I am begging you for a chance to explain why learning grammar is SO useful... Please read on!! “I don’t want to learn grammar” - WHY? I often ask students what they find most difficult about learning French. The following feedback from Jillian inspired me to write this article: “It is difficult for me to structure sentences and therefore oral communication. […] I don't want to know about grammar because it just makes me more confused, I would just like to know sentences, then play with the sentences I know to create new sentences.” It's not uncommon to hear: “I want to learn French but I don’t … Read More →
The 7 Most Common French Tenses Made Easy (Recipes)
French verbs and their conjugation seem to be the most exasperating part of French grammar for students. There are quite a number of French tenses and moods (I will write about those in a future article) and it is very easy to feel overwhelmed. As a result, many students buy dictionaries specifically dedicated to French verbs. Honestly, if I were a French student, the mere sight of these dictionaries would discourage me! Do I have to learn all that??! Good news : the answer is NO. There is an easy way you can dramatically reduce the amount of memorisation (and headaches!) to learn the … Read More →
Introduction to French Grammar : What Type of Word is This ?
How to Learn French Grammar Easily ? The following has helped many of my students to get their first grip on French grammar and gain much confidence by understanding the relation between the different words and their order in a sentence. That’s why I would like you to be able to benefit from it too. In this article, you will see how basic grammar notions in French are important in learning to write French essays or to speak French with consistently good results. If you’d like to read more about the power of grammar (or need more convincing!), I wrote an article about it here. By … Read More →
Proofreading Checklist (French Essay Writing)
This checklist that I have created helps my students and will help you with thorough proofreading of your essays to give yourself the best chances of success. Recommended for VCE French, DELF or any written exam preparation or French assignment! Note: this checklist is part of the resources I've included in my French VCE exam revision guide, "How to Prepare for the French VCE & Reach your Maximum Score". Exam Tips: Practice well before an exam so that you know what you should pay particular attention to on for the big day. Download the free PDF version of my Proofreading … Read More →