Are you dreaming of living and working in a French-speaking country?
Picture this: You’re in Quebec, savoring a bowl of poutine, drizzling maple syrup at a charming cabane-a-sucre, and relaxing in the Nordic spas of Montreal.
Or maybe France is calling your name – hiking in the French Alpes, strolling through the aromatic lavender fields of Provence. Or what about Brittany, where you can savor a galette, be dazzled by the Emerald Coast, and wander through the medieval town of Dinan? Did you know that René Laennec, the inventor of the first version of the stethoscope, was born and raised in Brittany?
If any of these dreams light you up, then learning French is your golden ticket to making them come true.
Here, I offer 5 tips to help you learn French – including Medical French.
Tip #1: Brush Up On Your Basic French Skills
In Europe, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) organizes language proficiency in six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2), ranging from beginner level to mastery; the higher, the better. For example, the minimum French level to practice medicine in France is B2.
To help you improve your general linguistic competencies (grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation), I recommend in-person classes such as L’Alliance française or L’Institut Français. For those interested in reading classic French novels, there are books (and audiobooks) adapted for learners of all levels. For instance, the collection “lecture CLE en français facile” from the publishing house CLE International could be a good place to start.
Tip #2: Up Level Your MEDICAL French Skills
So, in addition to the general linguistic competencies, medical French requires additional mastery of medical terminology. When it comes to medical terminology, you can use tools such as bilingual English/French medical dictionaries. One of the better online medical dictionaries is the one created by the French Academy of Medicine.
It contains English entries and is updated regularly. You’ll also need to understand the meaning of familiar expressions used by patients.
Expanding your vocabulary is best done by learning from real-life situations or lessons focused on a particular context.
Another good place to start is a book called “Le français des médecins”, by Thomas Fassier and Solange Talavera-Goy (affiliate link). It’s dedicated to physicians who already have a B1 level in French and want to improve their medical French.
Tip #3: Read Health-Related Literature, both for medical professionals and the lay public, in French
If you want to read some medical literature in French, you can use LiSSa. It’s a free search engine that references articles in French, often with an English translation. If you’re planning on working in France, one valuable resource is the French National Authority for Health website which has recommendations for best practices for France.
Tip #4: Use Role Play
Conversational and interactional skills are usually developed through role-playing. This will help you practice your patient interview skills in French. It will also improve your listening skills, your explanation of medical treatments and procedures, your empathy, and your ability to write a hospital report, among other documents.
Tip #5: Work with a Medical French Teacher Who Has Experience in the Healthcare Profession
A Medical French teacher with experience in the healthcare professions can tailor your lessons to your specific medical specialty and to your French Level. These lessons can often be taught online or in person, and they may also be willing to teach basic French skills to the rest of your family. They may also be a great resource to help you navigate the medical licensure process in your country of interest and the cultural aspects that inform medical care and health.
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Hi! I’m Jennifer Rouxel, a native French speaker, born and raised in France. After studying medicine in Brittany, France, and completing a Master’s in Public Health, I decided to reorient towards teaching French as a foreign language during my residency. I would love to help you improve your medical French and tailor your lessons to your medical specialty. I can also give French lessons to physicians’ families. Email me here: medfrenchcourse@gmail.com to start improving your French and medical-french skills.
