I would recommend using rosettastone onece you have a basic understanding try to watch French TV with subtitles.
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- Thread starter Kreeeee
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I would recommend using rosettastone onece you have a basic understanding try to watch French TV with subtitles.
Soldato
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BONJOURS!
To agree with the above, watching a film with Spanish subtitles, or a Spanish film with English subtitles (both ways works) is an awesome way to learn a language! Particularly if you know the film script well 
Feel free to substitute Spanish for French
Feel free to substitute Spanish for French
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This website is very good: http://www.memrise.com/
It's similar to Duolingo, but the courses are user created. If you are fluent in a language, you can create your own course for people that are learning, free for everyone to use. It covers a ton of languages and other subjects like history and geography too.
Here's the french courses: http://www.memrise.com/courses/english/french/
It's similar to Duolingo, but the courses are user created. If you are fluent in a language, you can create your own course for people that are learning, free for everyone to use. It covers a ton of languages and other subjects like history and geography too.
Here's the french courses: http://www.memrise.com/courses/english/french/
Be aware of learning from books, online courses etc. initially I put in loads of effort and time and did very well with various courses and books, did loads of tests and exams and passed OK but I couldn't speak French after all of that time and effort. I spent another 3-4 years actively teyingt o learn French through speaking, the process was much harder and slower and I improved incredibly slowly but at least I was actually speaking French, communicating, taking part in conversations.
Learning intricacies of gender inflections of the part-participle on certain irregular compound verbs was not conductive to communicating naturally, despite being a requirement to pass a certain language grade.
I initially approached learning a natural language in the same way I learn computer languages, and I know loads of programming languages and have no issues leRning new ones. Natural languages are completely different, far more complex, far greater lexicon and volcbabulalry, largely irregular and above all else is spoken, in various different accents, at high speed, and requires a real time response. Learning rules and volcab from a just doesn't work in the real world.
Much more effective was just trying to listen, speak, and communicate. Not know the word for something would screw me up and block any kind of response, I would always consciously translate from French to English, then think of my response in English, then actively translate the English response to French, then speak it. This was disastrous, you need to start to think in French, don't do a translation, rend immediately like you do knew glisten when you don't even know what or how exactly you will say it. It took a long time to get to this stage, I only just go t here before I left and it wouldn't always happen, but you know when you get to that stage because you will start dreaming in French and you can have your inner-monologue in French or English, thus avoiding the explicit translation step. Your brain just develops a switch and you just switch between different language modes, you don't maintain an English monologue and actively translate things.
Lastly, different people have different analogies to learn languages. I was pretty terrible, spent 5 years in a French speaking country, lived with French speaking flat mates, never made freinds with a single native English speak, never hung out with native English speakers, did loads of lessons and courses, had many professional classes, practiced almost everyday for an hour (30 min on train to and from work). After 5 years I was still pretty hopefless, he hike some friend picked up better French in few months and were fluent in a year.
Learning intricacies of gender inflections of the part-participle on certain irregular compound verbs was not conductive to communicating naturally, despite being a requirement to pass a certain language grade.
I initially approached learning a natural language in the same way I learn computer languages, and I know loads of programming languages and have no issues leRning new ones. Natural languages are completely different, far more complex, far greater lexicon and volcbabulalry, largely irregular and above all else is spoken, in various different accents, at high speed, and requires a real time response. Learning rules and volcab from a just doesn't work in the real world.
Much more effective was just trying to listen, speak, and communicate. Not know the word for something would screw me up and block any kind of response, I would always consciously translate from French to English, then think of my response in English, then actively translate the English response to French, then speak it. This was disastrous, you need to start to think in French, don't do a translation, rend immediately like you do knew glisten when you don't even know what or how exactly you will say it. It took a long time to get to this stage, I only just go t here before I left and it wouldn't always happen, but you know when you get to that stage because you will start dreaming in French and you can have your inner-monologue in French or English, thus avoiding the explicit translation step. Your brain just develops a switch and you just switch between different language modes, you don't maintain an English monologue and actively translate things.
Lastly, different people have different analogies to learn languages. I was pretty terrible, spent 5 years in a French speaking country, lived with French speaking flat mates, never made freinds with a single native English speak, never hung out with native English speakers, did loads of lessons and courses, had many professional classes, practiced almost everyday for an hour (30 min on train to and from work). After 5 years I was still pretty hopefless, he hike some friend picked up better French in few months and were fluent in a year.
Immersion est de loin la meilleure façon de procéder. J'ai proposé à la Belgique et j'ai entendu un peu de français. Mais puisque vivant ici, j'ai appris beaucoup de choses, grâce à quelques leçons de groupe (dont je recommande vivement trop) avec juste généralement parler aux gens. Mais l'écriture n'est pas aussi bons, mais de mieux en mieux, J'ai aussi besoin d'un peu plus de pratique sur ma prononciation ( c'est un peu de ceci est bas pour mon accent) et la grammaire.
Translation:
Immersion is by far the best way. I moved to Belgium and I understood a little bit of French. But since living here I have learned a lot, some through group lessons (which I highly recommend too) along with just generally talking to people. But writing is not as good but getting better, I also need a bit more practice on my pronunciation (a bit of this is down to my accent) and grammar.
