People often ask me what is the best way to learn French. Straight off the bat I would have to tell them that the best way is to study French in France. Now that answer may not come as much of a surprise but it’s completely true.
There are many methods on the market today that can help us to learn French or even improve the French that we already have. One good way is to learn French by podcast. It might sound a bit cheesy but it’s a perfectly good way to get you up to speed with the French language. Other ways include reading French magazines and watching French movies.
I’m just going to relate my own experience and for me it was by far the best way to learn French. French is a romantic language and has its roots in Latin. So, for a Spanish, Portuguese or Italian speaker, French would be easier than other languages to learn.
I made up my mind to study French in a French school in Paris, France. I booked my classes, found an apartment in Paris and finalized my flight details. I thought that if I was ever going to learn French then this seemed to be the best way. It might not have been the cheapest but I wasn’t going to complain now!
Once I got settled into my apartments and started attending the French classes everything sort of fell into place. Here I was in Paris, the most romantic city in the world learning their beautiful language.
I had some wonderful teachers in Paris and I haven’t forgotten them. I stayed for a whole year and learned very quickly. In my class there were students from all over the world. After our French lessons that were every day, we would visit the city and see the sights. We would spend time in little Parisian cafes putting into practice what we had been learning. It was a marvelous experience and one that I would gladly repeat if I ever got the chance again!
I was convinced that this was the best way to learn French – living and breathing the city of lights. This was the only way I was going to learn this language, I thought to myself.
As I progressed in my French studies I decided to take a small job in a local Pâtisserie, which is a sort of French bakery. The owner was impressed with the way I spoke and decided to give me a try. It was great fun and allowed me a bit more freedom and was certainly a confidence booster!
I remember my parents coming to stay with me for a few days and being impressed with my new found language. I would take them out for a coffee and show them the beautiful city of Paris.
They encouraged me to stay and finish my course as they thought that it was by far the best way to learn French, or any other language to be precise.
Once my year was up it was time to go back. At first I was scared but then I plucked up courage and had a few job interviews before I finally got the job of my dreams in advertising. This allowed me to impress my superiors with my French and also allowed me to fly to France every six months or so to meet my French counterparts!
It was a dream come true and I understand that not everyone has the opportunity to travel and study the language of his or her choice.
Someone asked me a while ago what was the best language learning software. I have heard of good reviews about Rocket French and have decided to recommend them. Although it’s not the same as being in the country, the methods are excellent and highly efficient.
If you’d like to get your feet wet with a new language and would like to know the best way to learn French, then learning via Rocket French might be the key to getting your foot in the door, as it were. I think they have a free mini course that you can download and study at your leisure.
There is a whole world of opportunity out there just waiting for you whether you study French in France or by language learning software. Whatever your goals are – for furthering your career, a boyfriend or girlfriend or just a hobby, learning French is one of the most rewarding things you can do with your life.
