If you are passionate about the French language, want to live a dreamy life in Paris, or work parallels with the French and experiences a beautiful culture, then the French language is for you. Also, if you wish to converse in French, then learning the language with proper resources is what you need to focus on.
Why French Language?
To date, there are more than 6500 languages spoken around the world. The French language is the most often spoken in the world. They owe it to the rich heritage of the country.
According to an online survey, French is the most beautiful language. Also, it has attracted many explorers, literary enthusiasts, and those who have just fallen in love with the French language for its beauty. The 21st century saw the rise and acceptance of the language in 25 countries and beyond.
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History says that the French language has originated from “Vulgar Latin”. The music reaches your ears with unpronounceable “r” and vowel sounds (“un”, “in”, “en”). There are too many homonyms in French, making it difficult and fun to speak. There have been significant changes in the French language carried out by Académie Francais. They have maintained language integrity and core values.
French Language:
Learning here means learning a language that the locals know to shape their future in a new way. Today learning a second language has become a priority. Employers attach much greater importance to those who speak the oral, written, and auditory language in any foreign language in the relevant labor market.
Also, a highly certified language specialist has many opportunities to work through intercultural exchanges, which have recently been viewed as a broader picture.
Multilingual people move forward than their peers or colleagues, holding very prestigious positions. Many courses provide offline and online modes of learning. Given the ongoing pandemic situation, online is the best way to learn French without leaving home. These online courses are designed to give you a comprehensive knowledge of French and help you master it from A1 to C2 levels.
Levels of Course as per CEFR:
CEFR certifies the proficiency level in the language.
1) Level A
A level is divided into beginner and elementary levels.
Beginner: A1 is the foundation of the French language. As A beginner or A1, one can introduce themselves can comprehend simple sentences and questions.
Elementary: A2 or elementary level trains an individual to use terminologies in day-to-day life like shopping, government office work, details about family, and explaining the surroundings.
2) Level B
B level is divided into two sections- B1 and B2.
Intermediate: As a B1 or intermediate level French speaker, one can answer to conversations in the workplace and travel in general. Creating a new text from scratch or sharing’s own experience is also possible to do now. Actively participating in any conversation becomes easy as they can revert with emotions and thoughts.
Upper-Intermediate: B2 or upper intermediate level helps in more technical pieces of work. The conversation becomes so fluent that spontaneity while conversing becomes a striking feature.
3) Level C
The last level is divided into two sub-levels.
Advanced: C1 or advanced level makes it easy to understand and respond to longer texts, conversations, and expressions. It becomes easy to handle the language in complicated topics.
Mastery: C2 or mastery level as it speaks makes you master in the French language. The fluency level is at its peak and precise. One can speak as well as a native speaker.
French Language Learning Courses:
Below are the best 5 French Language Learning Courses:
1) Henry Harvin
Henry Harvin French Language Course provides the best platform for learning French. The curriculum is well designed by subject matter experts per European Framework. This course prepares an individual for DILF, DELF, DALF, DCL, and TCF exams. Hands-on training in the language is provided through assignments and projects. The popular GCAO pedagogy is followed by Henry Harvin.
Henry Harvin is known for an all-inclusive 9-in-1 course training across its services. This involves training, projects, internship, e-learning, boot camps, hackathons, and gold membership. The LMS gives easy access to tips for learning, session videos, and reference study material.
Trainers with more than 15+ years of subject experts have trained thousands of students. Henry Harvin has been awarded as Top Corporate Training Award and top Game-Based Learning Company.
Fees as per level:
LEVEL | Duration | Fees |
A1 | 56 Hours | INR 12500/- |
A2 | 56 Hours | INR 12500/- |
B1 | 66 Hours | INR 15500/- |
B2 | 66 Hours | INR 15500/- |
C1 | 66 Hours | INR 17500/- |
C2 | 66 Hours | INR 17500/- |
2) French at Alliance Francaise
French at Alliance Francaise is a non-profit organization and is an extremely significant part of the international network as far as language learning and ministry are concerned. It has benefited thousands of students from various backgrounds. This institute has a wide range of French language learning courses. They also promote the French language through cultural events.
