Fri 27 May 2005
The family is going to Quebec City in a week. My wife’s mother is from there, so we’re going to show off the new addition to the extended family. Everyone speaks English, so there’s no communication barrier per se, but I have a thing for languages and I like to fit in as best I can — so I’m cramming some French. I bought a “French in Ten Minutes a Day” book before our last trip there, but didn’t keep up the studying after I got back. I also have a Pimsleur conversational French audiobook, but have I been doing my daily lessons?
Have we discussed how little free time I have?
So now I’m trying to get semi-serious about it at the last minute. Any tips? Besides just buckling down and doing the audiobook? Merci.
May 27th, 2005 at 1:34 pm
Umm I dont speak a lick of french…oh well…haha…i dont plan on going there I would say the best way to get ahead with the french though it to talk to somone who speaks it
May 28th, 2005 at 4:19 am
Hey, thanks for visiting my blog from Michele’s. You have a great blog here!
Emm, I am French so if you need any help with your french lessons, give a tinkle, I’d be glad to help…
Come back anytime… I’ll add you to my blogroll on Monday! ;-D
June 16th, 2005 at 5:45 pm
[...] French-Canadian dinner conversation — in French that was way over my head despite my last-minute cramming. Well, my French can’t help but improve this week. S [...]
August 8th, 2005 at 6:17 am
I use the pimsleur courses on my iPod, which helps a lot, otherwise I think the very best way is to find someone to talk to.
You’ll learn a lot more with someone patient than any course (je habite en Belgique maintain, alor c’est tres facile pour moi trouver quelqu’un).
August 8th, 2005 at 9:19 am
The only problem with the Pimsleur courses is that the full versions are prohibitively expensive. It’s hard to justify shelling out a couple hundred bucks when you’re only going to be in country for a week.
I agree that practicing with a native speaker is the absolute best option. I studied Russian for several years in college, but had to let it drop. Recently I’ve befriended a couple of native Russian speakers, and it’s amazing how fast it comes back. I’ve thought about asking them for some semi-structured tutoring.
August 8th, 2005 at 10:22 am
I am happy to pass the mp3’s to you if you want.
August 8th, 2005 at 1:54 pm
Tempting, but I’d better pass. A FOAF recently received a DMCA “we know you you are, so cut it out” letter for downloading torrents of TV shows. So I’m trying to limit my consumption of content that I don’t own. Thanks, though.