Mastering French in just 10 minutes a day: start speaking like a native

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Can you list a few words that you can learn in French in 10 minutes a day? – Here they are:

  • Bonne soirée
  • Allez-y madame
  • J’aime bien

There are plenty of others, which ones are they?

You don’t know anything now but this will change after reading the article. You’ll learn MANY words and you’ll discover MANY ways to improve the language.

I’m Thomas, I teach French to students from all around the world since 2018.

Strategies for learning French in 10 minutes a day for French word.

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Efficient learning strategies for French

 Setting realistic goals

Achievable targets are likely to generate significant and lasting progress.

  • Keeping motivated
    • Setting goals that are easy to achieve boosts your self-confidence and encourages you to persevere. Small successes add up to a desire for more.

  • For everyday use
    • Small, achievable victories can be integrated into daily life. Eventually, this will no longer be an effort but a mundane act.

  • Doing it almost constantly
    • Do regularly to achieve regular victories. Avoid work periods when you have to do a lot in a short time.

  • Evaluating your own progress
    • Breaking learning down into stages makes it easier to measure your own progress.

  • More self-confidence
    • Repeating the experience of success leads to greater self-confidence. The feeling of building a solid foundation.

  • Avoiding the feeling of failure
    • If goals are easily achievable, we are less, if at all, discouraged.

  • A long-term commitment
    • Building up this knowledge step by step, with sure successes, is the best way to keep learning. This way, you won’t stop learning, and you’ll be able to develop solid skills in writing and speaking French.

    Time management for language learning

    Here are a few practical tips to optimize your time for language learning:

  • Plan
    • Identify the best times of day: lunch break, waking up in the morning, or in the evening after work or school. If possible, make these times regular.

  • Regularity
    • Short, regular learning times (between 15 and 30 minutes every day). This is more effective than studying once a week, for example.

  • Make the most of small ’empty’ moments
    • For example, listen to French podcasts, review flashcards while waiting for the bus or doing the dishes. Add this to your regular study time.

  • Soak up the language
    • Put your phone on French, listen to podcasts on subjects that interest you (sports, music, interviews with actors, etc.) on your commute or during sports sessions, etc.

  • Review your priorities
    • Spend less time or delegate certain daily tasks. This will give you more time to make progress in French.

  • Adaptation
    • If you can’t study because a day is too busy, reduce your study time. For example, take 10 minutes before bedtime.

  • A long-term commitment
    • Building up this knowledge step by step, with sure successes, is the best way to keep learning. This way, you won’t stop learning, and you’ll be able to develop solid skills in writing and speaking French.

    Regular, longer-lasting learning.

    The key is to build gradually.

    Watch this video to have more ideas.

    Exercise
    What’s your best strategy? Write it in French in the comments.

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    • Click here → Premium French Course
    Language learning: free words in French in 10 minutes.
    Here some key question words:
    Qui ? Quoi ? Où ? Comment ? Quand ? Pourquoi ? Combien ? Depuis quand ?
    Quel… ? Quelle… ? Quels… ? Quelles… ?

    Essential French basics to start with

    Core vocabulary for everyday conversations

    Here’s a list of useful words and phrases that can be learned quickly to enrich your communication and help you talk more fluently:

    • Greetings
      • Bonjour (Hello)
      • Bonsoir (Good evening)
      • Bonne nuit (Good night)
      • Salut (Hi/Hello)
      • Comment ça va ? (How are you?)
      • Comment s’est passée ta journée ? (How was your day?)
    • Introducing yourself
      • Je m’appelle… (My name is…)
      • Enchanté(e) (Nice to meet you)
      • Comment t’appelles-tu ? (What’s your name?)
      • Comment est-ce que tu t’appelles ? (What’s your name?)
      • Et toi ? (And you?)
    • Everyday expressions
      • Merci (Thank you)
      • De rien (You’re welcome)
      • Je vous en prie (You’re welcome)
      • Excusez-moi/Pardon (Excuse me/Sorry)
      • S’il vous plaît (Please)
      • D’accord (Okay)
    • Numbers
      • Un, deux, trois… (One, two, three…)
      • Dix, vingt, trente… (Ten, twenty, thirty…)
      • Combien ? (How much/many?)
    • Time
      • Heure (Hour)
      • Jour (Day)
      • Semaine (Week)
      • Mois (Month)
    • Directions
      • À gauche (Left)
      • À droite (Right)
      • Tout droit (Straight ahead)
      • De l’autre côté (On the other side)
      • Où est… ? (Where is…?)
      • Près de (Near)
    • Family
      • La mère, le père, le frère, la sœur (Mother, father, brother, sister)
      • Le fils, la fille (Son, daughter)
      • Les cousins et les cousines (Cousins)
      • Le mari, la femme (Husband, wife)
      • Les parents (Parents)
      • L’enfant (Child)
    • Food and drinks
      • La nourriture (Food)
      • La boisson (Drink)
      • Le petit déjeuner, le déjeuner, le dîner (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)
      • Les biscuits (Cookies)
      • L’eau (Water)
      • Le café, le thé (Coffee, tea)
    • Emotions
      • Heureux(se) (Happy)
      • Joyeux (Joyful)
      • Triste (Sad)
      • En colère (Angry)
      • Excité(e) (Excited)
      • Fatigué(e) (Tired)
    • Small sentences
      • Je ne sais pas (I don’t know)
      • Bien sûr (Of course)
      • C’est génial ! (That’s great!)
      • Comment ça marche ? (How does it work?)
      • Je vois ce que tu veux dire (I know what you mean)
      • J’ai compris (I understood)
      • Je comprends (I understand)
    • Some adverbs
      • Toujours (Always)
      • Souvent (Often)
      • Généralement (Generally)
      • Parfois (Sometimes)
      • Rarement (Rarely)
      • Jamais (Never)

