Learning French
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Learning French
As of now, I speak, read and write three languages, Danish, English and German; I am able to read Latin although I have no real proficiency in writing the language (thanks to Danish educational system) - and also Greek.
This september, I am going to begin my Indo-European linguistic studies at the University of Copenhagen, in conjunction with which it is demanded that courses in Vedic Sanskrit and Gothic be taken.
I have long wanted to learn French, and so far my school has taken up the time I could have used learning this language - now I have in the vicinity of two months until I have to immerse myself in new languages, so the time is now!
Do any of you have suggestions for a complete beginner, enabling me to become proficient at least in reading in a few months' time? In time, I would want to be able to write and of course use the language orally.
"Thank you"s in advance
This september, I am going to begin my Indo-European linguistic studies at the University of Copenhagen, in conjunction with which it is demanded that courses in Vedic Sanskrit and Gothic be taken.
I have long wanted to learn French, and so far my school has taken up the time I could have used learning this language - now I have in the vicinity of two months until I have to immerse myself in new languages, so the time is now!
Do any of you have suggestions for a complete beginner, enabling me to become proficient at least in reading in a few months' time? In time, I would want to be able to write and of course use the language orally.
"Thank you"s in advance
- Lucus Eques
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French in Action is awesome:
http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html
It's been enormously wonderful and helpful to me.
I wish I had something like this for Spanish.
And Italian.
And Greek.
And ... all of them.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html
It's been enormously wonderful and helpful to me.
I wish I had something like this for Spanish.
And Italian.
And Greek.
And ... all of them.
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Re: Learning French
oooOOOooo. I'm jealous.timeodanaos wrote:This september, I am going to begin my Indo-European linguistic studies at the University of Copenhagen, in conjunction with which it is demanded that courses in Vedic Sanskrit and Gothic be taken.
William S. Annis — http://www.aoidoi.org/ — http://www.scholiastae.org/
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;
τίς πατέρ' αἰνήσει εἰ μὴ κακοδαίμονες υἱοί;
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Re: Learning French
I would be, too, had I simply chosen to study Latin, which is why I decided this was the only choice I really had.annis wrote:oooOOOooo. I'm jealous.timeodanaos wrote:This september, I am going to begin my Indo-European linguistic studies at the University of Copenhagen, in conjunction with which it is demanded that courses in Vedic Sanskrit and Gothic be taken.
Luce: Your suggestion seems reasonable, however, I don't have the more than thousand dollars this costs. I was rather seeking something along the lines of Ørbergs Lingua Latina, a simple (but preferably brilliant! ) book that will get me reading.
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A few months ago, I bought a used grammarbook called "A Complete French Course, by Andre Parreaux" from abebooks.com and found it to be a very good grammar. If you wish to try it, there is a copy here for only $4.00.
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I've been using "Beginning French: A Cultural Approach" by Hendrix & Meiden. It's a reading-based (direct method) text from the 60s which was quite successful for a while but now out of print. It moves very quickly from simple sentences to a fairly high level of complexity. You would need to find some audio system to supplement it, however.
IPHIGENIE: Kann uns zum Vaterland die Fremde werden?
ARKAS: Und dir ist fremd das Vaterland geworden.
IPHIGENIE: Das ist's, warum mein blutend Herz nicht heilt.
(Goethe, Iphigenie auf Tauris)
ARKAS: Und dir ist fremd das Vaterland geworden.
IPHIGENIE: Das ist's, warum mein blutend Herz nicht heilt.
(Goethe, Iphigenie auf Tauris)
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I think that what Spiphany suggests would be the best option but, if you couldn´t find it out, maybe you´ll find useful this: http://www.fsi-language-courses.com/French.aspx
I am using FSI Modern Greek course and it works fairly well. So, you could try with French by means of such a course.
Regards,
Gonzalo
I am using FSI Modern Greek course and it works fairly well. So, you could try with French by means of such a course.
