Comments on: French level http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/ People are people the world over Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:36:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Catherine http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2236 Catherine Thu, 31 May 2007 09:26:16 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2236 Pumpkin, What about bartering? I know lots of people in the Strasbourg area who would love a chance to practice their English in exchange for French lessons. Just put up an ad at Marc Block University (English language department) and I'm sure you'll find several people right away. Good luck. You just have to be creative... Pumpkin,

What about bartering? I know lots of people in the Strasbourg area who would love a chance to practice their English in exchange for French lessons. Just put up an ad at Marc Block University (English language department) and I’m sure you’ll find several people right away.
Good luck. You just have to be creative…

]]> By: Pumpkin http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2235 Pumpkin Sat, 19 May 2007 06:56:31 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2235 Santi, Link away. I am placing a link to your blog as well. Santi,

Link away. I am placing a link to your blog as well.

]]> By: Cathy Y. http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2234 Cathy Y. Wed, 16 May 2007 23:28:30 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2234 Pumpkin, I know what you mean about understanding being easier than speaking. At my level (which is lower than yours), the same is true for me. I think Roland is onto something there with the singing songs and stories to yourself. I think maybe the key is to "think" in the other language more, even when it isn't necessary for communication. That way, you are thinking more like a native, and not just "translating" -- if you know what I mean. I think the "translating" is what slows us down. I experienced a tiny amount of this on our three-week visit, where I would start thinking French words I knew for something, or even thinking in English with the order changed up to be more like in French. Philippe said this meant my brain was being "re-wired." LOL Pumpkin, I know what you mean about understanding being easier than speaking. At my level (which is lower than yours), the same is true for me. I think Roland is onto something there with the singing songs and stories to yourself. I think maybe the key is to “think” in the other language more, even when it isn’t necessary for communication. That way, you are thinking more like a native, and not just “translating” — if you know what I mean. I think the “translating” is what slows us down. I experienced a tiny amount of this on our three-week visit, where I would start thinking French words I knew for something, or even thinking in English with the order changed up to be more like in French. Philippe said this meant my brain was being “re-wired.” LOL

]]> By: santi http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2233 santi Tue, 15 May 2007 15:41:13 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2233 Hi Pumpkin! It's nice to have found your blog. My husband is French, but we never lived there. I speak very basic French and surely will go through the same phase as you if we ever going to live in France. May I link your blog to my journal? Hi Pumpkin! It’s nice to have found your blog. My husband is French, but we never lived there. I speak very basic French and surely will go through the same phase as you if we ever going to live in France. May I link your blog to my journal?

]]> By: Arnold http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2232 Arnold Tue, 15 May 2007 06:54:18 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2232 The problem with Linguaphone and similar do-it-all-by-yourself type courses is keeping going. The motivation is a problem, of course, but I found that the biggest problem was that once I hit a bit I found very difficult (or just plain couldn't do!), I never moved on. In a class environment, you just have to skip that and move on which is OK because in language classes you always revisit earlier topics later on and second or third time around chances are that you will understand it. The perfect combination for me was Alliance Francaise conversation classes (an hour a week class size four) plus the Open University (www.open.ac.uk) for the grammar and vocab. Starting the AF in September, the OU the following Feb, I was fluent (ie able to chat in French) by that July - only about nine months starting from a very basic level of French. The biggest problem with the small class size is that it is unbelieveably intimidating. I dreaded going every single night from Sept to June! Yet, it was a doddle from when the classes resumed after the summer. The problem with Linguaphone and similar do-it-all-by-yourself type courses is keeping going. The motivation is a problem, of course, but I found that the biggest problem was that once I hit a bit I found very difficult (or just plain couldn’t do!), I never moved on. In a class environment, you just have to skip that and move on which is OK because in language classes you always revisit earlier topics later on and second or third time around chances are that you will understand it.

The perfect combination for me was Alliance Francaise conversation classes (an hour a week class size four) plus the Open University (www.open.ac.uk) for the grammar and vocab. Starting the AF in September, the OU the following Feb, I was fluent (ie able to chat in French) by that July - only about nine months starting from a very basic level of French.

The biggest problem with the small class size is that it is unbelieveably intimidating. I dreaded going every single night from Sept to June! Yet, it was a doddle from when the classes resumed after the summer.

