Posts Tagged ‘verb tenses’

Most adults have a hard time learning French.  You spend months and years learning from the usual books and methods and when you finally travel to Paris or another place in France, surprise!  Suddenly, you try to speak to the common person in the street or in a shop and are shocked when you are not understood. The sentences you used are correct, your pronunciation seems right… what’s happening?

The difference between spoken and written French

The problem with learning from books is that “street French” is very different from what you’ll find in mbooks.  Not only does the pronunciation change but the liaisons are different, the gliding’s are much more present and some of the pronouns or articles seem to disappear all together!   Your language skills could be book perfect but you will have a hard time on the street.  Of course, if your goal in learning French is just to read and analyze Poetry or become an expert at all the verb tenses (conjugation), then learning from books will be sufficient.  Most adults, however, learn French to be able to vacation in Francophone countries and be able to interact with people.  In this case, you need to learn today’s language and, especially, hear “real” spoken French.

The benefits of learning today’s French through audio

A perfect example of the difference between spoken French today and in books is the phrase: “Il n’y a pas de quoi”.  The average Parisian will pronounce it: “ya pad koa”. The seven syllables you learned on paper become four when spoken! No wonder you start doubting your language skills.  This is why lessons based on hearing, not jut reading, are key to bring your pronunciation and listening skills up to par with native “street” French.  Furthermore, listening to audio lessons can be done anywhere, in your car, on the treadmill, while gardening.

Where do I find French audio lessons online?

There are several sites on the internet that will offer free audio lessons.  Large sites such as French.About.com or BBC.co.uk will have a good selection of generic lessons but one site in particular, FrenchToday, specializes in modern French audio lessons for all levels.  All the audio lessons are professionally recorded with modern, street style French in mind. There are many free lessons with audio in all kinds of topics such as  grammar, vocabulary as well as specific French culture lessons that not only will teach you how to speak French but also introduce you to France and Parisian culture.

In conclusion, learning French can be very rewarding and a great skill in your arsenal but you have to make sure that what you learn can be used on your next trip to Paris, otherwise you will get discouraged very quickly with your language endeavors.

More than 36 hours of free audio-based French lessons can be found on FrenchToday.com

About the Author:

Camille Chevalier-Karfis has been teaching French to adults & children for the last 15 years. She has written two audio books, created several audio podcast series and recorded more than 56 hours of online audio French lessons that can be found at http://www.frenchtoday.com

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A desire to Learn French Language is a good thing because it is a great asset for someone entering the job market. Being bilingual creates a huge number of new job opportunities and to learn French now will give you a huge advantage in the future. Learning foreign languages is easiest when you are young and impressionable although, with the right training, it can be done at any age. The Fluenz French course is a great way to learn French because it is entertaining and gets results at the same time.

The Format: Geared Towards Success

The Fluenz Learn French Language program has a great format that makes the lessons engaging and helps accelerate the learning process. The format of the program focuses heavily on the oral portions. Students work on speaking and listening comprehension first. The idea is that, for many people, this is the most important thing that they will be using. It will allow them to communicate with French speakers and to understand what they are being told. This is far more interesting than focusing on grammar and verb tenses like some other programs that purport to teach you how to Learn French Language claim to do.

A good French language course has to give students a sense of accomplishment along the way or else they will be discouraged and give up. This is especially important for those who are trying to Learn French through software since they do not have a demanding teacher and a classroom to support and encourage them. The software based course must be more engaging to really capture the student’s attention and make them succeed.

The Fluenz French Language course does this because of its innovative multimedia format. The French language course, like the other language courses offered in the Fluenz series, uses video, and other multimedia formats to keep the student interested. The lessons do not seem hard because they are fun and interesting.

Start with English: Finish in French

One aspect that really distinguishes the Fluenz Learn French Language course from other French language course software is that most of the teaching starts in English. Instead of relying on native speakers, Fluenz employs English speakers who have lived in France and speak the language like a native. The difference is that they learned French as a foreign language and understand the learning process and the difficulties in ways that a native speaker could not.

Lessons begin with an explanation of goals and concepts in English so students feel comfortable and know what to expect. The lessons then proceed into French in a logical way that makes sense and is easy to follow. The Fluenz courses are really well thought out and have proven to teach students how to speak French. This package is one of the best Learn French Language courses I have reviewed.

The separate 3 hour modules make the learning very flexible and accessible to just about everyone who is interested in taking a French language course. I would recommend it for all ages and all levels. If you are interested in learning French, check it out for yourself.

Author: Miriam Price
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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