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1. Immerse Yourself in French - Nothing can accelerate your French learning like being totally immersed in the language. Getting ready for your a trip to Paris? Don't worry. One hour a day listening to French music, reading a French magazine, watch French TV or go see a wonderful French movie.Consuming French media will help you get comfortable with the language - both how it's written and spoken.
2. Online Tools - French4Marin will give you online sites to listen to, some simple dialogues to practice in your own time.
3. Take a French class - At French4Marin you will find a great tutoring resource, featuring customized French instruction; tutoring all levels and ages of students, adults, and business executives. Another great option is to enroll at Book Passage right here in Marin for Josette's popular French classes for adults. All French learning levels are welcome, check the store's website or newsletter for class descriptions and times.
Many community colleges, public libraries, and adult education centers offer French classes. The hassle here is that you have to build your schedule around the class - instead of studying when you have free time. There is no substitute for one-on-one private or small group lessons.
4. Watch your favorite DVDs in French - Most DVDs come with multiple language translations available, including French. Watching your movie in French instead of English can be a great way to pick up on a language. You may also consider leaving the English on and read the French subtitles which is a little easier. Don't forget this works on Netflix streaming as well.
5. Chat with French people - Find a local French group that meets weekly in your area.The internet can help you bridge the language barriers. It's easy to find a chat partner who is eager to learn English. Email message boards, instant messaging, and webcams, they are all great ways to communicate with the French.
6. Know the difference between French and English - When people go to France, they start comparing everything to back at home. Just like traveling, learning a new language will have you marveling in the differences. Being more aware of the differences between French and English can help flatten the learning curve and let you wrap your head around the language quicker. For example, both English and French have silent letters, but they are different in each language.
7. Learn at your own rate - Nothing hinders learning like stress. This is why I always tell people to take their time when learning French - find your own pace and stick to it. If you have time to study French 8 hours a day, great. But most people of course don't, so don't feel bad if things seem like they are going slowly. Most importantly remember to enjoy the process of learning this beautiful language.
2. Online Tools - French4Marin will give you online sites to listen to, some simple dialogues to practice in your own time.
3. Take a French class - At French4Marin you will find a great tutoring resource, featuring customized French instruction; tutoring all levels and ages of students, adults, and business executives. Another great option is to enroll at Book Passage right here in Marin for Josette's popular French classes for adults. All French learning levels are welcome, check the store's website or newsletter for class descriptions and times.
Many community colleges, public libraries, and adult education centers offer French classes. The hassle here is that you have to build your schedule around the class - instead of studying when you have free time. There is no substitute for one-on-one private or small group lessons.
4. Watch your favorite DVDs in French - Most DVDs come with multiple language translations available, including French. Watching your movie in French instead of English can be a great way to pick up on a language. You may also consider leaving the English on and read the French subtitles which is a little easier. Don't forget this works on Netflix streaming as well.
5. Chat with French people - Find a local French group that meets weekly in your area.The internet can help you bridge the language barriers. It's easy to find a chat partner who is eager to learn English. Email message boards, instant messaging, and webcams, they are all great ways to communicate with the French.
6. Know the difference between French and English - When people go to France, they start comparing everything to back at home. Just like traveling, learning a new language will have you marveling in the differences. Being more aware of the differences between French and English can help flatten the learning curve and let you wrap your head around the language quicker. For example, both English and French have silent letters, but they are different in each language.
7. Learn at your own rate - Nothing hinders learning like stress. This is why I always tell people to take their time when learning French - find your own pace and stick to it. If you have time to study French 8 hours a day, great. But most people of course don't, so don't feel bad if things seem like they are going slowly. Most importantly remember to enjoy the process of learning this beautiful language.
Let's get started, here are some common conversational
words & phrases in French:
The Essentials of French Words and Phrases for Traveling
By mastering the basics of conversation in French, you put yourself and the person you're talking to at ease. Everyone should learn essential French conversational words and phrases before traveling to a French-speaking country. These words and expressions are sure to come up in most everyday conversations.
Most of the people in French-speaking countries have learned at least a little English. When you travel to their country, they expect you to have done the same with their language. If you can demonstrate that you've learned basic words and phrases, most people will be more willing to help you.
Basic courtesies
Being polite is important anywhere you go, here or abroad, because it shows respect for the person and the culture. The following words and phrases cover most of the pleasantries required for polite conversation. After all, learning to say the expressions of common courtesy in French is just good manners.
oui (yes)
non (no)
S’il te plaît. (Please. [informal])
S'il vous plaît. (Please. [formal])
Merci. (Thank you.)
