Difficult Aspects Of Learning French

If you look back through the past, you might be amazed at the importance of French in terms of literature, law, fashion and many other areas. In many ways, this still holds true. Increasingly though, English is the language of international exchange. Despite this, French speakers are still proud of their contributions to the world. This rubs some visitors the wrong way but a few key expressions can turn this clash of cultures into a meaningful exchange.

For short-term tourists to France, basic expressions can turn interactions with locals from sour to friendly. Visitors may find that the French put great value on polite greetings and interactions, even among strangers. When entering a store, a quick hello, in French of course, can indicate that you have tried to do the minimum. If not, you could be treated coldly for the rest of your visit to the establishment. Even for these superficial interactions, "hello", "goodbye" and "thank you" can make all the difference.

A major concern for many learners is the pronunciation. It is true that French is not easy to pronounce correctly, even for more advanced learners. However, once you know the pronunciation, you should not get down on yourself about small errors. One thing to keep in mind is that there are speakers from all over the world who have added their own nuances to the language over time. Perfect Parisian French may not be rolling off your tongue but people should still be able to understand.

Another big obstacle to becoming proficient at French is the sheer number of conjugations. Even just in the present tense, these can be intimidating. If you can break them up into distinct groups, you will find memorization a little easier. As for the irregulars, only practice can really drill them into your mind. A lot of good books, CDs and software provide ways to practice on your own.

Depending on your mother tongue, the levels of formality may prove difficult to grasp. The French language expresses these levels through different conjugations, "vous" and "tu". Which one you focus on at the beginning depends on your goals. University students may find that they do not use the "vous" form as much as a businessperson, for example. Eventually, all learners will have to master all forms to really be proficient but it doesn't hurt to get familiar with what you will use the most at the beginning.

A slightly trickier problem which can lead to some awkward situations is that of "faux amis" or "false friends". So many French words have been borrowed by English speakers over the years. This makes it hard to fight the tendency to assume that any word that sounds like English has the same meaning in French. Again, plenty of resources exist to steer you away from these traps.

Studying a language is hard work. But, the benefits greatly outweigh the disadvantages. If you learn French, you will open yourself up to another world, in terms of personal relationships as well as in more academic and professional pursuits. And this may be the greatest reward, to know more, to learn more from vocabulary audio, and to be more.