Many people have asked us, “How long does it take to learn French?” Language, much like any other learning process, is a personal journey that can take many different paths and depends on many different factors resulting in varying lengths for different people. However, something that we can all agree on is that consistency and practice are key for success. There are countless articles about how to learn language, but when it comes down to it, the tactics are pretty straight forward. Take for example this article, How to Learn a Language in an Hour a Day, published by the BBC, where many language experts talk about the best strategies for becoming fluent in a language. Here are some key ideas for consideration:
1. Doing one hour or even 30 minutes of an activity in the target language every day is better than doing one day of intensive learning a week.
While most of us have busy schedules and might not be able to fit a language class every day, just listening to music, reading a book or having a phone conversation with a friend for practice can help greatly in learning a new language.
2. Make learning fun! Use your interests to fuel your passion for learning.
Don’t like grammar but you love series and videogames? Try watching some episodes in French! Chat with francophone gamers online! Change the language on your Nintendo! We guarantee that the more you practice, the easier it becomes to understand. In the words of polyglot Timothy Doner: “Even if you’re only picking up a handful of words per day – and the vast majority continue to sound like gibberish – they will be easier to recall later on”. 3. Find your why.
Like with any challenge we face in life, motivation is KEY! Further than passing your school exams, there’s so much we can do with French! Like travelling or even reconnecting with family, your motivation will guide you! Remember, doing a little bit of French each day is better than doing nothing at all!
4. Don’t be afraid to practice with other French speakers.
Many of us understand the language really well, however, as Beverly Baker, professor and director of language assessment at the University of Ottawa says, “To go over questions and do activities, to talk together in the language, and to discuss the culture…I would not skip that part, because learning about the people and culture will motivate me to keep up with the rest of my learning.”
Specifically for French Immersion students something to consider over the summer is that 2 months is a long to go without practicing French. We’ve seen it for years now that students who practice consistently through the summer have greater ease and success in September. Especially for students who may have already been struggling with French this year, this can make a crucial difference for them.
This is actually one of the reasons Les Petites Pommes was invented. When I was in university, we had 4 months of no French practice between years so when I started the camp, it helped keep me in practice for at least 2 full months before September. I definitely noticed a difference between myself and my classmates who took the 4 months off.
While it’s still early April, now is a great time to create a strategy for your child to keep they consistency in French learning as summer approaches. Here are some suggestions of ways we can help you succeed in French this this summer: