Ways to improve your French

There are so many ways to improve your fluency in your target language, I thought I would share them with you. These are tried and tested by me not only as tutor, but also as a student of foreign languages myself, and by my students, who have benefited from these tips. So I will share them here, to benefit you, new and potential students.

If you have been following this blog, you will now that I am a native French speaker and French tutor, so I will refer to the French language. However these tips apply to any language you are learning.

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Immersion is my preferred way of boosting your French intake, and it will give you results: a bit like a pumped-up vitamin pill!

Now, having said that, not everyone can afford the time and money to travel to France for extended periods and on a regular basis to immerse themselves in the language and culture. Here I list French-speaking countries, some of which closer to Australia. But still . . . How do you immerse yourself in the language on a daily basis, without leaving your life and commitments behind . . .

EASY!

• Think about all you do in French. Think in French as you go about your daily business

• Label everyday items around the house in French. Stock up on sticky labels and stick, stick, stick! NOTE: a common mistake is to write the French words WITHOUT the articles (un/une/des. le/la/les/l'). Add the articles otherwise how are you meant to remember that a table is feminine and a light switch masculine : ) This tip will help you learn vocabulary in no time.

• Make lists of words on certain topics based on your interest or need. You can compile your own word lists or as your tutor I can provide those to you or help you compile them

• Paste the word list on your fridge, the toilet door, the dry side of your shower screen (so you can read them when showering - in under 2 minutes of course, to save water!), on the glovebox of the car if you are a passenger, anywhere you will spend some time or see them repeatedly. You may even want to laminate your word lists so they last longer.

• When composing lists, be logical in your selection of words and phrases to compose your list, and in the way you order them. Add pictures and colours if it helps.

• Recite your list before going to bed each and every night

• Get friends and family to test you, and test you again

• Fold your list, origami-style, in an intricate brain-like pattern and place it under your pillow at night (Disclaimer: this probably won't work, but it will make my other points look much easier and accessible)

• Listen to French radio in your area of interest (see links to French radio stations on this blog), get podcasts to listen to at your preferred time, when in the car or train; watch French news bulletins on SBS. Do not despair if you are not able to understand all sentences or even words.  Use tools at your disposal to make out the general topic: the presenter's/interviewer's facial expressions, gestures, tone, the images presented alongside the news item, the context etc. Eventually you will pick out more and more words, then phrases and sentences. You will get exposure to the French accent (or generally the Parisian accent). If you are (semi-)fluent, have fun picking out accents depending on the speaker's region.

• Watch movies in French: hire them, watch them on SBS, get French TV delivered to your door through Le Bouquet Français.

• Borrow French resources such as books, CDs and DVDs from your local library. Libraries that stock French resources are listed here. Good-quality children picture books are ideal. The picture help with comprehension and the books often include every day vocabulary and phrasing in a rhyming pattern which can help with retention. Don't be embarrassed borrowing children's books! If you are, just say you're learning French with your young nephew . . . I'm sure the librarian will be impressed. Speak to your librarian if you need assistance locating French resources in your library.

•  Access French newspapers. While some good French newspapers now only make their articles available via subscription, you can still access great national and local newspapers online Libération , Le Monde , etc ( more links on the right hand side of this blog). If you are semi-fluent or fluent you will enjoy reading about France and world news from a French viewpoint. If you are beginning or find full articles too challenging, pick out a few large titles to work on, or some very brief articles. Daily news can be quite easy if you are aware of the news topic of the day. Entertainment and art news can also provide accessible titles.

• Subscribe to this blog using the button on the left-hand side. It's free and you will get regular updates on all things French to give you hints and tips and keep you motivated!

• Interested in getting your hands on your own French resources? La FNAC is my very favourite French store. It stores a large range of books, CDs, DVDs, and more that will be delivered straight to your door in no time. Look out for their specials (i.e. 5 DVDs for 30 euros at certain times). Be aware of postage costs. It pays to order in bulk to save on postage -  maybe you can join up with other interested friends or students and share the postage costs?)

• Finally, nothing beats learning and conversing with a native French speaker. Book your lesson today by contacting me and make speaking French your reality!

Happy learning!

How to get the most out of your tutoring lesson?

I strongly recommend reading this post in conjunction with my post "How to choose a tutor" available on this blog here

Why write a blog on how to get the most out of your tutoring session? Well, for a start, you have decided to engage a tutor for a specific goal, or set of goals. Besides, you are making an investment - or your parents are making an investment -, an investment in time and money.

Simply turning up to your tutoring class will not be enough for you to reach your goals!

Here are a few tips that will help you gain the most benefit from your tuition:

• Book your tutor early in the school year, or even better, before the end of the previous year or during the Summer break. A good tutor will be in demand and it's better to get in early to select your preferred time slot.

Occasionally I will get a VCE student who contacts me midway through the year, to practice their oral skills. While some tutoring is better than nothing, it is a shame if you do not give yourself the best chance of succeeding by booking a class a few months earlier. If you book a class early in the year, you will be able to steadily work on your proficiency and will be more likely to develop the confidence and skills required for the final exams. AND of course, VCE exams occur throughout the year via school-assessed coursework so booking early means you can get assistance with this too.

• Be clear about what your goals are. Are you looking at a certain VCE score? Are you looking at learning a few words to get by during an upcoming trip to France? Do you wish to become fully fluent?

• Make the most of your time with your tutor. Be fully present during class. Ask for clarification if anything appears unclear, as leaving the class with question marks in your head is unlikely to progress your learning.

