tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post7690943779502003854..comments2023-10-10T05:32:51.897-07:00Comments on the world according to b: To Parle FrançaisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-16990502232383999532008-07-18T19:08:00.000-07:002008-07-18T19:08:00.000-07:00In France, cut yourself a lot of slack. Like you ...In France, cut yourself a lot of slack. Like you would for someone just off the plane in Des Moines (that's French for "some monks") who only spoke a dozen words of English. Then just go out, or stay, in and see which words "stick" in your mind over the course of each new day.<BR/><BR/>Learning French in the USA is a question of personal priorities and one's intention relative to the language. It can be a simple as learning cooking vocabulary or as complex as learning to read Foucault in the original. It all depends upon what you would like to do with it over the long haul.<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, there has never been a better time to set one's self the goal of speaking French because you have access to French radio and TV via the Internet; French TV via cable subscription to TV5; DVDs of original French films and DVDs of American films with French dubbed soundtracks and subtitles; video lesson programs that correct pronunciation; Internet subscriptions to the French newspapers Le Monde & Le Monde Diplomatique; online universities; and every town has some French person willing to exchange French conversation for English conversation.<BR/><BR/>I feel lonely when I can't speak French. Just soak up those words and keep on practicing your spoken French!<BR/><BR/>PS..."Tin Tin" is Belgian--important distinction--although it is, indeed, written in French.<BR/><BR/>Bonne continuation!La Framéricainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09879118710247405871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-5788812847050507142008-07-17T16:42:00.000-07:002008-07-17T16:42:00.000-07:00Ah wel, I think you need to take your cue from Mar...Ah wel, I think you need to take your cue from Mark Twain:<BR/><BR/><I>The people of those foreign countries are very, very ignorant. They looked curiously at the costumes we had brought from the wilds of America. They observed that we talked loudly at table sometimes. They noticed that we looked out for expenses, and got what we conveniently could out of a franc, and wondered where in the mischief we came from. <B>In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.</B></I> - Innocents Abroad, Chapter61Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08466885792177930052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-33544405473387903692008-07-15T09:09:00.000-07:002008-07-15T09:09:00.000-07:00great tips! PS-I'm here! oh, and I do love the E...great tips! PS-I'm here! oh, and I do love the ELLE magazine idea. I'm going to call you just to say hi soon ~Non Je Ne Regrette Rienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02973542459591839879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-1340493652114113602008-07-14T01:01:00.000-07:002008-07-14T01:01:00.000-07:00I have long thought about writing "The Lazy Girl's...I have long thought about writing "The Lazy Girl's Guide to Learning French." Hélas, I am "trop paresseuse" to write that book. Also, I think it would be a pretty short book. In addition to reading French Elle weekly and keeping France Inter on the radio in the background at home, the only other thing I did on a regular basis was to develop my vocabulary by reading the ads in the Metro. I kept a small dictionary and notebook in my purse, and I would look up unfamiliar words and add them to my vocab list as I waited. As small and silly as they may sound, these practices really helped me develop my reading, oral comprehension, and spoken French. My accent, however, will never be as good as yours, B. Lucky girl!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-65603358391603506372008-07-13T10:27:00.000-07:002008-07-13T10:27:00.000-07:00Whatever works should always be the way to go. Pic...Whatever works should always be the way to go. Picking up a magazine (I try to glance at the online newspapers now and then if I remember) is much easier than if we had picked up some literature! <BR/><BR/>Simply hearing it all the time is going to help immensely. As you said, since we don't 'need' to use it here, it's tough, unless you've found some kind of French club or are lucky to know someone who is bilingual. I have a friend who lives in France, but because of the time difference, we only get a couple of hours a day during the week to practice. <BR/><BR/>By the time you have to leave, you'll be able to, if not haggle, buy au marché no problem. :)Randal Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728992897551848531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-9972226538277430292008-07-13T02:06:00.000-07:002008-07-13T02:06:00.000-07:00For me it was my monthly Vogue in French, I just w...For me it was my monthly Vogue in French, I just worshiped that magazine, the photographs, the stories! Reading without a dictionary is a way for me as my memory is more written than visual, so all the new words I learn I write them on air and I never forget them again! Actually if you're talking about cartoons, there's the thing, cartoons are a part of French culture for adults and children alike (I must admit I found this a bit weird grown up men reading cartoons does look funny)but they do it a lot there and if you pay a visit to a French bookshop you'll find loads of those books. I only like one story but apparently Tin Tin is really good, give it a try, as it so very French. (After writing this I'm off to study English grammar, as funny things are happening to me these days...)CGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17555431785204713112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27133722.post-64618360979560430372008-07-12T13:53:00.000-07:002008-07-12T13:53:00.000-07:00You might enjoy learning a language specifically p...You might enjoy learning a language specifically planned for ease of learning. I would like to argue the case for learning Esperanto. It is a planned language which belongs to no one country or group of states. <BR/><BR/>Take a look at www.esperanto.net<BR/><BR/>Esperanto works! I've used it in speech and writing in a dozen countries over recent years.<BR/>Indeed, the language has some remarkable practical benefits. Personally, I've made friends around the world through Esperanto that I would never have been able to communicate with otherwise. And then there's the Pasporta Servo, which provides free lodging and local information to Esperanto-speaking travellers in over 90 countries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com