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Fluency in French - unrealistic for me? | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages |  | |
| Merv Bilingual Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5274 days ago 414 posts - 749 votes  Speaks: English*, Serbo-Croatian* Studies: Spanish, French | Message 17 of 27 18 October 2011 at 3:46pm | IP Logged |
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2-3 years is more than enough to learn French to fluency. The language is close enough to Dutch and English, there
are tons of learning materials, you live near France. You could probably get to fluency in a year if you dedicated 2 hours every day to it. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| CareBear Hexaglot Newbie Belgium Joined 4786 days ago 3 posts - 3 votes Speaks: English, Dutch, Flemish*, French, Portuguese, German Studies: Norwegian, Indonesian, Persian | Message 18 of 27 20 October 2011 at 8:51pm | IP Logged |
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I don't think it should be a problem. Where I live, everyone seems to hate French (it is
compulsory in schools, few people have motivation for it or study it beyond the slow-pace secondary school system) yet most educated people seem able to converse with native speakers and read newspapers. This is in a region with not much exposure to francophone media. It's really not as hard as everyone says. I'm sure that a motivated adult spending an hour a day with decent coursebooks can speak it fluently in two years. And don't forget you already know lots of Old French vocabulary from English ;) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| lecavaleur Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 4778 days ago 146 posts - 295 votes Speaks: English*, French Studies: German, Spanish | Message 19 of 27 28 October 2011 at 2:34am | IP Logged |
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I don't do plugs usually, but I think the best way to get through the basics of the languages for which the method exists is Adrienne Penner's Gimmick Method. The books have been in print for about 40 years now and are very inexpensive (like $11 USD). The English version for French is called 'French in 32 Lessons'. It will take you from absolute beginner to intermediate in about 32 weeks if you are moderately committed to doing and reviewing one lesson a week. The only downside is that there is no audio component for pronunciation, but with the Internet these days that problem is easily solved.
I did not use this method for French, having studied it in school, but I used it as a lad for German and it's wonderful. There is a second level called 'Français parlé', but I think there are better intermediate texts and courses out there. The first level is amazing though. Check it out. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| dbag Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5023 days ago 605 posts - 1046 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 20 of 27 28 October 2011 at 8:07am | IP Logged |
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I havent learnt any language to fluency yet, but I would say, dont let yourself worry about anything! Its a waste of time if you dont "need" to learn the language within a certain time frame.
I dont mean that in a rude way. I just mean, enjoy the journey! Ive been learning Spanish for nearly a year now. Granted its somewhat easier than French, but I was having exactly the same doubts as you when I started. Honestly, if you just keep plugging on, enjoying your learning, then you will be amazed at what you can achieve in a year. Im sure Assimil will teach you loads , and if you added some pimsleur, Michel Thomas, then got into fsi, you could be having nice conversations within a few months. Best of luck! 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| zerothinking Senior Member Australia Joined 6373 days ago 528 posts - 772 votes Speaks: English* | Message 21 of 27 31 October 2011 at 9:33pm | IP Logged |
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If you learn in class rooms it is nearly impossible.
If you teach yourself you could be very fluent in a few years. It depends on how much time a day you are willing to study and listen. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| s_allard Triglot Senior Member Canada Joined 5431 days ago 2704 posts - 5425 votes Speaks: French*, English, Spanish Studies: Polish | Message 22 of 27 01 November 2011 at 3:34am | IP Logged |
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If you think it takes years to become proficient in French, look at the predicament of the person nominated to be Canada's next Auditor-General. The poor fellow has been called on the carpet for his lack of French despite having had a similar job in a bilingual province where he never made the effort to learn French. How he probably wishes that he had paid attention to the French lessons. In any case, he thinks he can be proficient in a year. The following excerpt is from the Globe and Mail of October 31.:
"Michael Ferguson, the newly nominated candidate for the Auditor-General's job, says he thinks he can be proficient in French in a year. The unilingual Mr. Ferguson tackled the language issue head on as he appeared before the Commons public accounts committee on Monday. He called it his challenge. While some MPs have expressed concern about his lack of French, Mr. Ferguson said learning the language will be his No. 1 priority. “I am not a beginner in the language,” he said, although he admitted he cannot readily carry on a conversation. “I am already in the process of improving my skills in the language.” Mr. Ferguson said he thinks he can be proficient in a “reasonably short period of time, the first year.” His opening statement was mostly in French, read from a prepared text. NDP MP Yvon Godin pointed out, however, that Mr. Ferguson spent 11 years in senior positions in bilingual New Brunswick, but didn't learn French. The nominee spent five years as the province's Auditor-General and a year as deputy finance minister. He was also provincial comptroller. Mr. Ferguson said he is committed to being bilingual. “I recognize the importance of being able to communicate in both official languages,” he said. “I have not yet attained sufficient capability in French. I have made a commitment to learn French because I feel it is important.” Mr. Godin asked if he had read the formal requirements of the job, which called for a bilingual candidate. Mr. Ferguson said he had been approached by a recruiting firm and didn't read the official job posting. He said, though, he believes he built up a good track record as auditor general in New Brunswick. “My performance in that role is a matter of public record.” He said his experience and record brought him to Ottawa. “The selection committee looked at my skills set and have brought my name forward to you,” he told the MPs. He said he has a broad range of experience in working in government “I think the record will show that in the roles that I have served in, I have been successful.” Liberal MP Mauril Belanger also tackled the language question. He wondered if Mr. Ferguson would be able to deal with French staff in the Auditor-General's office. Mr. Ferguson said people can work in their language of choice. ..." Edited by s_allard on 01 November 2011 at 1:28pm 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Solfrid Cristin Heptaglot Winner TAC 2011 & 2012 Senior Member Norway Joined 5335 days ago 4143 posts - 8864 votes Speaks: Norwegian*, Spanish, Swedish, French, English, German, Italian Studies: Russian | Message 23 of 27 01 November 2011 at 8:07am | IP Logged |
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Funny how different people are. Most people here on the forum would have jumped at any opportunity, or even just a good reason to learn a language, and here is this guy who simply has not bothered.
How he will learn a language he has so far showed no interest in, at the same time as he fulfulls his duties in his new job, is beyond me. Thanks for letting us see this interview, s allard! 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| lecavaleur Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 4778 days ago 146 posts - 295 votes Speaks: English*, French Studies: German, Spanish | Message 24 of 27 01 November 2011 at 12:41pm | IP Logged |
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I think Ferguson is full of it. If he hasn't learned it yet, he probably won't learn it now.
His hiring as well as the hiring of Harper's press secretary (proudly unable to speak French, even if it is abominable to be proud of one's own ignorance), as well as the recent nomination of at least one unilingual Supreme Court judge if not two is our Prime Minister's way of spreading the message that bilingualism is not really important. Though it will be a cold day in hell before the Feds ever hire a unilingual francophone for any job. You can bet the farm on that. Bilingualism is mainly the burden of French-speakers in this country. /end of political rant. 5 persons have voted this message useful |
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