It’s simple: the more you get exposed to a language, the quicker you learn it!

French tuition is a must, but what can you do on top of it to get ahead and get some Frenchness in your life?

Here are some French For You tips:

Play house with French.The more you invite a foreign language into your daily life, the more your brain will consider it something useful and worth caring about. Label every object in your house in French, read French kids’ books…

Let technology help you out. Resetting the language on your phone can help you learn new words right away. Ditto for changing the language on your browser.

Do it “en français”! Watch undubbed versions of your favorite French movies. Change the language setting on your DVDs (Disney DVDs are great for that), record the French news on SBS (8.40am daily), listen to the French news (sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/french), read online French magazines and newspapers (Le Monde, L’Express, Le Figaro, L’Equipe for sport)

Make new friends. Interacting in French is key - it will teach you to intuitively express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Find native speakers near you. Go to So Frenchy So Chic! (sofrenchysochic.com.au).

Do not care. One of the most common barriers to conversing in a new language is the fear of making mistakes, which is why children are fast learners – they just don’t care! But French people are like doting parents: any attempt from you to communicate in their language is objective proof that you are totally loveable!

French For You | French tuition | Manly, Northern Beaches | info@frenchforyou.com.au | 0418 510 958

You might have recently noticed in the media that the national motto of France, "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité", has seen a renewed popularity amongst the French people.

This motto reminds us of the founding values of France. It has become a symbol of the République, just like Marianne and the tricolour flag.

Every French person knows these three complementary words as they are engraved on the facade of schools, universities and town halls. But do you know where this motto comes from and what it really means?

Originated from the "Révolution Française" in 1789, "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" was just one of the several battle cries of that era. And, just like many revolutionary symbols, it disappeared under the Empire and the Restauration, between 1804 and 1830.

France had to wait until 1848, during the writing of the Constitution of the 2nd République, to see the motto "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" reappear and be erected as a fundamental principle of the République. Since then, it has become an integral part of the national heritage.

But, individually, what do these three terms mean?

La liberté (freedom) is the first human right and is applied to many aspects of our lives: freedom of speech, of movement, of opinion, of association and of beliefs. Anything that isn't forbidden by the law cannot be precluded as long as it doesn't hurt others.L'égalité (equality) means that the law is the same for everyone and that every citizen is subjected to the same rights and the same duties, without discrimination. La fraternité (fraternity) is the most original of this triptych as it relates more to the community than the individual and to a sense of morale obligation. In everyday life, it means acting in a spirit of solidarity - not dissimilar to the Australian value of "Mateship"

A few days ago, before the French presidential elections, the motto of "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" was widely used by the French people in a symbol of fight against the rise of nationalism and authoritarianism in France and in other countries. It was felt strongly in the country and helped the nation bind together at a time where French values seemed threatened.

Vive la France!

French For You | French tuition | Manly, Northern Beaches | info@frenchforyou.com.au | 0418 510 958

When I meet new people, I often get asked the usual ‘let's-get-acquainted' question of what I do for a living, to which I reply: "I teach French".

Then, 8 times out of 10, my new friend replies with a heartfelt cry and slightly high pitched voice, "Oh I LOVE France, I LOVE the French language, it sounds SO beautiful, Paris is SO romantic, I really wish I could speak French, that's one of my biggest regrets."

Once their lamentation has come to an end, I reply with a big smile, "Well, why don't you start learning now?" Inevitably the answer is "I'm too old, it's too late, I wish I'd learnt it at school".

Then, depending on my mood, I either move onto a different subject or I start campaigning...

If I do, it basically sounds like this:

You are never too old to start learning ANYTHING! Learning is about self -improvement,

self-furthering, self-pushing. (I'm quite sure I made those words up, I'm still learning!)

Even more so, it's about embarking on a journey and having fun along the way.

I look at my high school students and they are under so much pressure to do well in French.

That's because, ultimately, their French level will have a large impact on their HSC/IB score. So, for them, learning French is a big deal. It can be stressful because so much is at stake.

But then, I look at my adult students! They always turn up with a big smile, they're relaxed, positive and eager to learn more.

Why?

Because they are under zero pressure.

And that's the beauty of learning a language later in life: you learn it for your own enjoyment and most likely, so you can make the most of your next trip to France.

So it's definitely not too late and you are definitely not too old. In fact, you are just ripe to start learning! The best time is simply NOW.

Allez! Lancez-vous!

French For You | French tuition | Manly, Northern Beaches | info@frenchforyou.com.au |

Learning a new language isn't easy. It involves considerate effort, regular practice and persistence. So why do so many of us choose to learn a new language despite our increasingly busy schedules?

Here's a few reasons:

- It opens to the world! By giving us opportunities to discover new cultures and different ways of thinking, learning a language makes us more accepting, more curious and more tolerant of others.

- It allows us to fully embrace a country and immerse ourselves in local customs. Overseas holidays are so much more enjoyable and richer when you can communicate with locals!

- It's good for the brain - research shows that, because it regularly involves concentration and memory, learning a language lowers the risks of dementia and Alzheimer's.

- And - cerise sur le gâteau! - if you're a student, it can dramatically increase your HSC, IB and ATAR scores and make you more attractive to potential employers.

So, qu'est-ce que vous attendez?

French For You | French tuition | Manly, Northern Beaches | info@frenchforyou.com.au | 0418 510 958