Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Don't Throw in the Towel...Yet(part3)

3. Write It and Speak It

Learning French vocabulary requires learning hundreds and hundreds of new vocabulary words. Here are 2 cool ways to absorb and add to your vocabulary:

1. Make your own index cards. The simple "act" of writing each French vocabulary word on an index card and saying each word out loud will help you to remember them instead of just buying ready-made index cards.

2. Put these new vocab words to the test by using them when you're out and about and see objects on the street, in your home, grocery shopping, etc. As the saying goes, "If you don't use it, you'll lose it." So practice by applying your new French vocabulary to your everyday life.

By making your learning an active process instead of a passive one, you can learn French vocabulary...one step at a time.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Don't Throw in the Towel...Yet(part 2)

2. Use A Colloquial Dictionary

Another useful tip to help you learn French vocabulary is to use a colloquial French dictionary. This will help you to avoid blurting out (innocently of course) something offensive or impolite in French. It will also eliminate the many moments of awkwardness such as saying to a teenager, "Excuse me, good lady, what time is it?" instead of "Hey, do you have the time?".

At any rate, using a colloquial dictionary will keep you "in the know" regarding French social and cultural norms. A colloquial dictionary is a fun way to learn some cool French words and interesting off-beat facts about France. It'll most certainly keep your motivation and focus to learn French vocabulary alive and kicking.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Don't Throw in the Towel...Yet (part 1)

Let's be frank here. Learning French isn't a cake walk. You probably feel like you are on a treadmill expending lots of time and effort to learn French vocabulary but not really getting anywhere.

What you have to do is not to throw in the towel. Rest assured that you are not alone and that it's part of the ongoing process of learning to speak French fluently.

You can learn French vocabulary when you have a little help to keep on, keeping on. You must stay positive. Here are some useful tips that can keep your mission to learn French on target and your journey moving forward.

1. Watch French News or English Programs with French Subtitles

Even though you will not comprehend a lot of what they are saying, you can figure out what's going on with the pictures and video clips that accompany each news story. Also you will notice that there are a lot of French words sound similar to English words that have the same meaning.

In Canada (especially in Quebec) there are many English T.V. programs either dubbed in French or with French subtitles. It's a great way to improve your vocabulary and get used to hearing colloquial French or day-to-day French.

Next week we'll continue with some more tips to learn French vocabulary...until then...check out some French T.V.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - The Question

As you learn French vocabulary, it's good to recognize and be able to identify the different ways of asking a question in French. Let's compare English questions with French questionswith the following examples:

Example 1
English: It's warm, isn't it?
French: Il fait chaud, n’est ce pas?

English: Is it warm?
French: Fait-il chaud?

Example 2
English: I am thirsty!
French: J’ai soif!

English: Are you thirsty?
French: As-tu soif?

English: He is hungry, isn't he?
French: Il a soif, n'est ce pas?

You should notice that in the above examples the type of prinicple applied in English is also applied in French. As shown in example 3, as is the case in English, often only one word is needed to ask a question or communicate what you want.

Example 3
English: How much/many?
French: Combien?

English: When?
French: Quand?

English: Why?
French: Pourquoi?

English: Where is it?
French: C'est ou?

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - It's Never too Late

The new school year is here and it's the right time to start or resume French especially if you want to learn French vocabulary for your visit to France next spring or summer. For most Anglophones, learning French is more feasible than learning a non-European language. The critical step that most of us fail to do is our "homework" in choosing the right course or methodology to learn French. This can make your ability to learn French vocabulary a walk in the park or much more difficult.

Learning French is an intelligent thing you can do to help yourself become more marketable in today's Global economy because, after English, French is the second most commonly taught second language in the world. Learning French can open doors to employment in many different types of occupations such as in education, translation, interpreting and the travel industry. So get cracking and learn French vocabulary!

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Using A French Lullaby

One way to learn French vocabulary is to use your auditory learning skills and make it more engaging such as learning a French song. You can try this catchy French lullaby called "La Petite Poule Grise". It's easy to sing-a-long to this lullaby and you'd be surprised at how the vocabulary such as the words for colors: grise, noir, blanche, rousse, etc.; the words for child: enfant; church: église, etc and your pronunciation of French words will "stick" to your memory and solidify your learning. Enjoy!



