Learning French

rc856

Hi folks.
After planning a trip to France, my mate has decided that he wants to make an effort to learn a bit of French...at least enough to get us by...asking for things in shops/cafes etc etc.
Can anyone recommend any language tapes/online that we could use.
Something that we could a few hours a week(?) over 6mths?

Heard all about Rosetta Stone.....then saw the prices!! :shock:

Cheers

dinosaur

I have been using this one and think it is pretty good: http://www.audible.co.uk/aduk/site/prod ... K_000655UK

The best thing is that it is free on a trial when you go through this link: www.audible.com/free

You have to remember to cancel your subscription afterwards unles you want to keep buying audiobooks every month.

Anonymous

The BBC ones are top!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1406 ... H57KA3DQZT

rc856

Thanks.
It's shocking that I'm 37 and don't speak any other languages. Always had someone else with me to do the talking!

megilleland

I find a pocket phrase book is the answer. The Berlitz Phrase Books series is the best as it has a simplified pronunciation guide underneath the phrase as if it were in English and its small enough to slip it into your pocket.

Turkish example:

Do you have a room for tonight?

Odaniz var mi bu gecelik?
Oh-dah-nihz vahr mih boo geh-jeh-leek?

Free language downloads here:

awallace

michel thomas,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michel-Thomas-F ... 198&sr=1-1

quite easy to do and feels natural when learning it.

Buckled_Rims

This place is free and should get you up and running. It's a bit basic, but still good.

http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php

deal

my personal recommendations are:

1. Start with Michel Thomas, great introduction to the language. Amazing how much you can learn in 8 hours.

2. Pimsleur is very very boring. I mainly used it as background noise while driving for improving vocab and comprehension with little effort.

3. French in Action is a fantastic resource. 52 lessons each comprising of 30 minute videos, audiotapes and exercises. DVDs can be found cheaply on ebay if not they are all on youtube, audio is downloadable here http://www.vatoweb.com/french.html and the books can be found for a few pounds.

crankycrank

If you do go the Rosetta Stone or similar route, buy used from Ebay and re-sell when done. Should cost nothing or very little in the end.

dilemna

French au pair, girl friend or mistress?

prb007

dilemna wrote:

French au pair, girl friend or mistress?

+1 for Michel Thomas;
my French is reasonably good, but stiil listen to MT mp3's in the car
or whilst at work to 'brush-up' before a trip.
Off skiing/boarding in Jan so will 'refresh' after Xmas for a couple
of weeks to get back into it!

Bon chance......

Cleat Eastwood

rosetta stone is good. torrent it. some langauage packs dont work with certain versions though. you need a good couple of months use on it though before you feel its benefit.

danlikesbikes

I'd go with I-tunes loads of stuff on there helped me with my Spanish - I just download most of the podcasts I could find and listened to them all any I didn't like or couldn't get on with I just deleted & it didn't cost me a penny.

rc856

Thanks for the replies.
Gives me a few choices

Bodhbh

Another +1 for the Michael Thomas. He basically teaches you how to put together simple sentances from the gitgo rather than learning by rote. Also he reminds you that a very large amount of english words are of french origin and shows how to 'convert' them', giving you a relatively large sourch of vocabulary to draw on without much pain.

I've not given Rosetta Stone a proper crack fo the whip yet to comment, but I got stages 1+2 for 80quid on eBay so there's no need to pay the full whack (iirc 200 odd quid for the above).

Tim Farr

Go to a book shop and get a phrase book that sits you. Make flash cards - English one side French the other. Carry them with you and practice the French. Some of the cards need to be cycling vocab.

grahamcp

Check out the Coffee Break French series of podcasts, they are really good. There is some paid for content, but more than enough free stuff.

http://radiolingua.com/2010/05/introduc ... p-by-step/

Can also be found in iTunes.

Jackdub6

I have been learning French for a long time and tried various Methods. I have a Pocket Dictionary Collins French to get me by when I am in France.

I have just bought Recently a very large Dictionary The Collins Robert Concise French Dictionary.It also has the Online Facilities in www. collinslanguage.com which is great for Translating anything.

I also attended a Language Course at my Local VEC College. I could have gone for the Advanced Course but that would be putting the Cart before the Horse. So I went for Beginners and learned a lot of interesting Stuff about the Language from a Young French Woman Teacher,also the way the French think and attitudes.

The Michel Thomas Language Course is reckoned to be very good.

I was thinking about Attending a Course at the Alliance Francaise in Kildare Street in Dublin but it is more Expensive but it is reckoned to be the best outside of France.

Try looking at and Listening to the Online Service of RTL France Facile it is free and you can listen to easy French being Spoken Tré Doucement.

Also about .com French.

le soir.com the Belgien Newspaper Online.


lemonde.fr

liberation.fr

lefigaro.fr


The best thing is just go there and enjoy yourself and speak a few Phrases and out of necessity you will pick up a lot.

peter_andrew

Hi
Try livemocha.com
There is plenty of free material and if you want pay for more advanced stuff. I would also agree with the BBC site being good stuff.
Have you looked at vocational classes in the evening at a lo9cal college.

Peter

bigjim

You can get the tapes and CDs from the library. Remember not to copy them though.

pshore

Bonjourno,

I feel my Frachaise is tres bean maintenant. I can highly recommend watching endless repeats of Allo Allo and Only Fools and Horses.

Bien sur mes amiees.

dabber

I'd also endorse the Michel Thomas courses. They are particularly useful for teaching the structure (something which I'd struggled with previously).
Have a look here for a free sampler download ]of part of the course.
http://www.audible.co.uk/aduk/site/blankPage.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0768676008.1292330129@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccchademdmelllhcefecekjdfikdflj.0&ms=1320&uniqueKey=1292330133042&rule=rule7&ms=1320
His approach is quite different to the norm so it's worth having a listen before buying.
I'd recommend (in order) The Foundation, Advanced and Language Builder. I personally never thought much of the Vocabulary course which isn't taught by him (he'd died by the time it was produced).