Comments on: M'aider Metafilter!

Question: M'aider Metafilter!

oxford blue — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 15:54:26 -0800

Help me learn French.

I'm doing a night class, and I'm going fairly well, but I'm sure I could be doing much better!

Hints, tips, on learning French (but pertaining to learning languages in general would be also helpful) would be much appreciated.

Merci mille fois!

By: zadcat

zadcat — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:01:48 -0800

It would be helpful to know whether you're more focused on reading and writing, or on conversation.

If it's spoken French you want, you can use the web to pick up French radio or podcasts,and listen to stretch your comprehension. For example, Radio-Canada and Radio-Canada International have podcasts (baladodiffusion) and broadcast on the web (see "Audio et Vidéo" at the bottom of the page). Première chaîne has a lot of talk radio.

By: dawdle

dawdle — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:04:41 -0800

pimsleur language courses. well worth the money. or try torrents.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:00:00 -0800

Michel Thomas French.
Watch the news in french via french tv stations streamed over the web.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:02:29 -0800

The best way to learn French (or any language) is, as they say in France, au lit.

Barring that, there is cultural emersion, but seeing as we can't all be jet setters flying of to all corners of the francophone world at a moment's notice, you can try emersing yourself at home.

Get a pad or two of post-it notes. Write the French word for an object on the note and stick it to the object. Every time you use the object, read the note (in your head if you don't want people to think you are nuts). After a week or so, leave the note but don't read it, just say the word. Last, remove the note but still say the word. Try using the object in a sentence each time you use it. "I brush my teeth with the tooth brush." "I turn the lights on with the light switch." etc...

By: ilsa

ilsa — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 17:19:14 -0800

Read and listen to everything possible in your target language. You have one serious advantage over when I took French: the internet. Also, flash cards are your friend. If you have 5 minutes, you can buzz through a few dozen vocabulary words! I didn't use them to study French, but I don't think I could handle Japanese without them. I use 3x5 cards for this.

Bonne chance!

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:21:15 -0800

For language elements you're trying to memorize (key vocab on flashcards, conjugations, etc.), run through them just before you go to sleep at night. They stick better.

By: Paragon

Paragon — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:26:05 -0800

If it's practice you're after, consider trying to find a French pen pal. There are plenty of sites that hook people up around the world.

Depending on your location, there may be conversation clubs nearby that allow you to practice the language in a casual setting, over coffee or such (e.g. 1, 2).

In several countries there are branches of the Alliance Francaise that try to promote the French language (e.g. 3, 4). They may have information about events or activities that will give you other opportunities to practice the language.

By: amtho

amtho — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:34:03 -0800

Perhaps this thread about French spoken-word podcasts or MP3s will be of interest.

By: reformedjerk

reformedjerk — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:49:11 -0800

If there is an Alliance Francaise in your city, it's a good place to start. They're a non-profit organization seeking to promote French culture and language.

By: ZenMasterThis

ZenMasterThis — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:01:12 -0800

Free French instruction MP3s developed by the Foreign Service Institute. These courses were developed by the United States government and are in the public domain.

By: caddis

caddis — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:01:34 -0800

Foreign Service Institute language courses? 142 people have marked that thread favorite!

By: caddis

caddis — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:02:06 -0800

jinx

By: yqxnflld

yqxnflld — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:36:12 -0800

Several friends have taken this French immersion program. I can't say how much their French improved, but they said they had a great time.

By: nonmerci

nonmerci — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 22:17:47 -0800

Immerse yourself in the language as much as you can. I have found that the more your instructors speak to you and expect you to understand the language the easier it is to gradually pick up.

French is tougher to learn in our situation than Spanish--at least living on the West coast I have much more opportunity to surround myself in Spanish speakers and culture than I do with their French counterparts, and the getting near fluent process has been a long and difficult one.

I would also recommend reading French news sites, watching French news broadcasts, renting French movies, listening to French music...completely submerge yourself in the language. Let it become part of you. Bonne chance!

By: AmbroseChapel

AmbroseChapel — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:18:08 -0800

Here's a start. "M'aider" isn't proper French, and certainly isn't what French people yell when they need help.

By: jontyjago

jontyjago — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:03:03 -0800

Install the Google Toolbar, and set the Translation settings to French. Every time you hover over an English word, you'll see the French translation. Helps with the immersion.

By: rachelv

rachelv — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 05:17:16 -0800

Two articles that I think you'd enjoy are:

1) How I Learned French in One Year, from a guy who learned enough French in 1 year to get a pretty high score on the French test they give you when you emigrate to Canada. Includes some really neat ideas, like ripping the foreign language tracks off sitcom DVDs to listen to on your iPod.

2) There's more general advice, much of which has already been mentioned above, in this How to Learn a Language article.

By: pmann

pmann — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:56:48 -0800

According to John Walker you can watch French In Action three times and learn the language. There's a link from that page to a site where you can watch them online.

By: KAS

KAS — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:15:24 -0800

Seconding French In Action. I was at one point fluent but I've lost it over the years - I TiVO French In Action and it's a big help. Even better (thanks pmann!!) if you can watch online.

By: oxford blue

oxford blue — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:23:08 -0800

You say proper French, I say patois.

Today's excursion shall be to the Alliance Française de Sydney, based on above recommendations.