La Petite Poule Grise

Verse 1

L'était une p'tit' poul' (une petite poule) grise
Qu'allait pondre dans l'église
Pondait un p'tit' coco
Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

Verse 2

L'était une p'tit' poul' noir
Qu'allait pondre dans l'armoire
Pondait un p'tit' coco
Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

Verse 3

L'était une p'tit' poul' blanche
Qu'allait pondre dans la grange
Pondait un p'tit' coco
Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

Verse 4

L’était une p’tit’ poul’ rousse
Qu’allait pondre dans la mousse
Pondait un p'tit' coco
Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

Verse 5

L'était une p'tit' poule brune
Qu'allait pondre dans la lune
Pondait un p'tit' coco
Que l'enfant mangeait tout chaud

The Translation:

(French children call an egg "coco")

T' was (it was) a little grey hen
Who laid in the church
(It) laid a little egg
The child ate this warm egg

T' was a little black hen
Who laid in the closet
(It) laid a little egg
The child ate this warm egg

T' was a little white hen
Who laid in the barn
(It) laid a little egg
The child ate this warm egg

T' was a little red hen
Who laid to lay in the moss
(It) laid a little egg
The child ate this warm egg

T' was a little brunette hen
Who laid on the moon
(It) laid a little egg
The child ate this warm egg

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - It All Started with a simple "Hello"

For those of us who have been procrastinating or have just given up all hope of ever learning French vocabulary and speaking French, here's a short 5 minute reminder, compliments of travelling linguist, that YOU can learn French vocabulary and be the better for it.



Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary – And Get Out Of The Rat Race

For those of us who find ourselves spinning so fast that our life seems but a blur, we need to STOP and think about where we are and where we are heading. For those of us whose days blend into each other so much so that we can't distinguish one day from the next, we need to STOP and think about why each day of our life is the same. For those of us who find it difficult to do the things we always wanted or said we would do and never do them, we need to STOP and think about why we say things we want to do but never do them. For those of us who are so afraid to take the first step off the Island to change for the better, we need to STOP and ask ourselves, what are we afraid of? As the renowned American poet Maya Angelou says, "Life loves the liver of it." Are you a Liver of Life? You can use a unique thing such as learning to speak French fluently to enrich your life because it will expose you to experiences you would not have otherwise.

Robert Byrne states that, "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." We seem to live purposeless lives in our modern world. Life is about change. The liver of life embraces change and remembers that we all have only one life to live and that time waits for no one. We all know this but so many of us live like prisoners trapped in our own quicksand of excuses and regrets. You have to realize that the answer to change is you. You can change your life and your world. Why couldn't you learn French and have that as a small purpose to take you onwards and upwards towards change. And why not learn how to speak French online instead of going to a language school? Remember that you must live in the present moment and live each step, big or small, difficult or easy, painful or joyful, and gradually you will discover that you can achieve great things such as the ability to learn French fluently. Even if you find a means to learn French the easy way or attempt to learn French quickly at an immersion school in France, you will have to do the work. One step at a time you can get off your Island. Change is as subtle as learning to speak French.

Why learn to speak French fluently? It can be the catalyst that can accelerate the rate of change in so many aspects of your life by opening the doors to other cultures, peoples and lifestyles. When we are in a different environment we feel more alive and aware of ourselves especially when being exposed to another culture. What a refreshing change it would be to experience and discover the French countryside, the wine regions of Bordeaux, the cafés on the French Riviera, the landscapes of Provence or the white-sanded beaches of Martinique. Think of the many amazing French-speaking countries and cultures that are waiting for you to explore to lose yourself or reclaim yourself.

As William Lyon Phelps wisely states, "The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century", I think this "disease" is prevalent in the 21st century. This article is just a whim, a "message in the bottle" for those of you who are willing to take the courageous leap into the ocean of life to wake up to life and feel the waves against your skin and taste the salt water on your tongue. Yes, change can be as elementary as learning a language such as French. Ultimately it boils down to you. You have to take charge and decide to take the first step and the many steps that follow towards self-fulfillment and a sense of purpose. Stop making excuses and start tomorrow. Now is the time to become a liver of life. Now is the time to learn French fast to get off your island and join the rest of the world.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

To France Or Bust - Learn French Vocabulary And Lose The Culture Shock

Culture shock is a perfectly normal but inevitable part of the adjustment process whenever a person enters a new culture. If you are going to spend more than a few weeks in any French-speaking country, with these 5 important forget-me-nots you can minimize the signs of culture shock such as the feeling of homesickness, frustration, alienation, resentment and anger to name a few, to help you through the phases of feeling comfortable when living abroad.

