| If you're looking for a fast and easy way to learn | | | | something you can probably have running on your |
| French words then the good news is that it can | | | | PC. Even if you're not listening directly to it, even |
| indeed be easier than the traditional methods | | | | if you're not concentrating on what's being said, |
| you've probably been through so far. Learning | | | | some of it will sink in. Your subconscious mind will |
| French words certainly shouldn't be a boring, | | | | learn for you - without any effort on your part. |
| repetitive challenge. For years many people have | | | | I've even had French playing quietly as I doze off |
| gone through the "read-and-repeat" process which | | | | to sleep at night or to wake me in the morning - |
| is a shame because for real French language | | | | you might laugh, but it works! |
| success all you need to know are a few language | | | | So to learn French words successfully you do |
| learning tips. | | | | need to give it some serious consideration and |
| The first and most important tip is consistency. | | | | effort. It needn't cost you a lot of money and it |
| It's not always easy to dedicate a fixed amount | | | | needn't take all your time and effort - that's just |
| of time, but whilst ten minutes learning French is | | | | hard work and nobody learns well if it's hard work |
| better than none at all you'll absorb much more of | | | | - but you do have to try a few things and find |
| the French language if you can apply yourself in a | | | | what's right for you - then you need to do those |
| structured manner. This can be going to French | | | | things regularly. |
| lessons (something I highly recommend), listening | | | | Here's an example that works really well for me. I |
| to a CD or MP3 while you're on the move, setting | | | | like reading so now I always have a couple of |
| aside an hour each evening for home study, any | | | | books on the go, not just one - a novel or |
| of a whole bunch of methods. Sound boring? | | | | something I'm interested in written in English, and |
| Don't let it be. Mix up the methods. Find ways to | | | | a French phrase book. I read one for a while, then |
| challenge yourself. Learn French related to your | | | | the other. That way I don't get bored. I also |
| favorite passtime or hobby. What do you like to | | | | bought a little digital dictionary made by Franklin |
| do when you go out? How would you handle that | | | | with the help of Larousse who are THE name in |
| in French? | | | | French dictionaries (you can get them at |
| Another top tip is what I like to call saturation. | | | | Amazon). It's about the size of a mobile phone |
| Learn French words via sound recordings at | | | | and has over 50,000 French words and phrases in |
| every opportunity you can. Get a CD or MP3 that | | | | it. It goes everywhere with me. Sometimes I use |
| you can listen to in the car, on the train, around | | | | it for looking up French words I don't understand |
| the house. Watch French films - even if you don't | | | | when I'm out and about but quite often I'll just sit |
| understand them at first you'll be amazed how | | | | and flick through the screens to teach myself a |
| quickly you pick things up. Likewise if you can | | | | bit more. With it I can learn French words |
| receive French radio, listen to that too - | | | | anywhere and any time I like. |