Tips And Advice For Learning A Foreign Language

By Author: Richard Smith
Total Articles: 13
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When it comes to learning languages in schools, the first language many of us are taught as a matter of course is often French. While Spanish and German also feature later on in the curriculum, French always comes first.

Learning any new language can be very difficult, but if you approach it in the right way it can be made easier. Of course pupils will be taught in a specific way by their teachers, and these methods should be followed. But you can look forward to making it slightly easier on yourself by putting some additional work in.

The first step – and perhaps the most obvious one of all – is to make sure you are always alert when sitting in a lesson. If your mind wanders you won’t take in the material and you’ll learn far less than you could otherwise. Regardless of how long or short the lesson is, think of it as an opportunity to focus on learning a few more words or phrases. Really get to grips with what the teacher wants to pass along for that day, so you can be sure the time spent in the lesson is well spent.

Many schools also focus on school travel ...
... to France. Trips can easily be done in a day, or a longer period of time can be spent there if older pupils take part in the trip. Being in France and listening to people speaking French as part of their daily lives is a wonderful experience for anyone learning the language. The same applies to the process of reading signs and menus, even if English text is provided as well. You can soak up more knowledge in one day spent in France than you might in any other way.

School travel on a French language programme can be a good option for those who are already getting to grips with the language. This is for the more advanced pupil who is ready to go beyond the classroom for a period of time. It requires you to stay in France as a resident for a longer period, sometimes months and sometimes a year or more. If you are passionate about the language and you want to become fluent in it, a French language programme such as this is the best way to get the results you want.

But perhaps the best piece of advice to give would simply be to persevere and learn at your own pace. Some people suck up knowledge in anything like a sponge, whereas others are slower at getting to where they want to be. Just remember to learn gradually and take things in at the pace that suits you. In this way you’ll learn to enjoy French and you’ll pick it up more easily as well. And isn’t that what you really want?