One of the biggest mistakes to avoid in learning French or any other foreign language is constantly watching videos or listening to podcasts in your native language to learn French.
By watching French lessons, but in your native language or in English, you will progress more slowly! Especially if you have an intermediate or advanced level.
If you are a complete beginner, you can watch French lessons in your native language. Although honestly, I recommend immersing yourself in the French language as soon as you start.
For example, if you want to learn the difference between the pronouns Y and EN, do not watch a lesson on this subject in English or in your native language. Watch a lesson on this subject IN FRENCH!
For example, I have a lesson on the pronouns Y and EN in French.
It's true, it will require more concentration, but it's ultra-beneficial for you and it will help you progress faster in French.
Especially since you can obviously put subtitles on this video, you can put them in English, in your native language or even better in French. Think about subtitles. For example, in my YouTube videos you can activate subtitles to facilitate understanding.
I will explain in detail why you should stop watching or listening to content in English or your native language to learn French.
Constant exposure to French:
If you stop watching lessons in your native language and start watching them in French, you will have constant exposure to French.
And that's essential for improving your level of understanding and production in French.
By watching videos in your native language, you limit this exposure and you may become less accustomed to the sounds, rhythm, and structure of French.
Often my students ask me how I can start thinking in French, it's simple to think in French, you have to be 100% immersed in the French language. If you need more tips for thinking in French, I invite you to watch the lesson I made on this subject: How to think in French?
If you're studying French, but your native language mixes with French in your studies, your brain isn't 100% conditioned to French. This will limit your progress and even confuse you, and make it difficult to learn.
Stop translating everything
If you're studying French while watching lessons in English or in your native language, your brain isn't 100% conditioned to French, as I mentioned earlier. You won't have constant exposure to French, and that's a problem.
But that also creates another problem: you will constantly translate everything! You will try to translate French words into your native language and vice versa.
You will constantly focus on the differences between the two languages and try to impose your native language or English onto French. But unfortunately, it doesn't always work like that. There are things in French that don't exist in your native language and vice versa. You have to accept that.
By watching all your French content, the words will come naturally, as will sentence structures. Not immediately. It does take a little time and effort, but it works.
By immersing yourself in the French language, you will stop translating everything into your native language. You will stop always looking for an equivalent in your native language. French will come to you more naturally, without going through your native language.
Avoiding misunderstandings:
When you learn French, it's normal to try to find online resources to improve your French quickly.
However, if you use content in your native language to learn French, it can lead to translation or understanding errors.
For example, if you watch videos on French grammar in another language, you may misunderstand certain concepts.
The subjunctive, for example, does not exist or at least is very rarely used in English. While in French, the subjunctive is widely used. The subjunctive is extensively used in French both orally and in writing.
Another example, in Spanish, the subjunctive is used after "I hope that", but not in French.
Similarly, if one systematically translates words or phrases into English before understanding them in their context in French, one can make mistakes in translation. For example, the word "actually" in English can be translated as "actuellement" in French, while its meaning is rather "in fact".
If you watch videos or lessons in your native language, you may focus on the differences and similarities between the two languages. It can help in some ways. So, it's not always a bad idea to use your native language as a reference.
But be careful, it can also create many misunderstandings and translation errors. And these errors can become ingrained in your brain and unfortunately stay there.
To avoid translation or comprehension errors, I strongly recommend watching French lessons IN French to better assimilate its nuances and subtleties.
Mastering spoken French
Learning French is a complex process that requires regular exposure to French and regular practice to assimilate the different structures, subtleties of the language, but also how French is actually spoken.
If you only watch lessons and videos in your native language to learn French, you won't really have an idea of how French people actually speak.
When you listen to me, you don't just listen to what I say. Unconsciously, you assimilate my way of speaking, my intonations, my language habits, my vocabulary.
You can't imagine the number of benefits there are to listening to a French lesson in French.
Finally, if you only watch French lessons in English, you may not develop your ability to speak orally and understand a spoken language. Spoken language is very different from written language and requires regular practice and listening to master it.
And if you want to go even further in mastering spoken French, download my free ebook: How to Master Spoken French?
I give you all the keys to master spoken French, better understand when French people speak, and speak a little more like them.
Content adapted in French
French lessons and videos in French are made to teach you French in a progressive and adapted way for you, for all French learners.
These educational contents allow you to appropriate the French language efficiently and consistently. The contents are often developed by experienced teachers and designed to help you understand the language in a progressive way.
The lessons and videos are often accompanied by practical exercises that allow you to practice and consolidate the acquired knowledge.
The French lessons in French that you can find, at least for my lessons, are like this: they are little glimpses of my real courses, the courses that I give to my students.
A real course with a real teacher, of course, is even better to quickly progress in French in all skills. You can directly ask questions, you have access to all notes and course materials, you have great classmates to help and motivate you.
Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?
Well, I'm going to make your dream possible! Yes, because registrations for French group courses are open. You can join the 3-month session of French courses in French to give a huge boost to your French. And a little surprise, for this session, my conversation group will be offered to you for 3 months as well.
See you soon for new adventures, in French of course! 🇫🇷