Merci beaucoup. (Thank you very much.)
Je t’en prie. (You’re [informal] welcome.)
Je vous en prie. (You’re [formal] welcome.)
Il n’y a pas de quoi. (It’s nothing.)
Excusez-moi. (Excuse me.)
Once you've mastered the common pleasantries, the next important thing to learn is how to refer to people politely. When meeting people in French-speaking countries, be sure to use the appropriate formal title. A man would be called Monsieur, which is the same as Mr. or Sir. An older or married woman is called Madame and a young lady is called Mademoiselle.
Gender and personal pronouns
The next most common way we refer to people is by using personal pronouns. In French, the pronouns (you and they) are complicated by gender and formality. You'll use slightly different variations of these words depending on who you are referring to and how well you know them.
je (I)
Use j’ instead of je if the verb begins with a vowel or a mute h.
il (he)
elle (she)
nous (we)
tu (you [singular/informal])
vous (you [singular/formal or plural])
ils (they [masculine or mixed group]); elles (they [feminine])
Use tu with people you know well, like members of your family, friends, children, and peers. Vous, on the other hand, is more formal and you'll want to use that with people you don’t know well and with your superiors, like your boss, your teacher, or elders. Although vous can mean the plural of you, it can also refer to one person when used formally.
It is also helpful to know the correct vocabulary term for referring to people based on their age, gender, or relationship to you. The indefinite articles (a and an) in French are un (masculine) and une (feminine):
un homme (a man)
une femme (a woman)
un garçon (a boy)
une fille (a girl)
un enfant (M); une enfant (F) (a child)
un père (a father)
une mère (a mother)
un fils (a son)
une fille (a daughter)
un frère (a brother)
une sœur (a sister)
un mari (a husband)
un époux (a spouse) (M)
une femme (a wife)
une épouse (a spouse) (F)
un ami (a friend) (M)
une amie (a friend) (F)
By mastering the basics of conversation in French, you put yourself and the person you're talking to at ease. Everyone should learn essential French conversational words and phrases before traveling to a French-speaking country. These words and expressions are sure to come up in most everyday conversations.
Most of the people in French-speaking countries have learned at least a little English. When you travel to their country, they expect you to have done the same with their language. If you can demonstrate that you've learned basic words and phrases, most people will be more willing to help you.
Basic courtesies
Being polite is important anywhere you go, here or abroad, because it shows respect for the person and the culture. The following words and phrases cover most of the pleasantries required for polite conversation. After all, learning to say the expressions of common courtesy in French is just good manners.
oui (yes)
non (no)
S’il te plaît. (Please. [informal])
S'il vous plaît. (Please. [formal])
Merci. (Thank you.)
Merci beaucoup. (Thank you very much.)
Je t’en prie. (You’re [informal] welcome.)
Je vous en prie. (You’re [formal] welcome.)
Il n’y a pas de quoi. (It’s nothing.)
Excusez-moi. (Excuse me.)
Once you've mastered the common pleasantries, the next important thing to learn is how to refer to people politely. When meeting people in French-speaking countries, be sure to use the appropriate formal title. A man would be called Monsieur, which is the same as Mr. or Sir. An older or married woman is called Madame and a young lady is called Mademoiselle.
Gender and personal pronouns
The next most common way we refer to people is by using personal pronouns. In French, the pronouns (you and they) are complicated by gender and formality. You'll use slightly different variations of these words depending on who you are referring to and how well you know them.
je (I)
Use j’ instead of je if the verb begins with a vowel or a mute h.
il (he)
elle (she)
nous (we)
tu (you [singular/informal])
vous (you [singular/formal or plural])
ils (they [masculine or mixed group]); elles (they [feminine])
Use tu with people you know well, like members of your family, friends, children, and peers. Vous, on the other hand, is more formal and you'll want to use that with people you don’t know well and with your superiors, like your boss, your teacher, or elders. Although vous can mean the plural of you, it can also refer to one person when used formally.
It is also helpful to know the correct vocabulary term for referring to people based on their age, gender, or relationship to you. The indefinite articles (a and an) in French are un (masculine) and une (feminine):
un homme (a man)
une femme (a woman)
un garçon (a boy)
une fille (a girl)
un enfant (M); une enfant (F) (a child)
un père (a father)
une mère (a mother)
un fils (a son)
une fille (a daughter)
un frère (a brother)
une sœur (a sister)
un mari (a husband)
un époux (a spouse) (M)
une femme (a wife)
une épouse (a spouse) (F)
un ami (a friend) (M)
une amie (a friend) (F)