Are you tired of being stuck at the same level in French? Do you want to know how to overcome it? Great! That’s wonderful news! It shows that you are motivated. So, what’s next? If you’re not sure how to start speaking French with confidence, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll give you some tips on how to find the perfect guide to help you reach your goals.
In this article:
Why Learning With a Teacher?
Watching hours of Netflix shows is a great way to immerse yourself in the French language and culture. As someone who loves series and culture, I fully support that! But what about being able to hold a conversation with confidence? To speak French with confidence, you have to speak! You could talk to yourself or a friend or comment on Instagram posts, but these methods have their limitations.
The Benefits of Taking Lessons
Learning French with a teacher has many benefits, including the fact that you can:
- Your teacher will use resources adapted to your needs and goals;
- They create lessons that teach you French through your hobbies;
- They encourage you and answer all your questions;
- They identify your struggles before you even mention them and know how to help you;
- They also provide you with tools and recommendations based on your interests.
Tutor or Professional French teacher?
If you have browsed learning platforms such as iTalki or Preply, you probably came across tutors and professional French teachers. Tutors usually focus on conversation, which is great. They speak authentic French, introduce you to lots of idioms, and offer a different approach to teaching languages.
However, professional French teachers will also offer you all of that. They also provide support and know how to help you reach your goals efficiently. Due to their experience, they are familiar with the challenges students face on their learning journey.
If you just want to practise conversation, a tutor can help. However, if you want to speak French with confidence, no matter the subject, and use the right tools for the occasion, a professional French teacher will give you the keys to achieve this goal!
How to Find the Best Teacher for You?
Identify your needs
Your goals will determine the perfect French teacher for you. They might be someone who can help you prepare for the DELF. Or they might be someone who can improve your pronunciation. Or they might be someone who can help you use French for work. The first thing to consider is what you are looking for in your lessons and what your goals are.
Here are a few examples:
- If you are planning to move to Switzerland, it would make sense to search for a French teacher from Switzerland rather than someone from France or Belgium.
- You are intermediate level in France and want to build on this by taking an exam (e.g. DELF, DALF or TEF)? Then search for a teacher who specialises in exam preparation.
- If you hate boring textbooks and want to learn French through your hobbies (like me…), search for a teacher who specialises in sports, music or culture.
“I never have time to study French”
What if You Could Learn French Through Your Hobbies?
As someone who is both a language learner and a fan of art, photography, music and films, I love learning languages through culture. Learning French through your hobbies is the perfect way to:
- immerse yourself in the French language and culture
- have fun learning French!
- understand references used by native French speakers
- stay motivated.
As a teacher, my mission is to make sure my students enjoy their classes! When I see my students arrive and leave with a smile, I know that I have accomplished my mission! You can listen to me talking more about my teaching methods and perspective on my friend Zoé’s podcast (aka @FrenchYourMoves on social media).
How Can You Tell Whether a Teacher Is Right for You?
Once you find a teacher who seems to offer what you are looking for, get in touch! Don’t be shy! Ask all your questions, even the ones that might sound silly. Ask about their teaching methods, working approach, prices and experience. Tell them why you contacted them, your previous learning experiences, what you like and dislike and any difficulties you have faced.
It’s important to speak to your future teacher first to get an idea of what classes with them could be like. This step is the most important one! That’s why I also offer people a free 30-minute call to get to know each other and explain how I can help them speak French with confidence.
If you are interested, book your free strategic call with me today!
✨ I want to book my strategic call ✨
I hope this article helped you learn how to find the perfect French teacher! Be sure to check out my other blog posts for tips on immersing yourself in the French language and culture. A bientôt !
Who am I?
Bonjour! I’m Audrey, a native French teacher helping French learners outside of 🇫🇷 gaining confidence thanks to art & culture. I use movies, music, literature and visual arts to immerse yourself in French language and culture.
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