Learn French double quick...
Discussion
Anyone have any advice on how best to approach this? I've been meaning to learn at least some basic French for some time but haven't really gotten round to it - I do have a huge HUGO Guide to learning french book with accompanying CD so hopefully I've got some decent raw material to start learning from.
My aim is to have a little bit in time for Le Mans (so 6 weeks) - I can speak minimal Frecnh currently.
My aim is to have a little bit in time for Le Mans (so 6 weeks) - I can speak minimal Frecnh currently.
Plotloss said:
There are books, chaps name is Michele Thomas
Easiest way by a mile.
If you book his courses he reckons that he can teach you to get by with everyday french language in about 3 days.
Mind you they cost £20K
The books on the other hand are about £20
Started doing the Italian CD (8 discs) one a while back, it's very, very good.
dds1 said:
le sange est dans l'arbre all you ever need to know 
That's "singe"
I was spelling it phonetically
Oh dear. I went to France a couple of years ago and ordered a steak in a fancy restaurant. I wanted it rare, but not blue, and couldn't remember the right word, so I tried to say I wanted it with less blood than blue. Unfortunately for me, pronunciation was never my strong point, and it transpired I ordered a steak with a little monkey.
bigandclever said:
dds1 said:
mechsympathy said:
dds1 said:
le sange est dans l'arbre all you ever need to know
That's "singe"
I was spelling it phonetically
Oh dear. I went to France a couple of years ago and ordered a steak in a fancy restaurant. I wanted it rare, but not blue, and couldn't remember the right word, so I tried to say I wanted it with less blood than blue. Unfortunately for me, pronunciation was never my strong point, and it transpired I ordered a steak with a little monkey.
Gaston the French waiter said:
et la cuisson pour votre steak, monsieur?
bigandclever said:
avec un petit singe, s'il vous plait.
Gaston the French waiter said:
Comme vous voulez, monsieur. in kitchenil reste un singe dans le frigo? Il y a encore un de ces anglais qui aiment les manger avec leur steak.
>> Edited by Zod on Friday 29th April 17:02
bigandclever said:
Oh dear. I went to France a couple of years ago and ordered a steak in a fancy restaurant. I wanted it rare, but not blue, and couldn't remember the right word, so I tried to say I wanted it with less blood than blue. Unfortunately for me, pronunciation was never my strong point, and it transpired I ordered a steak with a little monkey.
As opposed to my french brother in law ordering a steak in a restaurant in London.
"How would you like that cooked sir?"
"I want a bloody steak please."
"Yes but how would you like your steak cooked sir?"
"I just want a bloody steak."
[Rare is "saignant" in french - literal translation "bloody"]
Wish I could say that the waitress followed up with "I suppose you want ferking chips with that then!" but I'd be lying...
Anyone tried those hypnosis CDs? Not sure who does them, but the idea is to listen to them in your sleep as your subconscious absorbs information more easily, and with the help of a book you learn from during the day, you can learn the language quickly. Of course, it could all be psychobabble and they may not work, but if I was going on holiday and had a week or so to learn the language, I'd give them a try.
I know some people who have a similar exam revision technique - record their notes onto tape and play them back in their sleep. It works for them.
I know some people who have a similar exam revision technique - record their notes onto tape and play them back in their sleep. It works for them.
I have a challenge for any linguists who may be reading. One thing that bugged me as a hopeless student of French was that where we had one word, they had five, with lots of apostrophes and 'qu's thrown in.
So what please is the literal translation of the famous English phrase 'Now you've been and gone and done it'?
So what please is the literal translation of the famous English phrase 'Now you've been and gone and done it'?
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