Un nouveau monde créatif: How Learning French Shaped My Creative Curiosity

anniebarch
May 2
2 min read

A few years ago, my husband and I started learning French, not for a particular reason, just for fun. We had simply fallen in love with the culture during a trip to Nice, and we wanted to hold on to that feeling.

French is not an easy language. There are a million grammar rules (and just as many exceptions). And the numbers? Don’t get me started. I’m convinced every French person is better at math just because they have to be.

Still, I was up for the challenge. I missed the structure of formal learning and wanted to stretch a different part of my brain. But what I didn’t expect was how much it would stretch my creativity, too.

At first, it felt like a mental reset. Learning new sounds and sentence structures reminded me what it feels like to be a beginner again. It was slightly awkward but unlocked that state of mind where you’re not good yet, but want to be. It is surprisingly energizing.

As I looked for new ways to practice, I turned to pop culture: French music, podcasts, films, and shows. Suddenly, a whole new creative world opened up. One I hadn’t even known I was missing.

French pop music, in particular, hooked me. It’s sultry, smooth, and often tinged with funk. There’s a kind of proud artistry in it—you can feel the intentionality in every beat. And because I don’t always know exactly what the lyrics mean, I find myself imagining the story, drawing meaning from tone and rhythm. It’s a beautiful kind of creative freedom.

Without realizing it, that inspiration started to bleed into my own work. My color choices, pacing and even how I approach storytelling felt different. French music taught me how to slow down and listen differently. And that has changed how I create.

Learning a new language hasn’t just expanded how I communicate, but it’s expanded how I think. It’s made me more thoughtful with words and more open to unfamiliar perspectives. In a creative field, those are superpowers.

Curiosity is often what leads us to our most unexpected breakthroughs. I didn’t set out to change my creative practice, and I'm not even close to fluent in French yet, but somewhere between “bonjour” and “voulez-vous,” I fell in love with the journey.

Want a little French inspiration? Check out some recommendations below!

French Artist I Love