Would you rather do anything than snuggle in on your couch with a good novel? If the answer is yes, then most likely you are already taking advantage of the extraordinarily useful Kindle for reading beloved books and uncovering new gems at the same time. You can also use this useful item to learn French. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through three extremely helpful resources for utilizing your Kindle as an aid for learning French!
Learning French with Kindle
Learning French with the Kindle has never been easier! Whether you’re looking to learn a new language or brush up on your existing skills, Kindle offers an array of powerful tools to help you reach fluency. Reading is one of the most effective methods for improving language learning, and Kindle provides access to thousands of titles in French. With three unique reading tools at your fingertips, exploring the world of French literature can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Tools #1: French E-books for Learners
No matter your proficiency, there are numerous great Kindle-available books that are tailored for French learners. These can incorporate grammar texts, class materials, readers, two-language works and more. These could be a tremendous aid to language students due to the fact that they typically include single topics divided into sections, present various techniques for learning and studying, and propose ways of practicing what you’ve grasped.
These are two instructional books on Kindle, both with extremely dissimilar ways of teaching.
- French Short Story Books for Beginners by Frederic Bibard
Bibard is the creator of several volumes on obtaining French via stories, including his top-selling “French Short Stories for Beginners” and “French Short Stories for Intermediate Level.”
These are excellent resources for students, as they both hold a multitude of fascinating tales on differing topics, like cuisine, occupations, family, and travel. This guarantees that you’re presented with an abundance of fresh language.
Both books offer a French and English glossary for any words that may be unfamiliar to you, so that you don’t need to look up their definitions in a dictionary. In addition, each chapter provides a very convenient vocabulary review at the end to reinforce new words and expressions and guarantee that you totally comprehend what has just been read.
Audiobooks can be a great tool for studying French, and each Kindle book includes an accompanying audio track. To help with pronunciation and comprehension, the audio for each story comes with two different speeds – one slower, and the other at natural speed.
- Learn French Step by Step by Lucas Jagger
If you’re looking for a cost-effective Kindle alternative, Jagger’s “Learn French Step by Step” is a first-rate pick for novices or those with advanced proficiency who are aiming for an exhaustive overview of the fundamentals. This book will guide you through the opening stages of mastering French and comprises some special sections, such as a narrative of the French language and an examination of how English has been influenced by French.
“Learn French Step by Step” is a comprehensive introduction to the language, taking you from your first acquaintance with the alphabet and pronunciation all the way to mastering grammar basics and verbs. Additionally, it will teach you how to construct questions and negations, recognize gender and plurals, and differentiate between formal and informal French.
Tools #2: French Dictionaries
It’s essential that you always have a French dictionary handy when studying the language. Fortunately, there are many of them available for your Kindle. What’s great is that you can set it as your default dictionary in your device’s settings.
Whenever you are browsing through your Kindle, you can easily and quickly look up any French word by simply tapping it, without having to shift to a different page or reference.
- “Merriam-Webster’s French-English Translation Dictionary”
If you’re on the hunt for an outstanding dictionary, Merriam-Webster’s is a top choice and one of the more affordable selections among higher-end dictionaries. It includes over 40,000 entries and 50,000 interpretations, along with plenty of examples of French words in context.
Bear in mind that this only applies when attempting to identify the English translation of French words. To find the French equivalents of English words, you must acquire the English-to-French edition.
Nevertheless, if your goal is to read in French, there is no need for a second edition.
- “Dictionnaire de l’Académie française” (“The French Academy’s Dictionary”)
Although there are a multitude of complimentary methods to study French by reading, there is not an abundance of free French dictionaries for Kindle sadly.
Nevertheless, there is one without cost called the “Dictionnaire de L’Académie française.” This edition (1932-1935) is the eighth, yet it is still a great free selection. It strongly suggest downloading it since it will likely encompass most fundamental words you may need to look up, as these have not altered through time.
