How to improve Written Comprehension

Many articles offer tips and strategies for improving written comprehension when learning a foreign language. While these resources often provide excellent advice, I firmly believe in the importance of bringing my own perspective and experience to the subject as well.

It seems more practical to divide the process into a few steps that learners can follow to avoid getting lost among a range of specialized information that might seem complex to them.

Step 1: Understand Your Current Level

The first step is to assess your current level of written comprehension in French. To do this, you can take free online level tests, review your results from previous French exams such as the TCF or the TEF, or do written comprehension exercises of varying difficulty. By understanding your current level, you can select the most appropriate resources and learning activities to improve.

For example, I highly recommend taking the practice tests from the TCF training series available at the link below from TV5Monde and discovering your level in each of the skills at the end of the test. This is a very good way to understand your current level of written comprehension. https://apprendre.tv5monde.com/fr/tcf

Step 2: Finding Reading Resources

Once you are sure of your level in this skill, it’s time to start reading various resources. Be careful to avoid choosing texts that are too difficult for you, as this may lead to losing motivation and feeling overwhelmed by a plethora of new words, expressions, and structures that you have not yet mastered.

The obvious question is how to find resources suited to your level? Unfortunately, this can take some time as you will need to explore several online resources offering articles on various topics. After reading them, you will be able to assess the difficulty of the text and determine if it is a good resource or not. Although there are free and paid educational worksheets generally classified by different levels, it is advisable to read authentic documents available in newspapers, blogs, etc., which are aimed at native readers and do not have an educational purpose. These authentic documents are often the source material for written comprehension tests in language exams. Therefore, the more you read them, the better you will understand the texts given in exams.

Below, you’ll find links to articles and authentic documents on various topics:

Newspapers:

1. Le Monde: One of the major French newspapers, offering a variety of articles on current events, politics, culture, and more. Le Monde

2. Le Figaro: Another major French newspaper with a diverse range of written content. Le Figaro

3. Courrier International: This magazine offers translations of articles from foreign newspapers, providing an international perspective on various topics. Courrier International

4. FranceInfo: The website of a French TV and radio channel offering news articles and reports on various subjects. FranceInfo

5. Le HuffPost: The French version of the well-known news site, offering a variety of articles on different topics. Le HuffPost

   
   

Blogs about Various Topics:

• Environment:

  • Reporterre (News and reports on the environment)

  • Nicolas Hulot’s Blog (Articles on environmental issues)

• Technology:

  • Le Journal du Geek (News and reviews of technology products)

  • Presse Citron (News and analysis on new technologies)

• Food:

  • Medoucine

  • Lucile Woodward

• Well-being:

  • Santé Magazine (Articles on health, nutrition, and well-being)

  • Psychologie Magazine (Advice and articles on psychology and personal development)

  • Eau Vive

• Education:

  • TICE Education

  • Ludomag

• Culture:

  • Les Inrocks (Cultural news and reviews)

  • Le Revolver Blog

  • Pure France

• Economy:

  • La Tribune

  • Capitaine Economics

• Health:

  • Doctissimo (Health, well-being, and medical advice)

  • Hello Care

  • La Vie Naturelle

    
    

Naturally, as you read these articles, you will discover other publications that seem interesting and better suited to your level.

Step 3: Start Reading

It's time to dive into reading. While aiming to entertain yourself, make sure your reading is also educational to foster your skill development. Consider the following points:

• Have paper, notebooks, pens, or pencils at your disposal, or, if you prefer, digital tools for taking and saving notes.

  
  

• Don’t Try to Understand Every Unknown Word. It's rare to understand every word in a text written in a foreign language. Focusing on each unknown word can significantly slow down your reading pace and hinder your reading fluency.

  
  

• Develop the Ability to Identify Keywords. This will help expand your vocabulary on the subject of the document and improve your understanding of texts you read later.

