Best method for brushing up on French
Sep 8th, 2005, 12:57 PM
#21
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I know very few words and phrases (but have a decent accent) becuase of my Parisian friend that used to teach me. The only 2 times I've been to France, I hired my son's high school French teacher to give me lessons after school. I learn better when I'm face-to-face with a teacher and can get real-time correction.
Sep 8th, 2005, 01:05 PM
#22
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my pleasure letour 
. I could help correcting sentences but don't ask me to explain things grammatically, too hard to translate for me!(it is difficult already for Frenchs kids, ask my 9 year old boy!)
. I could help correcting sentences but don't ask me to explain things grammatically, too hard to translate for me!(it is difficult already for Frenchs kids, ask my 9 year old boy!)
Sep 8th, 2005, 02:06 PM
#23
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yeah, I didn't mean you had to be in France (although certainly that would be best), I meant I think you learn best with real live people, even if they are in a class at home, not just listening to tapes or CDs or watching TV. You can't interact with tapes and CDs.
Sep 8th, 2005, 07:42 PM
#24
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<< Is there a way, Rex, for us all to play French scrabble together online? >>
Yes... a) just e-mail me... or
b) go to http://thepixiepit.co.uk - - click on "Forum" (Advanced or Intermediate) and leave me a message there.
Yes... a) just e-mail me... or
b) go to http://thepixiepit.co.uk - - click on "Forum" (Advanced or Intermediate) and leave me a message there.
Sep 9th, 2005, 11:59 PM
#26
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Berlitz is expensive but very effective for speaking and listening competence. It's best to schedule classes such that they end only shortly before your departure for France, so that it is still fresh in your mind as you begin the trip.
Sep 10th, 2005, 01:34 AM
#27
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french tapes can be played in so many places.. in the bathroom, car, and lounging ouside while flipping through magazines.... it will really help tune your ear.
start with beginners as suggested.. then move up. there is no other system in my opinion that can fill those empty dead times we all have while completing tasks we don't need to concentrate too much on.
of course, backing this up with a review, (always starting at the lowest level to solidify your basics)and as much interaction as you can achieve in your town, will produce very satisfying progress.
many larger towns do have an international group that meets.. or friends of france, or the international club at local university where you can donate some baked goods for their meetings and join in the conversations and meet young students spending time in the USA.
being in the country is ideal but sometimes with a little effort you can get many many hours of french without leaving your home town with a small investment, usually time.. not money.
you can be a foster family for foreign french student needing a family atmosphere occasionally while he/she is away from home.
start with beginners as suggested.. then move up. there is no other system in my opinion that can fill those empty dead times we all have while completing tasks we don't need to concentrate too much on.
of course, backing this up with a review, (always starting at the lowest level to solidify your basics)and as much interaction as you can achieve in your town, will produce very satisfying progress.
many larger towns do have an international group that meets.. or friends of france, or the international club at local university where you can donate some baked goods for their meetings and join in the conversations and meet young students spending time in the USA.
being in the country is ideal but sometimes with a little effort you can get many many hours of french without leaving your home town with a small investment, usually time.. not money.
you can be a foster family for foreign french student needing a family atmosphere occasionally while he/she is away from home.
Sep 12th, 2005, 09:00 AM
#30
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Mary:
Sure! The school (Parlons en Provence) that I attended was in Noves, France, which is perhaps twenty-five minutes southeast of Avignon. It's a very small school which takes perhaps 5 students at a time, either on the beginner or intermediate level. I did research a few of these programs and this one is probably one of the more casual ones that I read about. Classes are half-day and afternoons are spent making tours of the area or playing petanque! You live at the school, in the home of the instructor, Magali, and her husband. I liked the program very much from a social perspective; the people were wonderful and my daughter and I got on well with our fellow students. The setting is rural but not breathtaking like the neighboring Alpilles. I am still taking stock of what I learned, but I do think that it was a piece of worthwhile education. I would think that most programs like this are not going to make one immediately fluent, but rather offer steps along the way toward greater fluency. Spending so much time just speaking French with our instructor and her extended family, along with our classmates, was helpful. I am pleased with where I am headed with my French-speaking and understanding!
If you want a really more rigorous program, I believe that there may be others that are certified and set up more formally. This was a very good choice for us!
Sure! The school (Parlons en Provence) that I attended was in Noves, France, which is perhaps twenty-five minutes southeast of Avignon. It's a very small school which takes perhaps 5 students at a time, either on the beginner or intermediate level. I did research a few of these programs and this one is probably one of the more casual ones that I read about. Classes are half-day and afternoons are spent making tours of the area or playing petanque! You live at the school, in the home of the instructor, Magali, and her husband. I liked the program very much from a social perspective; the people were wonderful and my daughter and I got on well with our fellow students. The setting is rural but not breathtaking like the neighboring Alpilles. I am still taking stock of what I learned, but I do think that it was a piece of worthwhile education. I would think that most programs like this are not going to make one immediately fluent, but rather offer steps along the way toward greater fluency. Spending so much time just speaking French with our instructor and her extended family, along with our classmates, was helpful. I am pleased with where I am headed with my French-speaking and understanding!
If you want a really more rigorous program, I believe that there may be others that are certified and set up more formally. This was a very good choice for us!
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