    Introduction to French pronunciation

    Here are some tips and techniques to help you master French sounds and improve your accent:

  • Know the basic sounds of French
    • Learn phonetic symbols. This enables you to correctly associate sounds with letters, and thus avoid pronunciation errors.

  • Listen to audios often
    • Listen to native French: films, TV shows, songs or podcasts. To get used to the pronunciation and rhythm of the language.

  • Use the Internet
    • There are apps, websites and blogs dedicated to learning pronunciation.

  • Study with a native speaker
    • Someone who can give you a personalized correction. This helps you correct mistakes more quickly. The earlier you correct mistakes, the fewer you’ll make later on.

  • Use syllables
    • Syllables are important in French. Sequencing words into syllables makes it easier to understand and reproduce sounds in the right way.

  • Pay attention to liaisons and elisions
    • -Les liaisons = connection of the last consonant of a word with the following vowel.
    Examples:
    les amis, we pronounce it les zamis.
    un an, pronounced un nan.
    -Les élisions = omission of certain syllables, notably the final syllable of a word.
    Examples:
    Ce est becomes c’est
    Je aime becomes j’aime

  • Record and listen to yourself
    • Record yourself speaking in French and listen to yourself. It’s a very effective way of recognizing and correcting your own mistakes.

  • Imitate famous French speakers
    • For example, choose actors you like and imitate their way of speaking.

  • Don’t forget the nasal vowels
    • Found in words like un and en. Take time to practice making only these sounds.

  • Patience and perseverance
    • Good pronunciation takes time. Being patient and persevering is the best thing you can do.

    Here are some more sentences to remember
    • Vous venez d’où ? / Tu viens d’où ? (Where are you from?)
    • Pouvez-vous m’aider ? (Can you help me?)
    • Où est la gare ? (Where is the train station?)
    • Excusez-moi, je ne parle pas très bien français. (I’m sorry, I don’t speak French very well.)
    • Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? (Could you repeat that, please?)
    Homeschool learning resource to study French on a daily basis.

    A different language is a different vision of life.

    Federico Fellini

    Interactive learning techniques

    Incorporating technology in learning

    Internet is your best friend! Cell phone applications and websites are a great way to learn and improve your French. What’s more, they’re interactive and targeted.

  • Phone applications
    • Duolingo
    • Babbel
    • Rosetta Stone
    You’ll find structured lessons, interactive exercises and games. You’ll learn grammar, conjugation, vocabulary and typical expressions.
  • Flashcards
    • Flashcards are a fast, fun way to learn.
    Here are three examples:
    • Anki
    • Quizlet
    • Memrize
    You can create your own flashcards.
  • Apps for speaking with native speakers
    • Tools like
    • Tandem
    • Hello Talk
    You’ll find native French speakers to help you improve your language skills. It’s very important to be able to put into practice what you’ve learned.
  • Listen to podcasts
    • There are apps like
    • Spotify
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Deezer
    and more. I invite you to listen to shows and interviews to develop your listening comprehension. An important point is the different accents and rhythms in speech, which is a great way to improve.
  • Apps to take your grammar to the next level
    • There’s
    • Bescherelle
    • Le Conjugueur
    • Kwiziq
    You’ll find interactive exercises and clear explanations.
  • Online learning platforms
    • There’s
    • iTalki
    • Preply
    • Lingoda
    for one-to-one lessons with French teachers. Some teachers have a diploma to teach and others don’t, but are native speakers who offer their services. You can also request personalized lessons.
  • Join groups on social networks
    • Discuss in French on
    • Facebook
    • Reddit
    • Discord
    You can ask questions and exchange ideas with other students and native speakers.
  • All online media
    • French websites, blogs, online newspapers and videos on YouTube. Soak up the language.

