Learning to speak French - HibeesBounce.com

**Northern Ireland Hibby** · 22-01-08, 18:46

Any advice?

I've family in Paris/ St Malo and it drives me mad not being about to chat to some of the older folk who don't speak English.

My basic French (from school and visits to France) is so-so, enough to get by in shops/ restaurants etc, but I've had the ambition for ages to improve this.

Saying that, I tried a night class with no success and I ain't no good at book learnin'.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Colr · 22-01-08, 18:54

+ To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

You could start here.

KerPlunk · 22-01-08, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Any advice?

I've family in Paris/ St Malo and it drives me mad not being about to chat to some of the older folk who don't speak English.

My basic French (from school and visits to France) is so-so, enough to get by in shops/ restaurants etc, but I've had the ambition for ages to improve this.

Saying that, I tried a night class with no success and I ain't no good at book learnin'.

Any suggestions appreciated.

If night classes and books don't do it for you, I'd suggest the only route that will help you is to get a private tutor. You have to want to learn and if you get 1-on-1 tuition, it might ensure you do the work.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

**Northern Ireland Hibby** · 22-01-08, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerPlunk
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

If night classes and books don't do it for you, I'd suggest the only route that will help you is to get a private tutor. You have to want to learn and if you get 1-on-1 tuition, it might ensure you do the work.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Cheers KP, but sounds a bit too pricey for me thanks to the 'nappy tax'!

Anyway, if I had that kind of cash I'd use it to come across to ER more often.

Riordan · 22-01-08, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Any advice?

I've family in Paris/ St Malo and it drives me mad not being about to chat to some of the older folk who don't speak English.

My basic French (from school and visits to France) is so-so, enough to get by in shops/ restaurants etc, but I've had the ambition for ages to improve this.

Saying that, I tried a night class with no success and I ain't no good at book learnin'.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I may only be 15 but i have been learning french for 6 years
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
and i find the best way to learn french is to find a french person to teach you. On websites like Gumtree there are french people who will teach you french in return for you helping them with thier english. There is nothing like a native speaker of the language to help you with actually speaking it.

Bonne chance avec votre de langue française mon ami!

**Baron von Hibee** · 22-01-08, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colr
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

+ To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

You could start here.

Brilliant
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Remember seeing that years ago, Kenneth Williams at his best.

**Northern Ireland Hibby** · 22-01-08, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colr
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

+ To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

You could start here.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

**Northern Ireland Hibby** · 22-01-08, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajazemmama2008
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I may only be 15 but i have been learning french for 6 years
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
and i find the best way to learn french is to find a french person to teach you. On websites like Gumtree there are french people who will teach you french in return for you helping them with thier english. There is nothing like a native speaker of the language to help you with actually speaking it.

Bonne chance avec votre de langue française mon ami!

Didn't know that - many thanks
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Riordan · 22-01-08, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Didn't know that - many thanks
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

No problem i have a french teacher from france at school, who also speaks fluent english and it helps alot as she obviously knows the language and it helps you to pick up the accent, but spanish is easier
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(tho i have only done 6mnths of that lol)

**Baron von Hibee** · 22-01-08, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Any advice?

I've family in Paris/ St Malo and it drives me mad not being about to chat to some of the older folk who don't speak English.

My basic French (from school and visits to France) is so-so, enough to get by in shops/ restaurants etc, but I've had the ambition for ages to improve this.

Saying that, I tried a night class with no success and I ain't no good at book learnin'.

Any suggestions appreciated.

I'm pretty hopeless at learning languages - something I'm always keen to do, and do make an effort to learn some basic language for holidays, but I've never really managed to learn any other language particularly well. I know scraps of German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Welsh, but could only really claim to be able to manage a conversation at any level in French.

I always find the problem is these teach yourself courses are dull and I've no inclination to persist with them, and they teach you a totally artificial subset of phrases that its of little use even if you do persist. Even the ones claiming to actually teach you the language, not just key phrases, are guilty of this.

I've not tried language lessons since school, but if you've enough inclination to do so this always sounds a good route.

Whilst I'm hardly a good example of what works, the only language I've progressed to a reasonable level with is French. I've found I've managed to build on what I learnt at school to some extent, but not through those daft teach yourself things but through more 'real' exposure to the language. For me you can't beat the tough but effective learning curve of actually speaking to native speakers, and if you've family in France that should be a more feasible option than trying to learn from speaking to complete strangers.

If you've a basic knowledge also try French books, newspapers, films etc. I studied French politics at uni (very useful that proved to be
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
) so used to try and read Le Monde occasionally. Its a boring and tough read without much French knowledge, but it certainly helped me improve my knowledge by struggling through piecing together stories. Films are ideal too - especially as subtitles make it easier to follow and tie up the English text with the French dialogue. Also a more interesting way to learn than books - not only will you pick up some French, you'll probably find you're watching far better films than much of the drivel Hollywood churns out!

**Northern Ireland Hibby** · 22-01-08, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajazemmama2008
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

No problem i have a french teacher from france at school, who also speaks fluent english and it helps alot as she obviously knows the language and it helps you to pick up the accent, but spanish is easier
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
(tho i have only done 6mnths of that lol)

Strangely, my French accent is pretty good (probably from spending time with family in France) and my vocabulary isn't too bad. If I could nail the grammar again and update things I reckon I'd be laughing.

