French and how to learn it
Discussion
I detested my French teacher at middle school and she hated me. As a result I have always thought I couldn't learn a language.
However a few years ago I got on quite well with Duolingo.
Yesterday I decided to start again and most of the apps need payment, happy to fork out but which is the best?
However a few years ago I got on quite well with Duolingo.
Yesterday I decided to start again and most of the apps need payment, happy to fork out but which is the best?
lost in espace said:
I detested my French teacher at middle school and she hated me. As a result I have always thought I couldn't learn a language.
However a few years ago I got on quite well with Duolingo.
Yesterday I decided to start again and most of the apps need payment, happy to fork out but which is the best?
In my experience, none of them. However a few years ago I got on quite well with Duolingo.
Yesterday I decided to start again and most of the apps need payment, happy to fork out but which is the best?
You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
Louis Balfour said:
In my experience, none of them.
You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
I’d agree. I think a blend is useful - listen to French radio, watch French tv, use Duolingo, read the French newspaper etc. You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
Shnozz said:
Louis Balfour said:
In my experience, none of them.
You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
I’d agree. I think a blend is useful - listen to French radio, watch French tv, use Duolingo, read the French newspaper etc. You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
Louis Balfour said:
In my experience, none of them.
You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
agree in principle, but i find the michel thomas courses to be very good at building vocab quickly. You can get a huge amount of free stuff on Youtube. There are many free websites. You can access French news online.
My opinion (for what that is worth) is that learning core vocabulary is key, added to listening and speaking the language (even if no one is listening). But unless you actually immerse yourself in the language, you will never progress beyond a certain point.
nickfrog said:
zbc said:
Getting a French girlfriend worked for me and of course subsequently spending a lot of time in France
That's an excellent plan. I did it in reverse in my 20s which improved my English no end.But not always that practical when you're already married.
OP, as a French speaker and regular visitor to France I can really recommend the Linguaphone courses. They are old skool type courses but very thorough, especially with vocabulary construct, grammar and the all important conjugation. https://linguaphone.co.uk/product-category/french-...
Unless a natural foreign language speaker, most of us struggle when learning a foreign language and so it takes good dedication and some hard work which is 100% worth the end results. Many folk give up when learning a new language so the best way to approach it is as a new 'life skill...' which takes a good few years to acquire and the language becomes near second nature. There's a great marker with language learning and that's when you start to dream in your chosen foreign language. The first time this happens it's a revelation.
As others have said above make best use of online French media, news, newspapers, films et al - France24 news, France Inter radio is very good for language learning as it has diverse subjects/music similar to Radio4]. Language/subject immersion is always the ideal way to learn so do join a local French speaking club/group if there's one near you, plus it's a great way of meeting new friends.
Lastly, go to France as often as possible taking your language books with you. Go to interesting areas, not just Paris...the Alpes, Southern Brittany, Alsace, the Jura, Bordeaux..., learn the wines of France, the cheeses of France, the regional foods and listen to the language around you - you'll be amazed at just how much you'll naturally pick up and how quickly your ears/mind will tune in to the locals. And above all, speak to/with the locals...you'll make loads of mistakes which is great for building language confidence. Good luck with your learning
Unless a natural foreign language speaker, most of us struggle when learning a foreign language and so it takes good dedication and some hard work which is 100% worth the end results. Many folk give up when learning a new language so the best way to approach it is as a new 'life skill...' which takes a good few years to acquire and the language becomes near second nature. There's a great marker with language learning and that's when you start to dream in your chosen foreign language. The first time this happens it's a revelation.
As others have said above make best use of online French media, news, newspapers, films et al - France24 news, France Inter radio is very good for language learning as it has diverse subjects/music similar to Radio4]. Language/subject immersion is always the ideal way to learn so do join a local French speaking club/group if there's one near you, plus it's a great way of meeting new friends.