• Take notes! Your tutor may write notes, scenarios and examples for you. It is best if you take notes in your own writing, in a way that you can relate to and understand. Do not feel rushed to do this. Taking your own notes means you can actively and constructively review the class once you are home and will help you retain what you have learnt.  

• Practice in between lessons. Find ways to utilise the newly learnt vocabulary, verb, grammar or sentence structure whenever you can.

• Link what you learn in class (if you are a school student) with what you practice with your tutor.

• Link what you hear on the news (particularly news of the French-speaking world if you are learning French) with what you practise with your tutor. Learning how to briefly outline topical news events in French can be very rewarding, particularly with (semi-)beginners (YES, it's easier than you think!). As news on a certain topic unfold, you will be able to add more to your repertoire, with your tutor's assistance.

• Have fun and enjoy it! When it gets tough (and it will get tough sometimes, when you get stuck on a new, unusual sentence structure, a word that refuses to imprint in your mind, etc) remember your goal and the reason you set it. And take a deep breath . . . !

• Trust your tutor, even if some of the activities they offer you do not seem to fit neatly with your goal. If you are unsure, ask them why they believe this will benefit you.

• Communicate with your tutor about your goals, not only when contacting your tutor for the first time, but throughout the program. Revise your goals as necessary.  But do not be too quick to downgrade them! Trust yourself. Your development needs (the areas you decided you wished to focus on when you first started)  may have changed.

For LOTE tutoring specifically (and as I mentioned in a previous post, I will inevitably revert to using French as an example: that's what I do and that's my passion!):

• immerse yourself in the spoken language: listen to radio programs in the target language, watch the local news (on SBS or online), watch movies (on SBS1 and 2, at the cinema or online), listen to French music.

• if you keep a personal journal, write a few lines each night in French. Then every night, increase by another line. If you don't keep a personal journal, start now! This will expand your skills and get you thinking in French.

• go to the French film festival if it is held in your city.

• do not despair if you watch the news and cannot understand fully. Pick out words, context, tones. Little by little you will pick out a bit more. The aim is not to make out each word at this stage.

Happy learning to you!

How to choose a tutor?

How do I choose a tutor? Family and friends often ask me this question, particularly at this time of year when returning to the routine of school terms, homework, and the like.

Whether you are an adult looking for tuition for yourself, for fun or travel, or a VCE student wanting support in your oh-so-important final school year, a tutor is an investment in time and money.

If you are committed to your studies, chances are that you will be spending time with your tutor on a regular basis, and I suggest not rushing through the selection process.

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I would suggest you consider the following questions when selecting a potential tutor, to ensure your investment is best targeted to achieve maximum results (as you will  see, some of the questions directly relate to VCE level. The rest applies to all levels, and can apply to any subject, although I will mostly refer to LOTE - French . . . because that's what I do!):

• What is your knowledge of VCE requirements?
• Have you worked with VCE students in secondary schools? Which schools and for how long?
• What is your level of expertise in the language?
• Are you a native speaker of the language?
• Have you lived in France? If so, for how long?
• Do you live in an area serviced by public transport? VCE students have enough to juggle in their final year without having to travel long distances every week (and the same applies to their parents/carers!).
• Do you talk to students in French only during the lesson? In my view, the whole tutoring lesson needs to be conducted in the target language. This will assist the student to "think" in the language and will very quickly boost their oral comprehension and speech. Remember, at exam time, the student will be expected to sustain a conversation with a French-speaking panel. They will never have met the panel, and as such will not be used to their accent, tone and other language idiosyncracies.
• How will you develop a tutoring program for me/my child? This needs to be done in consultation with the student, and potentially their parent/teacher. A good tutor will evaluate the program regularly based on the student's performance and update it throughout the year.
• Are you available for the full school year? Beware of visitors offering tutoring lessons while holidaying. It would be a shame to part ways before the student had taken their VCE exams, or if you are an adult student, before you have achieved your goals.
• Are you available for phone or Skype tutoring?
• Do you provide assistance in between classes?

I am a bit wary of large tuition companies -  some pay tutors low rates and who would agree to tutor for little? I reserve my judgment of tutors who advertise their services for several subjects. My view is that it's better to get an expert in the field.

Finally, is the tutor someone your child and yourself can relate to, and can they clearly communicate with you on progress? Are they approchable and friendly? Do you "connect"?

Often you will hear of a reputable and reliable tutor from word-of-mouth. Ask your child's teacher or friends if they know of a tutor they would be comfortable referring to you. And keep your eyes and ears open for tutors in your area.

A good tutor will take you or your child out of your comfort zone (gently), and challenge you step-by-step till you reach your goal. After all, if you're not challenged, are you really getting the benefit?
At what the French Tutoring, you get tuition from a native French speaker with many years' experience tutoring adults and school students.

A word on "word-of-mouth":
If you are happy with my services, please tell others. If you are not, please tell ME! My aim is to give you a value-for-money, effective and enjoyable French tutoring experience.

Why study French and where do I practice my French?

Why study French? 

listverse.com lists French as the 10th most spoken language in the world -  not only is it one of the most spoken languages, it is also spoken all around the world: on the North American, South American, African, European continents and more. Click on this link to see the French-speaking world map. Carte de la Francophonie Quite impressive . . . And below is the map showing member states of l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

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Have a look at my list of Tourism Offices on the right: you don't have to go half-way around the world to France to practise your French and experience French culture (although a trip to Europe would be nice).

New Caledonia and French Polynesia are two destinations that are closer and may be more affordable than a Grand European Tour. Contact me to discuss learning basic French for travel, or to brush up on your French before your trip! It's easier than you think . . .