1. Communication Breakdown:

You should learn French online simply because it is convenient and caters to the individual. Communication is paramount when it comes to getting to know and to feel more comfortable in your new surroundings. This is true for both adults and children. When you learn French fluently, you will be able to deal with the day-to-day activities (your system of paying bills, shopping, getting medical help, dealing with transport, administrative affairs, etc) that are apart of our existence. You should also make a conscious effort to observe how French people communicate with each other, in this way you will learn French fast and feel less alienated and more connected.

2. Don't Know Much About History:

You need to complement your French lessons by learning about the country, the people and their culture. By having some history in hand, France and the French will seem less foreign or threatening.

3. Monkey See, Monkey Do:

In your environment you should try to mirror the behavior of the French people you want to get to know. For example, never assume that the social etiquette in the workplace among colleagues is the same at your job back home. Observe constantly and do not hesitate to ask questions about things you are not sure about, you will be appreciated more for being open to learning and respecting their social manners.

4. Time Is On Your Side:

Give yourself time to observe and discover how the French themselves deal with the routines of daily living. No doubt there will be things you had back home you do not have here, especially your family and network of friends. But rest assured that when you return back to normal life at home, you will see how much you have gained from experiencing other ways of dealing with these necessities of life.

5. Birds Of A Feather Flock Together:

Find comfort with fellow expatriates. Because expats have gone through the same process of adaptation, they can be a good source of advice and comfort to help you assimilate into the culture more quickly. You can find clubs and organizations in France, for example, where you can speak English or whatever other mother tongue you may have.

Learn French fluently and get the most out of the time you have there to accumulate memorable experiences and make life-long friends. It is obviously much easier to survive, adjust, and integrate into French society if you speak French. Do not forget these 5 tips and in time and with patience you will find your niche and culture shock will be less of a hindrance and only a small learning curve.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - 4 Easy Methods To Super Size Your Vocabulary

Here is an idea! At your next fast food binge, instead of super sizing your order of burgers and fries, why not decide to forgo the delicious tasting fat and grease and opt for a healthy order of French vocabulary? Increasing your French vocabulary with these 4 easy techniques will ease the vocabulary-type mental indegestion and mental bloating that students experience when they learn French vocabulary. And most importantly, an increased knowledge of vocabulary will boost your confidence and fluency as you learn how to speak French fluently. So let's get cracking and "vocabulize" in order to revitalize your French!

The first easy activity you can do to learn French vocabulary is great for students at any level, and it is a simple way to increase vocabulary without creating too much extra work. Find some old magazines or newspapers that can be used for cutting and find pictures of things that you do not know the words for. Cut the pictures out and paste them anywhere at home or work such as on a piece paper, on your fridge, or on your mirror. On the back, you simply write the word and a sentence using the word. And if you really want to annoy, educate or impress your colleagues, friends and family, you can even do "show and tell" with your pictures. It is an excellent to review and test yourself, because when you teach it, you know it. You can accumulate these pictures and even build a picture dictionary as you learn French online.

The second easy-breezy acitvity you can do to learn French fast is all about the magic. Introducing the Magic Calendar which you can make by printing it off of Microsoft publisher (takes only 2 minutes to do). You can add some extra information on the calendar as a kind of schedule such as important dates for you to remember, holidays like Thanksgiving for November, family events, your child's soccer or hockey game, et cetera. At the start of your day, you must pick one new word that you have learned in your French course, lesson or reading material (see fourth activity) and want to remember that day and write that word on your calendar and draw a picture of the word and/or write a definition of the word in your own French. As each day passes write that word on a piece of paper put into your pocket for future reference throughout your day.These are very effective at getting you to remember to increase your vocabulary. It also helps you increase your vocabulary one day at a time. Once the month is finished, you should have had the chance of recording up to 30 words. This is a good opportuntiy for you to learn how to take notes in a foreign language, and to reflect about each word and what you have learned. The Magic Calendar is a fun way to document your learning, and you can proudly say "WOW, I learned all of that like magic?!"

Fridge magnets are not just for decoration anymore. The third fun activity you can do to learn French the easy way, is to put several packages of alphabet & number refridgerator magnets in a box. You can practice your alphabet pronunciation by pulling a letter or number out of the box. You can also see how many French words you can recall and create using the letters. Dictionaries are allowed. List new words on the fridge as colorful reminders for you to recognize and remember French vocabulary. Also, you can put these words on your Magic Calendar.

