Why French? Finding Your Motivation
How to learn French without losing your mind...
Learning a new language is so much more than memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules. It’s a journey that transforms how you see the world, opens unexpected doors, and creates authentic human connections.
But to embark on this adventure successfully, you first need to understand why you’re doing it.
Let’s explore together the many reasons to learn French and how to stay motivated, even when difficulties arise.
The Universal Appeal of French
French isn’t just the “language of love” (though that’s a pretty great title to have). It’s also the language of diplomacy, art, fashion, and, of course, délicieuse food. Learning French gives you access to some of the best cultural benefits of life: watching iconic films like Amélie without subtitles, immersing yourself in the works of Victor Hugo and Marcel Proust (bon courage), or simply impressing people by knowing what “crème brûlée” really means (spoiler: burnt cream).
If you’ve ever fantasized about wandering the streets of Paris, sipping wine in Bordeaux, or finally understanding what Jacques Brel was singing about, French is your golden ticket.
Credits: Photo de Eddie Junior sur Unsplash
Practical Benefits of Speaking French
French is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and a bunch of international organizations, making it a career booster like no other. Whether you’re in international business, diplomacy, or the hospitality industry, speaking French instantly sets you apart from the crowd.
And let’s not forget, France is one of the most visited countries on the planet. Knowing the language turns your trips into a whole new experience: no awkward mime acts required when ordering un pain au chocolat or asking for directions to the Eiffel Tower! You’ll navigate with ease and authenticity, creating richer and more memorable experiences.
Learning French is also like getting a backstage pass to a world of incredible cultures. Imagine chatting with locals in the lively streets of Dakar, Senegal, or soaking in the charm of Quebec’s snowy landscapes.
And here’s something really cool that I recently discovered: learning French is literally a workout for your brain. Research shows that learning a new language creates new neural connections and strengthens existing ones. Bilingual people tend to have better memory, sharper problem-solving skills, and improved multitasking abilities.
Even better, multiple studies indicate that bilingual individuals show symptoms of Alzheimer’s four to five years later than monolingual people. In other words: learning French is an investment in a more resilient brain. Pas mal, nan ?
Staying Motivated: Define Your “Why” and Embrace the Joy of Learning
Learning a language is more like running a marathon than a sprint, and your motivation is the energy that keeps you going.
So, why are you learning French? Pourquoi ?
Is it for personal growth? To chat with friends or family? Maybe to explore new places or boost your career?
Write down your reasons and keep them close, especially on those days when learning French feels like an insurmountable mountain. Your “why” is your personal compass, helping you stay on track when it feels easier to just throw in the towel (jeter l’éponge, in French).
But here’s the secret to sustaining that motivation: make French learning something you genuinely look forward to. I know, especially when I look at my students’ faces, that French grammar can seem like a real maze and that pronunciation can twist your tongue, but every mistake is a step forward when you enjoy learning. Dive into what excites you: jam to French music while cooking dinner, whip up a delicious French dish on the weekend, or keep up with Parisian influencers on Instagram.
And finally, celebrate those small wins: ordering coffee confidently, understanding a movie scene without subtitles, or finally nailing that tricky “r” sound. These little victories aren’t just checkpoints; they’re reminders that all your efforts are leading to something big! When you learn with curiosity and joy, your motivation doesn’t just survive the challenges, it thrives because of them.
As a French coach, I am very interested in your motivations! In fact, that’s the first thing I ask my new students. So feel free to write them down in the comments!
Feeling the call of French? Ready to transform that motivation into concrete action? I’d love to accompany you on your language journey!
Book a class with me today and let’s bring your French learning goals to life together. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to polish your skills, I offer personalized lessons tailored to your objectives, your pace, and your passions.
Don’t let your Francophone dreams stay just dreams. Contact me today to reserve your first session and start this extraordinary adventure. Your “why” deserves a “now”!
À bientôt !
Timothée
1.) Every December on ski vacations to France it seemed like a 50% chance/risk that I could use English without lost in translation issues. That is partly the reason I started to learn French as my 3rd language after English and Swedish.
2.) Even more than that though, I discovered learning French is fun! I large part because so many new tools are available since I added Swedish 20 years ago. I'm an American ex-pat living in Sweden since 2002 btw.
3) It may be on the nerdy side but discovering the cognates/faux amis between the 3 languages is like unwrapping a gift each time. This week cognate "insipid" and faux amis "fade"
4) I've used Memrise, Duolingo, Lingopie. I also find Anki really useful for making flashcards from screenshots on other apps for the purpose of tying things together.
5. Je suis encore débutant mais j'apprends le français un peu chaque jour!
I have loved the French language since I started it in a special class in school in the US at the age of 9. We spent 3 yrs speaking, listening, singing, playing games, using flashcards for vocab. At 12 the rules changed, and everything we had done was taken up with writing and reading, then further developed. By the age of 15, it was a year of French culture (in French), at 16, French history, and my senior year of high school included a year of French literature. When I went to Uni as a music (flute performance) major, the French Dept placed me in French Majors’ courses due to my level, so I did a double major, adding things like French phonetics❤️.The challenge of trying to make my French perfect was like a game to me. (I got the only ‘A’ in phonetics!).
Life changed when I was offered a Junior Year Abroad for music in Austria. I spent a year studying music in German (which then became a true total immersion). I ended up finishing my degree in NY, then returning to Vienna in 1977. After 30 years of orchestral flute playing here, kids, grandkids, and a blessed marriage with an Austrian, I am a US expat with perfect Austrian German. In the last 20 yrs or so, I have realized that my spoken level of French was worse than rusty. I am now back in the swing of reading , watching films, following news and podcasts daily in French. I even enrolled in a C2 course this semester at the Institut Français Vienne! The other students could all be my kids or grandkids! No matter. I would never do a course for seniors!