How to Write Diary Entries in French

To all the benefits of journaling such as keeping and reflecting on your memories, becoming more self-aware, and keeping track of your goals, you can add another benefit: habitually making small journal entries in French. 

If you already keep a journal and have studied some French, adding simple journal entries can be rewarding and enjoyable. And the good part is that you'll be doing it for your own improvement.

It's possible you may never have thought of this, but you'll soon discover how this small addition to your journal entry routine can be extremely pleasurable; an activity you look forward to every day!

How to write diary entries in French?

Here are 10 tips to help you get started and keep you motivated:

1) Start small and try not to feel intimidated by the thought of writing in a foreign language. No one is going to judge you -and it's just for fun after all!

2) Devote a section of your diary pages to start writing journal entries in French with the basic words you may already know.

3) Use words, verbs, and adjectives you are familiar with. Remember that many words are similar like for instance most words ending in "ion" like confession, or nation are written the same in French.

4) Describe simple things around you like scenes from your room, for instance: "la fenêtre est grande", or "le chat est beau". Simple lines like that can be your first entries!

5) You can even do a light sketch of things you see, like the tree in the garden (l'arbre dans le jardin), etc., and describe the scene in simple French. Just one scene description per day should be a great way to start.

6) In your journal, write out the conjugation for the verb être, which if you recall, means "to be". Use it as a quick reference when you are writing a journal entry in French. 

7) If you are describing something and you forget or don't know the vocab, don't feel defeated, simply leave an empty space where the word would have been written and keep writing. You can go back and fill-in the blank with the proper word or conjugation later on.  

8) If you can't think of anything to write about, copy inspirational French quotations with their translations and write them side by side. 

9) For more fun, you can write out the lyrics to your favorite song and do a Google-translate of the lyrics into French, then write those lyrics next to the original. You can also translate French songs you already know and like. (You might like to try songs by Stromae or Charles Aznavour since they have a very clear pronunciation, making it easier to follow and sing along).

That is it! It is as simple as that! As time passes you'll feel more and more comfortable putting pen to paper and writing in French. Soon you would have moved from simple descriptions in the present tense to short paragraphs, and if you persevere: the sky's the limit.

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Just remember that it should be an activity you do for your own pleasure. At the very least, you will have a beautiful aesthetic addition to your daily journal!

Bonne chance! (good luck) 

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