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How to learn a language: Where to start? | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| John524 Newbie United States Joined 4764 days ago 5 posts - 6 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 1 of 20 27 October 2011 at 8:15pm | IP Logged |
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Hi!
I am brand new to this and greatly appreciate any and all advice about learning a new language. I am currently a junior in high school and I have always dreamed of going to France. I was recently selected to participate in a study abroad program that lasts for a year, in France, and begins about a year and a half from now. They do not require you to know how to speak French, however, I think it would make the experience even more enjoyable knowing the language before departing. My question is: how would I best be able to learn French? I have searched this all over the web, but to no avail. There are so many different programs and methods out there that I'm at a lost as to what is best. Many people suggest Fluenz, Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Assimil, Rocket French, etc., etc. and some suggest using just books and radio or TV without using a program. Ahhh! What to do?! I'm wondering what works/worked for you so I can try to make it work for me before heading off to France. Thanks for taking the time to read this! John 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Michael K. Senior Member United States Joined 5715 days ago 568 posts - 886 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Esperanto | Message 2 of 20 27 October 2011 at 9:04pm | IP Logged |
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I've never used Fluenz or Rosetta Stone, and just the free e-mail course for Rocket French. I'm using Assimil right now for Spanish and German, and I'm enjoying it. I'm using Moses McCormick's method of combining 3 lessons for a week and writing out the dialogs. You might want to check out Moses's channel on YouTube, laoshu505000, and you might also want to check out Professor Arguelles's channel, too. He's ProfASAr, and he has a playlist called "Foreign Languages Series Reviews" where he reviews some of the most common book & audio programs for language learning. See if any of these sound good to you.
You might also like Michel Thomas if you like Pimsleur. It's also an audio method, but doesn't take 45 hours to get through the entire program like Pimsleur does. I think Pimsleur's OK, especially if you have to commute alone for half an hour a day both ways like I did at one time or you like listening to something while you're doing something else (like walking on a treadmill), but other than that it's kind of boring. Here's a link with some free online French courses: http://www.uni.edu/becker/french31.html I don't mean to discourage you, but I've been trying to learn Spanish for 2 and a half years and I'm still not entirely sure which method I like. Right now I'm just using Assimil, and I'm really enjoying it, and I guess in the future I'll try Assimil & Michel Thomas to start learning a language. I think the most important thing is to find a course that makes you want to study everyday instead of finding the absolute best method out there. Many people on this forum will say that Assimil is the best method, including Prof Arguelles, but if you can't stand how it's set up, find another course. I have New French with Ease, the French Assimil course you can get on Amazon right now for about $35 shipped, and while I don't think it's as good as the Spanish course since the learning curve is a lot smoother and they don't introduce the imperfect until late in the course, it's still looks good. Good luck with your French studies. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| jazzboy.bebop Senior Member Norway norwegianthroughnove Joined 5404 days ago 439 posts - 800 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Norwegian | Message 3 of 20 28 October 2011 at 2:01am | IP Logged |
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I've found Assimil New French With Ease a fantastic course and I find it works well with the Michel Thomas French courses.
1 person has voted this message useful | |
| iguanamon Pentaglot Senior Member Virgin Islands Speaks: Ladino Joined 5248 days ago 2241 posts - 6731 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French) | Message 4 of 20 28 October 2011 at 3:01am | IP Logged |
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Language learning happens on many levels and courses are not the begin all and end all. Check out Barry Farber's book "How To Learn Any Language" (library, e-bay, amazon). He advises the "multi-track" approach. The book is a little dated but read mp3 for cassette, "web page" for magazine article, "anki" for flash cards and skype for practice with natives- you get the picture. The book is a blueprint for beginning language learning. It answers the question- "Where do I start". His advice is still good, sound, advice for language learners today. Pick and choose what you like.
