Posts Tagged ‘proper pronunciation’

Figuring out how to learn how to speak French can be a daunting task; there are so many resources out there that you likely couldn’t complete them all in an entire lifetime! You need clear steps on how to approach your study of French. That’s what I’m going to outline in this article.

Step 1 – The Decision

The first thing to decide is your goal for learning the language; everyone’s are different. Ask yourself:

• Do I want to read and write French?
• Do I mostly just want to speak French?
• Do I hate grammar or not mind it?
• Do I need a visual component to learn best?

Step 2 – Choose Your Resources

Once you know your goal(s), you can choose your resources.

I, for example, want to be able to speak French with people. At the same time, I tend to take literacy – being able to read and write – seriously as well. Therefore, I use resources – such as online newspapers and tutorials – that teach me how to read the language. I’ve thrown in a grammar tutorial or two from time to time as well. I also look for resources that have audio included, since I need to know proper pronunciation to be able to speak effectively with people and understand their replies. A good resource for literacy is Language Guide, and a good resource for spoken fluency is Daily French Pod (search for it on iTunes).

Extra Tip for Step 2 – Choose an All-in-One Resource

Another approach that is useful to take from time to time is to use an all-in-one resource – one that can teach you to read, write, and speak. A few examples of these are Rocket French, Rosetta Stone, and Pimsleur. The benefit of these kinds of programs are that they are often well-researched and provide a variety of study methods and topics. This can help in putting the language together in your head.

Step 3 – Begin Studying!

The most important step is actually to begin studying. You will be able to revise your methods as you go. So begin today (or, better yet, right now) and learn something new!

Author: Francis Riken
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty tariff

Going to France soon? Need a refresher course on French? Trying to impress that French person at work? Whatever the reason, there are various methods used to learn French quick. This article will discuss the various methods used to learn French quickly, and why some of them may not be right for you.

1. Immersion: This is a very common method for attempting to learn French quick. In this method you surround yourself with the language. You attempt to only speak French, try to read books in French, ask those around you who speak French to only speak in French around you, watch French television, you get the idea. This can help you learn a language quickly, but it is by far the most difficult way to attempt to learn a new language, and should not be used by someone new to the language. This is more geared towards intermediate level speakers who can at least communicate in French a bit. The other problem with this method is the level of inconvenience. Trying to get that level of immersion takes a lot of commitment and you would have to have access to the books, tv, people who speak French, etc, which is very difficult to get.
2. Books: This is probably the most common method, and while it can be quick, there is very little guidance, it pretty much comes down to how self-motivated and organized you are. This method will not have any way to help you pronounce the words (audio pronunciation). However, this is by far the cheapest way to learn the language short of finding a relative or friend who is fluent in French teach you.
3. Software: This is another common method, and is more expensive than books but less expensive than classes. This typically includes an audio component to help you learn the proper pronunciation, and interactive games and tests to help you gauge how well you are doing and to help you learn French quick. The downside to this method is that you aren’t really having an interactive component with another French speaking individual, which helps immensely.
4. Classes: Probably the most effective way to learn French quickly, short of immersion. You get an instructor to help you with pronunciation, and you also get other students you can interact with, including having a conversation in French, which helps quite a bit. The downside to this is that it is inconvenient, you have to go at the pace of the class and take time out of your schedule to meet when the class meets. Cost is also a bit high, usually several hundred dollars.

I recommend going to classes to learn quickly and effectively, but if you cannot find the time or money to attend classes then I recommend Rocket French, a very effective language learning program that is cheaper than taking classes and goes at whatever pace you want in order to help you learn French quick.

Author: Alan Urness
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker