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But what is my best bet for achieving solid conversational french for summer 21? More than plodding GCSE stuff. But recognising the massive practical gaps that such courses create...
I'm aware of duolingo Rosetta stone etc as well as various podcasts. Probably something visual and online suits best. Anyone had real success with one of these?
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
(Sir Terry Pratchett)
If it suits then you can become a patreon if you wish, or walk away or continue to use the free facilities. Worth a look at least.
I have used Duo but it has its limitations. However, also not to be dismissed and I have used it alongside what used to be about.com for the more technical stuff, and now Lawless.
Duo can be a fun but often frustrating site. Not very forgiving on typos which drives you mad because sometimes you know the answer inside out but are too tired or lazy to be a pedant. It will punish you unnecessarily.
I would also suggest a good book or 2 and maybe a CD for when you get a chance.
CDs: Micheal Thomas is annoying and a bit difficult by nature, but his no nonsense approach did teach me several sentences in a very short space of time.
Think of maybe you, teaching a language; little patience, a bit irritating, but overall well-meaning and good at your job.
I mean in a complimentary way.
Edit: Personal suggestions include using a sticky labels pad to place on objects around the home.
I've done this in the past and it's a really useful way to drum in some basic everyday nouns.
I also pinned lists of verb conjugations in areas I used regularly.
Maybe bathroom related stuff in the bathroom, kitchen related things in the kitchen...
Unfortunately that meant they responded in French, which shouldn’t have surprised me, but I quickly realised I forgot the bit about learning to listen in French.
Unfortunately that meant they responded in French, which shouldn’t have surprised me, but I quickly realised I forgot the bit about learning to listen in French.
I'll look. I have no difficulty at all remembering nouns. My issue is putting phrases together on the fly. My uncle is a renowned expert in listening in the context of learning languages. But I have not spoken with him for 20 years... should probably make contact!!
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
(Sir Terry Pratchett)
I'll look. I have no difficulty at all remembering nouns. My issue is putting phrases together on the fly. My uncle is a renowned expert in listening in the context of learning languages. But I have not spoken with him for 20 years... should probably make contact!!
Luckily for us, French syntax and grammar bears feck all resemblance to ours a lot of the time.
And their rules have extra rules and often the rules they have don't follow any pattern that we, or even they, recognize.
My main recollection of GCSE French was est que tu voudrais mon truncheon d'amour entre vote jambes. I was the clever one able to cobble the phrase together. A friend got suspended for putting the proposition to the young french assistant.
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
(Sir Terry Pratchett)
My main recollection of GCSE French was est que tu voudrais mon truncheon d'amour entre vote jambes. I was the clever one able to cobble the phrase together. A friend got suspended for putting the proposition to the young french assistant.
Yes, I think that would probably about do that.
Edit: although they tend to like the longer winded "Est-ce que c'est ça".
Unfortunately that meant they responded in French, which shouldn’t have surprised me, but I quickly realised I forgot the bit about learning to listen in French.
This, especially when it's group chat, rather than face to face. I did a year at school to learn Norwegian, which helped, but I found that joining in conversations, while making embarrassing mistakes, was the only way to learn.
Its a fairly basic starting point which Ive used for 'holiday Spanish' and am about 80 days into Italian
Don’t know how much vocab you know already but listening to French radio news I found useful years ago, you can pick up the gist as you know what’s going on generally from the radio/tv here
Don’t know how much vocab you know already but listening to French radio news I found useful years ago, you can pick up the gist as you know what’s going on generally from the radio/tv here
I have an A in GCSE french and a good memory. It was some time ago, however...
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
(Sir Terry Pratchett)