What's the Best French Software Programs?

[Lola Wants]

I would like to re-acquaint myself with French (I took a year and a half as an undergraduate and forgot most of it). It's strange that I have retained the syllabic pronunciation of French words although I've forgotten much of the vocabulary. I wanted to know if anyone has suggestions on the best French software programs or books that can help improve reading proficiency. I want to be able to demonstrate competency in French when I apply for a Ph.D. Also, if you would like to add other linguistic methods that worked for you outside of software programs or books I would love to hear that as well.

[oceansize]

Unfortunately I don't think any of the software programs are that helpful. Rosetta Stone was terrible for me. I don't know specifically about French, so maybe someone else has a different experience.

I think immersion is the best option. Watch movies/TV shows in French as much as you can, read books in French, etc. There are also websites where you can converse with native speakers for free, whether it's as a penpal or through Skype. You may be able to find someone who speaks French and wants to work on their English, and you can help each other out.

They have intensive programs in many countries where you can travel there and take classes for a summer, a few weeks/months, etc. They are expensive and require that you have the schedule flexibility to travel there, so they're not for everyone, but worth a look if you think it's a possibility.

[Lola Wants]

Thanks for the advice Oceansize. I wanted to stay away from studying in a foreign country since I cannot afford it at this time. Why was Rosetta Stone horrible for you?

[New England Nat]

I had the opposite experiance with Rosetta Stone and I did it in French as a refresher. I had not used my french in three years through my masters and my senior year of undergrad.

[virmundi]

Rosetta Stone est assez bien, je pense, pour quelque Français quotidien -- mais si l'on veux apprendre bien le langue, c'est Pimsleur qu'on doit utiliser! Si vous voudriez le lire principalement, obtenez le livre "French for Reading" par Karl C. Sandberg. C'est le plus bonne méthode de l'apprendre! Bonne chance -- et s'il vous plaît m'excuser pour mon Français pauvre.

Edited May 26, 2012 by virmundi

[Simple Twist of Fate]

Don't know if this will be helpful because I've barely looked at it myself, but I just happened to Stumble Upon this website: http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2009/11/100-open-courses-to-learn-any-new-language/ French is the first language listed there (the first two links are broken, but they are actually on the MIT website). Looks like the internet offers quite a few good, free ways to learn/refresh your French if you're willing to put in the effort.

Also, I'm very proud of myself for being able to read virmundi's post despite not having studied French in 4 years.

[theregalrenegade]

Also, I'm very proud of myself for being able to read virmundi's post despite not having studied French in 4 years.

Ditto!

And thanks for the post. There are some great resources in that list.

[Lola Wants]

Rosetta Stone est assez bien, je pense, pour quelque Français quotidien -- mais si l'on veux apprendre bien le langue, c'est Pimsleur qu'on doit utiliser! Si vous voudriez le lire principalement, obtenez le livre "French for Reading" par Karl C. Sandberg. C'est le plus bonne méthode de l'apprendre! Bonne chance -- et s'il vous plaît m'excuser pour mon Français pauvre.

Thanks. I will be getting that book.

Don't know if this will be helpful because I've barely looked at it myself, but I just happened to Stumble Upon this website: http://www.onlineuni...y-new-language/ French is the first language listed there (the first two links are broken, but they are actually on the MIT website). Looks like the internet offers quite a few good, free ways to learn/refresh your French if you're willing to put in the effort.

Thank you. I will check out those websites. You all were very helpful.

[virmundi]

Thanks. I will be getting that book.

It's an amazing book. Don't be put off by the errors in table headings in the very first section -- after that (which deals with very simple things, so it won't deter you) it is rock solid and an amazing, swift way of learning to read French at a high-functioning level.

[New England Nat]

It's an amazing book. Don't be put off by the errors in table headings in the very first section -- after that (which deals with very simple things, so it won't deter you) it is rock solid and an amazing, swift way of learning to read French at a high-functioning level.

It's also worth warning that the book has a lot of science related reading passages. It's fairly obviously originally written way back in the ice ages for teaching languages to scienceymath types. It's been the standard book for teaching french for reading to graduate students for fourty years. My sister and I used it at two different institutions 15 years appart.

[Lola Wants]

It's an amazing book. Don't be put off by the errors in table headings in the very first section -- after that (which deals with very simple things, so it won't deter you) it is rock solid and an amazing, swift way of learning to read French at a high-functioning level.

What errors? Thanks for warning me about the errors too.

It's also worth warning that the book has a lot of science related reading passages. It's fairly obviously originally written way back in the ice ages for teaching languages to scienceymath types. It's been the standard book for teaching french for reading to graduate students for fourty years. My sister and I used it at two different institutions 15 years appart.

Thanks. That's exactly what I'm looking for, learning methods that are staples within the academic community. Translating science related passages might be a horror though, no offense to the grad students in the hard sciences.

[New England Nat]

Thanks. That's exactly what I'm looking for, learning methods that are staples within the academic community. Translating science related passages might be a horror though, no offense to the grad students in the hard sciences.

I wouldn't call it a "horror", more that it is kind of a quark of the book. It was the required text for my French for Reading course at Princeton, and my sister's French for reading course at UPenn.

[virmundi]

The scientific passages lead off the text because these passages tend to communicate ideas in discrete and grammatically simple sentences. As the book progresses, you will find yourself immersed in passages from Voltaire, Durkheim, et cetera. I see it less as a bizarre holdover and more as an acknowledgement that scientific discourse is often more straightforward than the texts that form the backbone of our work as historians... In any event, a few passages on the properties of light, plants, meteorology and the like are only minor obstacles at best.

[GuitarSlayer]

Have you heard of Tell Me More? It's along the lines of Rosetta Stone, but it is more grammar and reading oriented. Rosetta went through a revamp awhile back, more or less in reaction to this program's structure/pricing. I'm using Tell Me More for German, and it is really going well for me. I am considering grabbing the French one next.