How to practise writing in French?
During your French language course in Aix-en-Provence, you may want to practise writing in French outside class. Writing in French is a good exercise and it’s easy to do it in a short time, on a regular basis. Here are a few ideas for you to get started.
“Dictées”: it can be a hard task for some people, but for others it’s a fun way to work on your written French by writing down in French what someone dictates to you. French is a language where words are rarely written the way they are pronounced. Even the French make mistakes. Whether being used often or seldom as a training exercise it will always help you improve. There are websites with readymade dictées per level of French. You can even do it with your class friends in your French language course: one reads, the other writes and you’ll correct together. Everyone benefits.
cours / court, compte / conte, eaux / haut, verre / vers / ver / vert – it’s not easy to distinguish these words when hearing them! The context will determine.
- Write a résumé of an article, a book or a film that you like. You may want to add another exercise and practise doing an oral presentation of the résumé, even try recording yourself.
- Write postcards. An old-fashioned habit that has practically disappeared but that your friends and family will surely appreciate. Impress them by writing a few short words or sentences in French about how you are enjoying the good life while learning French in Aix-en-Provence. You may probably refer to the current events for interesting observations.
- Write holiday greeting cards. If you are doing your French language course during Christmas, Easter or other holidays in France, send a French holiday greeting card to your loved ones.
- Keep a journal. No need to buy a fancy leather-bound journal. Anything will do, loose papers, a notebook or the digital tool of your choice. Write a few lines or a few chapters every day. Emotions, observations, anything is fine –for your eyes only.
Creative writing. Why about inventing a story? You can use all your senses and impressions of Aix-en-Provence. What does the lavender smell like? What does the market sound like on a busy Saturday morning? What feelings did the vision of the Sainte Victoire bring? How cold was the rosé wine from last night? How does the touch of a hot chalkstone in the sunshine at the beach in Cassis feel like? The possibilities are endless and you can have fun with your friends doing this together.
Get working!
