learning the French language

I was just wondering if anyone here could perhaps recommend a method or course to learn the french language. I would like to have more than just a very basic understanding of the language. Thanks, TC

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I%26#39;ve tried several (Pimsleur, Smart French, Speak French with Michael Thomas, Rosetta Stone) and found that for me, Pimsleur was the method I learned the easiest with. Everyone%26#39;s learning style is a little different.

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As an aside I read long ago that the most satisfactory method of learning any foreign language was %26quot;on the pillow%26quot;.

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overthehills: What kind of time period are you talking about here? Are you visiting France within the next couple of months or are you a year or more out?

If your trip is within a few months, then the %26quot;basics%26quot; are pretty much all you%26#39;re going to retain.

If you have a year or two, then you stand a good chance of learning a bit more.

Obviously, in either case, an %26quot;immersion%26quot; school is your best shot. I do notice that Milwaukee has a chapter of the %26quot;Alliance française%26quot;, so you could start there: http://www.afmilwaukee.org/

Bonne chance et je vous souhaite un très bon voyage!

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%26gt;%26gt;overthehills: What kind of time period are you talking about here? Are you visiting France within the next couple of months or are you a year or more out?%26lt;%26lt;

Actually I have just returned from 10 days in Paris, my first visit. I have a strong desire to return and am certain that I will at some later date ( I now understand how so many people who do not live in Paris can keep coming back to this forum and continue talking about it!). I am currently not bilingual but believe at this time it would be a good exercise for me to become so. So to answer your question, time is not really a factor, mostly I am looking for some method to give me a sound understanding of the language that hopefully I will be able to retain. Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far. Regards, TC

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I attend the Alliance Francaise in Chicago (as another poster sited). I love it there. Hopefully, Milwaukee%26#39;s Alliance is just as beautiful as the one in Chicago.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/

The BBC has free online French courses for Beginners, Intermediates and Advanced.

I have been doing the Beginner course to refresh my memory and find it very well organized.

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%26lt;%26lt;mostly I am looking for some method to give me a sound understanding of the language that hopefully I will be able to retain.%26gt;%26gt;

As far as retention goes, immersion and continued use are the most important factors.

I like Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone.

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Also, there a free podcasts that you can get on your IPOD with french lessons. coffee break french, one minute french, etc. Just do a search, there are many.

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Hi TC,

I%26#39;m using the Pimsleur language program now--I love it. I also took 4 years of high school French (14 years ago) so I had a good background. I listen to the CDs in my car. My husband and I are going to France this July so I feel like I%26#39;ll be prepared by then. My husband has no background in French, so he%26#39;s using %26quot;Coffee Break French%26quot; podcasts to learn some basic words and phrases. Best of luck!

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I%26#39;m using Rosetta Stone and its going fine but my southern twang is hard to suppress.