    Engagement with native content

    Here’s how you can integrate these materials into your learning process:

  • Listen to music with French lyrics
    • To get used to the sounds, rhythm and intonation of the language. Listen to music you like
    • songs
    • rap
    • pop
    • rock
    It’s great for learning new words.
  • Watch videos
    • -Use
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    -You can vary what you watch:
    • vlogs
    • tutorials
    • documentaries
    • comedy shows
    At first, opt for videos with subtitles.
  • French films and series
    • To further immerse yourself in the language and the French culture, learn more about the culture and everyday expressions.

  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe to French podcasts on topics you like:
    • current affairs
    • culture
    • history
    • science
  • Do you know about interactive applications?
    • There are some that offer videos with dialogues:
    • FluentU
    • Yabla
    • Le Point du FLE
    offer lessons based on videos, so you’re immersed in a context that makes learning easier.
  • Create your own lists
    • Themed lists with videos, songs, podcasts and blogs. For example, a playlist on French cinema, history or sports. This structures learning and makes it more enjoyable because you choose what you like.

  • Be active
    • Repeat the phrases you hear, sing along with the songs, or chat with native speakers about the topics covered in the videos. You’ll improve your vocabulary and pronunciation.

  • Subscribe to social networks
    • French accounts on
    • X
    • Instagram
    • TikTok

    Exercise
    What’s your favourite support? Why? Write it in the comments in French.

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    • Click here → Premium French Course
    Be confident with 10 minutes studying French everyday for learning fun.

    Overcoming language barriers confidently

    Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities

    Here are some key points on the importance of making mistakes while practicing a language and how to use them to improve:

  • Identify what needs to be improved
    • Analyze the mistakes you’ve made to identify specific areas for improvement. Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, etc.

  • They reinforce memory
    • The brain remembers corrections made after an error more easily. The process of making and losing mistakes stimulates the memory and therefore leads to better retention of information.

  • Confidence grows
    • It’s important to have a positive attitude towards making mistakes, as this builds self-confidence. So you improve your language and speak more easily without fear of making mistakes.

  • Continuous improvement
    • Errors are steps towards a better understanding of the language.

  • A positive mindset
    • If you take mistakes as something positive, then learning can be motivating and encouraging. See every mistake as an opportunity to progress.

    Building conversational confidence

    Here are some practical strategies for developing your confidence when speaking French:

  • Regular language practice
    • Practice regularly to boost your self-confidence. Speak daily with native speakers, if possible. Confidence comes from speaking.

  • Increase your vocabulary
    • The more words you know, the more comfortable you’ll feel in discussions.

  • Active listening
    • If you actively listen to the other person, he or she will feel listened to, which will contribute to smooth communication. If you don’t have the opportunity to speak with native speakers, you can practice active listening by watching or listening to programs.

  • The rest
    • Everything you’ve read in this article that can help you to build strong self-confidence.

    Click on the video to know how to overcome failure and learn form your mistakes.

    Exercise
    Are you shy when you speak French? What’s make you feeling this? Tell it in French in the comments.

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    • Click here → Premium French Course
    FAQ for a study plan, to learn French

    FAQ

    How can I maximize learning French if I only have 10 minutes a day?

    1 – Choose short activities such as flashcards, listening to French audio clips, etc.
    2 – Study words and expressions from everyday life, to integrate them even better.
    3 – Use cell phone applications. Keep study times short.

    Are there any interactive tools or apps recommended to learn French if I only have 10 minutes a day?

    HelloTalk
    Memrise
    Quizlet
    Beelinguap
    Duolingo
    Busuu
    Clozemaster

    Is it possible to tailor the ‘French in 10 Minutes a Day’ program to my personal learning goals?

    1 – Know your goals
    2 – Know your weaknesses
    3 – Choosing content according to your objectives
    4 – Use different media and platforms
    5 – Do oral exercises
    6 – Choose the right study pace
    7 – Stay regular
    8 – Evaluate your knowledge regularly and adjust the content of what you learn if necessary

    It’s the end, well done.

    Please, feel free to let a comment!

    Thomas, French teacher 🙂

    Resources

    https://www.geo.fr/voyage/ces-quatre-conseils-permettraient-dapprendre-une-langue-etrangere-plus-efficacement-212108

    https://fr.babbel.com/fr/magazine/apprendre-une-langue-20-minutes-par-jour

    https://www.sciencesetavenir.fr/tag_theme/langage_5192/