When it comes to learning a new language, there aren’t exact rules—only guidelines. This can make it difficult to become fluent, especially if you’re stuck on deciding the best (or fastest) way to familiarize yourself with a new language. The truth is, nothing beats consistency and practice.
A person who writes in a journal every day will improve their writing skills faster than someone who writes three times a week. But what happens if you write in French instead of English?
Physically writing a language (instead of typing) increases fluency, boosts vocabulary, and improves reading skills. Writing by hand also stimulates a part of the brain, the Reticular Activating System(RAS), which is a critical memory area. When you write, you remember.
There isn’t a right or wrong way to start journaling in French. But, if you don’t know where to start, you can use our helpful tips to build confidence and maintain a journaling schedule.
Step 1: Getting Over Common Journaling Roadblocks
People are afraid to write, especially in a different language. Know that this is common, but you can slowly face this fear by tackling why you’re afraid to put pen to paper. For example:
“My Skills Aren’t There Yet”
If you feel anxiety towards writing and you assume it’s because you aren’t skilled enough to start writing, you may be grappling with a fear of failure. When this happens, we tend to procrastinate and avoid the things that make us feel bad, even though we desperately want to learn French.
No one is a great writer when they start, and the only way to become a great writer is with practice. If your goal is to learn French, you’ll have to face multiple uncomfortable moments, from mispronounced words to forgetting sentences. Facing them now will benefit your learning.
“I Don’t Know Where to Start”
Telling someone to “just start writing” isn’t always the best advice because it begs the question, “but WHAT should I write?” If you already write in a journal, just commit to writing your next entry in French. If you don’t, we recommend using writing prompts or writing about your day.
“I Don’t Know Enough Words”
This is a foreign language-specific problem, but it’s something you can fix by learning French in other ways. For example, if you decide to take online lessons to become a fluent speaker, you can take the vocabulary you learned in class and apply it to your journal entries.
To start journaling, you only need 200-500 words for small 200-word entries. If you’re worried about grammar or structure, then keep your phrases simple. Focus on building vocabulary and learning how to express yourself in more complicated ways. You’ll get better as you practice.
Step 2: How to Get Started Journaling in French
It’s said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit and 66 days for the behavior to become automatic. Here’s how any new French speaker can build a French journaling habit.
Writing in a Journal: Your First Page
You can get started journaling in another language in under two weeks because you only need 100 words to write one sentence. If you wanted to write, “I’m writing in French. This is my first time,” you would need to know conjunctions, le présent indicatif, and how to spell these words.
Typing on a computer can be beneficial if you’re unfamiliar with how French words are spelled. Editors like Grammarly can check your punctuation and tense in nearly any language. With that said, writing in a journal can be incredibly satisfying and better helps with memory and retention.
We recommend getting a journal you’re excited to write in and pens you love to use. Your writing tools can make a big difference when it comes to motivation and willingness to start.
From your first to seventh page, focus on writing short sentences. Don’t build on them until you reach your eighth page. Only write about what you know, using the words you can already write.
Writing in a Journal: Your Eighth Page
By the eighth page, you’ve likely written around 100 to 200 words. If you feel ready, try to push yourself to 20 or 40 words per page. Think of the words you’ve learned up to this point and put them in sentences. For example, “I ate two apples today” or “I like to dance with my children.”
Most language classes, books, or podcasts will teach you enough conjunctions to connect words together. From the eighth to fourteenth page, practice building sentences around your day. If you’re missing a few words, use a dictionary or translation software to fill in the gaps.
Writing in a Journal: Your Fifteenth Page
By the fifteenth page, you’ve likely built enough confidence to try tackling journal prompts. We aren’t aiming for perfection; you’re just trying to get your thoughts out. The fifteenth page will feel like a massive learning curve, but by the 21st day, you’ll be able to write many sentences.
Between pages fifteen and twenty, keep your word goal around 200. Try to form complex sentences, but keep the tone casual. Write in your journal the same way you’d speak to a friend. If you want to challenge yourself, form sentences with at least two words you don’t know.
On the 21st page, we recommend revisiting your first few journal entries. Ask yourself if you can improve these sentences. Rewrite them as your 21st entry to see how much you’ve grown.
Step 3: How to Write in French Consistently
Getting to your twenty-first page is going to take some time, so you have to build habits that keep you writing consistently. Here are a few tips that can help you write every single day.
Find a Journaling Technique That Works
Although we wrote in length about pen and paper journaling, it isn’t the only option. You may find the ease of using a laptop makes writing more fun. If you want to use a mix of both mediums, that’s okay too. Don’t force yourself to use a journaling technique you don’t like.
Keep Your Expectations Realistic
When you first start journaling in French, don’t expect to fill every page with insightful thoughts and prize-winning writing. Having unrealistic expectations can discourage you from continuing if you don’t immediately see progress. If you stick with it, you’ll write well in French in no time.
Create a Regular Writing Routine
It’s easy to write when you’re feeling inspired and motivated, but what do you do when you aren’t? Creating a writing routine can help you stay on track, even on days when you aren’t feeling it. Set an alarm that goes off at the same time every day and spend 15 minutes writing.
Set Goals Around Your Personality
It’s great to set goals, as it gives you something to strive for. However, you should take your personality into account when setting them. For example, If you’re an assertive go-getter, try setting performance-based goals. If you’re more laid back, opt for learning-based goals.
Never Stop Building Your Vocabulary
To write in French, you have to keep learning French. Be sure to keep up your French practice in other ways when you aren’t journaling so you have more words to work with when you start to write. Use books, podcasts, language apps, and other methods to learn more vocabulary.
Author bio: Jessica Perkins is a writer and SaaS marketing consultant who helps businesses scale up their marketing efforts. She is obsessed with learning and also is passionate about sculpting.
Journaling Power Revolution Series
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