Learning French

[Aqualim]

Salut!
Was just wondering if any of the VCE French students, or anyone for that matter, has any beginner French books or even better, their Year 7 French textbooks in a .pdf version that they would be willing to share. If so, this would be fantastic

[vexx]

^ if you are doing this just because you want to get a headstart on your diploma, then there are far better resources to use than the kids books - designed for kids yes, so they are far less efficient then other books.

[Aqualim]

^ if you are doing this just because you want to get a headstart on your diploma, then there are far better resources to use than the kids books - designed for kids yes, so they are far less efficient then other books.

I'm doing it to get a head start, but also because I'm interested in starting now and not in two years time. Since I'm beginning, wouldn't it be wise to choose 'kid's books' since they contain easier language compared to a VCE French textbook.

Would you recommend any French books I should be looking at?

[ninwa]

This is the textbook they prescribe for beginner French at Monash. It's quite good. Problem with high school textbooks is that they go veeeerrrrrrryyyyyyyyy slowwwwwwwwwwllllyyyyyyyy. After you finish that book (and the workbook that comes with it) you will be at borderline year 10/11 level. I think I may still have it at home

[Aqualim]

This is the textbook they prescribe for beginner French at Monash. It's quite good. Problem with high school textbooks is that they go veeeerrrrrrryyyyyyyyy slowwwwwwwwwwllllyyyyyyyy. After you finish that book (and the workbook that comes with it) you will be at borderline year 10/11 level. I think I may still have it at home

Thank you for that How long is it expected to take to finish the book? I just don't wanna be going through it too quickly

[ninwa]

That's 2 semester's worth of work in that book - so 26 weeks - half a year.

[IntoTheNewWorld]

Problem with high school textbooks is that they go veeeerrrrrrryyyyyyyyy slowwwwwwwwwwllllyyyyyyyy.

Yeah best to stay farrr away from them. Waste of time.

[littlebecc]

Ninwa- i know you've said before 'don't study languages at monash', so just wondering, i want to learn french (i did it from 7-9, so i have little experience) and was wondering if you recommend anywhere i go to study it?
Taa.

[appianway]

If you want raw grammar, Schaum's is very solid. It's the sort of reference you can use as a beginner and as a more advanced student.

One of the hardest things with French is getting the pronunciation to 'click' - it's spoken in a completely different part of the mouth to English, and when I was starting off, I used to always feel like I was forcing/faking my pronunciation. The only way you can really combat this is to speak a LOT of French to natives, but to get your ear around the French sounds, try watching a lot of French movies with English subtitles. I'd recommend Amelie and Les Choristes.

[funkyducky]

ZOMG "Les Choristes" was a great film. Watched it in French w/French subtitles. Watching French films is definitely a great way to improve listening comprehension, I'm surprised at how much I can understand in French movies now, in comparison to this time last year.

[vexx]

If you are aiming to speak it fluently, Assimil courses will get you far. The first one is Assimil with Ease, and then do the second one.

To get into the language if you have never really done a language before than Michel Thomas Foundation & Advanced is a good start before Assimil.