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When learning a foreign language, it\u2019s vital that you understand how and when to use different verbs. There are not only a variety of different tenses to learn, but also different conjugation rules for each verb group. There are several strategies you can use to work on verbs, so let\u2019s check out the best methods for French conjugation practice while avoiding the most common mistakes.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make as you study the French language is trying to learn all the tenses at once. Learning French can be overwhelming, once you know the past and present tenses you\u2019re then faced with the pluperfect, the subjunctive and the imperative, which can bewilder even the most inquisitive minds.<\/p>\n
Instead of trying to memorize each verb table, just start with one tense. Learn the rules for the verb groups in that tense, then look at the most common irregular verbs, which are \u00eatre<\/em>, avoir<\/em> and aller<\/em>. Once you feel confident with the first tense, instead of progressing to another subject, take time to practice. That way, your brain won\u2019t be overwhelmed and start to get confused. You can do exercises, watch videos and speak out loud until it\u2019s embedded in your mind. Only then, should you move on to the next tense.<\/p>\n Another huge mistake made by people learning a second language is studying too much! You may be thinking, \u201cthere\u2019s no such thing as studying too much\u201d, but I beg to differ. There is an enormous difference between endlessly studying textbooks and rules, and actually putting into practice the things you\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n Practicing speaking and conversing with another person is one of the best ways to improve your French, including verb conjugations. I know what you\u2019re thinking, you\u2019re not in France, you don\u2019t have the opportunity to practice in real life. Not knowing any native French speakers is no excuse! Thanks to the internet, you can use language exchange apps and bilingual chat rooms to find speaking partners, for example Tandem<\/em> and HelloTalk<\/em>. (check out our post for more French learning apps<\/a>).<\/p>\n The final mistake that French teachers hear far too often is that students watch TV series and movies with French audio… and English subtitles. If you watch with subtitles in your native language or one that you\u2019re already fluent in, then your brain will automatically pick up that language rather than the French you\u2019re trying to learn. This basically means that you\u2019re wasting your time, as you\u2019ll only pick up on a handful of words over the course of several hours.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean you should skip French TV altogether. Watching TV and movies is a great way to listen to native French speakers, either with no subtitles at all or with French subtitles<\/strong>. That said, watching in French might make it harder to fully understand the storyline, which is why you can choose a movie you already know, dubbed with French audio, so as not to miss any important parts of the plot. Rewatch it, paying close attention to the verbs and how they\u2019re used. Don\u2019t hesitate to pause and repeat difficult conjugations aloud, copying the actor\u2019s pronunciation and intonation.<\/p>\n If you want to discover French culture, you could instead turn to French cinema, also known as the seventh art<\/em>. Several cinematic movements came from France, so there are plenty of classic and modern movies to choose from.<\/p>\n Using generic learning techniques won\u2019t maximize your chances of being a conjugation pro. You need to focus on the way that you like to learn to reach your full potential.<\/p>\n In the age of technology, everybody has access to a plethora of learning resources at their fingertips. There are websites and smartphone apps where you can watch videos, download courses and play games, sometimes for a small fee but often at no cost at all. That said, you don\u2019t have to use technology to practice conjugation, in fact, a good old-fashioned pen and paper can work just fine!<\/p>\n When you were in school, did you ever have to write lines as a punishment? It\u2019s a tedious task to make you understand what you did wrong, so that you don\u2019t do it again. This may sound like a bad thing, but the basic idea is good: repetition helps us to learn. Teachers know the importance of repetition for cognitive development, which is why it\u2019s an essential tool in the classroom. To learn French verbs by heart, you can use any kind of repetition exercise. This may be writing down conjugations repeatedly, or saying them out loud over and over again. Depending on your learning style, you could stand in front of the mirror to speak or record yourself and play it back to increase auditory input.<\/p>\n Using a simple pen and paper, you can practice conjugations using games and writing exercises. Just one idea is an exercise that you can do by yourself called \u201clook, cover, write, check\u201d. Simply write down the conjugations of one particular verb and tense, read them until you think you\u2019ve memorized them, cover them with a piece of paper then write them down. The final step is to check whether you got them right.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an example with the verb \u201c\u00eatre\u201d in the present tense:<\/p>\n<\/a>Speak and listen<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Skip the subtitles<\/h3>\n
<\/a>How do you learn?<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>French Conjugation Practice: Offline Resources<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Repetition<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Look, cover, write, check<\/h3>\n