Posts Tagged ‘french person’

There are many ways to learn to speak French from the traditional read-and-repeat to modern interactive courses. For most of us this will be something we’re doing in our own time so we want learning French to be as easy as possible and as much fun as possible. The last thing we want is to be bored – so lets learn French… with a Rocket!

I am, of course, referring to Rocket French, a breakthrough in modern language learning developed by a collaboration of French and English speakers so both sides of the coin are covered. And that’s something that’s so important. I can’t overstress the need to learn French from a French person. It’s absolutely vital for French pronunciation.

I don’t want to sound too serious – especially when we’re trying to make learning French fun, but I think this is key. If you’re trying to learn French from someone who was born speaking English, I don’t care how good he or she is, they aren’t French and the difference is clear. Honestly, I’ve lived and worked in France for over two years now (and been visiting for fifteen before that) and my French isn’t bad at all – but a French person knows instantly that I’m not from around here! They might compliment me on my ability with the French language, but they know I’m a foreigner. When you start to learn French you really don’t want that disadvantage from day one – you want to be listening to a French person giving the lesson so you can try and duplicate the pronunciation and intonation accurately. I know it’s not always easy – but you want to hear that French accent – not a mid west American one!

Fortunately with Rocket French, that’s what you get – so straight out of the box you’re on the right track.

I’m quite lucky in that one of my friends over here is a French teacher – as in she’s French. She actually teaches English and German to her French students during school time, and she makes a bit extra doing private classes for English speakers evenings and weekends. I introduced her to Rocket French a while back and now she recommends it to all her classes. She agrees with me that its light-hearted approach encourages fast learning but she also says that because it’s been conceived by French speakers it has absolutely correct grammar construction, something she says is vital. She’s also very keen on the fact that a whole section has been dedicated to verbs – an area that’s critical for good French but which is sometimes not covered well enough. The fact that it’s interactive and challenging to use rather than the traditional learning-by-repetition method is a bonus. Overall, she says she sees new students grasping the language not only faster but also that they speak better, more accurate French.

Rocket French calls itself an eight week course but to be honest there’s no-one breathing down your neck so you make your own timetable. However you approach it, imagine going from no French to competent, confident command of the language in just two months. How satisfying will that be?

So lets learn French, you say – my advice would be to strap yourself into the Rocket!

Author: Dennis Cordy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Thank goodness for software to learn French! Not so long ago we had a choice of either dusty books or boring “listen-and-repeat” tapes. Now we have a revolution in learning that makes getting to grips with the French language a hundred times faster and much more fun!

But with so many choices, how do we know which software to learn French is best?

1. Can you try it first?

With a lot of software you can get a free sample to try. At least a couple of the French language programs offer the same. If you can get some free French lessons it will help you decide whether the package is for you. Even if you don’t particularly like it, you got a few French lessons for nothing!

2. Is it interactive?

Now that may seem like a silly question. Surely all French language software is interactive. Sadly not. Some are just re-formatted versions of the old “listen-and-repeat” tapes that have been around for years. Beware cheap French language software, it’s probably of little value.

3. How does it handle French audio?

Again you might expect any French software to take advantage of the abilities of your PC and provide you with audio files. Surprisingly some don’t. When you’re looking for software to learn French it is a definite advantage if the audio is in MP3 format so you can download it to a player or CD. That way you get the extra benefit of lessons on the move, away from your computer.

4. How does it handle actually speaking French?

Assuming your software has proper audio components, are they voiced by an English person speaking French or a native French speaker? I’d say it was of far greater benefit to listen to and learn from a French person if that’s the language I was learning.

5. How are French grammar, verbs and vocabulary handled?

One of the major benefits of learning French from software on your computer has to be the degree of interactivity. Good French software will involve you and challenge you. Does the program you’re looking at offer video clips or illustrated lessons? Does it use game play to make learning French fun?

6. How far can it take you?

When looking for software to learn French consider how far you can go with the package. Is it just a beginner’s course? Will you have to pay more for intermediate lessons? Or is it a package that will take you right from no knowledge through intermediate success to advanced French learning?

7. What guarantees do you have?

OK, your French software program might claim to teach you perfect French in a week (unrealistic) or capable French within a couple of months (achievable) but do they actually offer any guarantees? There are some that offer your money back if not satisfied. A guarantee like that would certainly make me more confident in their ability to deliver. I learn or it costs me nothing – can’t beat that.

Language learning has come a long way since I was a kid and software to learn French can be stimulating and engaging which is bound to help you learn faster and more thoroughly. Like all software there are a vast range of products and prices and it’s difficult to choose. I hope the above will be of assistance.

Author: Dennis Cordy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news