In addition, it is very advantageous when dealing with older tomes since it includes the French lexicon from an earlier time. Unexpectedly, this antiquated wordbook may even be more useful than a modern one when perusing the French greats!
Tools #3: French-language Literature
By consulting educational manuals and glossaries, the perfect way to learn French using your Kindle is to sit down and read a French e-book for enjoyment. Fortunately, you can acquire thousands of French Kindle editions cost-effectively or even free of charge, so you should be able to unearth something that takes your fancy. Amazon offers the option of searching for French Kindle editions in the category of Foreign Language Books.
From there, you can narrow down your search by including categories such as latest editions, children’s literature, non-fiction books, travel literature, and much more.
From the same page (which is now set on French books), you can also use the search bar to enter a specific term like “French Kindle instructions” or “French Kindle classics.”
Below are a few must-read French Kindle editions.
- J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter à l’École des Sorciers” (“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”)
Most of us are already major admirers of Harry Potter and would be delighted to read this incredible classic again. If you’re not already captivated by all things Hogwarts, then it’s likely that you will become enchanted after going through this initial book!
This narrative is ideal for those who don’t possess magical abilities and follows a young boy’s journey as he discovers he is a sorcerer and enrolls in a school of magic, where he unravels the secrets of his past, overcomes tremendous obstacles, and learns the strength of companionship. It’s also great for learners of French due to its simple syntax, tailored towards a younger audience.
For those of you who are acquainted with the book series, it can be an excellent method to acquire a new language since comprehending the plot beforehand allows you to interpret words that may not be immediately obvious. There is no better way to embed new French phrases than by connecting them with something that you appreciate, such as “Harry Potter” or another English favorite. Moreover, reading your translated beloveds (or any other French-language book) on Kindle provides many advantages.
You can also mark important words by underlining them, which is a great way to remember any new words you learn. Test yourself later and see if you can still recall their meanings! If you prefer to read the series in French, then you’re in luck as it’s available as a digital French version!
- Gustave Flaubert’s “Madame Bovary”
If you’re eager to submerge yourself in French culture, you must accept France’s great literary works, particularly Flaubert’s “Madame Bovary.” Initially printed in 1856 and written by one of the most renowned and symbolic French authors, this novel follows Emma Rouault as she weds Charles Bovary and discovers that her desires for a wealthy and lively marriage are very different from the truth.
In order to overcome her dejection and the monotony of her marriage, she embarks on an illicit relationship and is captivated by her romantic fancies and yearning for satisfying affections. This fantastic work of literature is accessible on Kindle without spending a dime, and it is definitely worth reading not only for its literary excellence but also due to the complimentary “Dictionnaire de l’Académie française,” which I mentioned earlier and is also free.
If you have this dictionary at your disposal while reading, the more intricate French will no longer be intimidating, and you’ll obtain all that is necessary without having to pay anything!
- Jean de Brunhoff’s “Histoire de Babar” (“Babar’s Story”)
If you are not prepared to face a challenging novel such as “Madame Bovary” or an advanced book like the Harry Potter series, try an easier French classic like “Histoire de Babar” instead! This charming tale is perfect for novices of French who are looking to put their skills into practice.
The narrative chronicles the journey of the beloved small elephant, Babar, who manages to evade pursuers and ultimately makes it back to his homeland, where he is crowned ruler of the beasts.
If you are a big fan of this alluring children’s book, rejoice, as there is an additional one in the same collection named “Le voyage de Babar” (“Babar’s Trip”).
Conclusion
In conclusion, learning French with a Kindle can be an enjoyable and convenient experience if you choose the right tools. With Kindle, you have access to thousands of books and magazines in French, as well as useful language-learning apps, flashcards, and audio materials. All these resources will help you improve your reading comprehension, pronunciation, and grammar skills. You can use them anytime and anywhere for maximum convenience. So why not give it a try? Get yourself a Kindle and start learning French today!