Until now, they have five teaching centers with around 60 teachers onboard and 40 administrative members of the academy. For kids from 7-13 years old, an A1 level course costs INR 22,600/- and the duration of the course is 6 months.
Also, for adults, based on the weekend, regular, and fast track batches, the course duration varies from 6 weeks to 24 weeks. On average, the A1 level course for adults costs INR 15,300/-.
3) American Institute of Languages
American Institute of Languages came into existence in 1996. Since then, it has been instrumental in training thousands of individuals in various languages like Dutch, German, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Italian, and French. This institute has provided language training to multiple business sectors as well as other institutes. They offer online as well as offline modes of learning.
The institute also works on teaching French etiquette to the enrolled students. They offer weekend and weekdays classes. As a part of corporate training, the institute has trained professionals in companies like Larsen & Toubro Limited, Wockhardt Pharmaceuticals, Jet Airways, Marico Private Limited Multinational Company, Indian Express, Transweigh sales export, Grand Hyatt Hotel, and WNS Global Services Limited.
4) British School of Languages
British School of Languages provides certification under expert faculty. The certification is per CEFR levels. They provide courses from levels A1- C2. This particular institute has evolved with time. The management, faculty, curriculum, and flexible session timings are the perfect combination one looks for while choosing a course. Also, this institute is ahead of time and its contemporaries.
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They believe in catering to all age groups from all walks of life. That makes this institute an extraordinary one. They brought in innovative methodologies since their inception in 1971. With time, they too have become technology-driven through zoom classes. BSL (British School of Languages) is an ISO-certified institute and has been providing scholarships to students to keep the competitive spirit on a good note.
5) IIFLS
The Indian Institute of Foreign Languages (IIIFLS) has been conducting French courses for 8 years. They are members of the European Language Council. They train candidates per CEFR, as well as help prepare for international examinations.
The program covers the introduction to the structure of the language, French language, pronunciation, proposal making, phrases, grammar, emphasis, conversational skills, improved audit skills, transformation and interaction, reading skills, writing skills, language interference, translation, and is ISO certified.
Fees:
LEVEL | Duration | Fees |
A1 | 60 Hours | INR 12800/- |
A2 | 60 Hours | INR 12800/- |
B1 | 70 Hours | INR 15800/- |
B2 | 100 Hours | INR 28800/- |
Colleges Offering French Language Courses:
Some of the most popular institutions offer French language courses to their students. They are:
- Delhi University
- Xavier’s college
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Presidency College
- Mumbai university
- JNU
- Christ University
- Fergusson College
- Madras Christian College
- Mysore College
- Amity University
- IGNOU
- Punjab University
- Manipal University
- BHU
- Doon University
- University of Mysore
Depending on the course chosen in the above universities, the duration of the course varies from 6 months to 3 years.
- A French (3 years)
- MA French (2 years)
- MPhil French (2years)
- D. French (2 years)
- Diploma French (1 year)
- PG Diploma in French (1 year)
Apart from all this, certain entrance exams are held every year. Some of them are BHU PET, JMI entrance test, JNUEE, and DUET>
Best Practices to Learn the French Language:
While there is so much information available on the internet, there is nothing more beneficial than enrolling in a French language training course from a reputed academy. French language courses apply a holistic approach to language learning.
The tips and inside knowledge shared by any trainer are much more insightful than one can think. These courses also help you prepare for DELF or TEF exams. They also help you to keep track of your progress and your mistakes. Real-time interaction with peers and the trainer helps in grasping the knowledge proficiently.
Apart from choosing the best course, here are a few practices, which, if brought into place, can help in learning the language:
- Listening: One of the most effective ways of learning the French language is listening to audio clips that come in handy in course materials, through the internet, etc.
- Learn from the Trainer’s experience: It’s always a good idea to make a note of the instances a trainer shares while teaching. The most applicable examples come from the trainer, which can be later used in self-conversation.
