Create your own personalised dictionary

Creating a personalised dictionary is a great way to capture all the vocabulary and phrases that are really important to you. Here are a few pointers I suggest you include:

  • Remember to always note down the article of the nouns so that you are learning the gender of the word to.

  • Try to note down if verbs are regular or irregular and perhaps form the verb to help you remember how to use it.

  • When you note down adjectives, note down the masculine, feminine and also plural forms – and whether it comes before or after the noun

  • You could even create a key for yourself if you decide to use different colours or symbols to help you remember words and phrases.

For example:

Masculine nouns / endings = green

Feminine nouns / ending = red

Regular verbs = yellow

Irregular verbs = green

Here is an example for a theme about leisure:

Screenshot 2021-10-07 163104.png

Grammar

Noting down grammar points that you want to remember will really help. You could dedicate one full or half page to one grammar point so that you can add to this as your learning progresses.

For example, if you have a page dedicated to prepositions, you may start with ‘à’ and then add ‘de’.

Prepositions ‘à’:

  • à + le = au    – je vais à le cinema – je vais au cinéma.
  • à + la = à la – je vais à la piscine
  • à + l’ = à l’ – je vais à l’église
  • à + les = aux – je vais à les magasins – je vais aux magasins
  • à + town = je vais à Paris / à Nice

Prepositions ‘de’:

  • de + le = du – je fais de le vélo – je fais du vélo
  • de + la = de la – je fais de la natation
  • de + l’ = de l’ – je fais de l’équitation
  • de + les = des – je fais de les magasins – je fais des magasins
  • près de – près du cinéma / près de la banque
  • à côté de – à côté du parc / à côté de la gare / à côté de l’hôtel
  • en face de – en face du quai / en face de la boulangerie / en face de l’église

Or take a look at the example below for someone who is learning reflexive verbs:

These are all examples for you to follow, if they are appropriate for you. It is really important that you do what is best for you – that your learning journal reflects the way that you learn best.

To create your own personalised dictionary, why not take a look at the vocabulary book that I’ve written – click the link here * to buy your copy.

Or if you’re ready to focus on your French learning, why not consider booking a one to one session with me – click the link here to see availability

*affiliate link