]]> By: Pumpkin http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2231 Pumpkin Mon, 14 May 2007 17:55:16 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2231 Merci beaucoup, Roland. I do know some French childrens songs but I don't know this story. I will check with the teachers. Now, that will give me practice!!! :) Cathy Y. It is easier to understand than to speak....that is what frustrates me. You will understand as much as I do if you were listening to French t.v. and others speaking in French on a regular basis. Merci beaucoup, Roland. I do know some French childrens songs but I don’t know this story. I will check with the teachers. Now, that will give me practice!!! :)

Cathy Y. It is easier to understand than to speak….that is what frustrates me. You will understand as much as I do if you were listening to French t.v. and others speaking in French on a regular basis.

]]> By: Cathy Y. http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2230 Cathy Y. Mon, 14 May 2007 16:20:44 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2230 I did Pimsleur, all three Comprehensive French levels, and even as expensive as that was, it only got me to the point where, upon our most recent trip to France, I could understand maybe 25% or so of the words being spoken around me. I've heard that Linguaphone has some good products that they claim can take you to a much higher level, but they are pricey as well. I was impressed, Pumpkin, at how much you could understand, for example, when you were visiting us and the landlady of our rental cottage was speaking to you and your husband and you could understand what she was saying. You'll do well. It just takes time. And the kids won't be little forever, taking up so much of your time. Having two much older kids, I can attest to the fact that they grow up fast. It just seems like forever when they are little, sometimes, and you have things you need to do. I did Pimsleur, all three Comprehensive French levels, and even as expensive as that was, it only got me to the point where, upon our most recent trip to France, I could understand maybe 25% or so of the words being spoken around me. I’ve heard that Linguaphone has some good products that they claim can take you to a much higher level, but they are pricey as well. I was impressed, Pumpkin, at how much you could understand, for example, when you were visiting us and the landlady of our rental cottage was speaking to you and your husband and you could understand what she was saying. You’ll do well. It just takes time. And the kids won’t be little forever, taking up so much of your time. Having two much older kids, I can attest to the fact that they grow up fast. It just seems like forever when they are little, sometimes, and you have things you need to do.

]]> By: roland http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2229 roland Mon, 14 May 2007 11:36:34 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2229 chere madame citrouille, I think you don't need to go to the University Frist of all you to have in your mind "the french music" then you won't have to translate . You will think in french THe best way to learn english is to sing Beatles songs or Suzanne Vega 's one . Find a french artist you like( Voulzy , Souchon , Bruel...) and juste sing while you do anything else! The musles of your mouth will learn and your brain will automaticaly give you back those "all made french sentences" You can sing kids songs childrens or you could read them childrens books you pick up at school. simple vocabulary with simple constructions (do you now the story of Ratus? ask to the teatcher of you kids!) See french DVD with french subtitles just to have the music And remember one thing you will NEVER speak a perfect french ! (even on TV news PPD make mistakes ) One last thing ...don't focus on TU and VOUS ces petites erreurs te seront tout de suite pardonnées! c'est tellement charmant et inattendu chere madame citrouille,
I think you don’t need to go to the University
Frist of all you to have in your mind “the french music” then you won’t have to translate . You will think in french
THe best way to learn english is to sing Beatles songs or Suzanne Vega ’s one . Find a french artist you like( Voulzy , Souchon , Bruel…) and juste sing while you do anything else! The musles of your mouth will learn and your brain will automaticaly give you back those “all made french sentences”
You can sing kids songs childrens or you could read them childrens books you pick up at school. simple vocabulary with simple constructions (do you now the story of Ratus? ask to the teatcher of you kids!)
See french DVD with french subtitles just to have the music
And remember one thing you will NEVER speak a perfect french ! (even on TV news PPD make mistakes )
One last thing …don’t focus on TU and VOUS
ces petites erreurs te seront tout de suite pardonnées! c’est tellement charmant et inattendu

]]> By: Pumpkin http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2228 Pumpkin Mon, 14 May 2007 11:12:11 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2228 I bought the Bescherelle - La Conjugaison several months ago, but with all the craziness in my life the past year have not did much with it. I think it is a good place to start when the girls are at school otherwise I won't be able to concentrate. I bought the Bescherelle - La Conjugaison several months ago, but with all the craziness in my life the past year have not did much with it. I think it is a good place to start when the girls are at school otherwise I won’t be able to concentrate.

]]> By: Anna http://myfrenchwindow.com/french-level/comment-page-1/#comment-2227 Anna Mon, 14 May 2007 10:46:14 +0000 http://myfrenchwindow.com/?p=595#comment-2227 ooopps! I meant full-time! Not "dull-time". : ) They weren't even dull at all so I don't think that was a Freudian Slip! ooopps! I meant full-time! Not “dull-time”. : ) They weren’t even dull at all so I don’t think that was a Freudian Slip!

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