How To Boost Your French at A1 and A2 level
Are you just starting your French language learning journey? If so, then this post is for you. It can be confusing to know how to start learning a new language when there are so many learning tools available. This is a clear and simple guide for A1-A2 level French learners to help boost their progress. (If you are unsure what French level you are at, here is a good guide).
We have to remember that there are different components to learning a new language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. They are all equally important. At A1-A2 levels, French learning should be simple enough to ensure you are not getting confused, but also diverse enough to keep your attention!
Today we’re sharing 5 tips to help A1 to A2 level French learners make the most out of their learning.
Make vocabulary learning fun
When I began learning French, having to learn vocabulary was one of the most boring things for me. I dreaded it, and yet, you can’t get away without learning new vocabulary if you want to become fluent in a language! My tip is to make it as fun as possible. Get creative.
I used to create really colorful flash cards with a word on each. Then I would test myself by hiding the word and seeing if I memorized it. Audio books are also great for picking up vocabulary because they are a bit slower than podcasts and YouTube so you can pick up on words without as much effort. If you are not a huge fan of reading, audio books are a good option. Plus you will be practicing listening.
2 . Learn French with Lingopie
One of the most important things to remember when learning a new language is that there are several skills that need to be mastered. Listening is one of them- and Lingopie is a wonderful tool for A1- A2 level French learners.
Lingopie is a streaming platform that offers films, series, documentaries (and more) in French. It is wonderful for beginners because you can adjust the pace of the audio to your likings and you can add the subtitles in both French and English as you watch the shows. When you are unfamiliar with a word you can click on it and its definition will appear (saving you the time of having to look it up in a dictionary).
3- Try out Artificial Intelligence - ChatGPT
ChatGPT has been trending as a new tool to learn languages. For more information on what it is click here. If you are a technology lover, you can use ChatGPT in various ways to help you learn French.
For example, you may ask it to give you vocabulary related to a certain topic, or you can ask it to create a quiz/ multiple choice test about a basic subject. You can also use it to translate from French into English and vice versa. The options are endless- you will have to play around with this one to see how you prefer to use it.
4 - Use apps for grammar learning
Another not-so-fun part of learning French is the grammar aspect. There are many tenses in French and things can get quite confusing for learners. To make things a bit more interesting, I think apps are wonderful tools for practicing French grammar.
Rather than trying to learn a hundred different verb tenses from a sheet of paper or verb table, why not take a look at apps like Brainscape, Mondly, Babbel, Duolingo, Frantastique and there are more. A lot of them offer games so they will keep you focused!
5 - Human interaction!
This one is so important - human interaction. The goal of learning a language is to be able to speak it with others, right? I think the earlier you start practicing speaking French the better. It will allow you to get pronunciation right straight from the start and help boost your confidence (which many learners lack at the start).
There are different ways to have human language interaction. You can join a language speaking class, or work with a one-to-one tutor. Or you can find a language learning buddy in person or on an exchange app like Tandem. Traveling of course is another way to expose yourself!
The key to successful learning at A1-A2 level is to keep things simple whilst also experimenting with a variety of useful tools that keep you engaged. If you are in need of support, we offer tutoring at French à La Carte. You will learn at your own pace, at your own time with a tutor suited to your needs. The lessons will be focused around whatever it is you want/need to improve on. Do not hesitate to get in touch! Bonne chance.