Welcome to Easy French. Easy French. Enable the translation feature for a better understanding of the story.
“Why do I need to read in French? » My students often ask me this question. They think that since they attend classes, do their homework and watch films in French, there is no need to delve into something as boring and old-fashioned as a book.
Reading is the best thing you can do to learn French, and I'll tell you why. Reading skills are more crucial today than ever, whether in French or in your native language. In 2006, only one in a hundred people went to college.
Today, it’s seven out of a hundred. All occupations, from office workers to mechanics, require much more reading and writing than they did a century ago. The competition is tougher, and those who read are the ones who succeed.
Reading is the best way to improve your mastery of French. Yes, you heard me correctly. Reading improves your speaking, writing, vocabulary and grammar far more effectively than any other method.
This won't improve your listening skills, but it will give you the vocabulary to train your ear quickly. However, this is not just any reading. You've probably read a lot in French, boring textbooks and stories with exercises at the end.
No, we are not talking about that. We're talking about reading for pleasure. This means reading a book because you like it, not because your teacher told you to, not because it's what you're supposed to read to improve your French.
No questions, no book reports, just pure fun. Maybe you think this is all too good to be true. Let me show you.
In 1965, an experiment was carried out in rehabilitation centers for young offenders in the United States. A group of pupils received free books, exciting books, which would appeal to young boys like James Bond. But unlike most reading programs , they were not required to read the books.
They could throw them away, return them, or draw on the pages without being punished for doing so. But the boys read the books. They read a lot.
Some of them read a book every other day. After two years, they tested the students. Not only had their reading and writing skills improved significantly, but so had their attitude towards school.
Students who were not in this program remained at the same level, or even regressed. This doesn't just apply to native speakers. A study of students learning English in Fiji examined three methods.
Traditional English teaching, sustained silent reading, that is, reading silently for a long period of time, and a more conventional reading program, where teachers read aloud to students. At the end of the first year, students in both reading methods had a 15-month advantage in English ability compared to the traditional method's 6. 5 months.
In conclusion, reading for pleasure is the key to improving your French significantly. When we do grammar exercises, we try to memorize the rules of language. However, when we read, we naturally absorb these rules.
A study conducted in Singapore showed that students who only did sustained silent reading performed better on grammar tests than those who only took grammar lessons. This demonstrates that reading allows you to integrate grammatical structures in a more intuitive and lasting way. You may think that reading in French is too difficult, that you have to constantly use a dictionary, making the experience boring and discouraging.
This is why it is crucial to choose books suited to your language skill level. Reading easy, enjoyable books helps build your vocabulary without conscious effort. When you encounter a word you don't know, context often helps you deduce its meaning, without needing to consult a dictionary each time.
Maybe you think fairy tales are for kids and you need useful vocabulary for business, science, and technology. However, there is not a big difference between technical language and everyday language . A study by Macquellan examined the vocabulary of 22 novels and found that 85% of the words appear on academic vocabulary lists .
Rawls and Rogers discovered that if a student read a million words of science fiction, he or she would acquire many of the technical terms needed for a science degree. So, yes, reading fairy tales can also improve your French for academic purposes. As a French teacher, I have often found that the most successful students are those who read the most.
Whether for exams like the DELF, for university, for business or simply for traveling, reading is the predictive factor of success. In 2017, I decided to put this theory to the test by learning Spanish. I set a goal to read a million words in Spanish.
After achieving this goal, I tested my skills by writing and speaking with native speakers. I found myself at a comfortable intermediate level, able to understand almost everything I read, understand clear speech, and have conversations. All this while having mainly spent my time reading rather than speaking.
To maximize your progress in French, it is crucial to choose books suited to your skill level. Stephen Krashen, a language acquisition expert, recommends reading only materials that are really fun and interesting, even if they are so easy that you would feel guilty reading them in your native language. This means you can read comics , magazines, detective novels, love stories , and so on.
