How can I improve my French?
If you are asking this question, then you're probably already familiar with some French or are currently taking French classes. Perhaps you are learning the language but are worried you will never become fluent it in. After all, wouldn't anyone want to get good at a language they started learning in the first place?
Other than just French classes, there are other proven and easy ways to learn this Romance language, without even having to push the boat out. We've compiled a list of fun ways you can learn French at any place, and at any time. Let's get to it!
1. Watch films to learn French
French movies and French series can be incredibly fun for learning French, but it can also be overwhelming if you just are learning the language for the first time. So before you ready your movie snacks, keep in mind that it's okay to miss a few French words and sentences in the characters' dialogues. After all, that's what the rewind button is for!
Our top tip is to rewind your favourite movie scenes so you can listen closely to what the characters are saying, and pay attention to the way certain sentences are being said: that should guide you on how the French usually go about daily conversations. You don't have to watch French movies that use only standard French because you should learn other accents, too - take Kirikou et la Sorcière for instance, and learn the African French accent.
You can look for French movies that have subtitles in your language and immerse yourself in the story. But if you really want to challenge yourself, change up the subtitles to French and experience a 2-in-1 visual and auditory learning experience. Once you're ready, check out these beginner French movies:
La Vie d’Adèle
One of those wonderfully-curated French movies surrounding romance, desire, freedom and self-identity. Plot aside, this is a great movie for learning everyday phrases in social settings and relationships. It also happens to star Bond actress, Léa Seydoux.
La Famille Bélier
You may have heard of the 2021 film CODA, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. As an English-language remake of the original 2014 French-Belgian film, La Famille Bélier, this is a great movie to watch especially if you are already familiar with the plot. As French sign language is used throughout the movie, you'll greatly benefit from reading the French and English subtitles.
Other famous French movies for beginners that you may have heard of include Amélie and Intouchables. Or if you choose a French series, you should explore ones that offer a look at French language history.
2. Sing along to French songs
We hope you were able to recite a few of your favourite lines from a French series or movie! In addition to movies, you can pick up the language by belting out lines from French songs. Learning French songs can teach you not only new vocabulary and grammar, but guide you through how certain words should be pronounced.
Like watching a French series, you can learn about common French phrases and how to use them. The additional advantage is the natural and fun way of singing French songs that you remember, much like how one would randomly sing some lines from a BTS song even if Korean wasn't their mother tongue! After memorising some lyrics, you'll be able to use new French words in writing, too.
Start by singing along to these French songs:
La Vie En Rose
An iconic song that you probably heard either in Wall-E or other famous movies, you can't go wrong with learning the lyrics to this Édith Piaf classic. We're confident that you already know some lines of the song, even if you are a complete beginner at French. Paired with its slow pace and clear pronunciation from the artist, this is great if you want to learn French at the beginner level.
Je Veux
For a more jazzy feel, this song by Zaz explores materialism and the pursuit of true happiness. To be fair, this is a song for beginner to intermediate learners as it involves many conjugations of French verbs and nouns. However, this will help you go over the tenses you may have already learned while guiding you to understand new tenses in French, such as le conditionnel (in the song for instance, "j'en ferais quoi?", or "What would I do?").
There are tremendous advantages to learning French through song.
3. Sign up for French lessons
If you're like me, you likely aren't thinking of French lessons as a "fun way" to learn French. Instead, you may be thinking: "I might end up taking French classes with a boring French teacher."
What if I tell you Superprof can help you find the right French teacher?
The traditional mode of learning may look like a huge classroom with students seated at every desk. But at Superprof, we are looking at tutors who are experienced in conducting online French classes, and are capable of engaging their students in various interactive ways! Did you know you can even opt for one-to-one lessons?
Yes, you can take French classes with a group of friends or become a French prodigy under your tutor's wing. Superprof emphasises tailoring French lessons to each student's needs, which is why you can directly contact your tutor through the platform. Simply register as a student on Superprof to book your lesson.
With the Superprof Student Pass, you can reach out to any of our French tutors to schedule your first lesson and let your tutor know what you want to learn. A personalised French learning experience? That sounds like fun to me!
4. Take part in French festivals
You didn't think that Malaysia was out of touch with French entertainment, did you? In addition to online French classes, you can engage your senses in French culture by taking part in these yearly French festivals. You don't even need to travel all the way to France for the ultimate festival experience.
Le French Festival
Having just celebrated its 20th edition in 2022, this festival travels from city to city, including but not limited to Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. Collaborating with partners such as Alliance Française and the Malaysian French embassy, visitors will be able to:
- Dine in for French delicacies curated by world-class chefs
- Participate in champagne and cocktail masterclasses
- Watch French plays and classical music performances
- Enjoy the latest award-winning French films
MyFrenchFilmFestival
What about joining a French festival from home? As the first online French film festival, you can enjoy carefully-selected films that are designed to illustrate the diversity of Francophone cinema. Those who joined in their 13th edition this year were able to enjoy an eclectic selection of short and feature films, such as The World After Us, Cataracte and Magnetic Beats.
The festival also happens to be entirely free of charge, so don't miss out!
5. Use French learning apps
We're not done yet with our list of resources for learning French the fun way. By now, if you are yet to try out apps to learn French, then you are missing out on many engaging French lessons. We'd like to share with you a couple of our favourite apps for French and how they can help you learn French effectively.
Rosetta Stone
Several features of this app make it one of the best for learning French. Their immersion-based learning approach provides you with real exposure to French dialogue, so you'll have to start learning French from the get-go instead of having everything translated for you.
The advantage is a natural way of learning, and combined with its speech-recognition technology, you can work on your pronunciation, too. You can also find challenges along the way in your French lessons, helping you stay on track with your learning progress. Take note of the free trial which lasts only three days!
Duolingo
It's likely you've seen the app's familiar green owl everywhere. As an interactive and game-based language-learning app, you can study French for as little as 10 minutes a day. Additionally, if you don't mind the ads that pop up from time to time, you can use this app completely for free.
Just because you can choose to learn French for just a few minutes a day doesn't mean that it isn't effective, though. You need to successfully master reading, writing, speaking and listening practices at every level to progress in your French lessons.
With all these fun ways to learn French, it's time to boost your French learning.
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