Number 1:
Practice reading out loud with the correction of a native French teacher.
The importance of learning new pronunciations.
From a language to another it becomes necessary to learn new pronunciations.
Some basic elements of understanding:
- · The human brain automatically creates connections with the visual (text), with what it hears and with what it can pronounce.
- · Each language uses different muscles for its pronunciations.
- · Up to the age of about 6-7 years the brain identifies and can reproduce pronunciations with some ease, beyond that the human brain moves on and reproducing a pronunciation becomes more difficult and requires more effort.
So it becomes necessary to be guided and corrected by a native French speaker, and to practice regularly in order to develop the necessary muscles, like a sport coach who would guide and correct your posture and make you repeat a motion until you master it.
The more you become able to do a new pronunciation the more your ability to identify it increases.
The utility of visualising words and the rules of linking.
Reading a text helps to create connections between sounds and words and to integrate the different variations in pronunciation due to linking rules, which in the case of the French language particularly affect pronunciations.
Cultural influences.
A French native speaker can also explain variations in pronunciation due to different accents, cultural and informal and formal uses of the French language.
Intonations and accents.
Every language produces a musicality. Intonations and accents influence the meaning of sentences and expressions. A teacher can teach you to recognise and use them in simple and complex meanings.
Number 2:
Know the grammar and conjugations that are unique to French and different from other languages.
Each language has unique aspects that cannot be translated into other languages and other similar aspects that work differently.
You must learn them.
4 examples of commonly used grammar and conjugation key elements (available on the eBook store):
1. Les pronoms compléments
Pronoms that replace Direct/Indirect object and place phrase and their rules.
- · Similar purpose as in English with major differences in rules and application.
- · Requires thinking French using a basic syntactic analysis method.
- · Requires learning all the rules applying to different tenses.
- · Can affect strongly pronunciation due to linking rules.
- · Used constantly in everyday conversation and written French.
2. Le futur simple
A commonly used tense that does not exist in English.
- · Different purpose and usage from the French and English simple future.
- · Easy to learn.
- · Commonly used in everyday conversation and written French.
3. Le « faire » causatif
The French version of the causative and passive.
- · Works in a totally different way than the English causative and passive although sharing a similar purpose.
- · Can easily confuse and mislead understanding if not known.
- · Requires learning rules that apply in combination with different tenses.
- · Used in various everyday expressions.
4. Le mode subjonctif
A common way of expressing various feeling from a subjunctive view’s point.
- · Used to express a wide range of feelings and beliefs from a subjunctive point of view.
- · Require the use of a unique structure.
- · Atypical verb endings.
- · Irregular verbs.
- · Various exceptions.
- · Used in common expressions.
- Frequently used in everyday conversation.
Number 3:
Practice, consistency and immersion
Practice, practice and practice.
No shortcuts. Practice matters and lead to results as long as you practice wisely. Don't hesitate to ask for support and recommendation from a teacher.
Consistency.
Stay consistent in your wise practice. Consistent wise practice produces results.
Immersion.
Immerse yourself in the French language on consistently. Listen to podcast, watch French subtitled videos, exchange and talk with French people in your area or online, travel to France.
You will observe different accents, variations in the French language from formal to informal, discover slang and cultural expressions and uses of the language.
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