8 tips to stay focused while learning French.
We all know how easy it is to get distracted when we are taking lessons. The moment that our mind or our attention wanders, learning becomes a difficult task.
So, how do you stay focused while studying? Is it just a matter of better self-control or is the answer in the course we take?
Follow these tips that can help you immediately improve your interest and concentration when learning French:
1. Find what interests you and apply it to learning.
Learning a new language can be fun. Finding entertaining elements (making friends, watching good movies or tv shows, etc.) that interest you creates an engaging experience when you wish to improve your French.
2. Have a clear goal and measure your progress.
If you wish to run a marathon, you don’t start running 20 km on the first day. Once you run 1 km you can then run 2km and so forth! Language learning is like that. Have a goal (“I want to speak professional French in the next company’s yearly meeting) and be aware of how near you are to reaching it.
3. Study at the right level for you.
Quite simple: if what you learn is too hard you might give up and if what you study is too simple you might feel like you’re wasting your time. Real assessment is needed, so rely on programs that can accurately measure your level.
4. Go beyond just repeating what someone else says.
If all you do is read some French phrases, repeat them meaninglessly to a teacher, and then spend hours writing in a grammar book, chances are you are going to get bored. Learning with exercises where you discover a story, read, listen AND talk can keep your full attention locked in learning.
5. Human interaction is key.
Listening to an app tell you “Good job!” all day can get old quickly. The value of interacting not only with teachers but also with other students is huge. It gives a social aspect to learning that improves your language skills while creating real connections with someone else.
6. Get real feedback
Don’t rely too much on a simple quiz to measure your level or progress. Specific feedback from qualified teachers and language experts is a great way to focus on what you need to improve, thus saving time and feeling less frustrated.
7. Mistakes are normal, be encouraged.
It’s hard to get past mistakes when there’s nobody there to explain them to you and point out why making them is completely normal. Favour learning methods that have a dedicated team that encourages you to keep learning through the highs and the lows.
8. Look for support and guidance.
While some might feel shy to mention it, there are always little parts of doubt that might remain. Having a piece of advice from someone you trust can make a big difference.
Next time you feel like getting distracted is what's stopping you from learning, make sure to have a look at our tips and review what might be missing to make your learning experience more engaging.
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