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The correct way to use FSI French | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| Norvasc Newbie Canada Joined 6487 days ago 30 posts - 31 votes Studies: French | Message 1 of 44 19 February 2007 at 10:15am | IP Logged | ||
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Bonjour tout le monde
I started listening to Pimsleur French last September (2006) and am happy to say that I have just completed the 90 lessons. I now want to start using the French FSI course. Can anyone help me in getting the full benefit of the course. I am thinking that the correct way would obviously be the way the FSI uses it itself. So, should I read the lesson hard copy first and then listen to the tapes. Do I memorise any of the dialects?, How many times should one listen to a lesson before moving on to the next one? Is FSI a good course?, I mean if I am going to be doing this course, at the end of the countless hours will it be worth it or should I look at another french course? Sorry lots of questions but would like to start with the FSI make my time efficient Norvasc 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| montyd Newbie United States Joined 6537 days ago 32 posts - 38 votes Speaks: English* | Message 2 of 44 20 February 2007 at 5:51am | IP Logged | ||
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My method which may or may not work for you:
1) Listen to the dialogue half a dozen times or so until you think that you have understood as much as you are going to. Don't be tempted to read the transcript yet. Try to note down, at least phonetically, the bits you don't understand. Don't bother listening right to the end of tape 1, rewind it when you get to the participation bit for now. 2) When you think that you have understood as much as you are going to, then read the transcript and compare it to your notes. Put it away again and listen to the dialogue another time or two. 3) Learn the dialogue by heart. I thought at first that it was a waste of time, but I found that when I tried doing that I just sailed through the rest of the unit. I hated the actual learning and sometimes it took me longer to memorise the dialogue than to do all the rest of the unit, but it was worth the trouble. 4) Go back to the first tape again and listen to it all the way through. During the first parts join in speaking out loud but try to be one line ahead of the actors. That will warm you up for the participation bit when you very often have a ridiculously small gap in the actual recording to say your line. Success or not here is all too often a good predictor on how the rest of the unit will go. 5) Have a look at the new vocabulary that is introduced just after the dialogue. Try to make a token effort now to learn it. Don't take too long, however, as the drills should grind it into your head. 6) From here on the rest of the unit is fairly straightforward. Read the grammar sections then put the book away while you do the exercises. If you think that you get something then move on, otherwise go back and do it again. If you think that you need to repeat a whole exercise then it is better to repeat all of that tape. If you don't understand the occasional word then just rewind that word. Try to listen to it three or four times before checking what the book says. Proper spoken French can be even more unclear than the FSI tapes so try to tune in your ear with the material you have. 7) Don't bother learning the situations at the end of the unit. They never contain any new material so if you understand what you hear then move on. 8) Don't lose heart over the arithmetic and the object pronouns. Everyone finds them hard. 9) Don't get too upset over the subject matter. If you want a more modern, non-sexist textbook then look somewhere else. FSI is a lot more demanding than Pimsleur. Be prepared to stop the tape even if you want a sip of water. 6 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Norvasc Newbie Canada Joined 6487 days ago 30 posts - 31 votes Studies: French | Message 3 of 44 20 February 2007 at 7:38pm | IP Logged | ||
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Thanks for the helpful comments. I intend to start FSI French very soon and will follow your advice
Merci 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| adoggie Bilingual Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 6531 days ago 160 posts - 159 votes  Speaks: English*, Japanese* Studies: German, Russian, French | Message 4 of 44 21 February 2007 at 1:13am | IP Logged | ||
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I think Pimsleur and FSI French will have overlapping material... do you still feel as though your knowledge of French is somewhat basic? If not, you can try reading the more intermediate to advanced leveled magazines and such they have online. Just a thought.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| luckyboy1300 Diglot Newbie Philippines Joined 6565 days ago 17 posts - 18 votes Speaks: Tagalog*, English Studies: Spanish, French, Japanese | Message 5 of 44 09 March 2007 at 9:28am | IP Logged | ||
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I do the course by mastering only a part of the unit (for example, unit 3.1, 3.2, etc.) every day, and then repeat the whole unit as many times until I feel comfortable enough (usually 3 times only). And with that I have allocated a year to finish the course.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| leosmith Senior Member United States Joined 6548 days ago 2365 posts - 3804 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 6 of 44 09 March 2007 at 1:22pm | IP Logged | ||
What an excellent post. I've been curious as to what exactly doing an FSI program entails; this is the first time all the steps have been spelled out clearly. Thanks! 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| LilleOSC Senior Member United States lille.theoffside.comRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6689 days ago 545 posts - 546 votes 4 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: French, Arabic (Written) | Message 7 of 44 15 April 2007 at 4:05pm | IP Logged | ||
How do people get good at the order of object pronouns?Did you just do the drills in FSI? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| johntothea Senior Member United States Joined 6626 days ago 193 posts - 192 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Russian, Norwegian, Polish, French | Message 8 of 44 15 April 2007 at 7:58pm | IP Logged | ||
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I use http://www.loquella.com/learn-french/.
I think it's so much easier to follow. It takes the guess-work out of everything :]. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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