French language originated somewhere around the 9th century from the Latin spoken by the Gauls. For many centuries, French was the language of aristocracy and court, but it gradually spread to the common people through trade and the influence of the French colonial empire. During the French Revolution, the language was adopted as the official language and underwent standardisation. Today, French is spoken by over 300 million people as a first or second language worldwide.
The French language has evolved over time and is known for its complex grammar rules and pronunciation. It is a gendered language, meaning that every noun is classified as either masculine or feminine. It also has a unique verb construction which requires the speaker to match the tense, mood, and person of the subject.
Learning French is an ongoing process that requires commitment and dedication if you want to master it. You can't learn to speak French overnight, and you probably can't learn it on your own, without any help.
Whether you want to travel, study or work abroad, or just impress your friends with your new language skills, read on to find out how you can start learning French today!
Is Learning French Affordable?
While many of us are interested to learn French, we are often held back by the fear of not being able to afford it. With the rise of cost of living and having many commitments such as mortgage, phone bills and others, forking out money to learn a new language might not seem plausible.
However, how many of us have actually taken the time to properly research: How Much Does it Cost to Learn French?
It is common for many people to just dismiss the prospects of learning French with the assumption that it might be too expensive and they will not be able to afford it. Nevertheless, in this modern era, there are a wide variety of options for you to choose from to learn this language. The cost of lessons can vary depending on several factors such as proficiency level, online or physical class, instructor’s qualifications and experience and duration of the class or course.
Online classes are usually cheaper than physical classroom based learning. If you are on a tight budget, you can take this into consideration. Of course traditional classroom learning has its own advantages but there are self paced classes and live classes available online.
In Malaysia, there are plenty of options for you to learn French online or face-to-face. Alliance Francaise, ICLS are great options for those who prefer physical classes. FrenchPod101.com and Babel are popular choices for those who prefer learning online.
Hiring a private tutor from Superprof is one of the best option that is not only affordable but also gives you the opportunity to choose between online or physical classes. Superprof connects you with tutors who use different learning approaches to meet their students’ needs.
With highly experienced and qualified tutors who will be able to help you master French, we strongly believe that you will achieve your goals in no time!
How to Find the Right French Tutor?
Whether you want to learn French because you want to pursue higher education in France or you are looking to get a job and move to a French speaking country, finding the right teacher or tutor who can help you achieve your goals is important.
Of course there is no one right teacher. Right teacher in this context means a teacher or tutor who is able to understand your learning style and needs and is able to guide you towards achieving your goals.
The key to finding the right teacher for you is to first look within. Are you an absolute beginner who is just starting out to learn French or are you at an intermediate level where you know basic French and you are looking to improve?
Your goals matter as well. Are you planning to pursue a certificate course like DELF or DALF? Or you are learning for fun? These factors matter when you are looking for a French language teacher.
Furthermore, there are certain traits that you might be comfortable with. Some may be comfortable with a tutor who has a strict regime that will cover certain topics each class and give you homework to practice what you have learned. While others may prefer a more relaxed learning environment where the teacher will follow the student’s pace.
In general, there are certain traits that a good teacher will have such as patience, strong grasp of the subject matter and the ability to present the subject matter in way that the student can understand.
Importance of Practicing Speaking in French
The common dilemma when it comes to learning a new language is that you do not have people around you that you can practice speaking with.
In this instance, as you are learning French, you can’t exactly speak in French with your family members or friends as they do not understand the language. Speaking to your teacher in class does not really help as it doesn’t give you the real world conversation experience.
French lessons usually focuses on you learning the technicalities of the language such as grammar and vocabulary. However, how can you practice speaking French? You do need to put what you have learned into practice. If you are unable to have a conversation with other French speakers, there is no point in learning the language.
Thanks to the evolution of technology, there are many ways for you to practice speaking French while taking lessons. You can opt to look for conversation partners online using apps and websites such as Tandem and MyLanguageExchange. This method is very beneficial as you get to practice speaking with actual native French speakers.
Another great way to practice speaking is by speaking French out aloud to yourself. You can have a pretend conversation based on real life scenarios. For example, you can practice having a conversation in a restaurant with a waiter in a French restaurant or a conversation on the weather conditions with a friend. When these situations really occur in real life, you will better prepared for it even if the conversation does not go exactly as you have practiced.
Reading French books and listening French audio books are another great option to practice speaking. Read the books out aloud to practice your pronunciation and repeating after the audio books will help you master sentence structures.
Best Way to Certify Your French Language Skills
Learning French or any new language for that matter can be a challenging but fulfilling experience. There is a sense of achievement to mastering a new language. When you are able to communicate and understand French, you will feel a sense of pride in your accomplishment.
However, if you plan to seek employment, residence permits, citizenship or university admissions in French-speaking countries, you need to take a step higher than just learning the language.
You will need to to proof that you have mastered the language. How do you demonstrate that you are able to speak French fluently and have amazing reading and writing skills as well?
The best way to do this is by sitting for exams that can prove your proficiency level and a certificate that is recognised internationally. There are many certificates available for the French language but which one should you pursue?
DILF, DELF and DALF are examinations that correspond to the official Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels that measure different language abilities. The CEFR system which is reliable and standardised is measured on a six level scale of progression from A1 to C2.
DILF, DELF and DALF targets different levels of French learners. The type of exam you choose and which level to pursue depends on your goals and proficiency level. For example, if you are an absolute beginner in French and you are currently located in France, you can attempt DILF. If you are looking for something basic to start off with, you can consider DILF, if not, you can skip it.
DELF is one of the most beneficial certificate for French language learners. It encompasses levels A1 through B2, covering beginner and intermediate learners. The DELF B2 exam is a good fit for those seeking to study bachelor’s degree course is France or get a job that requires moderate level of French.
While the usual placement test results will determine what level you are in, with DELF and DALF, you need to determine your level and choose to sit for the appropriate test. If you would like to know more, check out DELF: The Best Way to Certify Your French Language Skills.
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