10 tips for thinking in French

Do you hear French and immediately want to translate in your head what you heard? 

Similarly, when you want to say something in French, do you work it all out in English first? 

Well, that’s fine if you want to tackle things in your English head and slow all communication down! 

It seems hard at first, almost counterintuitive, but in the long run, it’s much faster not to translate all the time. 

Help yourself get into your French brain here with 10 great tips for thinking in French: 

• Why translating all the time slows communication down

• 10 great tips for thinking in French

10 great ideas to study French.

If you wish to get into the French brain, I have 10 different ways for you that I have personally used:

1. Immerse yourself at home
2. Label everything useful and add an action word
3. Narrate your actions
4. Avoid translation apps
5. Use a free French/French dictionary
6. Write a very simple journal
7. Get a French friend in person or online
8. Use audiobooks wisely
9. In conversation, don’t repeat back in English
10. Singalong

So, in the next parts, you will know how to apply each of them.

Immerse yourself at home. 

Sure, being immersed in the country helps but you can already do it at your place. How?

Simply change the language settings on your phone (and other devices) and switch to French. Surely, you are accustomed to the version of your native language, and seeing in French will allow you to learn new words.

Besides, you can always go back to your native language in a few seconds, should you have any doubts.  

Label everything useful and add an action word.

Seeing the words every day will certainly make it easier to memorise. Grab some paper and pens and create your labels.

Here are some labels you could work on:

• food items

• rooms

• house items

• garden items

• stationery items

• furniture…

In addition, add an action word or a verb to help you create your own sentences.

Narrate your actions.

There’s no better way to build some sentences. How can you do it?

Well, you can narrate your actions using different tenses: things you plan to do, things you are doing, or even things you did.

Imagine that you are cleaning your kitchen. While doing it, say it in French to link the action to the sentence:

• Je mets le poivre dans le placard >>> I’m putting the black pepper in the cupboard.

You plan to go to cook in the evening. Say it:

• Je vais préparer une salade ce soir >>> I’m going to prepare a salad tonight.

You closed the door last night? Express it:

• J’ai fermé la porte hier soir >>> I closed the door last night.

Even better if you then start hiding the words to try to recall them aloud. That way, you stimulate your brain. 

Avoid translation apps.

What does that look, or FEEL like? 

It’s natural if you want to use these apps and it’s ok to do it from time to time. However, you are in a passive state because you don’t make the effort to retrieve the words in your brain.

Instead, use Google images and try to remember the words you need while speaking with a person.

You don’t know or remember the word? Don’t worry and try to mime, or say it in English with the French accent. The conversation will be more natural and fun without any electronic devices.

Use a free French/French dictionary

Following the same idea, it’s tempting to grab a dictionary. Challenge yourself and use a French / French dictionary where you will see the definition in French.

Oui! It feels challenging at first but then you will see big results. By the way, the same happens when you read books in French. If you stick with it, you will realise how many new words you learn in the long run.

I recommend using a new word within a context and not random words that will make no sense. 

Write a very simple journal

Are aware of the benefits of having a journal? It is scientifically proven that when you write down your thoughts, you memorise better. Indeed, writing slows your thought processing down. You have time to think, to question, to focus on word order, grammar, and vocabulary. In addition, no need to worry about pronunciation.

You are not supposed to write a novel but just to create some sentences to apply your learning. Feel free to decorate it with drawings or images.

Get a French friend in person or online 

Are you learning French to have real conversations? The best way to do this is to find someone with whom you can practice. It’s a lot easier to acquire a language. Everything has its context and you get instant feedback. And more importantly, it is fun!

Use audiobooks wisely

While learning a language, you are required to improve different skills and one of them is your listening comprehension.

One way to do it is to listen to audiobooks. You can even do better if you read along. Why? Because you work on your production at the same time.

First, read and speak for the sake of language acquisition, then to study it which is the learning mode.

In conversation, don’t repeat back in English

I know how natural it is to translate everything in your head when you deal with a conversation in French. Please resist the temptation!

If you are not sure about the meaning, repeat or mirror it so that the person confirms that you understood correctly. 

Don’t be afraid to ask more questions if needed but avoid any English.

Singalong

Just like reading, singing is a nice productive way to study your English. There’s no time to think about the pronunciation, the grammar, and so on. You simply read the lyrics, learn how to articulate the words, mimicking what you hear at full speed. 

Be sure to sing songs you particularly like so that your learning is pleasant and natural.

In conclusion, if you wish to think in French, you can improve your listening skill, your production, your reading and more with these 10 methods:

1. Immerse yourself at home
2. Label everything useful and add an action word
3. Narrate your actions
4. Avoid translation apps
5. Use a free French/French dictionary
6. Write a very simple journal
7. Get a French friend in person or online
8. Use audiobooks wisely
9. In conversation, don’t repeat back in English
10. Singalong

The following mini-lessons will help you with your speaking French:

Developing your conversational flow: Why cramming will not help you speak more easily!

How DO you speak French every day even though you’re not in France?

So, what are your favourite ways to think in French?