Travel Learning French

[Engimal]

(I couldn't see another thread on this but feel free to merge this if one already exists somewhere)

I'm not one for New Years Resolutions, but I've always thought it'd be really cool to learn another language and I've always been envious of those who are bilingual. So my goal, not just for this year but for the future, is to learn French. I've settled on French because it's supposedly one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn and because I'd love to eventually be able to watch some of my favourite French movies without subtitles.

I guess the point of this thread is to ask you guys if you have any tips for learning another language, particularly French. Do you have any resources that you find/found particularly useful or any other general tips?

All help is appreciated.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

For a free at home solution, download the Duolingo app. Great place to start.

 

[Adzam]

Good on you hope you manage to stick with it. I think it would be something that is harder as you get older. People say unless your using it regularly it is pretty hard to learn another language. If you could find like a penpal kinda thing but using Skype I reckon it would help a lot. Maybe some hot french chick who wants to learn english and you can help each other out

 

[Dagless]

(I couldn't see another thread on this but feel free to merge this if one already exists somewhere)

I'm not one for New Years Resolutions, but I've always thought it'd be really cool to learn another language and I've always been envious of those who are bilingual. So my goal, not just for this year but for the future, is to learn French. I've settled on French because it's supposedly one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn and because I'd love to eventually be able to watch some of my favourite French movies without subtitles.

I guess the point of this thread is to ask you guys if you have any tips for learning another language, particularly French. Do you have any resources that you find/found particularly useful or any other general tips?

All help is appreciated.

"Source" the recorded teachings of 'Michel Thomas' - IMO the best method for learning without actually going to classes and paying.

The guy is pretty interesting (Part of the French Resistance in World War 2, captured a few times and was also a primary 'coercion' officer of captured individuals due to his ability with multiple languages. ie last line before they would torture the lad).

The reason IMO why he's the best I've come across is because he largely focuses on structure before vocab unlike Duolingo which largely teaches you memorisation of duolingo structures rather than the language and WHY the sentences are the way they are. You learn the structure whilst slowly building you vocab, and when you learn a new word, the structure is at such a point where you can just mix it in there. The very basic levels are exceedingly useful, and you'll very quickly realise you can comfortably structure sentences without the assistance of a guide.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

 

[Engimal]

Thanks for the advice, Bunk Moreland, Adzam & Dagless.

I've been messing around with Dualingo since you mentioned it. I've found that it's good for learning words and phrases but doesn't do a great job explaining context, or really explain why anything is anywhere. For example, you get a wrong answer early on if you use mange in a certain sentence rather than manges, but why you do so in that sentence is never explained before or afterward. Even so, it is a great app for picking up the basics in French. I can already after a few hours throw together a number of simple sentences.

I haven't looked into the rest of your suggestions, but I will get around to them.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Thanks for the advice, Bunk Moreland, Adzam & Dagless.

I've been messing around with Dualingo since you mentioned it. I've found that it's good for learning words and phrases but doesn't do a great job explaining context, or really explain why anything is anywhere. For example, you get a wrong answer early on if you use mange in a certain sentence rather than manges, but why you do so in that sentence is never explained before or afterward. Even so, it is a great app for picking up the basics in French. I can already after a few hours throw together a number of simple sentences.

I haven't looked into the rest of your suggestions, but I will get around to them.

The context stuff comes later - it's gets quite advanced as you move through the lessons.

 

[Dagless]

Context>vocab

Michel any day, spend an hour listening a day, practice and get someone else on board. Say it out loud.

 

[Engimal]

The context stuff comes later - it's gets quite advanced as you move through the lessons.

Ah good. Merci beaucoup for the recommendation.

Context>vocab

Michel any day, spend an hour listening a day, practice and get someone else on board. Say it out loud.

I'll have to give him a look. I just found a ̶t̶o̶r̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ LEGITMIATE SOURCE OF PURCHASE for his French videos.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

Learnt my French from the girl next door, teaching me night and day

 

[Engimal]

Context>vocab

Michel any day, spend an hour listening a day, practice and get someone else on board. Say it out loud.

Holy shitballs. I listened to the first few tracks on the first CD of Michel's and he is amazing. He is a great teacher.

