I was semi-fluent in French 20 years ago . . . hey, I was a lotta things 20 years ago, but I digress. What's the best way to really get a handle on it again: tutor once or twice a week (just to make sure I stick with it, etc.) or is there some fabulous audio-visual type of method out there that is particularly good?

I have until April (unfortunately) so I'm not looking for a 3-week crash course. Any suggestions appreciated.

Dear Havana: It was 28 years ago for me - I even went to school in France. You will find that your semi-fluency comes back very quickly. In preparation, I start by brushing up on the written basics and then listen to some tapes just for the cadence. If I have time, I get a beginner set up tapes, listening and repeating until I get the proper enunciation. I even sing French kids' songs. I have never found a "magic" set of tapes or audio-visual.

I've done a mixture, including taking classes at the local Alliance Francaise. The mixture works the best for me.

I have a couple of tapes that I own that I listen to in the car, plus I check out many different language programs from the library. I listen to one (while driving) until I get tired of it, then switch to another. Some are more grammar oriented, some are more traveler oriented; I benefit from them all.

I also consult French books of my own, or some from the library (usually those that go along with the tapes or CDs, to remind myself of grammar points.

Look and see if any of your local PBS stations run episodes of the telecourse "French in Action." Tres tres cheesy, but actually good for brushing up. Haha, at my univ the elementary French course was built around that show...and who can ever forget Mireille and her jupe rouge!

You can actually view "French in Action" online -- this was a tip I got from somone on Fodor's a while back. Thanks to whoever it was -- it is a fantastic resource, and I've forgotten now who originally alerted us to it.

Go to:
http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html

Nonnafelice,

I'm glad that French in Action worked for you--I just suggested it on another thread.

That's really great to know! Thanks! I catch it on pbs now and again just to keep my hand in, but online is better.

I have several suggestions - - including one general principle I wish I could get myself to follow - - (just as with exercise), a solid cornerstone of any plan would likely be &quot;make it fun&quot;, make it easy to incorporate into your <i>every day</i> routine (or nearly every day). Find some French (educational?) TV you like, even if only once a week (some of us still have a geeky fondness of &quot;French in Action&quot;!), find a French website you might find enjoyable to read 2 or 3 times a week, a French chat room, play Scrabble in French - - see http://thepixiepit.co.uk for this - - I'm sure you can think of other similar possibilities.

Second principle (maybe slightly less applicable to re-learning?) -- make specific goals, and measure your progress. Buy a workbook or something
(with exercises you can do), and plan which chapters you'll get done by what date - - maybe make (or buy) flash cards? and set weekly goals, as to how big is the pile you have mastered.

I guess I reveal one personal bias... I think what you have to do, largely... is (re-)build vocabulary. 2000 words is a good goal in 8 months; who knows how much beyond that you can go?

Meilleurs voeux,

Rex

Hi Havana - I, too, am brushing up on my French in which I was fluent 20+ years ago (ooooh... wait... make that 30+ years ago - ouch!)

I record the History Channel (La Chaine Histoire) in French some mornings (here in DFW area on channel 243).

I read French magazines when I can and I do my research for our trip (October of this year) on French websites. So I'm okay in that regard, at least with a dictionary nearby.

I also have taken to playing any DVD we have in the house in French (you can often choose a language in the set up menu of the movie). It is a little distracting to watch Johnny Depp or Hugh Grant speak French, though!

I also bought a book with CD called &quot;Tune Up your French&quot; by Natalie Schorr. It has some good tips in updating your &quot;slang&quot; and keeping your accent tuned up. I listen to it almost every morning on my walk. I respond in French and do get the oddest looks sometimes from people driving by! I'm determined to regain that fluency I once enjoyed.

Luckily for me, my &quot;ear&quot; has remained and I can still understand native French spoken at converstaional speed. I am a little worried about my speaking fluency

ooops - pushed the wrong button, but I was just about done anyway.

Hope this helps.

mom

Two things that worked for me: an adult education class at a local college called &quot;French for Travelers&quot; Hearing the spoken French, strictly using travel related and everyday phrases(Ou sont les toillettes?), helped take me back to high school French , but with a purpose. After the classes ended, I rented Pimsleur CD's from my public library and they really reinforced enough French to help on my trip. Their instructional method is outstanding, and you'll soon be speaking French again

A new suggestion I have is to join Blockbuster Video Online. I just discovered that they have a large selection of instructional videos as well as French language movies.

Wow - what a wealth of information. All of your ideas are terrific and I'm psyched to get going.
Thanks so much.
I've already re-purchased &quot;201 French Verbs.&quot; THAT's going to be the down-and-dirty tedious part of this ordeal. But hey, I should complain of such problems?...oy.

It's &quot;501 French Verbs,&quot; not &quot;201&quot; but it's a great book. Also, if you really were semi-fluent and if you have cable TV, you can watch France2 TV every night on TV, a marvelous way to keep up with current French.

Luckily, I kept my text books from high school and college. Went to Switzerland after 25 plus years of never speaking it and amazed that it came back well. I bought a course (Berlitz) with traveler tips and I practiced phrases that I would use- such as &quot;I was here in 1973&quot;, &quot;I am a musician, may I play your piano&quot; &quot;My husband and I are looking for hiking maps&quot; etc. I practiced with my kids and taught them some French. Think about your interests, what you will do, where you think you may have probs, etc. Also, be prepared to write a nice note...nous voudrions vous remercier....etc. People appreciate it when you attempt to speak their language. It's a show of respect. I also had a small translator in my pocket for extra words and phrases. Also, if you have access to Le Monde or other newspapers, reading it will help you catch up a bit! Bonne chance!

St Cirq,

FYI, That publisher makes both 201 and 501 French (or Italian or Spanish) Verbs.

I have both the 201 and 501 French verb reference works (although I think the French Bescherelle is maybe best). I use the smaller one to carry around more, to class or things like that, or perhaps on a trip if I'm really going for a longer time.

I think anything that gets you to using it again is going to work, but I am biased towards real people and real conversation, and think taking a class works best. I am not crazy about individual lessons or tutoring, though, but I don't like that kind of thing, and I know many people do. I prefer interaction with a group of people, and think it also helps you learn different accents and to adjust your ear better. Of course, accents of students in more beginning classes may not be good, but if you were in an advanced class, they could be. Some classes I take at Alliance Francaise even have native speakers in them, as they are just on literature, music, or things like that. I also attend parties or other events at Alliance Francaise.

Aside from classes, I think watching any French news or TV show, or the DVDs with French subtitles is a good idea. Last weekend I was in Montreal and used French almost exclusively--I found it interesting that people were less likely to switch to English there than they are in Paris, at least with me. But one funny thing was I went to an American movie just for downtime, and the theater had no signs saying it was dubbed or &quot;version francaise&quot;, and yet the movie turned out to be dubbed into French. I didn't catch everything, as I'm not that fluent, but at least I know enough to follow the movie--luckily, it was a very bad movie (the Skeleton Key with Kate Hudson) which I have no intention of seeing again, so it didn't matter if it were dubbed in terms of quality. I just don't like dubbed films.

If you need a refresher on pronunciation, here are a couple of websites:

http://www.languageguide.org/francai...ion/nasal.html

http://www.ldsmissions.net/fpm/fpg.html

The former has audio, so you can see the word as it is spoken. The latter is a more basic guide to pronunciation. My daughter in college who is fluent in Spanish is now taking French as well. The pronunciation is more difficult for her to assimilate than she thought it would be, and these have proved helpful. (They were a helpful refresher to me, too, who hadn't really spoken the language much in the past two decades.)

Maybe we should all try to converse on one thread in French and coco from dijon can respond from time to time with pointers/feedback!

All great suggestions! i would add that if you go to the BBC website, they also offer a number of ways to study French on line, where you can also hear native speakers.
I'm in accord with Christina that the best way is to simply BE THERE to get it, but all the previously cited suggestions help. Is there a way, Rex, for us all to play French scrabble together online?

I JUST ordered a text that I found helpful while studying French in France last month. It's a French learning text written for the French, and I thought that it might be helpful.
It's called Grammaire Progressive du Francais isbn: 2.09.033854.7 The offer a few different levels with back-up exercise books.


Bon chance!

I guess no one remembers the TV show &quot;Cheers&quot;. During the seasons that Diane and Fraser were &quot;an item&quot; they were proud that on Sundays, they only spoke French.

One of the funniest episodes ever of &quot;Fraser&quot; was the one where Niles and Fraser take the car repair class, and pass notes in French to each other when they're sitting in back being the troublemakers.