  
  

• Practice Skimming and Scanning. When preparing for a language exam, it's not advisable to do an in-depth reading to understand every passage, as the time available during language exams is usually limited. Instead, work on skimming to quickly grasp the main message of the text or scanning to find specific information in particular passages.

  
  

• Note and Look Up Keywords. Once you identify keywords, write them down and look up their meanings to broaden your vocabulary. These are words you can review later and gradually learn through repetition and use in your own sentences.

  
  

Step 4: Read Actively and Regularly

Now that you have a variety of reading resources, it’s important to establish a regular reading routine and apply active reading techniques to maximize your progress in written comprehension. Here are some techniques for more effective reading:

• Read Daily: It's best to dedicate time each day to reading, even if it’s as short as 15 minutes. Consistency is key to developing your skills.

  
  

• Take Notes: As you read a text, jot down any words or expressions you don’t understand, as well as important ideas. This will allow you to review these points later.

  
  

• Ask Questions About the Text: Try to ask questions about what you’re reading. For example: "What is the main objective of this article?" or "What is the author’s opinion on the subject?" These are the types of questions that could be asked in your exam.

  
  

• Reread Difficult Passages: If a passage seems challenging, read it several times to improve your understanding, but try not to get bogged down by a specific word.

  
  

• Discuss the Text with Someone: If possible, discuss the texts you read with other learners or native speakers. This will reinforce your comprehension.

  
  

Step 5: Analyze Texts and Enrich Your Vocabulary

Reading without reflecting on what you’re learning can be counterproductive. It’s crucial to take the time to analyze the texts you read and expand your vocabulary.

• Use Contextual Clues: When you encounter unknown words, try to infer their meaning from the context before checking a dictionary. This strengthens your ability to understand without relying entirely on translations.

• Expand Your Vocabulary: Create lists of new words or expressions. To memorize them, try using them in your own sentences. You can also use vocabulary review apps like Anki.

  
  

• Observe Grammatical Structures: Note the grammatical constructions that frequently appear in your readings. This will help you become familiar with complex structures and integrate them into your own writing.

  
  

Step 6: Practice with Specific Exercises

Finally, it’s recommended to complement your reading with specific written comprehension exercises. You can find many free exercises online or in exam preparation books such as those for the TCF or DELF. These exercises are designed to get you accustomed to the types of questions you might encounter on the exam, such as identifying the main idea, locating specific information, or understanding the author’s intentions.

Here are some types of exercises you can try:

• True or False: Answer true or false questions about a text to check your general understanding.

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): Test your ability to answer multiple-choice questions based on a text.

• Open-ended Questions: Respond to questions that require a written answer, pushing you to rephrase what you’ve understood.

  
  

Specific Resources for Written Comprehension Exercises:

1. TV5Monde - Apprendre le Français: Offers a variety of interactive exercises to improve written comprehension at different levels, as well as training series for language exams like the TCF. TV5Monde Exercises

2. France Éducation International (formerly CIEP): The official site provides examples and exercises from DELF and DALF exams (A1 to C2), including practice sheets for written comprehension. France Éducation International

3. RFI Savoirs: Provides exercises for listening and reading comprehension based on current news articles, ideal for candidates preparing for various exams. RFI Savoirs

4. Le Point du FLE: Aggregates hundreds of free educational resources for French as a foreign language, including written comprehension exercises for all levels and mock exams. Le Point du FLE

5. Réussir le DELF: A site specialized in DELF preparation, with free written comprehension exercises for each exam level. Réussir le DELF

6. PrepMyFuture: A paid platform offering interactive exercises for various language tests like the TCF, DELF, and others. PrepMyFuture

   
   

In Conclusion:

Improving your written comprehension is a process that requires time, consistency, and variety in the resources you use. By following the steps outlined — understanding your current level, finding suitable resources, reading actively, analyzing texts, and practicing with specific exercises — you will be well-prepared not only for language exams but also for any situation requiring mastery of written French.