The fourth activity that will increase your vocabulary is by simply reading more French books(Ces Enfants de Ma Vie), magazines (Le Paris Match) or newspapers (Le Monde). Make sure you record the words you do not understand then look up in the dictionary. You should focus on the meaning and context of these words and put these words on your Magic Calendar and/or refridgerator and eventually try to incorporate these words into your speech. If you use some or all of these activities together, you French learning will improve in leaps and bounds and less tedious and more engaging and fun.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - All you have to do is TALK, TALK

If English is your mother tongue, then learning French is definitely easier than learning a non-European language. But your goal should be to choose the right course or methodology to learn French vocabulary, grammar, etc. This is of course a crucial step that can make learning French a smooth or bumpy ride.

For example, French grammar is hard. However, studying grammar is not the best or the quickest way to learn French. The ideal language course will get you involved in living the language to learn French vocabulary, through role-plays, discussions, and games to get you used to speaking French. You can also find plenty of interesting ways to speak and listen to French.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary – The Confessions Of An Anglophone

To this day, I can still remember my four-month backpacking trek across Europe and of the many sites and experiences. But what stood out for me was the fact that most people, young or old alike, spoke English and at least one or two other languages. I would often feel guilty for having to communicate in their country in English and not in their language. How often as North Americans when we travel to foreign countries face the invisible wall of language, which keeps us hemmed in and somewhat restricted and limited in our experiences of the people and culture of that country. On my return home I resolved to learn French so that the next time I re-visited Europe, I would be at the very least bilingual. I no longer wanted to be the typical monolingual North American. And you have to admit that we are living in a global community in which the world is no longer a big place. I want to be a member of our global community.

So, why learn a language? The reasons are many and I will address the generic why at a later time. But as Martin H. Fischer says, "Any man who does not make himself proficient in at least two languages other than his own is a fool." What about the benefits of learning a foreign language? The benefits range from the personal to the biological and we will also discuss these benefits another time. Why did I learn French? Well folks, I didn't want to be a fool no more.

I chose French as my first language because my husband is French and I am an Anglophone living in a French environment. I also love the sound of the language and the French cuisine and culture.

By what means was I going to employ to learn French fluently? I chose to learn French online. I wanted to learn French the easy way with the convenience of learning at home, having my own hours and learning at my own pace. I wanted to find a proficient French language package that was innovative as well as educationally and linguistically sound yet affordable. So let's cut to the chase and review what this package entails:

Firstly, this package is portable. If you can access the Internet, you can go online and listen to a French lesson or do a grammar exercise. If you want to use your mp3 player to learn French vocabulary, just download one or more audio lessons and begin to learn. If you want to burn a CD to learn French fluently once you've downloaded the audio to iTunes or Windows Media Player, insert your CD-Rom and you are ready to learn. This enables you to save and use time effectively especially if you want to learn French fast.

Secondly, you can learn how to speak French fluently with a real French accent because the program, including the interactive software games, uses native French speakers. So you get to hear authentic French spoken instead of reading a boring textbook and guessing how to pronounce the words. You can also quickly learn French as most lessons and games are between 15 to 34 minutes.

Finally, you will learn how to speak French online because they teach you the 31 most useful French conversations. This is very practical especially if you desire to communicate in a proficient manner when visiting a French speaking country. They also provide you with an online forum with access to French teachers and fellow students.

You too can break the language barrier and expand your horizons by learning to speak French with this innovative course. So when a French visitor speaks to you on your turf, you'll be proud to respond in French and not look like a fool.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - The Formal vs The Informal Grammar

As you learn French vocabulary, you will discover in your conversations in French, the type of dialogue exchanged will be dependent on how the French people interact with you. You can start by introducing yourself and other people to each other to begin developing an ease with dialogues.

There are two ways of addressing a person or a group of people directly in French: formal and informal greeting.

The formal code is used:
* when you are asking for anything in the goods and services institutions
* as you meet new people or a stranger
* as a sign of respect to people who are figures of authority
* when speaking to another person's family memembers who are much older than you such as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc..

The informal code is used when you are speaking to your friends, your own parents, siblings and children.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - The Definitive Article "the"

Here's a reminder about how the French noun is always preceded by the definitive article "the" to help you learn French vocabulary.

In French, the short specific word before the noun is a fixed part of the noun. For instance, le musicien and la musicienne for musician.

In French, "the" is not just one word. Instead there are a total of 4 versions of "the", depending on the gender and quantity of the noun to which you are referring.

The French word for the if followed by a masculine noun, is Le. If followed by a feminine noun, it is La, and when followed by any noun in the plural, it is Les. For example, if there is one (male) dog, we say Le chien. If there are two or more dogs, we say Les chiens. If there is one woman, we say La femme. If there are two or more women, we say Les femmes.

