Avoid these common mistakes while learning French. Follow these simple tricks while learning French language and become a confident French speaker. Let’s face it—learning a new language is not a simple endeavour. When learning a new language, everyone makes mistakes.
Especially a language with as many rules, exceptions, and silent words as French. But surely everyone starts somewhere. As long as you learn from your mistakes, it’s absolutely acceptable to make them.
Here are the 6 common mistakes while learning French we all make.
1. Focusing too much on grammar
We all know that grammar is essential while learning a language but focusing too much on just that will make you fumble while speaking it. Why? Because every time you say a sentence, you are so busy framing the grammatically correct that you lose your rhythm. So, in brief, we should focus on grammar but only up to a point where it doesn’t hinder our fluency.
2. Making textbooks the only medium to learn
This is the most common mistake we all make while learning a language. Aren’t we always told that books are the best source of knowledge? By all means, it’s true. But! We need not only to read and write a language but also to listen to and speak it. Although books can be quite helpful, they fall short when it comes to developing your speaking and listening skills. Internet, our forever best buddy, is here to save the day. Try watching the daily vlogs of the natives and listening to podcasts and the radio.
Find out the 5 fun ways to learn French quickly and easily.
3. Not starting with sounds
French is all about those nasal sounds and yet we often neglect the sounds. Acing the sounds should be the very first step when learning French. It helps us to sound more like a native!
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4. Practicing fewer tests
Practicing fewer tests while learning French can be a major mistake. Regular testing is like a reality check – it helps identify knowledge gaps and areas that need more attention. Effective practice methods include active recall exercises, like flashcards and quizzes, and spaced repetition, which involves reviewing material at increasing intervals.
Frequent practice is the key to reinforcing your French language skills! Just like hitting the gym regularly builds muscles, consistent practice strengthens your language muscles. So, don’t shy away from tests, embrace them as your language learning workout! A little bit, every day.
5. Not communicating in French with your friends
Just like any musical instrument, a language can get better with daily practice. Limiting the studies to a desk is never an option. Try to talk in French with your friends and classmates whenever you get a chance! This way you will improve your speaking and listening skill. Moreover, you can correct each other’s French too!
Here’s a fun video by FrenchPod101 on how you can start a conversation in French.
6. Mistaking between Cognates and Faux-amis
Cognates are words that are similar in spelling and meaning between languages. However, Faux-amis are words that look similar but have different meanings. For example: “actual” in English means real, while “actuel” in French means current.
Commonly confused English-French words include:
- Embarrassed/ Embarrassé (Ashamed)/ (Obstructed)
- Collect/ Collecter (To gather)/ (To collect)
- Sensible/ Sensible (Practical)/ (Sensitive)
To remember the differences, one needs to focus on pronunciation, context, and any subtle differences in meaning.
7. Misplacing adjectives
French adjectives can be quite fickle when it comes to placement. They often follow the noun they modify, unlike in English. However, there are exceptions that can trip up even the most seasoned French learners. For instance, adjectives describing beauty, goodness, size, age, and shape typically precede the noun! Confusing right?
- A common mistake beginners make is placing all adjectives after the noun. For example: saying “une belle robe”, instead of “une robe belle” is incorrect.
- Another pitfall is forgetting to change the adjective’s ending to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
For example: saying “une petit fille”, instead of “une petite fille” is totally wrong!
By mastering these adjective placement rules and practicing regularly, you’ll be well on your way to speaking French like a native!
8. Gender agreement between nouns and articles
In French, gender is a crucial aspect of grammar, affecting both nouns and the articles that precede them. Nouns are either masculine or feminine, and the article must agree in gender. For example: “le livre” (the book) uses the masculine article “le”, while “la maison” (the house) uses the feminine article “la”.
Remembering the gender of every French noun can be a daunting task. However, there are a few tricks to help you.
- Pay attention to word endings, as certain suffixes often indicate gender.
For instance, nouns ending in “-tion” are typically feminine, while those ending in “-eau” are usually masculine.
- Additionally, practice using nouns in sentences and pay attention to the articles used with them.
With consistent practice and observation, you’ll become a gender agreement pro in no time!
9. Not benefiting from websites offering French courses
Another common mistake is not taking advantage of the many websites and apps that offer French courses. Such French language resources can be a great way to supplement your learning and practice your skills. The most commonly used examples of such resources are Duolingo, Babble and Memrise.
However, structured online courses can also be a great way to learn French. These courses often have a clear curriculum and provide you with regular feedback from your instructor.
This can help you stay on track and make progress in your learning. One such example is La Forêt French Class. It is like having your own personal French tutor right at your fingertips! Their witty and engaging approach makes learning French super fun.
Remember: When choosing online resources, it’s important to consider your learning style. For example, if you are a visual learner, you are likely to prefer courses with videos and infographics. Likewise, if you are an auditory learner, you may prefer courses with audio lessons and podcasts. By selecting the best resources for your learning style, you can make the most of your French learning experience!
10. Not indulging in the culture
A language is never limited to just writing or speaking. Gelling in with the culture of that particular language is equally important because often some sentences start making sense when you learn about its context, especially idiomatic expressions! Do not make your French boring, start indulging in the beautiful French culture and get to learn the language even better.
Click here to know all about French Culture.
11. Not making native friends
Social media rules this generation! Have you made any friends as a result of your wide influence? If not, why are you still waiting? Making a native buddy online won’t hurt you; in fact, it’ll benefit you in a number of ways. You can learn about the slang, culture, and ways of communicating, and you can ask them to correct you when you make a mistake. Who knows, you might even run into them when you travel to France.
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Conclusion
In a nutshell, making mistakes while learning French is completely fine as long as you are learning something from them! Set small and achievable goals for yourself and celebrate your small wins. This will always motivate you to continue. Be proud of yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone and learning a new language!
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