
AND/OR
…write a short journal entry in French.
Monthly routine: Every first Saturday of the month, I…
…go to a language exchange meetup with other French learners.
AND/OR
… take a French Test.
PRO Tip How to get better at French: To make it easier for you, we created a Free French Routine Planner that you can fill out each month. Leave us your email and you will get right away!
And voilà: You are ready to improve your French FAST! Congratulations! You have cracked the code on how to get better at French!
Leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks. I will help you get better at French!
FAQ
How much time should I dedicate to get better at French?
Here is how to get better at French: Grab our free routine planner and start your journey to fluency. Consistency is key!
