French is my third language. It follows Spanish as my second, which precedes English as my native language. I learned French on my own along with the help of apps like Duolingo and Pimsleur. Luckily, we have Facebook groups to connect us with language exchange learners across the world and I met a few Francophones who willingly helped me learn how to speak French in exchange for English or Spanish. I’m thankful for their volunteering because otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to practice French to the level that I know now. I still have so much to learn because French isn’t an easy language to learn.
If you’re learning French, you will quickly learn that they are very strict with their grammar. One little mistake could prove you’re foreign and they will let you know about it. Some regions are a little more lenient with foreigners than others. Don’t make a mistake in France because they aren’t the nicest of people in the world. However, in other places like the South or North of France are more forgiving and will help you if you make a mistake.
Not to mention their slang. Verlan is an inverted way of speaking French that can be very confusing. Not only do you know how to conjugate verbs correctly but you also will come across Verlan. This just means that you take the end word of a word like “phone” and put “Ne-phone” or “Parking” and say “king-par” to mix up the words in French. This way of speaking is common among the youth. So look out for it the next time you visit France.
It’s advised to speak French in France. You will get better service from waiters and shop owners than if you speak to them in English. Also, it is very important to greet them with a Bonjour because otherwise, you would have been a social faux pas and they will ostracize you for it. Don’t forget to use your manners because it will take you a long way.
French has little nuances that make it distinct from the other romance languages. It isn’t an easy language to learn but with a little effort, you could get to a conversational B2 level and maneuver your way around the country. You will get a lot further if you Speak French in France than if you speak English. It really does help a lot so invest in a vocab book and learn a few words to take with you if you don’t speak any of it.
I hope these tips helped you with the French language. There are lots of other resources on the web but this is just my experience with the French language as an American foreigner. I really have a lot of love for the French language and culture I just wanted to share my take on it. I hope you enjoyed it.