I have always be emphasizing the fact that language learning takes more than reading heaps of books or attending classes, it needs more than these. You need to get immersed in the language learning process. However, if you are learning only to prepare for TEF is this still necessary? To answer this question, I would like to start up this article by defining the key term \u201cculture\u201d in the topic chosen and select the methods of learning French for TEF alone…<\/p>\n
I have always be emphasizing the fact that language learning takes more than reading heaps of books or attending classes, it needs more than these. You need to get immersed in the language learning process. However, if you are learning only to prepare for TEF is this still necessary? To answer this question, I would like to start up this article by defining the key term \u201cculture\u201d in the topic chosen and select the methods of learning French for TEF alone.
\nThe Big Deal About Culture and Language
\n“To really unlock a language, to understand it at its roots, understanding culture is key”. – Brian Oaster. Culture and Language are intertwined but culture is not limited to language Culture includes other components like food, art, mythology, values and etiquette. French is a privileged access to culture. French is the international language of the theater, the visual arts, dance, architecture, haute cuisine and fashion. Knowing French gives you direct access to the great literature, films and songs of French and Francophone culture.
\nWhat is Culture?
\nWherever one comes from, “Culture” consists of beliefs and values learned through the socialization process as well as material artifacts (Jary and Jary, 1991, p. 101). Culture is the learned set of beliefs, values, norms and material goods shared by group members. Culture consists of everything we learn in groups during the life course from infancy to an old age (William and Hickey, 2005). The Question to ask now is: How do I learn the French culture?A.O.S Responds …..
\nWhat is your life made up of?
\nTo know this, ask yourself these following questions;<\/p>\n
Where do I go rather often or planning to go?
\nWhat do I do always or even planning to do?
\nWhat do I possess?
\nWhen do you do what you do?<\/p>\n
For me, my life is made up of; My house: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom among other places, my office, mosque, my library, my phone, my leisure time and so on.
\n1.\tBecome Sticky
\nThe very first task I did in living the French language was to write on sticky notes the names of all appliances in my home and use the sticky notes to represent the in French on them.I wrote the French names and English meanings on the sticky notes and placed on every wall, appliance, gadgets and things in my house.2.\tListen to Local Radio and Music
\nMusic tells of the story of the character, history and beliefs of the French people. Turn your phone and car to a cultural learning platform, utilise the home theatre in your house to study the French culture. Make sure that you colonize your hearing atmosphere with the melodies of the French orchestra, hymns and songs. French stations like RFI ‘Radio France International’, TV5Monde, CGTV Fran\u00e7ais, CanalPlus, Infosport, France24, Piwi+, etc are all useful channels on DSTV.
\n3.\tTry French Cuisine
\nThe culture of the French people can also be experienced through their native cuisine. If you are around French people, look for ethnic French restaurants and make orders.
\nThis will make you learn about French eating etiquettes while learning the language simultaneously. You can choose to also browse out the French recipes online and make some of them for your family at home while learning the language.4.\tVisit French Museums
\nThe role of historical visitation cannot be overemphasized. It helps you to study the history of the people while exploring their cultural works of arts and aesthetics. Museums are one of the cultural centers you can visit for this. Nowadays, other cultural centers may include organizations, buildings or complexes that promote culture and arts. These centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run.
\n5.\tGet Festive for the Holidays
\nMake it a point of duty to take time off work during festive seasons and holidays to visit French tourist sites. This helps you learn a great deal of the language from native speakers themselves who are visiting those areas like you to mingle with people. And you can even get to make friends through that process who might end up taking you through the language learning process.6.\tRead French Newspapers
\nLots of what happens on a daily, weekly and monthly basis in French countries amongst the French people in their communities are written and documented in newspapers, journals and other reference materials. So, when you read them you learn the French language and the culture of the people. You get in tune with their entertainmnt, trends, politics, economics among other aspects of their culture.
\n7.\tFollow French Social Media
\nSimply following French influencers, celebs, organisations and other people who speak and use the language will help you learn more social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube among others have lots of French people who are always open to helping you in your learning process. Some of the instagram accounts I follow are: Charles Aznavour, Sheryfa Luna, Lara Fabien, LearnFrench101, apprendrefrench, frenchtutoronline, itutorfrenchng, frenchhacking, frenchwithcharlotte, frenchprofs, frenchforbusiness, dailyfrenchlessons, etc.8.\tEnter a Mutual Cultural Exchange
\nYou can boost your French learning process by joining a French cultural society or program that encourages you to practice the language. French schools, institutes and centers around you have some free community programs and societies that you can be a part of. Your participation in them can be in terms of volunteerism or even religious like activities in the churches or mosques.
\n9.\tLook Up YouTube Videos
\nIn setting up your life for French, if you can’t use YouTube judiciously to improve on your
\nFrench learning, it can be difficult to learn online. There are tons of useful videos you can watch freely to improve your French NB: Be careful with the type of contents you digest and that’s why you need to be clear of what you want and how to go in search of them.
\n\u00a010.\tVisit the Library
\nNot all libraries are equipped with language books especially in local areas and communities. Although, you can still get travel books & guides, novels be it fiction or non-fiction at national or school libraries. You can ask for recommendations at libraries or even search for famous books on e-library over the internet.
\n11.\tJoin Cultural Rituals
\nParticipate in French celebrations like birthdays, marriage, anniversary, naming, valedictory and other celebrations. You can learn some indelible vocabularies in the process while making some important contacts with people. Such events can also open your eyes into the cultural norms and idiosyncrasies of the French and francophone people.12.\tFamiliarize with Material Symbols
\nEvery ethnicity and tribe has its own materials that are used to identify them and their culture. Get familiar with the various mostly surplus cultural items, know their names, what they are used for and if possible little stories behind their existence. The French people are known for lots of things among which are wines, clothing and so on, thus learning other words relating to those cultural symbols will aid your French learning.
\n13.\tObserve without Judgment
\nYou cannot possibly influence someone if you’re judging them; likewise you cannot learn French language from someone who you’re constantly judging. You can ask questions, apologizes when you offend them but never compromise your safety. Please and please, be highly intelligent by observing the French and francophone people be it offline or online, grow fond of them, appreciate their culture and finally attempt to learn their language.My Last Thoughts
\nNot everyone can do all what it takes to learn French and prepare for TEF Canada test. It takes more than what you possibly think especially if you want to do it fast. However, that does not mean it is not possible. In fact, it is more possible now than ever with our signature specialized and signature online course and programs you can. Visit www.frenchTEFcanada.com to enroll yourself for your present French level and contact us on +2348107714449 or +2349091884943 on Whatsapp for more inquiries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have always be emphasizing the fact that language learning takes more than reading heaps of books or attending classes, it needs more than these. You need to get immersed in the language learning process. However, if you are learning only to prepare for TEF is this still necessary? To answer this question, I would like to start up this article by defining the key term \u201cculture\u201d in the topic chosen and select the methods of learning French for TEF alone…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":22,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-60","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=60"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/backup.aosacademy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=60"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}