4 Acquiring language-related knowledge
Knowledge is about knowing and understanding factual information and theoretical concepts. For a learner of French, this might involve, for example:
- vocabulary
- grammar rules
- pronunciation rules
- historical, geographical and cultural facts.
Knowledge is acquired by, for example, reading explanations and texts, listening to classes or lectures, or watching documentaries. As a beginners’ French learner, you might:
- read an explanation on the difference between le and la
- listen to a teacher demonstrating the difference between the sounds /u/ (as found in vous) and /y/ (as found in tu)
- watch a video about a French-speaking community in Vietnam and their eating habits and cultural festivals.
Knowledge is retained by memorisation. As a learner of French, you will learn strategies and techniques to help you memorise what you learn. Try out the activities on the next page to have a go.