• Learn to piece together the French language.france image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
  
  The French language, surprisingly, does not even rank in the top ten in terms the number of people who speak it; yet it is spoken commonly, if not officially, in dozens of countries all over the world. French also happens to be easy on the ears and essential to understanding many great poems and films as they were intended to be appreciated. For those first learning French, there are a few objectives to focus on in order to develop a well-rounded understanding of the language.
  
  

Reading and Writing

• Learning to read and write basic sentences is the first step for most French language learners. This approach will help students understand that there is more than one style of writing certain letters, such as À, Ç, and É, which have accents to indicate different pronunciations. Also, in French, nouns are sometimes combined with articles and pronouns, as in "je m'appelle" and "l'ecole." While many French dialects can be difficult to understand, mastering basic reading and writing skills will help the novice decipher street signs and other common text he is likely to encounter.
  
  

Speaking

• So much of the character and charm of the French language lies in how it is spoken. Depending on the student's native language, some pronunciations and accents may be difficult to master at first, such as the "R" sound in words like "regardez" and the "U" sound in "tu"; however, these nuances are the essence of the language. Learning to speak simple French enables the learner to express thoughts and needs to another French speaking person and to be understood, which can be essential when traveling.
  
  

Listening

• While reading and writing are the essential goals of learning French, students cannot be said to "speak" the language until they can comprehend it when spoken to. Like Spanish, French can move at a rapid pace, which it makes it quite difficult for new students to understand. Not only are words often slurred together, but the syllables that are emphasized in French are often different from those stressed in other languages. For instance, to an English speaker, the word "photographie," when written, is simple enough to understand, but when spoken, the first syllable is emphasized, making it slightly harder to comprehend.
  
  

Cultural Awareness

• Learning cultural awareness of French society helps students put the language they are learning into a genuine context. For instance, the names of cities and rivers in France are commonly spoken words, and learning them will help one follow along in conversations. Also, it's important to know what words are acceptable to use in French during certain situations. For example, referring to a teacher or a policeman as the informal "tu" and not the more formal "vous," for English speakers who only use "you," can be a common mistake.