10 Ways to Memorize French Vocabulary Fast

10 Ways to Memorize French Vocabulary Fast Megan L. Many students struggle with memorizing vocabulary in a foreign language. Tutor  Joan B.  shares her tips for learning new words in French fast Is memorizing vocabulary in French holding you back from speaking fluently and confidently? Recalling vocabulary can be one of the hardest parts of learning a language since the words often seem strange to us and the richness of a language means that there are many words to memorize. Use the following tips to decode vocabulary memorization so you can memorize French vocabulary fast. 1. Get to the Roots Memorize words that share the same root at the same time. For example, when you are learning the word écrire (to write), you can also learn écrivain (writer) and lécrire (the act of writing). This means you will increase your vocabulary exponentially, and words and their meanings will stick more clearly in your memory since youre learning the whole family of words at the same time. 2. Know Your Cognates Make a list of French/English cognates (words that sound the same and share the same meaning in both languages). Once youve identified some cognates youd like to learn, write them on a piece of paper in two columns (one for French and one for English) and quiz yourself by folding the piece of paper vertically in half. Test your ability to produce both the English meaning and the French word. Make flash cards for the ones you dont know, and after quizzing yourself with the flashcards, do a final test with the paper again, making sure you are able to give the French equivalent of the English word. 3. Practice With Your Textbook Most language-learning books have illustrations to introduce vocabulary. Looking at the illustrations, try to describe them using the vocabulary you already know or have studied, and then read the captions underneath the pictures to see how well you did. Notice how the vocabulary words are used in context. 4. Three is a Magic Number If youre really struggling to retain vocabulary words, write each French word three times in French and once in English. Then write the French word again without looking back at what you have just written. Check to see if you have written it correctly. 5. Listen and Repeat Often you can find digital recordings of vocabulary words, pronounced in French and in English (either as part of your textbook or independent of it). Try listening to these once, then repeat each word in French while listening to it a second time. There are many great French videos on YouTube that can help you memorize vocabulary and practice listening and speaking. 6. Use it in a Sentence For each vocabulary word, write a sentence using it. Try to choose a memorable sentence. Context is often a key element in remembering new vocabulary. 7. Make Associations Make associations with words you are familiar with in English. An example of this is the French verb rencontrer. While it means to meet or find, another meaning is to encounter. Create the association between these two similar words so you will be able to recall the meaning and the word itself in French. 8. Word of the Day Choose a word of the day each day. If you have a week to study for a test, or if you set a goal to memorize a list of vocabulary by the end of the week, you can reinforce your vocabulary study by singling out each word. Each day, take the word you have chosen and write it on a few post-its with or without its English equivalent. Place the post-its in places you will see them throughout the day, like the bathroom mirror, the monitor on your computer, or in your planner. You will see the word many times as you go about your day, and by the end of the day it should be permanently ingrained in your memory! 9. Write it Down If your goal is to increase your vocabulary rapidly by quickly memorizing additional words in French, keep a notebook of words youre not familiar with that you encounter in class, in books you read, and in conversations or talk on the radio that you hear. Having a written record of words you are learning allows you to review and track your progress. 10. Do it Daily Make it a regular part of your day. The key to learning vocabulary rapidly is studying it regularly. It doesnt have to be a long time; just a few minutes, each day, can make a huge difference in your retention of the words you learn. Studying vocabulary sporadically isnt as valuable because you may forget the words if you dont review them frequently and consistently. Learning vocabulary can be difficult, but it is well worth your time. A richer vocabulary allows you to communicate more fluidly, understand others and express yourself fully. With these ways to memorize French vocabulary fast, you should be recalling and using new vocabulary in no time! Get more help with your French by working with a private tutor. Tutors are available to help you improve your vocabulary, accent, reading, and speaking skills.  TakeLessons French tutors can work with you in-person or online via Skype. Find your French tutor today! Joan B. lives in Carmichael, CA and has been teaching high school Spanish for more than 18 years. A lover of language, shes studied French, Arabic, and Italian and spent time living in Spain. Joan aims to help students improve on tests and increase their conversational ability when traveling to Spanish-speaking countries. Learn more about Joan here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Martin Sharman

