Building confidence early while learning how to speak French can help you master the basics and reach proficiency. Starting with a solid foundation of basic French words and phrases, getting a handle on pronunciation, and practicing your accent are just a few things you can do from day one to speak French avec confiance (with confidence).
Encouraging confidence is baked into Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion method. By pairing words with images for context and tapping into your innate ability to learn to speak French, your confidence will grow in your first lesson.
1. Decide which French variant you want to learn
The standard taught to most French learners is called Metropolitan French. It’s the main dialect spoken in Paris, but it’s spoken by little of the native French-speaking world. Depending on why you’re learning French, emulating Parisians may not be the best choice. No matter which variant or accent you learn, Rosetta Stone’s TruAccent speech recognition engine can help you feel more confident in your pronunciation and speaking skills because it compares your voice to native speakers’.
Explore a few well-known French dialects to see which best meets your goals and needs.
Belgian French
If you’re traveling to Belgium, it’s worth noting the differences in their Belgian French. For example, Belgians use a simplified French number system where they say septante instead of soixante-dix (70) and huitante instead of quatre-vingt (80). Since the southern region of Belgium, known as Wallonia, borders France, you’ll find Belgian French most useful there.
Cajun French
You certainly don’t need to learn French to visit Louisiana, but understanding Cajun French can give you a deeper understanding of the state’s unique history and culture.
Some trademarks of the Cajun accent include an “r” sound more similar to Spanish or Italian pronunciations, less emphasis on the final consonant in words, and different vowel pronunciations. Many verb conjugations are simplified in Cajun French: Contractions like t’es for tu es and t’as for tu as are common. Cajun French also uses more pronouns, so ça means “it” and vous-autres means “you all.”
Canadian French
If you’re visiting Québec or doing business with Canada, understanding the nuances of Canadian French will be helpful. Millions of Canadians speak French as their first language: Most, but not all, of them live in the province of Québec. The Québécois accent is characterized by more diphthongs, nasal vowels, “s” or “z” sounds in some words with “d” or “t” consonants, and speech with a more musical quality than Metropolitan French.
Swiss French
Switzerland is a multilingual country—Swiss French is most useful if you’re visiting the Romandie region. The Swiss French accent includes clearer pronunciation of word endings, slower speech, and more enunciation than Metropolitan French. There’s also a slight difference between long and short vowel sounds. For example, mettre (to put) and maître (teacher) sound the same in Metropolitan French but different in Swiss French
2. Read aloud in French to practice pronunciation
Gain confidence with French pronunciation by practicing the sound each letter makes. Once the sounds make sense to you, you’ll have an easier time pronouncing and remembering words that are new to you.
Reading out loud is an easy way to practice French pronunciation. Graphic novels, comics, and familiar children’s stories are engaging for beginner learners. Because they’re short and feature less text than French literature classics, you’ll build confidence as you quickly finish each story.
3. Listen to French media to build your vocabulary list
From Serge Gainsbourg to Stromae, there’s French music for every personal taste. Listening to music can expose you to new vocabulary, slang words, wordplay, and cultural themes.
Listening to music and podcasts in French flexes different muscles than writing or speaking it. When you listen to podcasts, you become more familiar with the French accent and practice retaining information you hear in French. Try some of our favorite French Language Podcasts:
- French Pod 101 (Beginner)
- Coffee Break French (Beginner/Intermediate)
- One Thing in a French Day (Intermediate/Advanced)
- News in Slow French (Any level)
4. Tap into several learning styles by immersing yourself in French movies
You’ll be more likely to stick to your journey of learning to speak French and use the language in everyday life if you choose immersion activities that you enjoy. When you watch French films and TV series in your favorite genres, you won’t just learn French—you’ll expand your cultural horizons.
It’s easy to find international movies and TV shows on popular streaming services. Start by watching them with English subtitles, then as you get better, you’ll be able to use closed captions in the original language or no subtitles at all. You can also watch your favorite English-language shows with target language dubs when they’re available.
5. Speak French whenever you can
Don’t wait until you’re confident you know how to speak French fluently to seek out conversation practice. On the contrary, conversation practice with other people will build your confidence. You’ll get used to talking about your life, learn from other people, get better at adapting on the fly, and make some friends who share your interests.
To get more personalized feedback on your French speaking skills in real-time with practice conversations, Rosetta Stone tutoring sessions are available in multiple time zones. Individual or small group tutoring sessions align with core Rosetta Stone French lessons, so you can practice using what you’ve learned in conversations with a tutor who is a confident French speaker.
Build your French speaking skills quickly with Rosetta Stone
Building confidence in learning how to speak French as a newer learner requires patience and practice. Consider your learning style, and lean into learning opportunities that best align with it. Live lessons from Rosetta Stone give you opportunities to hear culturally relevant topics explained by native speakers—and they’re free with all subscriptions!
0 Commentaires