Lastly, go to France as often as possible taking your language books with you. Go to interesting areas, not just Paris...the Alpes, Southern Brittany, Alsace, the Jura, Bordeaux..., learn the wines of France, the cheeses of France, the regional foods and listen to the language around you - you'll be amazed at just how much you'll naturally pick up and how quickly your ears/mind will tune in to the locals. And above all, speak to/with the locals...you'll make loads of mistakes which is great for building language confidence. Good luck with your learning
I found the Michel Thomas CDs to be good for when in the car. As others have said, a mix of different learning formats is usually best.
The key question though is why? What do you plan to do with it? If it's simply a bit of holiday French to make an effort for two weeks a year you'll be OK with Duolingo. If it's to get fluent you'll need a wider mix of tools and will have to practice a lot to keep it up.
Good luck with it anyway, it's very rewarding as you improve.
The key question though is why? What do you plan to do with it? If it's simply a bit of holiday French to make an effort for two weeks a year you'll be OK with Duolingo. If it's to get fluent you'll need a wider mix of tools and will have to practice a lot to keep it up.
Good luck with it anyway, it's very rewarding as you improve.
I did French as GCSE a few decades ago and started on Duolingo about a year ago. It’s good for teaching the grammar basics but it’s a very slow way to learn. I have nearly a year streak and I’m still not even on to the intermediate level lessons yet.
I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
My boss back in early 70's ( a good looking playboy with a new Jensen Interceptor} had a French au pair.
Sometimes in the afternoons she used to go into his office, the door would be locked, the blinds would go down and a "do not disturb" notice would be hung on the door.
He always said he was having private French lessons,
Sometimes in the afternoons she used to go into his office, the door would be locked, the blinds would go down and a "do not disturb" notice would be hung on the door.
He always said he was having private French lessons,
Wacky Racer's suggestion seems great, but not easy to arrange for many/most of us! 
The podcasts of Innerfrench.com are great, as are his (Hugo Cotton's) YouTube videos. Earlier podcasts (chronologically and numerically) are easier to understand while later ones especially are more challenging, incorporating interviews and multiple speakers. Something for all!
Lots of other great suggestions have been made already, but one not mentioned is italki.com where you are able to converse with native-language speakers, or tutors. Very flexible and inexpensive. Or still free, I believe, to converse one-to-one with foreign learners of English, for your mutual benefit. An easy way to find someone to converse with in your chosen language.
The podcasts of Innerfrench.com are great, as are his (Hugo Cotton's) YouTube videos. Earlier podcasts (chronologically and numerically) are easier to understand while later ones especially are more challenging, incorporating interviews and multiple speakers. Something for all!
Lots of other great suggestions have been made already, but one not mentioned is italki.com where you are able to converse with native-language speakers, or tutors. Very flexible and inexpensive. Or still free, I believe, to converse one-to-one with foreign learners of English, for your mutual benefit. An easy way to find someone to converse with in your chosen language.
Doofus said:
nickfrog said:
zbc said:
Getting a French girlfriend worked for me and of course subsequently spending a lot of time in France
That's an excellent plan. I did it in reverse in my 20s which improved my English no end.But not always that practical when you're already married.
In fairness I did marry her soon after that (29 years ago) so perhaps I am a cunning linguist. Amusingly we were at the French Consulate yesterday to hear that she will become French this summer. FOM etc...
JmatthewB said:
I did French as GCSE a few decades ago and started on Duolingo about a year ago. It’s good for teaching the grammar basics but it’s a very slow way to learn. I have nearly a year streak and I’m still not even on to the intermediate level lessons yet.
I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
Same here with French GCSE, I've just started on Duolingo (8 day streak! I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
) I started it saying I had done French before and I did the test to setup my level, it put me to unit 10. I'm on the free version with the 5 hearts limit, there was the offer that ended last week but I didn't go for it as I had only just started it to see how I was and the sale ended the day before pay day. How often do they have a sale on like the 60% one last week?Not French but Spanish on Duolingo, at least an hour a day if not more. Any moment I have spare, even sitting on the bog. Multi task.
Listen to Spanish radio, watch films you know but set the language to Spanish.
