26Jun 2020 by Cathy No Comments

How to use spaced repetition to learn French more efficiently

Exam preparation: pass the DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF!, Stressless French Learning
Can you use spaced repetition to learn French? Of course! I'm sure you're already familiar with the principle of spaced repetition: this is the underlying method behind all language learning apps. But you don't have to rely solely on an app to use it. Let's see how you can take control of your learning process to make it more efficient. I'll explain: what is the forgetting curvewhy you should look further than the graph and a few tips to make sure you get the most out of your brain. What is the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve? The psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus modelized "the forgetting curve" in 1885 to show how much information your brain has retained after a certain amount of time. As you can see on the picture below, the memories…
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22Apr 2020 by Cathy No Comments

French conjugation rules: the big picture

Exam preparation: pass the DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF!, Understand French grammar
Strategy for learning French conjugation rules French conjugation rules are complex but the more you stress about it, the less proficient and fluent you become. Then it's a vicious circle fueling your insecurity in French. I believe with a methodic and stress-free approach, you can finally get a good understanding of the foundations of French conjugations. Read til the end and dowload my visual guides about the past tenses (relationship between imparfait/passé composé/plus-que-parfait), the conditional and the subjunctive. Finally, add a lot of focused practice (listening and speaking) and you'll start to have an instinctive feel for what sounds right. Let's see focus on the steps it takes to become fluent with the conjugations. How to chunk down the French conjugation rules Here are 4 things to keep in mind…
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07Apr 2020 by Cathy No Comments

DELF writing exam: how to prepare (DELF, DALF, TEF, TCF)

Exam preparation: pass the DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF!
Summary- French exams: what you are really tested on- How to write a French essay- Why it's important to structure your texts and use logical connectors- How having structure lowers the stress level- Why work with a coach to prepare an exam- 4 typical outlines to write a French essay The DELF writing exam and the oral presentation can seem like daunting tasks but with good preparation, you can succeed! There's one thing to keep in mind when you're taking a French test like DELF, DALF, TCF or TEF. You're evaluated both on the "mechanical" quality of your language (grammar, spelling, pronunciation) AND your ability to express your point of view. The following advice work both for the writing and oral tasks. As you move further up the levels (B2,…
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05Jan 2020 by Cathy No Comments

Best resources to immerse yourself in the French language

Content in French, Exam preparation: pass the DELF, DALF, TEF and TCF!, French immersion
If you're preparing for a French test, you should focus mostly on the second category but if you're aiming for a C1 or C2 level you should also get some exposure with more formal language. Best resources for formal language You can read newspapers like Le Monde, Le Devoir (Canada), Courrier International (translation in French of articles from all over the world). Read classic French litterature and some of the contemporary writers (André Malraux, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Albert Camus, Georges Simenon, Amélie Nothomb, Jean-Christophe Ruffin, Delphine de Vigan...). Listen to France Culture, Radio France International, go to conferences if you live in a francophone country. Best resources for standard to casual language Read blogs about topics you like and some contemporary novels (some books by Albert Camus have simpler language,…
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