- Understand the grammar well: Unlike English, the French language has a simple past tense. Unlike German, the French language has specific gender rules. The French language has a much easier vocabulary and verb list, making it easy to apply.
- Numbers need your attention: Unlike English French language has a completely different logic for counting numbers. They call it a system of counting by twenty. “Teen” used in English number word writing is replaced by “dix” in the French language. For eg; 10 is dix, and 18 is dix-huit.
- Visualize, not write it down: The biggest mistake you could make is writing in English and then translating it into the French language. It is a big-time no! Instead, try linking your images with words you know and use the fillers to frame the sentence. It might take time, but this is the most sorted way in the long run.
- Refrain from using too many tools: Understand that a language was written way before the tools came into the market. Based on AI, many tools give confusing results. Please do not rely on them completely. Instead, work upon your skills and check with the trainer for any help.
- Cognates need special attention: Work on the French cognates as these are the same words between two languages, but they mean entirely different.
- Make sentence making a habit: Until and unless you don’t try making a sentence from scratch, you will not get a hold of the language. Therefore, try making as many sentences as possible. To begin with, choose simple sentences like What is your name? My name is, etc.
- Focus on what you can speak: As a beginner, once you learn a few words of the language, it becomes tempting to speak as fluently as possible. We tend to say a lot and thus get stuck with translating and referring to the dictionary. Choose simple words and frame a sentence. Like this, your conversation would have continuity, which is very crucial for confidence building.
- Revisit the old text: By jumping into new study material; do not leave the old texts aside. Keep going back to the basics until you clear all the levels applicable for the French language exam.
- Befriend someone with similar background: It’s always a good idea to join a language club or group where there are a lot of activities and interactions happening around the same language. These clubs also organize events promoting the language, which also give s glimpse of the culture of a country as beautiful as France.
- Watch, read, and listen: Our sensory organs work wonders when exposed to anything that catches our attention! Immerse yourself in the language by reading simple storybooks, watching movies, watching shows, reading articles, and much more.
Work on Speaking Skills:
It is proven that even if you read 100 books, you won’t learn it if you don’t try to converse in French. Follow these steps to speak fluently in the French language:
- Understand the difference between French teaching and spoken French
- Choose your words and work upon the tones as per the context, casual, formal, business, or intellectual
- Learn to differentiate between classic sentence structure and audio content in the French language
- The French language uses active voice and pronominal voice. Apply those whenever you converse in French
French Language and its Acceptability:
Five continents comprise millions of people who speak French. It’s spreading its wings fast! Let’s find out why the French language is so widely accepted?
- Alongside English, French is taught in almost all the countries in the world.
- The international job market has its door opened for French-speaking candidates.
- Cooking, fashion, arts, theatre, architecture, and dance. You name it, and you would see the French culture making it one of the most accessible cultures to work in.
- Some of the top destinations are in France. This creates huge employment opportunities for Multilingual persons.
- UNESCO, UN, NATO, Red Cross are some of the powerful platforms where French is an official language.
- The French language is comparatively easy to learn.
- If you learn French, you can learn Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian comparatively easily.
- It opens opportunities for entrepreneurship and investments in France market.
- Two G-8 countries, six European countries, and five Commonwealth countries, namely France, Canada, Belgium, Romania, Monaco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Cameroon, Vanuatu, Seychelles, and Mauritius, are French-speaking nations.
- Every year around 20,000 new words are formed in the French language.
Job Opportunities:
Following are some of the sectors one can consider for a job after getting the certificate in the French language:
- Travel services
- Data office
- Niche Writing
- Language teacher, Corporate Trainer
- Translator, Interpreter
- Embassies and other government offices
- International forums
Conclusion:
The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself completely in it. Eat, sleep, think, walk, read, and speak as the French people speak. With all the possible tools, you would also need the commitment.
Connect yourself with a native French speaker, and you will see how learning a language would enhance your conversational skills. Also, give yourself a chance to learn the language as there is no prerequisite. The only thing that matters is the drive to learn and excel in the language.