How to Learn French / Comment Apprendre Le Français (Absolute Beginner to Advanced)

Summary

In this video, an American named Mathaliens shares their personal journey of learning French, discussing the challenges of studying the language outside the classroom. They reflect on their experiences at university, where their language studies were not related to their major, and the difficulties they faced in mastering French without formal education. Mathaliens emphasizes that fluency has different meanings for different people and provides advice on how to effectively learn French through immersion and practical methods. The video highlights the importance of perseverance and dedication in language learning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learning a new language, like French, is possible without attending formal classes.
• 😀 There is a lot of bad advice when it comes to learning French, often leading people in the wrong direction.
• 😀 Starting to learn French at university, the speaker found it challenging but persevered despite it not being related to their studies.
• 😀 It's possible to learn French independently, though it may be more difficult without a structured classroom environment.
• 😀 Fluency in a language means different things to different people, and the speaker considers themselves a perfectionist, setting a higher standard for fluency.
• 😀 The speaker admits that they are not yet fluent in French but can still communicate effectively.
• 😀 The speaker learned French over a period of about two and a half years, which reflects the time it took them to achieve their current level.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of not comparing one's own progress to others when learning a language.
• 😀 The speaker showcases their ability to speak French by starting the video in French before switching to English to provide tips.
• 😀 Practical tips and advice are shared by the speaker in English, highlighting how they navigated their language learning journey.

Q & A

Why did the speaker start learning French?

The speaker started learning French as a personal challenge, despite not having any formal connection to their studies. They wanted to take on a new language while at university.

How long did it take the speaker to learn French?

The speaker mentions that it took around two and a half years to learn French, which was during their time at university.

Was French part of the speaker's academic curriculum?

No, French was not a part of the speaker's academic studies. They learned it outside of their formal educational requirements.

Did the speaker learn French in a classroom setting?

No, the speaker did not learn French in a classroom setting. They emphasize that it is possible to learn a language without traditional schooling.

Was it difficult for the speaker to learn French?

Yes, it was more difficult without the classroom environment, but the speaker persevered and managed to learn the language on their own.

What is the speaker’s level of proficiency in French?

The speaker admits that they are not fluent in French, but they have a good command of the language, despite their perfectionist standards.

How does the speaker define fluency in French?

The speaker has a higher standard for fluency compared to most people. They consider fluency to be a more advanced level of proficiency.

What does the speaker want to show in this video?

The speaker wants to demonstrate that they are capable of speaking French, although they do not speak the entire video in French.

Does the speaker provide any advice in the video?

Yes, the speaker mentions they will give advice in English later in the video on how they learned French and some useful tips for language learning.

What is the speaker’s attitude toward language learning?

The speaker is very positive and determined about language learning. They encourage others to believe that learning a new language is achievable without formal education, even if it is challenging.