Table of Contents
- Reconsolidation
- Recall
- SMART Goals
- Train All Four Language Skills
- The Best Way to Learn French at Home: Progress with Lawless French!
French classes, online tutors, textbooks, apps—today there are more ways of learning French than ever before.
But what if you prefer to tackle it alone?
Learning French solo is absolutely doable. And knowing the best methods makes it even more effective.
In this guide to the best way to learn French at home, we'll cover our top tips for studying solo to get you started.
Commençons!
Reconsolidation
Repetition is one of the simplest yet most overlooked techniques for any kind of learning. Likely, you're already using this technique, such as with flashcards or similar tools.
We'd like to introduce you to repetition's big brother: reconsolidation.
Reconsolidation means slightly modifying your repetitions. This technique has been proven to help people learn twice as fast!
To use reconsolidation in French self-study, you need to repeat the word or rule you're learning in slightly different ways. For example, use the same word or rule in different sentences and contexts.
Though you're still just repeating what you want to learn, changing how you repeat it doubles the speed at which you learn it!
Recall
When you use French in the real world, you won't have a textbook on hand. You'll have to recall the words, phrases, and rules needed to communicate what you want.
If that's how you'll use French, that's how you should practise it! Not by studying endlessly and hitting a plateau, but by recalling French like you will in real life.
In fact, learning through recall is up to 300% more effective than re-reading or re-studying.
So, how can you integrate this into your practice when learning at home?
The most common way to use recall is by testing yourself. Tests require you to recall your knowledge in order to answer the questions.
Study Tip: Use Tools That Correct You
But make sure you use tests that correct your mistakes! Otherwise, if you recall something incorrectly and don't learn the correct answer, you'll drill in the error!
If you like good old-fashioned textbooks, use ones that have the answers to the questions so you can check yourself.
Or if you're using an online tool to test yourself, some, like Progress with Lawless French, do more than correct you. They show you which lessons will help you learn or relearn the areas you struggled with.
Start taking regular French tests if you want your new knowledge to be on the tip of your tongue. Progress with Lawless French offers thousands of tests that will automatically adapt to your level and measure your progress, as well as tell you what to do next to improve.
The reason testing works so well is that it forces you to practise recalling what you already know.
SMART Goals
Many formal French courses come with tests that track your progress. While that may not be your style, goals are still powerful motivators.
When setting goals for French self-study, we suggest creating SMART goals. These are:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Realistic
- Timely
For example, instead of setting goals to “become fluent” or “feel comfortable with conversational French,” try: “In 2 weeks' time, I'll be able to recall and rewrite this paragraph in French.”
Once you've accomplished one SMART goal, set the next one so you keep improving!
Train All Four Language Skills
Fluency, while highly debated, generally refers to proficiency in all four language skills:
This isn't just a formality. The four skills complement and support each other. So learning all of them as you go, not just one or two, for example, actually helps you learn faster.
Apply this to your self-study sessions by going through exercises for the four skills regularly.
For example, when you come across a new word, don't just reread it. Write it out. Practise recalling the spelling. Say it out loud. Listen to how others say the word, online or in person. Then it'll stick much faster!
Start by taking one of our hundreds of exercises for reading, writing, and listening.
The Best Way to Learn French at Home: Progress with Lawless French!
We're passionate about French self-study; it's what we built our whole platform for!
Our lessons, exercises and kwizzes are designed specifically to study French on your own. All of these resources incorporate:
- Reconsolidation
- Recall
- Corrections
- Multiple language skills
- SMART goals
We know this is the best way to study by yourself!
And you can take advantage of all this for free. With a free Progress with Lawless French account, you'll get a Brainmap to track your progress, a personalised Study Plan to set SMART goals, and lessons, exercises, and kwizzes to support your learning.
