"French is the language that turns dirt into romance." -Stephen King
If the romantic sound of the words cœur, amour, croissant, or the phrase je t’aime appeal to you, then you are amongst millions of people worldwide who find French absolutely enchanting to speak, read and write.
Of course, simply admiring a language is not enough to encourage someone to dedicate themselves to becoming fluent. You need a structured language acquisition programme to learn any new foreign language and these benefits always outweigh the inevitable challenges that come along with learning French – especially if you can invest in the help of a private French tutor.
So why not take the plunge and begin learning French today? With hard work, a willingness to succeed, and perseverance, you could progress your beginner or intermediate French-speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension in no time at all.
Speaking French clearly incorporates knowing how to write well in French. If this sounds exciting, then this article which focuses on tips for writing French is for you.
Keep a Daily Journal
The practice of journaling has regained popularity in recent times for many reasons such as:
- Relieving stress
- Noting brilliant ideas
- Boosting creativity
- Aiding memory
- Goal setting
All of these are great reasons to keep a diary, but if you want to practise writing in French, then keeping a daily diary will certainly help to improve your skills in between your weekly French classes.
With most experts backing the idea that journals will improve your writing in French, why not start today with the skills that you already have? Before you scoff at the idea you should know that there are advanced students who have done this and who have reported that in looking back it was a very effective supplement to their French lessons.
Besides the confidence for writing in French that you will gain, keeping a journal will help you to remember certain events and clearly demonstrate how your language ability advances. Don’t be surprised to find some faux amis when you look back.
A what?
A faux ami is a very common error for anyone new to writing French. In English, it is translated as ‘false friend’ and is when a foreign language student mistakenly uses a French word that looks similar (but is not) to a word in their own language.
One example of a faux ami is the French word actuellement which looks like it could mean ‘actually’ but in fact, means ‘at present’.
So why not grab a blank notebook and just start writing in French. Just start, it doesn’t matter what you don’t know, just practise what you do know.
Translate Your Favourite Songs
Do you like Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Adele, Justin Timberlake, and Harry Styles? If you listen to their music to such an extent that you know the words off by heart, then this could prove to be a valuable opportunity for you. Taking your favourite songs and then translating them into the language that you are learning is a technique that is suggested by many language teachers. It is also a brilliant way to memorise and retain new French vocabulary!
The exercise of translating the song will be beneficial on its own, however, once you start singing along to an instrumental version of your song, your confidence in speaking French will undoubtedly reach new heights!
Apart from this fun and unique translation and vocabulary exercise, listening to French music will also hone your understanding skills and therefore your writing French skills too. Some fabulous French artists include Edith Piaf, Carla Bruni, Stromae, and Johnny Hallyday.
Watch Your Favourite TV Shows in French
Becoming a better writer in any language means that you will need extensive grammar and vocabulary knowledge. You will also need the usual know-how that it takes to structure and organise a piece of work. Writing in French is no different!
One brilliant technique to help you do this is to hone your French listening skills. Apart from listening to French-speaking natives which would be first prize, there are other great ways to do this through listening to French podcasts, radio, or even watching French television shows.
French TV can be doubly useful when you listen in French and switch on French subtitles at the same time. This way you can improve your pronunciation and pick up the nuances of the language as though you were listening to a native while working on improving your French reading skills at the same time!
Subtitles are a great way to help French beginners hear and see what is being said as well as how it is translated into the written word.
Try to find original French shows where the actors are native French speakers. Here are a few that are recommended for beginners:
- Dix Pour Cent,
- Osmosis,
- Marseille,
- Plan Cœur,
- Les Grandes Grandes Vacances.
If these options are not available on Netflix in South Africa, you could try a different streaming channel.
If you want to learn Quebec or French Canadian, then shows like Les Parent and Tout le Monde en Parle are good options for tuning in your ear to the French accent. Once you get going you will see that writing in French for French Canadians is slightly different from French that is spoken in France.
Find a French Writing Buddy
One of the best ways to help learn a new language is through a reciprocal relationship with a language buddy. While it may sound archaic, a pen pal is a great way to learn how to write well in French and have someone alert you of any faux amis blunders!
Here are a few valuable ways that writing French can be improved through the help of a pen pal.
- The upfront agreement for them to correct your mistakes removes any embarrassment or possible offence.
- You can expect honest feedback on your structure, overall tone, and use of colloquial expressions.
If your pen pal wants to learn English, you could help by allowing them to respond to your letter writing in English. This way you will both develop impressive comprehension and writing skills. Nonetheless, although pen pals sound like a cute innocent idea, if you are a minor, we remarkably suggest only choosing pen pals that are your age and from reputable sites. Although the internet has made it more convenient to find pen pals, there are more dangers than ever before, so be careful, take the necessary precautions, and you'll have a wonderful time!
Websites such as Snail Mail Pen pals or Global Penfriends are excellent options that have been appreciated by hundreds of users worldwide.
Do remember that a language buddy is a great addition to attending formal French classes, but ideally shouldn’t be the primary way you choose to learn.
The Benefits of Online Resources
Another excellent place to supplement your French classes is to find a selection of good internet resources.
Online language learning resources include apps for phones, blogs, and online dictionaries. All of these make excellent tools for anyone who wants to know how to write well in French. Here are a few recommended tools to check out:
- Linguee: more than just a regular online dictionary, Linguee can do more than just translate words from English to French and vice versa. It actually provides context that can help you to avoid a faux amis and improve your overall writing in French. For example, if you inserted an English word that you want to be included in your sentence for translation, Linguee will offer two columns. The first will be a list of full English sentences using the word you require to be translated. The second will offer equivalent French sentences that will help you with how to write well in French.
- Antidote: this French Canadian product is loved by English learners who want to improve their writing. It offers a dictionary with context, a conjugation tool, writing tips, and other references. It also lets you know when your writing is looking clumsy. Antidote can be downloaded for either Mac or PC.
- Tandem: this language exchange app is available for Android or Apple and has made waves within the education industry in recent years. It has an excellent reputation as a resource for helping students when it comes to how to write well in French.
There are many other online resources to help you in between French classes or save you from faux amis, why not ask your French teacher for recommendations too?
Finally, remember that learning any new language requires perseverance, however, the rewards once you are fluent are huge.
Being able to have French on your CV will open doors for both your career and personal life. Consider too that French is an international language that is spoken in many countries all over the world, so if you have chosen to learn French as a foreign language, you have made an excellent choice that is bound to take you places!
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