KerPlunk · 22-01-08, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Strangely, my French accent is pretty good (probably from spending time with family in France) and my vocabulary isn't too bad. If I could nail the grammar again and update things I reckon I'd be laughing.

Conor, if you've got the vocab. and the accent then stop being a lazy basturt and get stuck into your verb tables and grammar.

It's no' difficult........
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Edit : - I listen to French radio quite a bit, especially FIP FM (Parisian jazzer station). Helps keep the hand in.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

**Northern Ireland Hibby** · 22-01-08, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron von Hibee
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I'm pretty hopeless at learning languages - something I'm always keen to do, and do make an effort to learn some basic language for holidays, but I've never really managed to learn any other language particularly well. I know scraps of German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Welsh, but could only really claim to be able to manage a conversation at any level in French.

I always find the problem is these teach yourself courses are dull and I've no inclination to persist with them, and they teach you a totally artificial subset of phrases that its of little use even if you do persist. Even the ones claiming to actually teach you the language, not just key phrases, are guilty of this.

I've not tried language lessons since school, but if you've enough inclination to do so this always sounds a good route.

Whilst I'm hardly a good example of what works, the only language I've progressed to a reasonable level with is French. I've found I've managed to build on what I learnt at school to some extent, but not through those daft teach yourself things but through more 'real' exposure to the language. For me you can't beat the tough but effective learning curve of actually speaking to native speakers, and if you've family in France that should be a more feasible option than trying to learn from speaking to complete strangers.

If you've a basic knowledge also try French books, newspapers, films etc. I studied French politics at uni (very useful that proved to be
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
) so used to try and read Le Monde occasionally. Its a boring and tough read without much French knowledge, but it certainly helped me improve my knowledge by struggling through piecing together stories. Films are ideal too - especially as subtitles make it easier to follow and tie up the English text with the French dialogue. Also a more interesting way to learn than books - not only will you pick up some French, you'll probably find you're watching far better films than much of the drivel Hollywood churns out!

Thanks for that BVH - I think getting into the habit of listening to French spoken radio or TV shows (although I'd have to start with children's programmes!) and watching some movies would help keep the language fresh in my head instead of trying to recall it all again when I go across there.

Riordan · 22-01-08, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northern Ireland Hibby
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Strangely, my French accent is pretty good (probably from spending time with family in France) and my vocabulary isn't too bad. If I could nail the grammar again and update things I reckon I'd be laughing.

Utterly hate french grammar! the verbs are very anoying, i spend about 60% of my time in french at school copying down verb tables and it gets anoying after awhile but eventually you will pick up the pattern, if you can hold you'r interest in learning french.

An Example of a Boring French Verb Table

Verb = Aller + Infinative

je vais =I go
tu vas =You Go
il va =He Goes
nous allons =We Go
vous allez =They Go
ils vont =They (masculine plural) Goes
elles vont =They (feminine plural) Goes

The anoying is the ending verb changing via the gender, but if you learn that you are basically sorted if you are cool with the vocabulary
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

KerPlunk · 22-01-08, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajazemmama2008
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Utterly hate french grammar! the verbs are very anoying, i spend about 60% of my time in french at school copying down verb tables and it gets anoying after awhile but eventually you will pick up the pattern, if you can hold you'r interest in learning french.

An Example of a Boring French Verb Table

Verb = Aller + Infinative

je vais =I go
tu vas =You Go
il va =He Goes
nous allons =We Go
vous allez =They Go
ils vont =They (feminine plural) Goes
elles vont =They (feminine plural) Goes

The anoying is the ending verb changing via the gender, but if you learn that you are basically sorted if you are cool with the vocabulary
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

C'mon Raja.....aller and avoir are the 2 most important verbs and they both just happen to be irregular - live with it !!!

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

**Forzahibs** · 22-01-08, 20:02

I can talk Bollocks
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Riordan · 22-01-08, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerPlunk
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

C'mon Raja.....aller and avoir are the 2 most important verbs and they both just happen to be irregular - live with it !!!

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

lol i was just trying to use it as an example, didn't know they were irregular, sorry
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
how about pouvoir or regarder then?

**StevieC** · 22-01-08, 20:06

In my quest to "master" the Russian language I have tried ....

night classes - a good place to start to grasp some of the basics

phrase books - actually quite good .. you can even carry one around and try using it in everyday situations pretending you are actual a tourist abroad

books - I'm with you on the books
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
can be very hard going

in-car cd's - I found these to be very good. If you are likely to be s

22-01-08, 18:46	#1
Northern Ireland Hibby nihibs.com radge Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In County Antrim, so I am Age: 31 Posts: 9,344 Thanks: 138 Thanked 68 Times in 42 Posts Rep Power: 18	Learning to speak French Any advice? I've family in Paris/ St Malo and it drives me mad not being about to chat to some of the older folk who don't speak English. My basic French (from school and visits to France) is so-so, enough to get by in shops/ restaurants etc, but I've had the ambition for ages to improve this. Saying that, I tried a night class with no success and I ain't no good at book learnin'. Any suggestions appreciated. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Never pick another man's pineapple

22-01-08, 20:02	#16
Forzahibs Non Plastic Radge Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Glenrothes Age: 47 Posts: 19,042 Thanks: 2 Thanked 103 Times in 74 Posts Rep Power: 45	Re: Learning to speak French I can talk Bollocks To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.