DO YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP ON LEARNING FRENCH?
FRENCH ONLINE COURSES SWITZERLAND
by Chené Koscielny
Here’s how to stay motivated when learning French – or anything else for that matter.
2020 has not been a walk in the park exactly, has it? We started the year with high hopes and lots of motivation and let’s just say life got in the way! One of the goals I dropped this year, was to improve my French! There were even less opportunities to flex our French muscles in self-isolation and somehow French fell off the to do list.
I ask my friend, the inspiring and ever glamorous Isabelle Nicolas – head of Prêt à Parler online French school – how to get my mojo back– and how to stay motivated when learning French.
I have personal experience learning French online with Prêt à Parler – read my previous article here.
FOCUS ON THE WHY
It happens to everybody. Your vision of learning French was so clear when you listed it as a New Year’s resolution, but at some point, during this very, very long year, you lost track of why you wanted to do it. Isabelle says: Pull out your notepad and write down: “Why I’m learning French…” at the top of a fresh page in bright, big letters, and then list all the reasons why you wanted to learn French in the first place! Put your list in a place where you’ll always see it – in my case the fridge! But whatever works for you!
STAY TUNED TO FRENCH
Learning French takes time, and the brain, although not a muscle, still works like one, and needs regular training to attain the levels you’re dreaming of! The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Most of us don’t have the time to take a French class every day, but maybe you can combine a couple of weekly lessons with short independent study bursts during the weekend. Prêt à Parler offers an e-learning platform where you can supplement your learning in your own time. This way, your brain can always stay tuned to French.
DO MIX WORK AND PLEASURE!
Mixing work with pleasure in a business context is not the best idea, as I keep discovering, but in the context of self-improvement, Isabelle says, “go for it”! For example: find yourself a new binge-worthy French series! Take advantage of the subtitles and dubbing offered in the many streaming services and watch movies you already know by heart in French or with French subtitles. Yes, it’s pretty weird to hear Ryan Gosling speak French at first, but after a while, you’ll relax while your brain does all the heavy lifting. He’s actually even sexier in French, by the way!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREEBIES
Whatever your goal may be, you are bound to find free content that will motivate and support you in reaching your French goals! In my case it is listening to local radio stations during short trips in the car around Geneva. Even better, Isabelle’s team has come up with another innovative idea: Prêt à Parler, Le podcast. Free French learning! I love it.
You can also check out their Instagram feed for free daily lessons in the form of posts. They also have live weekly shows on their Facebook Page, ranging from talk shows to game shows and a short series on French food! How about French wines, Isabelle?
LEARN WITH FRIENDS
Like all things worth doing, it’s always fun to share with friends, and learning French is a very social activity! For a while now, I’ve teamed up with a friend to have group lessons (each from the safety of our respective homes). Our bi-weekly hang out at our favorite café may have been put on temporary hold, but our Zoom-powered French classes have become our new thing! We’ve even started gossiping in French.
SIGN UP FOR A NEW COURSE
Committing to a new course is another way of getting some vooma back into your learning. Prêt à Parler will launch a new e-course focused on the FIDE Exam Preparation early next year.
If you need to renew your C permit or apply for your Swiss naturalisation, be among the first to sign up for their new Prêt à FIDE course.
If you purchase this e-course by 15 December, you will be able to benefit from their 50% Early Bird Discount! PLUS you will get instant access to their online learning platform, French for Everyday Life, so you can start improving your French with them right now!
It’s been a rough year for sure, but let’s stay motivated and finish this year with a smile! Use the time wisely and make the most of every opportunity.
Bon courage!
