My French Learning Journey: From Basics to Everyday Life

language-learning
French
travel
culture
professional-growth
family
academics
Québec
personal-development
Author

Kunal Khurana

Published

April 28, 2025

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1. Why I Am Learning French

Learning a new language is an exciting journey, and for me, French has always been a language of fascination. Here are my reasons for learning French:

My Reasons for Learning French

  1. Travel: French is a beautiful language, and knowing it will make traveling to French-speaking countries much more enjoyable. Whether it’s exploring Paris or the countryside, speaking the language adds a personal touch to the experience.

  2. Cultural Appreciation: I adore French culture. From its art and literature to its cuisine and cinema, learning the language allows me to connect more deeply with this rich heritage.

  3. Professional Growth: French is incredibly useful for my work. It opens up opportunities to collaborate with French-speaking colleagues and clients.

  4. Academic Pursuits: French is part of my university studies, and mastering it is essential for my academic success.

  5. Living in Québec: Since I live in Québec, learning French is not just practical but also a way to integrate better into the community.

  6. Love for Languages: I simply love learning new languages, and French is no exception. It’s a challenge I enjoy taking on.

Common French Question Words

As I learn French, I’ve noticed that certain question words are used frequently. Here are some examples:

  • Pourquoi? (Why?)
  • Qu’est-ce que? (What?)
  • Quand? (When?)
  • Où? (Where?)
  • Qui? (Who?)
  • Combien? (How much/many?)
  • Quel/Quelle? (Which?)

Sentence Practice for Beginners

To build confidence, I practice simple sentences like:

  • Je m’appelle ____. (My name is ____.)
  • J’ai ___ ans. (I am ___ years old.)
  • J’ai un chat. (I have a cat.)
  • Je suis indien. (I am Indian.)
  • Où est la gare? (Where is the train station?)

Learning Grammar

Understanding grammar is key to mastering any language. In French, I focus on:

  • Nouns (nom)
  • Verbs (verbe)
  • Adjectives (adjectif)
  • Adverbs (adverbe)
  • Prepositions (préposition)
  • Conjunctions (conjunction)
  • Pronouns (pronom)
  • Idiomatic Expressions (expression idiomatique)
  • Subjects and Objects (sujet, objet)

Learning French is a rewarding experience, and I’m excited to continue this journey. Whether it’s for travel, work, or personal growth, mastering this beautiful language is a goal worth pursuing.

2. Leisure Time Activities in French

As part of my French learning journey, I’ve been exploring vocabulary and phrases related to leisure activities. Here are some common activities and expressions:

What do you like to do in your free time?

Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire pendant ton temps libre?

Some popular activities include:
- Jouer aux jeux vidéos (Playing video games)
- Prendre des photos (Taking photos)
- Surfer sur internet (Surfing the internet)
- Peindre (Painting)
- Lire (Reading)
- Regarder des films (Watching movies)
- Jouer d’un instrument (Playing an instrument)
- Faire du vélo (Cycling)
- Écouter de la musique (Listening to music)
- Faire du shopping (Shopping)
- Faire du camping (Camping)
- Faire du sport (Playing sports)

Movie Genres in French

When talking about movies, here are some genres to know:
- Comédie (Comedy)
- Science-fiction (Science fiction)
- Romance (Romance)
- Thriller (Thriller)
- Action (Action)
- Fantaisie (Fantasy)
- Comédie musicale (Musical comedy)
- Horreur (Horror)
- Drame (Drama)
- Documentaire (Documentary)
- Dessin animé (Animated film)
- Mystère (Mystery)

What are you doing this weekend?

Qu’est-ce que vous faites ce week-end?

Here are some common weekend activities:
- Aller au cinéma (Going to the cinema)
- Aller à un concert (Going to a concert)
- Aller à un parc d’attractions (Going to an amusement park)
- Aller au karaoké (Going to karaoke)
- Rester à la maison (Staying at home)
- Regarder la télévision (Watching TV)
- Aller au parc (Going to the park)
- Aller au théâtre (Going to the theater)
- Voyager (Traveling)

French Movies to Watch

Watching French movies is a great way to immerse yourself in the language. Here are a couple of recommendations:
- Amélie
- Au revoir là-haut
- L’Artiste

Exploring leisure activities and entertainment in French not only helps expand your vocabulary but also makes learning the language more enjoyable and relatable.

3. Let’s Cook in French

Cooking is another fantastic way to learn French vocabulary and immerse yourself in the language. Here are some common kitchen items and phrases to get you started:

In the Kitchen (Dans la cuisine)

In the kitchen, you’ll find:

  • Un mixeur (Blender)

  • Un bol (Bowl)

  • Une cafetière (Coffee maker)

  • Un évier de cuisine (Kitchen sink)

  • Une planche à découper (Cutting board)

  • Un minuteur (Timer)

  • Un mixeur électrique (Electric mixer)

  • Une casserole (Saucepan)

  • Un four à micro-ondes (Microwave oven)

  • Une cuisinière (Stove)

  • Un grille-pain (Toaster)

  • Un réfrigérateur (Refrigerator)

Ingredients and Measurements

Here are some common ingredients and measurements in French:

  • Une pincée de sel (A pinch of salt)