I've just done over a year on Duolingo paid, about £50 a year and a 10 week course of Spanish class, in an actual classroom, not that Zoom rubbish.
I can now text and read replies to Spanish speaking friends, read basic stuff like newspapers and websites.
Listening to actual Spanish is hard as it's spoken so fast.
Más despacio! I have to say. Slowly!
My spoken is slow and I'm much better reading out loud than replying on the fly.
Also set your phone keyboard to the language you want to speak. AutoCorrect really becomes your friend and helps with accents etc.
Good luck.
Listen to Spanish radio, watch films you know but set the language to Spanish.
I've just done over a year on Duolingo paid, about £50 a year and a 10 week course of Spanish class, in an actual classroom, not that Zoom rubbish.
I can now text and read replies to Spanish speaking friends, read basic stuff like newspapers and websites.
Listening to actual Spanish is hard as it's spoken so fast.
Más despacio! I have to say. Slowly!
My spoken is slow and I'm much better reading out loud than replying on the fly.
Also set your phone keyboard to the language you want to speak. AutoCorrect really becomes your friend and helps with accents etc.
Good luck.
ajprice said:
JmatthewB said:
I did French as GCSE a few decades ago and started on Duolingo about a year ago. It’s good for teaching the grammar basics but it’s a very slow way to learn. I have nearly a year streak and I’m still not even on to the intermediate level lessons yet.
I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
Same here with French GCSE, I've just started on Duolingo (8 day streak! I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
) I started it saying I had done French before and I did the test to setup my level, it put me to unit 10. I'm on the free version with the 5 hearts limit, there was the offer that ended last week but I didn't go for it as I had only just started it to see how I was and the sale ended the day before pay day. How often do they have a sale on like the 60% one last week?Depends what your goals are. I want to know enough French to be able to speak and listen confidently when I’m in France. Grammar is less important to me because I don’t see me ever writing much French, but is mostly what Duolingo seems to focus on. When infants learn to speak they do it from listening and copying, they don’t learn grammar until they can speak.
nickfrog said:
Doofus said:
nickfrog said:
zbc said:
Getting a French girlfriend worked for me and of course subsequently spending a lot of time in France
That's an excellent plan. I did it in reverse in my 20s which improved my English no end.But not always that practical when you're already married.
In fairness I did marry her soon after that (29 years ago) so perhaps I am a cunning linguist. Amusingly we were at the French Consulate yesterday to hear that she will become French this summer. FOM etc...
JmatthewB said:
ajprice said:
JmatthewB said:
I did French as GCSE a few decades ago and started on Duolingo about a year ago. It’s good for teaching the grammar basics but it’s a very slow way to learn. I have nearly a year streak and I’m still not even on to the intermediate level lessons yet.
I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
Same here with French GCSE, I've just started on Duolingo (8 day streak! I have found listening to French podcasts and TV shows to be a bigger help. The InnerFrench podcast is an intermediate level podcast which I’ve found useful. The Duolingo French podcasts are also interesting but have too much English context for me.
I also recommend the 1980s series French in Action which you can find on YouTube. It’s very 80s but is probably the best thing I’ve found for language immersion that teaches through context.
) I started it saying I had done French before and I did the test to setup my level, it put me to unit 10. I'm on the free version with the 5 hearts limit, there was the offer that ended last week but I didn't go for it as I had only just started it to see how I was and the sale ended the day before pay day. How often do they have a sale on like the 60% one last week?Depends what your goals are. I want to know enough French to be able to speak and listen confidently when I’m in France. Grammar is less important to me because I don’t see me ever writing much French, but is mostly what Duolingo seems to focus on. When infants learn to speak they do it from listening and copying, they don’t learn grammar until they can speak.
Personally I have found Duolingo really good. I got a job in Copenhagen around May last year then spent about 90 mins a day on Duolingo until I started work in August and was already able to read lots of Danish and have basic conversations. I still do about 20 mins a day (on top of lots of other stuff to practice my Danish).
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