The + masculine noun = le [example: le train]

The + feminine noun = la [example: la neige]

The + any noun beginning with a vowel = l' [example: l'homme, l'escalier, l'oreille, l'ange]

NOTE: The apostrophe falls in between the article and the noun. This is because two vowel sounds in French cannot follow from one word to another.

The + any plural noun = les [ example: 2 or more dogs = les chiens] See Below:

Le Chien

Les Chiens









Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Numbers

What would life be without numbers? Love them or hate them, we need numbers to function in our daily lives. The same is true when you learn French vocabulary. One way to learn French vocabualry is to practice using French numbers as you go about your daily tasks such as shopping for instance.

French numbers from 1 - 20 are very straight forward and easy to put to memory. However, there are a few patterns and exceptions with the following numbers:

Pattern of the ONE:
21, 31, 51, 61, 71 all use "et" (and) between the 2 numbers. Example 21 = vingt et un, 31 = trente et un,....etc...71 = soixante et onze.

Exception:
81 and 91 don't have "et" between the 2 numbers. Example 81 = quatre-vingt un and
91 = quatre-vingt onze

Pattern of TEN:
30 trente,40 quarante,50 cinquante,60 soixante have a similar ending.

Exception:
70 = soixant-dix (60 + 10); 80 = quatre-vingt (4 x 20); and 90 = quatre-vingt dix {(4 x 20)+ 10}. This seems odd but they are what they are. However in Switzerland and Belgium you'll be happy to know that 70 = septante, 80 = huitante and 90 = nonante.

Learn French Vocabualry

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Back To The Basics (Part 4)

The last of the four main basic abilities you need to learn French vocabulary is the ability to speak. It is much easier to understand French when spoken than it is to express yourself in French. Why? Because it is less difficult to translate French into English when you hear it compared to when you have to translate English into French when you want to speak it. This is because there are French words that we can recognize easily when hearing French called "passive vocabulary" and there are French words that we struggle to recall when speaking French called "active vocabulary" but when heard we instantly remember them. You should aim to get more experience listening to and speaking real day-to-day French. More exposure to French, as it is spoken on the street, will improve your oral proficiency and make your spoken French sound more natural and less like your French textbook.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Back To The Basics (Part 3)

One of the four main basic abilities you need to learn French vocabulary is the ability to write. A great way to practice your written French is to find a French pen pal or speaking partner. You and your pen pal or partner can write about a specific topic and then compare your versions. You should rewrite your paragraph several times making the corrections with each edit. This seems tedious but you'll see an improvement with your written French. When you want to learn French vocabulary, writing French not only gives you a "formal" grasp of French (especially French grammar) but it also improves your proficiency in French.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Back To The Basics (Part 2)

One of the four main basic abilities you need to learn French vocabulary is the ability to read. Most of us don't realise that when we are reading a text, we read sentence by sentence and not word for word. A sentence is several words in a specific sequence. It is the whole sequence that we subconsciously register. Therefore, just knowing the keywords in a sentence is enough to comprehend what you've read.

The same format should be applied when reading in French. Language students usually make the mistake of reading slowly word by word thinking that they need to understand every word of the sentence in order to comprehend the text. This results in low comprehension despite a good knowledge of French vocabulary. You'll learn French vocabulary when reading French but you should read the WHOLE sentence or clause at once. Why? Because you'll be more quickly able to distinguish the sentence structure and also its meaning.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Back To The Basics (Part 1)

One of the four main basic abilities in order to learn French vocabulary, is the ability to listen. I'm sure that you have noticed the difference in your comprehension of French when you are listening to French-natives compared to listening to the "formal" audio software from your language course. This discrepancy should be addressed if you want to learn French vocabulary more quickly. Therefore, you must also try to listen to French spoken (on the radio, TV or amongst French-natives) so that you can get used to listening to "informal" (on the street) conversations amongst native French speakers. By using a more holistic approach to listening, you will be able to learn French vocabulary more effectively.

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary

Learn French Vocabulary - Find The French In You

Do you feel that even when you learn French vocabulary, the French words just don't seem to sink into your head? And despite your knowledge of French vocabulary, you are still unable to sustain a simple conversation in French. One reason for this "brain block" could be that you are thinking in English and then translating in French. You have to start to think in French while you are speaking in French. When you do this you will certainly improve your conversational skills and French vocabulary usage.

Learn French Vocabulary