 

[The Dice Man]

Michel Thomas is far and away the best tool I've found, but use other apps or programs just to get a different spin on things. You need to, IMO, practice every day too, or you end up having to go back.

 

[Dagless]

Michel Thomas is far and away the best tool I've found, but use other apps or programs just to get a different spin on things. You need to, IMO, practice every day too, or you end up having to go back.

Yep - I was on a good thing with German not long ago, then life got insanely hectic, and was only able to commit once every few days, then once a week, etc. Now I'll likely have to restart.

 

[The Dice Man]

Yep - I was on a good thing with German not long ago, then life got insanely hectic, and was only able to commit once every few days, then once a week, etc. Now I'll likely have to restart.

I've been pretty lazy the last ten months being back in Australia, and have to go back to go forward again, even though my wife is French. Leaving again next month so am frantically playing catch up to get ahead again...

 

[Gough]

Just learn American French which is English but spoken in a loud and patronising manner, it's easier.

 

[JHF1870]

(I couldn't see another thread on this but feel free to merge this if one already exists somewhere)

I'm not one for New Years Resolutions, but I've always thought it'd be really cool to learn another language and I've always been envious of those who are bilingual. So my goal, not just for this year but for the future, is to learn French. I've settled on French because it's supposedly one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn and because I'd love to eventually be able to watch some of my favourite French movies without subtitles.

I guess the point of this thread is to ask you guys if you have any tips for learning another language, particularly French. Do you have any resources that you find/found particularly useful or any other general tips?

All help is appreciated.

ive been learning french for 2 years. From zero. The first six months was easy mostly memorization, then it gets harder.ive found i learn in stages, not at a constant rate and mostly during my holidays or after a good break.
id start with numbers, greetings, nouns, verbs, conjugations(passe compose, imparfait, futur)
Then as explained in the videos, imerse yourself with listening and watching interesting things in french. Like i said before, you can spend 6 months feeling like you arent getting anywhere, then a whole heap comes to you. Ive found it happens when i take a break. Watch a movie called intouchables. Its really good.
les 7 règles de français authentique

 

[JHF1870]

Also when i studied french history i really got into it and learned stuff faster, things like 'la chute de l'empire romain' my first thoughts werent that translation. And i at least found interesting subjects helped

 

[Dagless]

I found three of my favourite books in German - If you're driven by the idea of wanting to be able to experience some of your favourite things in their native language, it's a cool way to go.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Try and learn a bit of French and then look to get involved with some native French speakers. Wine & cheese, a bit of nookie, find a way to converse & you will reap the benefits. Get creative.

 

[Engimal]

I found three of my favourite books in German - If you're driven by the idea of wanting to be able to experience some of your favourite things in their native language, it's a cool way to go.

Yeah, I'll have to dig around in a bit of French literature when I get a bit more comfortable. As a bit of a side note, I was watching Le Samouraï last night and was very happy when my ears occasionally pricked up to French that I recognised.

 

[Gough]

You could listen to Je Suis en Rockstar by Bill Whyman too.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Just learn American French which is English but spoken in a loud and patronising manner, it's easier.

I thought that was "New York English", not "American French".

Or learn Canadian French. Then go to France, and listen as the French take the piss out of evereything you say. They'll make stuff up and tell you words are different, and you just asked for anus on your baguette.

 

[DrKrieger]

Try and learn a bit of French and then look to get involved with some native French speakers. Wine & cheese, a bit of nookie, find a way to converse & you will reap the benefits. Get creative.

This. Is there a French Club or similar near where you live? Or anywhere you could spend some time hanging with native speakers?

 

[Engimal]

This. Is there a French Club or similar near where you live? Or anywhere you could spend some time hanging with native speakers?

I very much doubt it. I didn't regularly come across people from other nationalities/races until I was 17.

 

[JHF1870]

The

Yeah, I'll have to dig around in a bit of French literature when I get a bit more comfortable. As a bit of a side note, I was watching Le Samouraï last night and was very happy when my ears occasionally pricked up to French that I recognised.

Most difficult parts of listening are distinguishing between sounds like an, en, on. The last probably being easiest. And sometimes some words you think are a series of small words are infact just one, like Insoupçonnables. But movies are a great way to learn. Ive tried the french subtitles but it wasnt accurate.