| Learning French
Posted: 4/19/2008 2:20:26 PM | As a part of my career, I am looking at learning french, as I can easily get paid a lot more. I took it until the middle of high school, but havent used it since then. I wish I did stay with it.
Anyways, Just wondering what would be some of the best ways to learn it. Besides going to live in Quebec for a while. I was thinking of getting some audio tapes and books to help me get some of the basic language skills back and then maybe finding a tutor a few times a week? | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/19/2008 9:47:01 PM | Get some french language tapes...
Go find some people to be french chat buddies with.
Speak only in french whenever you're with them.
I find it helps me to immerse myself in something to become accustomed to it.
I haven't had any french exposure since highschool either, and although I can still figure out the jist of what people are saying if I hear them speaking in french.. it would take me a while to get to conversation levels.
Best of LUCK!! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 5:20:52 AM | Create your own French environment. Read French newspapers, listen to French news, programs (there are tons of extremely interesting programs), read French books. Have your dictionary handy. Get your ear used to listening French.
Maybe you could also join some French forums so you get comfortable with typing/spelling in French. Check with L'Alliance Francaise to see if there are some groups or if there is someone who wouldn't mind going for coffee so you can practice your French. Try as much as you can to "think in French" when you're in the environment.
I'm from Montreal and after moving to Toronto, it took me at least a good 4 yrs to stop translating everything in my head, it was strange, people would speak to me in English, I'd translate it in my head in French, think of my answer in French then translate it in English and regurgitate it :) made it for slow conversations sometimes! lol
Bonne chance! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 5:23:36 AM | I wish I knew how to speak French, then I'd have three languages, but in Germany, the second language they teach you is English.
Serious though, if you do have the opportunity to go to Quebec ahead of time for pleasure, immersion is the best way to learn - kind of like trial by fire, lol. Picking up some key words and phrases ahead of time will definitely help, but aren't necessary if you're going straight in. Spoken from experience, albeit with the German language, but truth remains, there is no quicker way to learn! The second time we moved to Germany, we kids had forgotten everything we learned as toddlers, and found ourselves with only one month of school left to either pass or fail our grade(s). We made it, all three of us, and passed all future years quite well.
As it stands, all I know how to say in French is 'I'm sorry, I don't speak or understand French', and how to order myself a beer. Despite what some people have to say about the French being contemptuous of English speaking only Canadians, I've never found that to be true, and get along very well on those two phrases for a day the odd July I go to Montreal for the Jazz Festival, with the balance of communication involving pantomime and doodling on c0cktail napkins, amidst much laughter.
Have fun, and good luck!
hnh
edit:
I like what the poster above suggested, also a form of immersion - makes total sense!
Urban, I can also relate to the mental translations going on in your head, I found the same thing. Can be pretty funny too, considering grammar is backwards! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 5:55:52 AM | I learned French behind the school that was across the street from our house - when I was about 13! It took lots of practice for me to get it just right!  | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 8:44:55 AM | Well now if someone is looking to learn french theres just a wee probblem!
As there is about 350 different types of Fench just to let you know !
And thats not including the version leeanne learned !
And also the french you may learn at any school will be quebec french and that will screw you up big time if you went to the east coast !
But enjoy !! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 8:46:34 AM | French and Enlish...I speak both. Practice, practice, practice.
There are French groups out there that only speak French when they get together. Tapes. Books. On-line. Plan a vacation up Northern Ontario...a lot of francophone communities.
Good luck! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 8:54:57 AM | Thanks for the help, thus far. I actually went and picked up some books on cd and audio tapes. I plan to get my basics back and the move onto converstional once again. I knew I should have kept it up in school and I mad I didnt now. As Leeanne did, I was working on another type of french.
