Taking French Lessons at School

Taking French Lessons at School Why is it Important to Learn French at School? ChaptersA Brief History of the French LanguageWhy Learn French at School?GCSE FrenchA-Level FrenchThe Best French Revision Guides for Studying FrenchEverybody can appreciate the importance of being able to speak a second language.Whether you enjoy spending your holidays in France, or you want to make your career international, learning a language as widely-spoken as French can only be a good thing!For British children who don’t grow up in a bilingual household, the first time they get an opportunity to learn a second language is usually at school. This is the reason why embracing such a fantastic opportunity while it is offered to them as part of the national curriculum is so important.When it comes to the French language in particular, there are infinite ways in which being able to speak and write it to any level it can be rewarding.“Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can; there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did” â€" Sarah Caldwe llThis quotation about learning languages is particularly pertinent to taking advantage of the opportunity to learn how to speak French at school. With the expertise of the French teachers, an environment which is optimised for learning and plenty of classmates to help you practice your French speaking skills, you may come to regret wasting such an opportunity in the future.But why is this learning experience such a big part of learning to speak a language? Are the same benefits not available at private learning centres? And why learn French?Learning a second language at school has the potential to change a child’s life â€" so is it worth all of the grammar exercises, oral revision and vocab lists?Superprof’s guide to learning French at school will tell you all you need to know about the beauty of the French language and why it is such a rewarding language to learn.Slang wordFrench EquivalentMeaningKif-kifPareilThe sameFlouzeArgentMoneyBardaAffairesBelongingsClebsChienDogCaouaCa féCoffeeIt’s easy to see that the adopted Arabic words bear no resemblance to the French words they replace, which is what is so interesting about the language spoken in France today!France’s past efforts to colonise Africa, and an Arabic-speaking part of Africa in particular, have not only has linguistic consequences on the languages spoken on colonised territory, but on its own language too.The fascinating history of the French language is revealed in its modern lexicon.The many conquests of France and its geographical position within Europe also make French a great language to learn if you’re interested in being able to communicate with people of various nationalities.Learning French is a fantastic option for those who want to make the most of learning a new language and reap the rewards of their hard work.Why Learn French at School?At the start of secondary school, learning languages is a compulsory part of the national curriculum. This means that everybody will have the opportunity to learn a modern foreign language during their time at secondary school â€" but how is the school environment useful for learning to speak French? Why can’t you just wait until you’re older to start taking your language learning seriously?Languages are on the school curriculum for many good reasons â€" but what about learning the French language in particular?Here are the top five reasons to choose to learn French at school:1.           Improve Your EnglishIt’s no secret that the French and English languages have quite a lot in common â€" this makes picking up new vocabulary far easier.If you’re ever stuck for a French word, taking a guess based on the English might not be a bad idea.Did you know that learning a second language can improve your understanding of English?As Geoffrey Willans said:“You will never understand one language until you can understand at least two”Getting your head around French grammar in particular can really help when it comes to un derstanding English grammar rules thanks to the fact that the two languages (while one is a romance language and the other is Germanic) are closely related.So, when your English teacher starts talking about nouns, verbs and direct objects, you’ll know what’s going on.Learning about French grammar can help you with your understanding of English ¦ source: Pixabay - Free-PhotosSimilarly, if you ever read or hear an unfamiliar word, being able to identify any of its French roots can help decode its meaning in English. For example, the English word ‘inevitable’ resembles the French verb ‘éviter’, which means ‘to avoid’. Pairing this with the negator ‘in’ then gives you the meaning of ‘inevitable’.Our teacher led us through similar exercises in my French classes London!2.           Learn Useful Expressions and Vocab for HolidaysBreaking down the stereotype that Brits are lazy monolinguals by being able to communicate with our French neighbours can work wonders fo r your general confidence and make holidaying in France that bit easier.Whether you utter a simple ‘merci’ on the ferry crossing to Calais, or you befriend a French student on your family camping holiday, putting your French into practice is useful and satisfying at any level.For instance, being able to work out that a shop closes for lunch from the phrase ‘fermé entre 12h et 14h’ can save you the hassle of skiing back into resort to visit it during l’heure du déjeuner.3.           Take Part in a French Exchange ProgrammeA major part of language learning in school is the language exchanges that take place.Language exchanges are week-long visits arranged by schools where pupils host French students of the same age to help them improve their English skills as well as doing the same in France to improve their French skills.Taking part in a French exchange is not only a great way to learn more about the French education system, but also to connect with students of the same a ge. Although going to live with a stranger in a foreign country may seem to be a daunting prospect for teens, being thrown into the deep end is the best way to improve your language skills.4.           Make Francophone friendsAside from the lifelong friends, you will make on French exchanges, learning French gives you the skills to be able to communicate with the 220 million French speakers that live in all corners of the world.Befriending native French speakers is also a fantastic way to keep your language on-the-go through the Summer holidays or even beyond school, so you’ll never be without a French teacher!5.           Take Advantage of Your Youthful BrainYou’re probably familiar with the idea that language learning becomes more difficult with age.Children and young people are like information sponges: they have an innate willingness to learn â€" and this is most noticeable in their ability to develop a level of fluency in a second language more quickly than adults.Their adv antage in language acquisition is not just to do with age, but also the environment.While adults are preoccupied with work and other responsibilities which come before their language study, school pupils spend most days in an environment which is optimised for learning, making it easier to concentrate on taking in new information. These textbooks accompany the course itself, and as a publication by the exam board, it is indispensable in your work towards good grades.Of course, studying a language is about practising your reading skills and expanding your vocabulary, but don’t forget to get plenty of speaking practice, too!Why not arrange to meet your classmates outside of class to practice your speaking skills? Or join a French language club?Whatever your interest in the French language and Francophone culture, getting hold of revision resources which suit your individual learning style is essential to your success not only in GCSE and A-Level exams but also in your life as a non- native speaker of French.