Learning French
French is a relatively difficult language to pronounce correctly. It has several letters and subtle vowels that pose some difficulty for a native English speaker, but nothing that can't be overcome with a little work. In addition, native speakers of French are notably particular about how their language is spoken. They don't take kindly to poorly spoken French, and in their defence, any non-native speaker who has learned the language (myself included) agree that poorly spoken French is painful to hear. Furthermore, written French is often far removed from how it is pronounced. Much like English, it can be very illogical and frustrating to the learner with its apparent complexities. Fear not, however. This too shall be overcome. In fact, I believe these particularities are largely what make French such an interesting and highly regarded language. As
Barry Farber
says, "you will be judged in the world by your French ... you will not be regarded as a person of language accomplishment if your French is poor." If that is true then only the best methods will suffice for learning French. Herein lie the challenges before us, so with that in mind, let's take a look at some methods that will help us acquire this subtle and rich language.
Living Language French Basic Complete The Living Language series, published by Random House, brings to life a well thought-out program in a compact package, by using a 'building block' approach to learning French. The Basic Complete set includes a 40 lesson coursebook, which doubles as a phrasebook because it has lots of variations of the most common or useful phrases, a dictionary with plenty of idioms and expressions, and 3 audio cd's. It's an excellent, more-bang-for-the-buck deal. Lots of value for the beginner. Overall, a fine and inexpensive method for learning French. Living Language Ultimate French Beginner-Intermediate This package is a step or two up from the Basic Complete set. It is much more in-depth and accordingly, more expensive. It includes a 400+ page coursebook and 4 cd's that are coordinated with the book. In addition, there are 4 cd's to work with away from the book, such as when you are in your car or just relaxing. This is a nice extra that really adds effectiveness to the whole package. An excellent choice to study French for the more serious student. There is also an Advanced version follow-up when you have mastered this course and are ready to move on. Pimsleur Comprehensive French Because French pronunciation is so important, I think Pimsleur's Comprehensive course is especially good for learning French. Pimsleur's courses are all conversation, and I think they spend a little extra time to encourage proper pronunciation in the French program. Pimsleur is the king of all-audio programs. The only drawback to Pimsleur is that there is only a little bit of reading practice. There is a reading booklet and cd in each level, but because the written word and spoken word can vary considerably in French, I think some kind of supplemental reading material is needed, even more than in some other languages. I'd still choose Pimsleur Comprehensive over all other methods, it's simply the best. Read my more in-depth review of Pimsleur products, read pimsleur reviews from other visitors, or click on the play tab below to listen to the first lesson of Pimsleur French Free! Tell Me More Performance French This is my new favorite language learning method! It's just the right mix of useful content, activities and games, dialogues, native speaker audio, video and more. It's a sophisticated and great-looking language program. The best part of Tell Me More Performance French is the amount of content for intermediate and advanced learners. It may be the most complete and comprehensive language program yet made. I highly recommend you see the online demo. This is an excellent method for learning French. Resources and Links for Learning French A list of some French language resources and links to help you on your way to learning French, or learn more about French culture and history. And don't forget to check the General Resources page, where you can find links for finding language penpals, live chats and forums for practicing French, and lots of other helpful sites!
"You get the feeling that many of my guests feel that the French language gives them entry into a more cultivated, more intelligent world, more highly civilised too, with rules." - Bernard Pivot Language Learning Advisor Home Page
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