Table of Contents
Challenges & Solutions of Learning French for English Speakers
Paris is the city of love and likewise French is the language of love. If you are looking to learn a second language, French is a good option. It is spoken in various African countries, Canada, Europe, and of course, the majority of its speakers reside in France. It is a language spoken by 450 million people. So it is safe to say that French is a fairly popular language with a lot of practical benefits. However, like doing anything worthwhile in life, learning French has its challenges. Various language speakers have different challenges when learning the same language. For instance, Turkish is easier to speak for those who speak Persian or Urdu, but very difficult for Mandarin speakers. But our main focus today is on English speakers learning the French language.
How Difficult is it to Learn French for English Speakers?
When you compare learning French to other languages, such as Mandarin or German, French is one of the easier options for English speakers and with good reason. Let me explain why:
- Both languages share a good amount of vocabulary because of historical influence. Many words have similar spellings and meanings, being cognates of one another.
- French is a more phonetic language when compared to English. If you get a hang of the sounds, it gets much easier from there on.
- There are abundant applications, teachers, schools, and systems to help English speakers learn French.
French also has its challenges:
- There are certain phonetic sounds not commonly found in the English language. For instance, nasal vowels and uvular ‘r’. Mastering the phonetic sounds completely takes effort and time.
- The verb conjugations, sentence structuring, and gender specific phrasing are more complex in French.
- Like English, there are silent letters in words for French. But while you may be used to the silent letters in English, learning them for any new language can be difficult.
It is important to note that the difficulty of learning the French language depends heavily on your learning style, goals, dedication, efforts, and the approach you use. With enough practice, you could be speaking French in no time. Meanwhile, you can take assistance from the French translation services for business purposes, if needed.
Challenges of Learning French for English Speakers
While it is a great initiative to learn a new language. But it is not necessary that everyone who tries will succeed. But before you fail or succeed, you must also try, and also learn about the challenges you might face on this journey. So here are some of the challenges you may face:
Pronunciation
Proper pronunciation can be difficult for English speakers because of different accents and sounds.
Solution
However, one can overcome this by regular practice, especially if you have someone to talk to, preferably a native speaker. You can listen to audio and mimic what they are speaking in the same style and tone.
Grammar
French grammar includes gendered nouns and complex sentence structures that can confuse English speakers.
Solution
By practicing the language through writing, reading, and speaking you can overcome this issue. You can use language apps, textbooks, and online courses.
Vocabulary
Learning a vast vocabulary can take a lot of time. Many English speakers might not understand simple sentences because they are phrased differently.
Solution
You can listen to music, watch movies, read books, and generally consume French media to effectively learn new words. Moreover, keep an online French dictionary/thesaurus to find meanings and words whenever necessary. Again, practice will make perfect.
Listening Comprehension
Understanding spoken French at a natural pace can be difficult for the newbies. Especially if you have never learned another language before. This gets more difficult when a local may be speaking to you.
Solution
Practice active learning like the IELTS listening test but for French. You can easily find such sources online on platforms like YouTube for instance. Moreover, you can choose difficulty levels for such activities and increase difficulty as you get more used to the previous difficulty.
Navigating Cultural Nuances
French culture often plays a huge role in the language. Understanding such nuances in culture is just as important as learning the language.
Solution
Familiarize yourself with French culture by watching movies, listening to songs, hearing folklore, and more.
Final Thoughts
Learning a new language requires persistence and commitment. You should set realistic goals and celebrate the milestones you cross. Maintaining a positive attitude can also go a long way in being consistent. Also, try to think of all the benefits you will achieve after learning the language. For instance, you can get better job opportunities, as bilingual candidates are usually preferred. Likewise, you can join a translation services company as a translator and offer your services. The perks are many, so are you ready to learn French language?