  • 200 ml de lait (200 ml of milk)

  • Poivre noir à goûter (Black pepper to taste)

  • Une tasse de farine (A cup of flour)

  • 3 cuillères à soupe d’huile (3 tablespoons of oil)

  • 2 œufs (2 eggs)

  • 1 cuillère à café de beurre (1 teaspoon of butter)

Essential Cooking Verbs

To follow recipes in French, it’s helpful to know these verbs:

  • Remuer (Stir)

  • Trancher (Slice)

  • Griller (Grill)

  • Ajouter (Add)

  • Couper en morceaux (Chop)

  • Peler (Peel)

  • Battre (Beat)

  • Mélanger (Mix)

Reading Recipe Directions

Here are some common phrases you might encounter in French recipes:

  • Émincer les oignons (Slice the onions)

  • Battre les blancs d’œufs (Beat the egg whites)

  • Préchauffer le four (Preheat the oven)

  • Ajouter le mélange à la crème (Add the mixture to the cream)

  • Laisser mijoter à feu doux pendant environ 30 minutes (Let simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes)

Cooking in French is a fun and practical way to expand your vocabulary while enjoying delicious meals. Bon appétit!

4. Shopping for Clothes

Shopping for clothes in French can be a fun and practical way to practice the language. Here are some useful phrases and vocabulary to help you navigate a clothing store:

Common Phrases in a Clothing Store

  • Comment est-ce que je peux vous aider ? (How can I help you?)

  • Je cherche… (I am looking for…)

    • un pull-over (a sweater)

    • une chemise (a shirt)

    • un T-shirt (a T-shirt)

    • un pantalon (pants)

    • un short (shorts)

    • un sous-vêtement (underwear)

    • une veste (a jacket)

    • un costume (a suit)

    • une jupe (a skirt)

    • une robe (a dress)

    • un chemisier (a blouse)

    • un chapeau (a hat)

Questions to Use in a Shopping Mall

  • Est-ce que je peux essayer ceci ? (Can I try this on?)
  • Où est la cabine d’essayage ? (Where is the fitting room?)
  • L’avez-vous dans une taille plus grande ? (Do you have it in a larger size?)
  • L’avez-vous dans une autre couleur ? (Do you have it in another color?)
  • Acceptez-vous la carte bleue ? (Do you accept credit cards?)
  • Puis-je l’échanger ? (Can I exchange it?)

Must-Know Shopping Words

  • faire des courses (to go shopping)
  • acheter (to buy)
  • vendre (to sell)
  • avoir (to have)
  • chercher (to look for)
  • associer (to match)
  • rendre (to return)
  • aimer (to like)

Choosing the Perfect Color

  • blanc (white)
  • jaune (yellow)
  • vert (green)
  • rouge (red)
  • gris (gray)
  • bleu marine (navy blue)
  • bleu (blue)
  • noir (black)

Describing Clothes

  • serré (tight)
  • ample (loose)
  • court (short)
  • long (long)
  • grand (big)
  • petit (small)

Shopping for clothes in French is a great way to practice vocabulary and interact with native speakers. Bonne chance et bon shopping ! (Good luck and happy shopping!)

5. What’s in Your Wallet?

When learning French, it’s helpful to know the vocabulary for everyday items you carry with you. Here’s a list of common items:

Wallet Items (Dans le portefeuille)

  • Carte de crédit (Credit card)
  • Carte de fidélité (Loyalty card)
  • Carte de visite (Business card)
  • Carte mutuelle (Health insurance card)
  • Espèces (Cash)
  • Carte d’identité (ID card)
  • Carte de retrait (ATM card)
  • Permis de conduire (Driver’s license)

Personal Belongings (Objets personnels)

  • Portefeuille (Wallet)
  • Clé (Key)
  • Sac à main (Handbag)
  • Passeport (Passport)
  • Parapluie (Umbrella)
  • Téléphone portable (Mobile phone)
  • Bracelet-montre (Wristwatch)
  • Écouteurs (Earphones)
  • Lunettes (Glasses)
  • Gants (Gloves)
  • Mallette (Briefcase)
  • Appareil photo (Camera)

Personal Questions and Answers (Questions et réponses personnelles)

Here are some common personal questions and how to answer them:

  • Quelle est votre adresse email ? (What is your email address?)
    • Mon adresse email est… (My email address is…)
  • D’où venez-vous ? (Where are you from?)
    • Je viens de… (I am from…)
  • Quel est votre numéro de passeport ? (What is your passport number?)
    • Mon numéro de passeport est… (My passport number is…)

Filling Out Personal Information (Remplir vos informations personnelles)

When filling out forms in French, you might encounter these terms:

  • Prénom (First name)

  • Nom de famille (Last name)

  • Âge (Age)

  • Anniversaire (Birthday)

  • Profession (Profession)

  • Adresse (Address)

  • Pays (Country)

  • Nationalité (Nationality)

  • Numéro de téléphone (Phone number)

  • E-mail (Email)

  • Célibataire (Single)

  • Marié (Married)

  • Divorcé (Divorced)

Knowing these words and phrases will help you navigate everyday situations and fill out forms in French with ease. Bonne chance ! (Good luck!)