Maybe you have thought about learning another language as I am.
If you have begun the search to find your French lessons, no doubt you have found free lessons, cheap lessons, somewhat pricey lessons, and very expensive lessons.
If you have begun the search to find your French lessons, no doubt you have found free lessons, cheap lessons, somewhat pricey lessons, and very expensive lessons.
It is almost overwhelming as to the number of options available. My personal story of immersion in French biases me towards teachers whose first language is French. I explore this further here.
In the process of learning French or other foreign languages, you may not always get what you pay for. But that's not always because a course in French or an instructional product lacks something. You have to decide how much effort you are willing to put into the process. And you have to decide what you are willing to pay for an experience that's going to take considerable commitment. It doesn't have to be expensive. With lots of motivation and resources available you may choose a different way to acquire a language.
Important factor #2: the quantity of time can you devote to the lessons.
Important factor #3: the price based upon the choices available to you.
You already know what your learning style is:
- How do you learn? Through sight, hearing, touch? Maybe something else?
- Is memorization a technique that has always worked for you or is interaction with an instructor more useful?
- Has writing been useful in the absorption of material?
- Are you able to imitate the pronunciation of French on your own or do you need coaching? Some people can only read French because they never learned to pronounce it authentically or practicing conversation.
Once you have made this self-assessment, how should you evaluate which class, website, books, audios, or video is best for you?
DON'T assume that what works for a friend will work for you. I heard that Rosetta Stone was the better way to learn a foreign language. I listened to my gut and continued class room lessons at the L'Alliance Française. I don't regret this.An example: After completing my Intensive French classes in Minneapolis and Paris, I visited the Pompidou Centre Library in Paris. I took advantage of their enormous language study resources. The library offered all kinds of language instruction on the Internet and through other electronic media. I thought I would check out Rosetta Stone there just to see what it was like. It would be unfair for me to judge what would work for others, but after I used it, I knew that I made a great choice by taking classes with an instructor.
How did I sense this? 'Sink or swim' describes my first exposure to French. During my MBA program I took business classes in Lyon, France. All the courses were taught in English but all other aspects of life in the city were in French.
It was summer. I was really hungry. The dorm room in which I was living, offered no plans for how I should find food. So I was out on the street trying to find food on my own. Sure there are restaurants, but it is quite difficult to order food when the menu and language is inscrutable. Packaged foods don't always have pictures on them. Fortunately, I was able to go to the little shops and have them tell me what the names of items were in French. Then I would rush to the restaurant (or bought something to eat at one of the shops) and chow down.
So everything I learned was by ear, and I found ways to make that translate into food. Talk about motivation! I had no idea that I would ever need to learn this way. Initially, I would say a word such as café as the waiter stared at me blankly. I would then modify the sound of the word and try again, usually several times, until the patient server would suddenly understand and run off to get me what I wanted.
Unfortunately, learning French this way doesn't teach you how to read it. I was a complete illiterate in France. That was very frustrating. Everything I did was by observation and imitation. But I survived that way. And what's more, in the end I loved the experience.
Not everyone can find a total immersion experience. But you can really help yourself by trying to create one.
- Take your study seriously but still have fun.
- Find a variety of resources.
- Do something in that language every possible day.
- Set a goal: ideally 3-5+ days a week. Frequency is important so as to progress.
Some of the resources I have used:
Rent or borrow French films for each night. Use the subtitles in either English or French as you progress. It is useful to hear many different people speaking French. Netflix is a great resource for foreign films.
Use websites. Try french.about.com by Laura Lawless or french.yabla.com. There are many others out there. (These links are listed below.)
Listen to DVD dialogues while driving the car or doing other things.
Write in French even if you don't like to write. Simple statements will do. Have it corrected by a native French speaker. The idea is that your grammar lessons will really sink in when you have to apply them.
Write out irregular verb conjugations until you know them 'cold'. This can be a long, but relaxing process, that really pays off when you want to speak French. I prefer listening to some songs recorded in French as background entertainment while doing this.
Memorize French song lyrics, poems or anything else. This broadens your vocabulary and instills the patterns of verbal French.
Find a French conversation group or two. In the Minneapolis area, there are an amazing number of active groups. Who knew?
Read French. If you have a Kindle or similar device, download Le Monde or another national newspaper. It's really inexpensive. Check out your library for French language materials.
Sign up for classes. Preferably, during the class, you will interact with other students learning French. You will receive the necessary gentle corrections from a teacher or coach. I also find tutors to help me work on my particular grammar and pronunciation issues.
So how do I define effectiveness per hour?
Take the total price and divide by the number of hours to calculate $/hour. Now compare between possible resources. Eliminate any choices that just don't appeal to you for one reason or another; the distance to a classroom for instance.
Consider the choices left and decide how many hours a week it will take you to work through the first level of material. Add 30 % 'fudge factor' to the time. Now compare the $/hr versus the hours invested per week.
Which of the resources is really the best value?
The one with the fastest learning curve regardless of cost.
How many more years do you think you have to learn French anyway?
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