Madame Cardi
How to Study French as a Foreign Language
For many students, this will be their first time studying a foreign
language. I would like to offer these suggestions to both students and their
parents on how to make studying a little easier and more beneficial.
A. Studying Vocabulary & Grammar:
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Make lists of vocabulary in your notebook. Fold the piece of paper vertically in half
and write the French words on one side of the paper and the English words on the
other side.
Make flashcards of the words. Put the French on one side and the English on the
other. Keep going over the flashcards until you know them all solidly. If you
definitely know a word, put it to the side. If you don’t know a word, put it back into
the stack so that you can review it. Practice with your flashcards every night for 10
minutes. If you make a habit of doing this, you won’t have to study as much for the
quizzes and tests.
Look at the pictures of the words in the book. Pictures can sometimes help you
remember.
Make associations to words that you know in English.
For verb conjugations, practice writing out the verb conjugations in your notebook. I
will show a good way to do this when the time comes.
Say the vocabulary words or verb conjugations out loud.
You have to memorize. Memorization is the main task in learning a new language.
Memorize short phrases or sentences rather than individual words alone.
Learn the ideas, not just the words.
Practice them with a classmate.
B. Don’t Fall Behind :
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French, just like any other subject (even more so sometimes), is cumulative. That
means that you need to keep up on your work. One way to do this is to do your
homework every night.
Homework is a must because it is part of the learning/practicing process. It allows a
student to digest material that was learned in class in their own time. By completing
an assignment carefully, once the homework has been corrected in class or by the
teacher, you will know which information you grasped and which information you
need to review or study again.
Remember that it is the habits that doing homework has helped you form, and the
vocabulary, syntax, and language patterns that doing homework has helped you
master which really matter, more so than the homework being 100% correct.
Even if written homework has not been assigned, you should look over the material
we have covered in class. You might practice pronunciation on your own or with a
friend, study vocabulary, or practice conjugating verbs. If you practice reading aloud
what you have to study and what you are writing, you will be adding an extra
dimension to you work. Your memory will be helped doubly in the learning process.
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Do your work daily and you will find the studying much more effective and longlasting than if you try to cram at the last minute for a test or classroom performance.
Foreign language learning means habit formation, and you just cannot cram habits.
They take time and persistence to form.
Build on what you already know. As you progress in your language study, you have
to know what you learned the day before, the week before, the month before.
When you are absent, it is very important that you find out what work you missed
and what notes were covered in class. Ask a classmate who you know that takes very
good notes. If you feel as though you are falling behind or are confused on a
particular topic, don’t let it go. See your teacher immediately! That is what I am here
for so don’t be afraid.
C. In-Class Suggestions:
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Pay attention! Don’t distract or be distracted by others. You could miss important
information or directions on how to complete an assignment. Paying attention in
class will also make your work outside class much easier.
Language learning means habit development. By listening to your teacher or the CD
and imitating them (aloud or silently), you improve your oral French. Try to imitate
your teacher’s pronunciation and speech patterns. In doing so, you form necessary
habits that will make you a successful French student.
When the teacher or the CD is explaining or reciting something, listen and think
about what they are saying. Do no heave a sigh of relief and “tune out” when you are
not reciting. Respond mentally to each comment and question; conduct a sort of
mental dialogue on the subject matter if you are not actually conversing with teacher
or classmates.
What goes on the board should go in your notes.
Keep your notebooks and folders neat. That way when you go to study for a quiz or a
test, everything is easy to find.
Don’t keep papers or homework from other classes in your French notebook or folder.
Remember, you should have a notebook and a folder devoted ONLY to French.
Participate as often as possible! Try not to be shy or afraid… We are all here to help
each other and to support each other. It is far better to try, even if it is not perfect,
than to sit and never speak. Speaking in class will help you remember new words.
Remember, it is impossible to learn a foreign language without making mistakes.
You have to make mistakes in order to learn from them. Just jump in and try!
Be enthusiastic about learning. You will learn a great deal of French this year, and
by the end of the year, you will be able to communicate with French-speaking people.
French is fun!
If you follow these hints carefully, you will almost certainly succeed in your French
work, enjoy your class, and win the heartfelt approval of your teacher, your family,
and yourself. Good luck!