Don't be ashamed to read translations. Ideally, you want to read a book that is so easy that when you see a word you don't know, you can understand the meaning through context. Research has shown that to learn effectively from reading, one must understand at least 98% of the words in a text.
This may seem like a lot, but it allows you to follow the story without being constantly interrupted by unfamiliar words. Here is an example to illustrate this point. Here is a text where 10% of the words are replaced by invented words.
Jerry woke up and opened the curtains. He was bathing while preparing his breakfast. He made coffee and put butter on his fear.
Someone called on the phone and he answered. He was very surprised by the person who called, so much so that his wine fell on the ground. Now here is the same text with only 2 % made up words.
Jerry woke up and opened the curtains. He sang as he prepared his breakfast. He made coffee and put butter on his toast.
Someone called on the phone and he answered. He was very surprised by the person who was calling, so much so that his wine fell to the ground. Even if you don't understand every word, the second text is much more enjoyable to read than the first.
To make reading a habit, it is important to incorporate it into your daily routine. Here are some tips to achieve this. Set a specific time to read each day, whether it's in the morning with your coffee, during your lunch break, or before bed .
Find a time that works for you and stick to it. Create an environment conducive to reading. Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can concentrate without being disturbed.
Use e-books or apps. If you're on the go a lot, eBooks can be a great solution. There are many apps that offer free or discounted books.
Vary the genres. To maintain your interest, read different genres of books. If a detective novel bores you, try a romance novel.
Join a book club. Finding a group of people with whom discussing your reading can be very motivating and enriching. Repeat exposure to new words and phrases is essential to fully integrating them.
Rereading stories you liked at different difficulty levels can be very effective. This allows you to reinforce what you have learned and deepen your understanding. Reading regularly in French will bring you considerable benefits in the long term.
Not only will you enrich your vocabulary and grammatical understanding, but you will also improve your fluency in written and oral expression. At first, progress may seem slow and discouraging. However, as you continue, you will notice a noticeable improvement in your ability to understand and use the language naturally and effectively.
Reading exposes you to varied sentence structures, different cultural contexts, and a multitude of writing styles, which is difficult to achieve through other means of learning. You will gain better intuition for the language, which will help you formulate more complex sentences and understand more difficult texts over time. It is essential to stay motivated throughout your learning.
To do this, find books and stories that fascinate you. Reading should be a source of pleasure, not a chore. If you choose books that genuinely interest you, you'll be more likely to spend time on them every day.
In addition, vary your readings to avoid monotony. Try different literary genres such as detective stories , romance novels, science fiction, biographies and even comic books. Changing genres can reignite your interest and expose you to a diverse vocabulary.
And different writing styles. Set realistic and achievable goals. For example, you might aim to read a certain number of pages per day or finish one book per month.
Celebrate your successes, even small ones, and use them as motivation to continue. Additionally, keeping a reading journal can be beneficial. Write down the new words you learn, passages that you find particularly interesting and your thoughts on the stories.
This not only improves your understanding but also creates a tangible record of your progress. Joining a reading community or book club can be a great way to stay engaged and motivated. Discussing your reading with other learners can give you new perspectives and enrich your reading experience.
Book clubs also provide a social dimension to your learning, which can boost your engagement. Participating in online forums or social media discussion groups dedicated to reading in French can also be beneficial. These platforms allow you to share your experiences, ask questions, and receive book recommendations.
You can also exchange ideas on best practices for integrating reading into your daily routine. Technology can be a powerful ally in your learning journey. Use digital reading apps that offer features like instant translation, built-in dictionaries, and the ability to take notes.
Audiobooks can also be a great alternative, especially if you want to improve your listening comprehension while relaxing or moving around. Podcasts, videos, and online courses can supplement your reading and offer additional perspectives on the texts you read. They can also introduce discussions about the themes covered in the books, enriching your overall understanding.
By integrating these strategies into your routine, you will turn reading into an enjoyable and productive habit, making your French learning easier. Stay curious, explore different genres and enjoy the learning process. Happy reading and happy learning.
