ChrisB

Just back from a very nice week in Switzerland (stayed in Geneva and toured from there - lovely).

My fuzzy memories of speaking French from pre-GCSE level at High School resurfaced which was a tiny help. I could order a couple of large beers but beyond that I was struggling

So I'm inspired to make an effort and learn some conversational French. I say conversational as I don't plan to be writing letters in French (I have bad memories of endless French lessons learning different tenses). I would like to be able to order a whole meal in a French, understand a menu properly (beyond fromage and jambon! ), ask if a train stops at place Y - that sort of thing.

Night school is one option although I've just missed the start of the term by the looks of it. Amazon have plenty of books and this one gets good reviews which makes the £50 cost somewhat more bearable. Audio CD sounds good for when I'm stuck in traffic jams somewhere in the country.

Any SNers gone down the self teaching route? Any recommendations?

Cheers,

Chris.

Poor Guy

get a small phrase book and throw your self in the deep end in in the country its self.

best way i learned italian. plus then you learn regional dialects. in Pomerance they say "a l'ora?!" but in Cecina they say "Comme va?"
sometimes that aint in the lessons on tapes.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Firstly, don't worry about the start of term you missed, just go to the class and they'll enrol you then, and not bat an eyelid.

Secondly, I have the Linguaphone French on CD, improvers version, if you want to make me an offer?

Bought it for the wife, as I'm already fluent:. It really helped and she now wants the next lot!

Alcazar

camk

you need to be immersed in it to pick it up quickly, Spoken is easier than written but only if you are hearing it and speaking it all the time.

fast bloke

Get yourself a french au pair...... (at least, that is the excuse I'm using )

ChrisB

Class FB!

Haven't got any kids, so not sure how I explain it to my girlfriend...

What sort of level is the Linguaphone CD Alcazar?

Jaybird-UK

My mate who now speaks fluent french, highly recommends Michel Thomas. His teaching method shows you the functional working knowledge of a language without books, note-taking or conscious memorizing (according to the blurb )

Have a look at the reviews on Amazon

STi-Frenchie

ChrisB, that wasn't you in the UK reg green classic wagon I saw a few times last week was it? Parked at the hotel across the road from Charley O'Neills pub? So where did you visit?

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Improvers, ie: intermediate.
It took wifey from (very) rusty "O" level French to much better although I'd not say fluent, she can now get by and do the things you said you wanted.

Alcazar