Regards,
Gonzalo
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The French in Action videos are really great. For practice in reading, I used to read articles in Le Monde about which I had some background already, i.e., for me, American news and politics. That way I already knew the situation and context, many of the people involved, and could guess at most of the words that I didn't know. It helped me to read and acquire new vocabulary quickly.
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Luke,
Did you just use the videos of French In Action to learn French, or did you also buy some of the books? This method looks very promising, I think I'm going to use it when my time comes to learn French.
It is a shame one cannot download them, just stream them.
Did you just use the videos of French In Action to learn French, or did you also buy some of the books? This method looks very promising, I think I'm going to use it when my time comes to learn French.
It is a shame one cannot download them, just stream them.
Lisa: Relax?! I can't relax! Nor can I yield, relent, or... Only two synonyms? Oh my God! I'm losing my perspicacity! Aaaaa!
Homer: Well it's always in the last place you look.
Homer: Well it's always in the last place you look.
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I didn't realise that was a possibility - I just saw the prices of the DVDs. I'll look into them as soon as I have the time, some time during the week.Lucus Eques wrote:Thousand dollars?! The videos are free for you to download! Start with the second one; the first is an English intro.
French in Action is the video equivalent of a French Ørberg method.
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Lucus Eques:
Since my new son-in-(common-)law is French, I decided to check out your French in Action site. Sadly, all I got was this:
Due to licensing agreements, viewing of the video French in Action - Planning and Anticipating I is restricted to network connections in the United States and Canada. Your connection appears to be based outside this area.
For information on purchasing this program please see our list of international distributors.
Any workarounds?
Cheers,
Int
Since my new son-in-(common-)law is French, I decided to check out your French in Action site. Sadly, all I got was this:
Due to licensing agreements, viewing of the video French in Action - Planning and Anticipating I is restricted to network connections in the United States and Canada. Your connection appears to be based outside this area.
For information on purchasing this program please see our list of international distributors.
Any workarounds?
Cheers,
Int
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I used a US proxy, and I can view the videos just fine! I can even download them (though I'm kinda worried about that copyright notice).
Lisa: Relax?! I can't relax! Nor can I yield, relent, or... Only two synonyms? Oh my God! I'm losing my perspicacity! Aaaaa!
Homer: Well it's always in the last place you look.
Homer: Well it's always in the last place you look.
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Luce:
I'll take you up on that magnificent offer if I may (having failed to get a proxy to do the job). Is this the one you mean:
http://www.amazon.com/Lingua-Latina-Sal ... 8790696115
If so, pm me the address you want me to have it sent it to.
Cheers,
Int
I'll take you up on that magnificent offer if I may (having failed to get a proxy to do the job). Is this the one you mean:
http://www.amazon.com/Lingua-Latina-Sal ... 8790696115
If so, pm me the address you want me to have it sent it to.
Cheers,
Int
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Yes, Luce!
I will be ordering it later today for myself (still thinking about whether the Enchiridia would be worth it, given that I can barely read Italian...), and will order one to your address. Also, I suggested De Rerum Natura but if you'd prefer any other, do specify-- same effort ordering that or another.
Valé!
I will be ordering it later today for myself (still thinking about whether the Enchiridia would be worth it, given that I can barely read Italian...), and will order one to your address. Also, I suggested De Rerum Natura but if you'd prefer any other, do specify-- same effort ordering that or another.
Valé!
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Hi,
Try this: http://www.learner.org/resources/series75.html
And a topic was begun some time ago: viewtopic.php?t=8284 So, ask there whatever you want.
Regards,
Gonzalo
Try this: http://www.learner.org/resources/series75.html
And a topic was begun some time ago: viewtopic.php?t=8284 So, ask there whatever you want.
Regards,
Gonzalo
Last edited by Gonzalo on Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Excuse me, I´ve rewritten my post when you were answering it. I posted useful links there to help in learning Spanish.DoctrinaeStudeo wrote:Ah, thank you so much.
I can write Spanish fine (what I've learned so far, anyways), but when people speak it it is gibberish to me. Thank you again.
Regards,
Gonzalo
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