Developing your vocabulary is essential to succeed in the every test section of DELF/DALF/TCF.
Discover in this article five foolproof methods to improve your vocabulary in French. By following these tips, you will train your brain to recognize words, guess their meanings in context, and master new grammatical structures to familiarize yourself with modern and authentic French language.
General tip : a great way to make the new words stick is to write down in a notebook and try to reuse them quickly.
Method 1: Read. Read. Read.
Regular reading is an effective method to enrich your vocabulary. Just a few minutes each day are enough to make rapid progress. Dedicate your reading sessions to content dedicated to topics that interest you: blogs, news articles, or even poetry.
Focus on quality rather than quantity and take advantage of key moments during the day, such as breakfast, bus rides, or before bed, to read in French. Your brain will practice recognizing words and understanding their meanings in a given context.
Method 2: Listen to French Music
Combine the useful with the enjoyable. By listening to music that gets you moving, you will progress quickly. Choose French-singing artists and songs that you enjoy. This will allow you to learn authentic French and familiarize yourself with slang, especially if you listen to rap or contemporary French music.
Try to listen to music every day, from a few minutes to several hours, during your daily activities such as cleaning, showering, driving, or even during your workout sessions. This Spotify playlist will help you discover iconic French songs!
For better effectiveness, sing in karaoke: look up the lyrics online and learn the song by heart!
Method 3: Watch French Movies or Series
Watch at least one movie or episode of a series per week, or even daily if you have the time. Enable French subtitles to facilitate understanding: in no time, you’ll be able to link the written words with the actual prononciation.
You don’t need to understand every word; the important thing is to grasp the context. Thanks to the subtitles, take note of expressions you like or that come up frequently.
Method 4: Write in French
Communicate as much as possible with French speakers online, via email or social media. Keep a personal journal in French to practice using new words and expressions. Comment, write private messages, and participate in forums to better memorize the vocabulary you’ve learned.
Method 5: Use Flashcards and Vocabulary Quizzes
Use them daily through dedicated apps or create your own physical or virtual flashcards. This interactive method will help you memorize new words in a fun way. You can also access vocabulary quizzes on Kahoot to practice.
Vocabulary enrichment is a continuous process that requires patience, consistency, and perseverance.
Create your own learning routine
By incorporating these five methods into your learning routine, you will gradually expand your vocabulary in French. These techniques will help you achieve a higher score in the Written Comprehension and Production exams of DELF/DALF/TCF and bring you closer to your goal. Get started and transform your vocabulary learning into an enjoyable and rewarding experience!