Translation:
Immersion is by far the best way. I moved to Belgium and I understood a little bit of French. But since living here I have learned a lot, some through group lessons (which I highly recommend too) along with just generally talking to people. But writing is not as good but getting better, I also need a bit more practice on my pronunciation (a bit of this is down to my accent) and grammar.
Soldato
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Thing is even if you speak French, while in France. The French love the opportunity to speak English back to you. So while I'm asking the questions in French, they're replying in English.. I speak fluent French, well for the most part, and use to visit France a couple of times a yr. however, as soon as they picked up an English accent, they loved it and were happy they had an opportunity to practice their English.
If you're near the SE Coast, you could probably tune into a French Radio station. That will help. Or start watching some French movies.
I lived in France for a short while back in the late 80's, and came back speaking great French. However I use it rarely these days, (living in the USA) there's not much use for it.. So sadly its becoming broken.
If you're near the SE Coast, you could probably tune into a French Radio station. That will help. Or start watching some French movies.
I lived in France for a short while back in the late 80's, and came back speaking great French. However I use it rarely these days, (living in the USA) there's not much use for it.. So sadly its becoming broken.
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Man of Honour
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When I was learning Italian I used Rosetta Stone and I was holding conversations with my Italian boss after a couple of weeks and after 2 months I got quite advanced.
When I was 21 I lived in Clermont Ferrand for 3 months and the people I stayed with only let me talk in French which was the best way of learning.
When I was 21 I lived in Clermont Ferrand for 3 months and the people I stayed with only let me talk in French which was the best way of learning.
My concern is that everyone tells me "you'll be fine once you get there". I don't want to be fine when I get there, I want a good knowledge, vocab and language before I go there, but I just can't seem to find a) the time to learn and b) enough vocab.
It's 99.9% a done deal now that I'm moving in May, and I want to hit the ground running, but despite my best efforts, I still only have a tourist French at best.
Not a bad effort on the French - it's not quite right but well done
bah !
Thanks I've been learning for about 2 years now but writing French is still something I seem to be struggling a bit with. Depends where you go but in general I would have thought there will be other English speakers there in the same situation as you (it certainly was for me when I arrived in Belgium). When I first moved to Belgium I knew as you put it "tourist French" at best. Once you are there though that’s when you need to really put the effort in. I was taking group evening classes which I highly recommend it's very helpful being with other people trying to do the same thing. Be persistent with speaking it, so many times when I was getting "better" at it albeit struggling a little. A lot of people would speak back to me in English, I would then just say to them in French "Can you please speak French I am trying to learn" the vast majority of people here would kindly go back to speaking French to me but maybe a bit slower or help me out a bit from time to time if I really was struggling.
It really is different when you are surrounded by it, you pick up words quicker and easier because you hear them frequently. The more you talk to French speakers and insist they speak French to you the more confidence you gain.
I never ever thought I would be able to learn French well (EVER) and I was extremely worried about only knowing schoolboy French. I tried very hard in the UK to learn it before I moved to Belgium. For me the main thing was really putting that extra mile to speak it whenever I could.
Belgium is an odd place though, I live in the French part so that’s why I learned French. But there is also the Flanders side (Flemish) which I also understand a bit off but not very well
I’m also told Belgian French is “slower” that France but I’ve no idea on that lol
Soldato
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You may also be pleased to learn that Swiss French has some dialectic (?) differences.
French for 70 is soixante-dix but in Swiss (at least in Geneva) is septante.
French for 80 is quatre-vingt but in Swiss is octante
French for 90 is quatre-vingt-dix but in Swiss is nonante.
The Swiss way is actually much more logical of course.
French for 70 is soixante-dix but in Swiss (at least in Geneva) is septante.
French for 80 is quatre-vingt but in Swiss is octante
French for 90 is quatre-vingt-dix but in Swiss is nonante.
The Swiss way is actually much more logical of course.
How are you all getting on?
I'm finding a mixture of Duolingo (now on lvl 10) and Memrise French are a good combo. I'm also downloading the podcasts from here -
http://www.newsinslowfrench.com/
Which is basically just 100% French dialog which I find good when in the car. I still have a hell of a lot to learn though and sometimes feel frustrated with my progress. The thing that keeps me going is that I know I am making progress, plus Duolingo messages you every day to keep you motivated.
I'm finding a mixture of Duolingo (now on lvl 10) and Memrise French are a good combo. I'm also downloading the podcasts from here -
http://www.newsinslowfrench.com/
Which is basically just 100% French dialog which I find good when in the car. I still have a hell of a lot to learn though and sometimes feel frustrated with my progress. The thing that keeps me going is that I know I am making progress, plus Duolingo messages you every day to keep you motivated.
No you're not, you're just not putting enough time and effort into it. 1-2 hours a week at school with a little homework is never going to be enough to become fluent.
Do the 1-2 hours a week formal instruction, but coupled with 3 hours a day active listening/speaking in the language and if you still couldn't string together a sentence after 2 years I'd accept you are indeed just one of those special people.
I have sympathy with people who just don't 'get' some concepts in physics or maths - but language is a very universal ability almost all humans are born with, you don't lose it when you turn 5 either, this is just another excuse.
It takes thousands of hours though, a baby will have been exposed to maybe 10,000 hours of speech before they start talking properly, any adult that went through the same process would be talking at a much higher level much sooner.