i want to learn how to speak french..

[toddzilla]

what's the best way, other than moving there?

[HEyHEY]

1. well, you could try berlitz...if you got the money

What is your life like? How old are you? do you live in Canada?>

[da_chimperor]

6. I've used Berlitz before, they're good but expensive

Immersion is really the best way to learn a language.

[HEyHEY]

9. yeah that's how I learned

I was gonna tell him if he lived in Canada you can get free immersion

[jeff30997]

2. You can look here :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=274

They can help.

[johnnie]

3. Maybe one of those cd-roms?

Or the cassette things.

[toddzilla]

4. i live in the states..

I have an odd feeling it's just not for me. i only have one family attachment that i care about. thinking of moving in 5 years or so. from what i've read you should be fluent reading/writing and history, and have enough money to not be a burden on the state.


i'm 35, single and have enough free time to learn. I'm not about spending a ton of money, and i'm not in a huge hurry.

[da_chimperor]

5. Move to Belgium instead

The problem is the French will make fun of you if you speak French like a Belgian. They'll still appreciate the effort though. :)

[Mend]

7. check out the language course at the library eom

[Schema Thing]

8. Don't even try. It's quite impossible. :)

[Bouncy Ball]

11. MERDE!

[da_chimperor]

12. Ou est le fromage?

:shrug:

[toddzilla]

13. really. fucking .helpful.

[da_chimperor]

20. The cheese remark wasn't meant to be helpful.

This is meant to be helpful. One of the others responding to your post mentioned to look for books from Pimsleur at your local library, so I've found the first French edition of it on amazon just in case yours doesn't carry it. The reviews are good (it IS pricey), but take a closer look for yourself. Good luck.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743518349/qid=1105920642/br=1-4/ref=br_lf_b_4//002-0978926-4840024?v=glance&s=books&n=11825

Edit: The above link is to the european edition. Here's the regular edition:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671315536/qid=1105920944/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/002-0978926-4840024?v=glance&s=books

[toddzilla]

10. could someone recommend a certain brand of book or cdrom?

looking for specifics, berlitz is too expensive for my requirements

[madaboutharry]

14. I just started to sit and learn French

I took it in high school and college, but that was many moons ago. I just purchased a small Berlitz course on audio CDs for about $20 along with a copy of "The Everything Learning French Book" for another $14.95. I feel like I am off to a good start. I know that having taken French in school is a help, a lot is coming back, but I am really comfortable with these materials. Berlitz has a lot of self teaching choices that you can check out at the bookstore.

[Menshevik]

15. look into pimsleur

I've used their Russian CDs before. They are rather pricey, but my library carried them, so your library might, too.

[DrWeird]

17. Buy the most expensive "how to speak french" book you can find.

Those always work.

[trof]

18. The bleeding library.

As mentioned before.
If you don't belong, JOIN!
Joining is FREE!
The stuff is FREE!
They probably have the Berlitz tapes/CDs for FREE!
If not, they'll have other foriegn language learning audio materials.
Did I mention that it's FREE!

Also: JOIN THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY, or whatever they call it in your area.

[Dastard Stepchild]

16. What about a community college course?

I had a great professor teaching French 101, 102, 201 and 202. And, at $250 per course, it wasn't THAT expensive of a deal. I rather enjoyed it. I may do it again as a refresher.

Cheers...

[trof]

19. One other thing:

You'll have to learn to capitalize the word "French".
It REALLY pisses them off when you don't.
Like american.
just a word to the wise....