Thanks again. | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 9:42:49 AM | | 2 words...Rosetta Stone...google it. | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 5:31:12 PM | | you should see if your college has conversational french night courses...it will refresh your french skills and help you with the technical side of french, like conjugating verbs | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/20/2008 7:23:23 PM | As one poster pointed out there is different kinds of french. I went to all French school in Burlington then Oakville when I was younger. I learned it was France french as my relatives from Quebec would used a mix of English/French and found my French too proper.
Got to high school and took French...hey easy credit and to keep using it. The teacher was saying my French was wrong....
So yes that is life! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/21/2008 5:22:14 AM | I lived in Montreal for five years and picked up some French there. However, I found that the anglos speaking French were much easier to understand than many of the Quebecois. Many Quebecois speakers do not separate their words enough and phrases become complete slurs to me. Even on an airplane, when it's a anglo captain speaking French, I could understand most of it. But when it's a Quebecois captain, I couldn't. They just talk too fast for me.
Most of the French learned here in Ontario will be more like the Parisien French where words are separated more when spoken. But in any case, yes, I agree with other posters, getting yourself in an environment where you have to speak and listen to the language is the best way. | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/21/2008 8:06:43 AM | I was actually looking at Rosetta Stone, and was considering buying it. But I really want to know if spending upwards of $400.00 is actually worth it. I would like to see if anyone has actually used it and just how good it was for them. I have also looked into the colleges around here and unfortunately, you can not just take the conversational French course, unless you are a full time student. I do plan to find a tutor and then find some people that can actually seat and speak French with.
Thanks again for all the help everyone. | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/21/2008 11:00:38 AM |
I lived in Montreal for five years and picked up some French there. However, I found that the anglos speaking French were much easier to understand than many of the Quebecois. Many Quebecois speakers do not separate their words enough and phrases become complete slurs to me. Even on an airplane, when it's a anglo captain speaking French, I could understand most of it. But when it's a Quebecois captain, I couldn't. They just talk too fast for me.
Most of the French learned here in Ontario will be more like the Parisien French where words are separated more when spoken. But in any case, yes, I agree with other posters, getting yourself in an environment where you have to speak and listen to the language is the best way.
No, it's not going to be Parisien French you learn here (Ontario), it will be proper French. A lot of Quebecois (too many IMO, it's terrible) tend to speak "joual" or slang. Also, if you go to France, there will be tons of place where you won't understand a word of it, even if you have proper French (Marseilles comes to mind lol).
Also, if you're not comfortable with the language, it will appear very fast.
OP, I'm sure you will find someone to give you the conversational French you need. As I said, try to find some online French forums and jump in (I think POF even has one in Quebec/Montreal non?), you may be surprised. Bonne chance. | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/21/2008 5:26:30 PM | I would agree Rosetta Stone is the best for languages! Also, if you need/want some help/practice along the way...e-mail me! I have majored in french in university and took a few translation courses even.
Good luck! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/21/2008 7:55:45 PM | | If I were you and really wanted to learn how to speak french. I would try to stir up a little romance or friendship with a girl on here form the quebec area. You write her in french and she replys in french, if there is any kind of connection you will go out of your way to understand what she is writing and will put forth a great efort into charming her in french. I am sure there are some nice french girls that would not mind having an online friend and helping them out. Interest makes learning way more easier. Find a french girl that will inspire you and you will learn no problem. | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/22/2008 11:00:48 AM | Ahh thank you very much Sweet Sexy, that would be great and would really help with my french. I will be sure to email you.
Hmmm...RJB, yet another good idea I never thougnht of that but I think I may do that also just to have some one from french to chat with.
This is great thanks again all!!! | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/22/2008 8:09:20 PM | | you can always buy an orange hat and walk around saying tab er nac | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/23/2008 6:13:44 PM | On porte pas toujours les chapeau orange ...Translate...We don't always wear orange hats....If you need a french email buddy....Feel free... | |
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| Learning French
Posted: 4/23/2008 7:19:24 PM | I agree with RJB6767 date a nice french girl........
Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it.
La pensée est la fleur ; langue le bourgeon ; action le fruit derrière lui.
Em | |
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