Because we live in an instant gratification society, people always want to know how to learn French fast, but they’re not to sure how to go about it. Without a game plan, you can waste a lot of time and money. So, here’s a basic guide to choosing any online or CD language program you might be considering.
1. Lessons should be broken into bite-sized pieces averaging 20-30 minutes per day. Taking the lessons in small doses encourages better retention.
2. Plenty of repetition is necessary. Some programs give you only two repetitions of lengthy sentences, requiring you to hit the replay button over and over again – very inconvenient if you are driving or working out during the lesson. Repetitions should be broken down even to the smallest syllables to help you understand the language’s unique rhythm.
3. You should get quizzed along the way. It is not always enough to get one big quiz at the end of a lesson. Good French language training programs ask you to translate simple phrases from each section throughout the lesson.
4. Make sure the program focuses on conversation. Believe it or not, some programs simply teach a series of sentences that have little or nothing to do with one another. It is impossible to learn conversational French (or any language) in this way. Focusing on conversations helps you build basic grammar through common speech patterns and rhythms. After all, you will be having conversations in French, not speaking in disjointed phrases.
5. Your class should remind you to show up. If your life gets hectic, you would be surprised at how quickly you will forget to pop in your French CD. Daily e-mail reminders or podcasts are one of the more reliable ways to keep you on track.
6. Courses need to be interactive. Repeating conversational phrases is fine, but if you are not taught how to think on your feet in French, you are likely to suffer stage fright when you get to France and someone asks you a question. The first program I bought to help my husband learn French was merely a collection of drawings with words underneath. Not very helpful.
7. Your French course should expose you to French culture. This can set your overall mood and connection to learning the language. Also, understanding the culture means fewer misunderstandings and less hurt feelings for you and the people you are speaking to.
8. You need to continually build vocabulary. Many programs only give you static phrases to memorize, but what if your situation is different? Make sure your chosen French program features a vocabulary builder to help you incorporate a wide range of words into your spoken French.
9. A support service is perhaps the most important part of learning a language, yet very few language programs allow you the chance to ask questions specific to your situation. When researching French software, be sure that it offers support with a quick turn around time. It is important to answer your questions now, while they are fresh on your mind.