Bass vs Guitar The Differences, Difficulty, and How to Decide

Bass vs Guitar The Differences, Difficulty, and How to Decide Jessica Dais For aspiring musicians trying to decide between bass vs guitar, there are many factors to consider. What style of music do you want to play? What do you find most enthralling about that style? And, where do you see yourself fitting into that style? These are all key questions to answer when considering which instrument to learn. Here, well uncover the pros and cons of playing each instrument. One important thing to realize is that whichever instrument you start with, you’ll learn concepts that apply to other instruments as well. This is all part of your musical journey and will help you become a multi-faceted musician. To help you find the better fit for you, lets start by breaking down the differences between the bass player and the guitar player. Already made up your mind? Cast your vote on the best instrument to learn below! Which instrument do you prefer: bass or guitar? Bass Guitar View Results Loading ... Bass vs Guitar: How to Decide Bass Guitar The bass guitar is the foundation for all music. Without bass, there is nothing to weigh the music down and bring it all together. Oftentimes, the bass player is the most essential element in creating a successful band. They determine the “feel” of the music by laying down a pattern of notes according to their rhythmic pattern with the drums. Bass players are often understated individuals who appreciate the improvisational nature of their instrument. While other instruments have to stick with their respective written parts, the bass player has a greater ability to play what they feel is right (especially in blues and jazz progressions). For this reason, the bass player usually learns to be fluent with scales and chordal patterns so they can lay down an awesome bass line! When considering bass, you must ask yourself: is this the role I want to play? Are you the “understated foundation” of the band? If you feel like this is the right place for you, then the next thing you should do is consider the style of music you want to play. A Note About 4, 5, or 6 String Basses A bass player has a unique choice in the number of strings they want on their bass guitar. You can purchase basses with 4, 5, or even 6 strings. For the most part, the only real difference between basses with more strings is the availability of higher or lower notes on the instrument. Most 4-string basses are tuned like a guitar, that is: E-A-D-G. With 5 or 6 string basses you can choose to add lower notes, like B-E-A-D-G, or higher notes. While a 5 or 6 string bass can seem enticing, a majority of the time all you will need is 4 strings. Pros of Bass: Bass is arguably the most important instrument in a band. A song without bass just isn’t right. Bass allows you to improvise and be active in the creation of a song. You can choose between a wide variety of bass guitars including 4, 5, or 6 string basses. Tabs for bass guitar are readily available. Cons of Bass: Since the strings on a bass are bigger to provide the right tone, bass players have to work to get really strong fingers. The neck of a bass is also very long, so starting out on a full-size bass might be difficult for musicians with smaller frames. Guitar The guitar is a very flexible instrument. A talented guitarist can fulfill several roles including rhythm section, lead guitar, or a mix of both! But generally, if you like to be the center of attention, the guitar is a good fit for you. Guitarists play a defining role in the style of a band. If you listen to artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Kirk Hammett (from Metallica), and then compare them to Tommy Emmanuel, you’ll see just how much flexibility there is with this instrument. Guitar players are often at the forefront of the band. While the bass provides the foundation of the music, the guitar player builds upon it. By building chord progressions from bass licks and matching them with a drum beat, the guitarist can create some awesome songs! Pros of Guitar: While bass does have more freedom within a song, if there is a solo it usually goes to the lead guitar player. The strings on a guitar are smaller than on a bass, so there is less finger strength required to learn the guitar.   There are numerous styles of guitar. You can play like Tommy Emmanuel or Kirk Hammett the possibilities are endless! Tabs for music are readily available. Cons of Guitar: The guitar is just as much a rhythmic instrument as a lead instrument, so it requires you to learn more chord shapes than bass. There is never a shortage of guitar players, so getting a gig can be difficult. Musical Styles for Bass vs Guitar What style of music do you hope to learn to play? What do you listen to in the car? Do you listen to rock, country, blues, jazz, or classical? Both the guitar and bass have unique responsibilities within each genre of music. Neither guitar nor bass is any better than the other for a certain style of music; they simply perform different tasks. For example, blues music offers improvisational freedom for both the bass and guitar. The bass player gets to make unique bass lines and the guitarist gets to play solos. Where Do You Fit In? If youre still trying to decide between bass vs guitar, try taking a few introductory lessons. There are many guitar and bass teachers online and locally. Taking  beginner level classes or lessons will give you a taste of each instrument so you can make a more informed decision. Post Author: Donnie E.     Donnie teaches acoustic, electric, and bass guitar online, as well as locally in Nixa, MO. He has a Bachelor’s from Liberty University and has been teaching since 2015. Donnie enjoys rock, jazz, blues guitar, and more. Learn more about Donnie here! Need Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher