We are in the same boat, complete on our purchase mid August and trying to learn french so we can at least have a go.
Weâre using duolingo and it seems pretty good so far, teaching the sort of things that will come up. It repetitive which is hugely helpful and builds on what you have already learned.
I actually have pretty good vocab. However the missus is fluent and âstepsâ in when I start to turn green and tongue-tied.
Actually I struggle with the âdecodeâ part. Its a rate of speed problem. I catch words I know, and look at the context and can usually figure what is being said.
Duolingo is OK but I thought the choice of phrase and vocab sometimes very odd.
For bulk vocabulary learning memrise is good.
For grammar Kwiziq is excellent.
Loads of stuff on the net - eg GĂŠraldine Lepèreâs Comme une Française is very good for âreal Frenchâ tips, she has loads of free stuff but you can also pay for a more structured course I think.
YouTube is good for just finding videos in French to listen to, occasionally the closed captions are even useful
Thereâs no miracle solution, try as many sources as possible. Get along to your local evening classes before coming to France too. Theyâre a great help and will give you the motivation to work between classes using other sources. On a more general note, itâll depend on what type of learner you are too; visual, auditory or kinesthetic.
I am a software developer, and I learn new software languages all the time. But computer languages are not spoken. I think I learn best from Books and intensive bombardment and deconstruction of sentences.
I agree with you Mark. Conversation classes might be a good place to start if someone is not yet in France. Once in France then trying to speak with the locals is best the way to learn.
Some good tips here. We have been to a french language class but now do our daily duolingo, plus a bit of ready french newspapers.
Will subject our french neighbors with âschool frenchâ until they stop answering in English.
I use frantastique, as it appeals to me more than other online courses because of the story lines, and you get snippets of french culture along with it (music, film etc). Duolingoâs beeps irritated me in the end and I had outgrown it anyway. The fact that I have to pay for frantastique makes me do it every day!
If you want to do a free trial please use this link, as if you then go on to sign up I get a free month!
I did also do a formal french qualification, the DELF, just because Iâm geared to formal education. And it was useful, but not as useful as talking to people!