As a French teacher, I have seen lots of myths about on how to best learn French. Let’s look at them, and how they affect your learning:

Myth #1: “I don’t need grammar to learn French”:

• If you grew up in a francophone country, or if you live in a francophone country and are in touch now with French language in your everyday life, you know that the brain can memorize the language. Meaning: someone could know French by heart, and they could repeat what they hear, all without actually understanding the grammar, structure or proper usage, etc. Because someone is exposed on a daily basis to the French language, yes, it’s possible to learn French “instinctively”.

  But, since you are reading this article, it’s more likely that you didn’t grow up in a francophone country, and that you don’t currently live in a francophone country—and this makes your learning journey harder.

  In French, we talk about “le fond” (that we can translate as: the content) and “la forme” (that we can translate as: the structure). They are both essential and inseparable. No “fond” without “forme”—no content without structure. And vice versa: no structure without content. Le “fond” is built by your French vocabulary, your ideas. “Le fond” is built by the syntax, the French conjugations, the structure. Said simply, no content without structure; no structure without content.

  In other words, no one would understand your ideas, if you don’t know how to structure them, if you don’t know how to conjugate a verb. (No, you can’t explain everything with regular verbs in the present tense.)

  If you want to master French, you have to dedicate time to “la forme”.

Myth #2: “How to learn French in 3 weeks”

• That must be one of the biggest lies I have ever seen on internet!  And, as a professional French teacher, it really gets on my nerves because not only is it untrue and misleading, it also sets up false expectations in you as   a student, and can lead to disappointment that you aren’t progressing faster. Like great oaks that take time to grow, so too does your ability in French.

  Through my experience as a French teacher who has taught in many countries around the world, I have seen that everything is relative: I’ve heard many times, “Yes, I speak French. I can say, “Je m’appelle…”, “Je suis…”. And that’s it!

  While for some people, to “speak French” is just being able to say their name, for others, it is being bilingual. So, yes, everything is relative, but “learning French in 3 weeks” is impossible.

  In truth, there is simply no magical trick to learn any language. I’ve been learning English for years, and I know that I will never reach a C2 level (bilingual). Why? Because I accept that that it’s not my goal and that I’m not 100% serious about it. (And I’m ok with that.)

  If you want to reach a good level in French (or in any language), you need to be in touch with it every day, and to be working hard. Really hard. Like learning piano, you need to “touch the keys” every day. Same for learning French.

  Scientific fact: a bilingual child will forget a language that is not maintained.

  So, stop looking for a magic trick that doesn’t exist. As they say in sports, “Go hard or Go home.”

Myth #3: I will learn French on my own:

• This is actually the best way to develop bad habits in all aspects of the language. ALL of them.

  I often use this comparison with my students: Learning a language is like learning how to drive. Once you develop bad habits, it will be very difficult to get rid of them. Because these habits are automatic and engrained, you will struggle and struggle to eliminate them.

  It’d be ideal if you had the chance to live in a francophone country, but that is not very realistic since it’s expensive and time consuming. Or, it’d also be ideal if you are surrounded by French speakers who will take the time to correct you and explain your mistakes, but that is not likely since it’s rare to be around French speakers who 1) speak correctly and 2) will take the time to correct and teach you.

  As for Duolingo and free content on internet, they have their own limits, and you will never reach a level of proficiency unless you work with professionals, who are 1) native, and 2) trained French teachers, meaning: you should work with those who have the academic and professional training. Avoid the many “teachers” and influencers on social media who are neither trained nor right.

  Someone isn’t automatically suited to teach French simply because they are French. For example, I have an excellent level in Spanish, but I will never teach Spanish. Why not? Because I know that I will never be able to offering Spanish what a native Spanish teacher could. In other words, as a native French teacher I can provide the culture, the nuances, the sensibilities that I have with French vocabulary because I am a native. All these things a professional, native teacher will be able to give, to explain, to share with you. Surround yourself with the best!

Myth #4: Taking classes is enough.

• As a professional French teacher, I can say with absolute certainty that taking classes is not enough. I see a significant difference in students who are in touch with French outside class, who are doing homework, who are curious, who watch French programs, who take the time to practice what we actually study during the class. The more you expose yourself to the language, the more quickly you will absorb French.

  The role of the teacher is to show the path, to clarify the doubts. But you are the one who will make the difference. You are the one who controls your learning.

  I hope this article (this “coup de pied aux fesses” (kick in the butt) has debunked some myths, corrected some misconceptions, and equipped you with some truths and facts, and that it will ultimately help you on your path to becoming proficient at French.