There are several free courses available. Both FSI French (Foreign Service Institute) and DLI French (Defense Language Institute) are in the public domain and free to download with tons of audio and pdf books, your taxpayer's dollars at work. There's French In Action for free in the US and North America books available on e-bay and elsewhere. The open courseware (ocw) course from Carnegie Mellon University Free French Course is also free. RFI, Radio France Internationale, has a lot of material for French learners on their site. Even wikibooks has a free French course with audio. Try some of the free ones and see if you think they'll be helpful. Pimsleur, Assimil, Michael Thomas and many other paid courses can be had from your public library either directly or through an inter-library loan. Remember your course is just a part of your journey to language proficiency and it will not lead you to that promised land by itself. You should also check out Benny's How to speak a language pretty well starting from scratch for an alternative to courses. Also, no course, method or approach will do you any good at all without commitment and effort. It doesn't just "magically" happen. My advice to quote Mark Burnett is "Jump in and swim even if you don't know how". Find a course, method or approach you like and stick with it. Do something in the language every day, never give up. All successful learners of second languages as adults have one thing in common regardless of their approach- they work at it. You'll be successful too if you work at it- every day until you get to where you want to be or, close enough. A polyglot was once asked "How did you learn so many languages?" The answer was "I started off with one language and was just too lazy to quit!" Be "too lazy to quit". Bon Chance! Edited by iguanamon on 28 October 2011 at 4:15am 8 persons have voted this message useful | |
| bryanpeabody Groupie United States Joined 4971 days ago 48 posts - 79 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 5 of 20 28 October 2011 at 4:33pm | IP Logged |
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I like the Living Language Complete courses. I have both the Spanish and French versions and can say I like these a lot. If you have an iPad, there are apps for both of these that I enjoy using as a companion to the course itself.
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| Jeffers Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4895 days ago 2151 posts - 3960 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German | Message 6 of 20 31 October 2011 at 9:01pm | IP Logged |
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I support those who suggest Assimil for learning French. I'm not far into it yet, but so far it's really good and quite enjoyable. Depending on how you like learning, you might want to combine it with a more "textbookish" approach, such as the Living Language course mentioned above (I've only used their German course, but it was quite good).
Since you are in the United States, you can watch French in Action for free at this website. Although it is 20 years old, it is a brilliantly designed and well executed lesson resource. It is designed to go with classes or with audio excercises, but as they are expensive, just use the videos alongside Assimil. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| tibbles Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5177 days ago 245 posts - 422 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Korean | Message 7 of 20 01 November 2011 at 3:35am | IP Logged |
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I would start with Michel Thomas because you can probably blast through all of it within a week or two. Doing that will give you an introductory knowledge of the "lay of the land" as far as structure and important verbs go. From there, choose one or more of the other courses you mentioned and stick with the one that fits your style.
Next, get started with skype language exchanges ASAP. It doesn't matter if you can say nothing other than "my name is ..." in the target language because a good skype partner should be able to nudge you along into other areas of conversation. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |
| lecavaleur Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 4763 days ago 146 posts - 295 votes Speaks: English*, French Studies: German, Spanish | Message 8 of 20 01 November 2011 at 11:22pm | IP Logged |
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I remember watching French in Action in high school French class. I loved it and I think it is a great way to practice listening and to get excited about going to France because you get to see images of Paris (in the 80's) and you get to see examples of French living. Watch those videos. There is no reason not to; they are free!
John524, I am not sure what the best way for a beginner is to start out because I think it depends on your preferred learning methods (visual, auditory, written materials, etc.), and it also depends on how well you know your own language. If you are anything like most people, things like direct objects, indirect objects, subjunctive moods and other grammatical concepts that you use everyday in English without realizing it can seem complicated when trying to learn how they are used in another language. This may be an obstacle if you're new to language learning, but it is easily surmountable if you don't let yourself get stressed out. I would recommend three things for you: 1. "French in No Time: The Basics in 32 Lessons" by Adrienne Penner. You can pick it up used for about a buck on Abebooks.com (plus shipping which is like 5 bucks). If you can't buy it online, it is in most large bookstores either in stock or for special order. The new list price is $15.95. Try to get it used online. The method is simple and fast and allows you to master the basics and explains grammar has simply as possible. I used it for German when I was even younger than you. I have yet to find a better beginner's method in print for any language and best of all is it's cheap. If you have any specific questions the book is not helping with, you can always pose them here. 2. You can try Michel Thomas, which I have just begun using for Italian and I am very impressed with the quick progress you make. It is an audio course and proposes no memorization or homework. 3. French in Action as mentioned above. With those three elements even the combination of number 1 and 3 alone, you will be plenty ready and you will make quick progress. Does your high school offer French class? If so, you don't have to enrol in order to contact the teacher and ask him or her to help you with your pronunciation or to give you advice. Have fun and don't give up. Learning French was the best decision I have ever made. It opens up a whole new world (as all languages do). French people are amazing and learning the language is the key. It will allow you to make lifelong friendships and it will give you special access to, and allow you to participate in, one of the most culturally rich and sophisticated civilizations the world has ever produced. Edited by lecavaleur on 01 November 2011 at 11:25pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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