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Learning French with software

6 post(s), 6 voice(s)
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18 Oct 2008 12:01 a.m.
Karen Fawcett (5017 posts)
Theresa: How are your French lessons going? You must be fluent by now .. and then some! '=)
27 Apr 2007 3:01 a.m.
Teresa (811 posts)
Sam suggested "French In Action" and I agree that is a great site for free french learning. When I took a French college course recently, we used the French in Action textbook and the online videos. I learned a lot. There is a french language school in France that I am planning on attending, and they also use "French In Action."

Sep, in addition to French In Action and the college class, I also have a weekly tutor. However, I do practice French at home every day. Here are the different programs I use at home:

Pimsleur I, II, and III (which I listen to while in the shower, driving, working out, etc.)
A+ Language Lessons by Transparent Language, Inc.
Berlitz
Learn to Speak French Deluxe, by the Learning Company

I also read lots of books in French and watch movies in French to help me learn.

Hope this helps.
25 Apr 2007 4:16 p.m.
A. Long (219 posts)
Sam - thanks for those links, and I can't wait to check out the RFI "easier french" broadcast.

25 Apr 2007 9:30 a.m.
Marc Cogan (340 posts)
QUOTE(Sam @ Apr 24 2007, 06:21 PM) *

Also, Radio France International offers material helpful in learning or staying current in French, including a news broadcast each day in "easier French" with an accompanying text. Go to the following link and click on the tab "Langue Francaise" and follow the various leads to see what they offer (RFI has a webpage in English, as well as the one in French). Here's the link:

http://www.rfi.fr/langues/statiques/rfi_anglais.asp

Gee, Sam, that RFI site is a very interesting site. Thanks for the link.

Mrc
24 Apr 2007 12:21 p.m.
Sam (633 posts)
QUOTE(sep @ Apr 24 2007, 03:50 PM) *

Last year I studied French at Alliance Francaise, a couple of months here in Toronto (not that much though,, as it was only 4 hours per week), and a month in Paris for 20 hours a week. But since I haven't practiced my French in 9 months, I'm forgotten almost half of the things I was taught.

Now, I know people are going to say a private tutor is better than French classes, and French classes are better than computer programs, but I don't have the $$$ for private tutoring and I'll be traveling throughout the summer, so I can't take any classes. That leaves me the option of buying a computer program. So far I've managed to find these programs:

Rosetta Stone's French
Complete French Learning Suite
Instant Immersion French
Auralog's Tell Me More French
FrenchNow!
Learn to Speak French

DOes anyone know anything about any of these programs? Which one would you recommend? I'm leaning towards Tell me More French, since it seems to have great reviews and is used in a couple of universities as well.

Thank you


I don't know about the courses you mention, but here are a couple of free resources that you can access with a good internet connection.

French in Action, developed by a Yale professor, is a series of structured video lessons that I've found helpful. These have been shown a lot on PBS and you can buy these on tape or DVD, but you can stream then to your PC free here:

http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html

Also, Radio France International offers material helpful in learning or staying current in French, including a news broadcast each day in "easier French" with an accompanying text. Go to the following link and click on the tab "Langue Francaise" and follow the various leads to see what they offer (RFI has a webpage in English, as well as the one in French). Here's the link:

http://www.rfi.fr/langues/statiques/rfi_anglais.asp


24 Apr 2007 9:50 a.m.
sep (1 posts)
Last year I studied French at Alliance Francaise, a couple of months here in Toronto (not that much though,, as it was only 4 hours per week), and a month in Paris for 20 hours a week. But since I haven't practiced my French in 9 months, I'm forgotten almost half of the things I was taught.

Now, I know people are going to say a private tutor is better than French classes, and French classes are better than computer programs, but I don't have the $$$ for private tutoring and I'll be traveling throughout the summer, so I can't take any classes. That leaves me the option of buying a computer program. So far I've managed to find these programs:

Rosetta Stone's French
Complete French Learning Suite
Instant Immersion French
Auralog's Tell Me More French
FrenchNow!
Learn to Speak French

DOes anyone know anything about any of these programs? Which one would you recommend? I'm leaning towards Tell me More French, since it seems to have great reviews and is used in a couple of universities as well.

Thank you