Statistics have it that the French ranks as the second most taught language world over, after English which takes the first spot. French is also the world’s second official work language, used in many international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Red Cross.

WAYS OF LEARNING THE FRENCH

Taking a journey through France and taking advantage to attend a French teaching language school while there is considered as the best way of learning the language. This process is known as the Total Immersion Method.

However, the next best method of learning French is attending French classes in your area. If this classes are conducted by a native French speaker, then the learning process will be more effective as emphasis will also be placed on pronunciations.

FRENCH AND BUSINESS

Most multi national companies have many subsidiaries in France. These include companies such as Hewlet-Packard, Michelin, Renault and Apple Computers. The French economy is also considered to be one of the most stable world economies and is a leader with regard to technological innovation.

FRENCH AND ACADEMIES

Many educational institutions insist on the knowledge of at least one foreign language as a prerequisite for admission. The French language is the most favoured, as it is the second most used language, after English.

Also, several academics have their works composed in the French.

High school students are therefore encouraged to study an extra foreign language for at least four years. Many prestigious education institutions are now including the French language in their syllabuses.

FRENCH AND SKILLS

Learning French has also bee known to improve the individual’s critical and creative skills, since progress in learning is easily measured and the individual registers confidence in his/her abilities.

FRENCH AND ENGLISH

The French language has added to the advancement of the English language. An advantage of learning the French language is that the individual will be in a position to understand the origin of some words used in English as well as grammatical structures.

FRENCH AND SOCIAL STANDING

Having the ability to speak French elevates one’s social standing in the community. When the individual meets a French national and can speak their language, the foreigner is impressed and this action boosts the individual’s image and self esteem.

Learning the French language needs commitment; daily practice and patience. Learning this language offers challenges such as several sounds in French are different from those of English. Pronunciations in the French language are also tricky because the language has lots of silent letters. All in all, learning the French language is great.

Are you ready to FRENCH LANGUAGE COURSES? Visit http://www.SpeakLanguagesFast.com today and sign up for a “Free 6 Day Course”!

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Deja vu literally means already seen. This is an expression people use when they live a moment that seems like it has been already lived, maybe in a dream or in a previous life. This French language phrase is also being used more widely to describe something that has already been done. For example, if you often visit the same bar and meet some people that you saw there before but did not expect to meet for a second time, you can say that you are having a deja vu.

Some French language phrases are actually English words that the French have adopted in their everyday language: taxi, sandwich, snack, poster, sexy are all examples of English words that are commonly used in the French language.

Employees of insurance companies are familiar with the term force majeure, which means an event that is unavoidable and not caused by man, something like a snow storm or an earthquake. It is sometimes defined as an act of God.

Some French language phrases use slang: if you drive a vehicle you have probably come across a cul-de-sac, which means bottom of bag. In this instance, the word cul is the French slang for bottom, being used in the sense of derriere, which is another French word commonly used by English speakers.

Restaurants are places where you are the most likely to come across the use of many French language phrases: the name restaurant, although pronounced different ways, is the same in both languages. Whether you order a la carte (where you choose separate items from the menu) or le menu du jour (today’s special), you will be speaking French. If you ask for an aperitif (before-meal drink), an entree (starter) followed by a canard a l’orange (duck with orange sauce) and a creme brulee as a dessert, finished off with a digestif (after-drink meal), you will feel like a real French person. Don’t forget to wish your co-diners bon appetit, if would be bad manners not to!

Inappropriate use of French language phrases can get you slapped: if you have already approached a French woman (not your girlfriend or wife) and asked her: voulez-vous coucher avec moi (Do you want to sleep with me)? Then you know the feeling. Yes, even in French, love hurts.

You may be conscious of this fact or not, but you use French language phrases all the time. If you analyse the way you speak English you will find many more of these borrowed expressions. It can be a fun part of learning French to try and identify all the French phrase languages you know.

Sophie Le Cuiche is a French writer with a passion for foreign languages. Her blog, Learn French Simple, is dedicated to anyone looking for information about the French language and how to learn French. For more information on easy ways to learn French, go to http://learnfrenchsimple.blogspot.com.

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A professional French translator’s work is not merely performing English to French translation or vice versa. Perhaps there is much more to do and since the competition is very high in the translation service industry, a professional French translator needs to present something that looks very original, nice and at the same time professional. In addition to this, the translator must also capture the style, meaning, format and cultural tone of the source text. Consequently, there are many other factors that must be considered while selecting a French translation service provider, so that he or she meets your French language translation requirements.

First and foremost, make sure the French translator or French translation service provider you choose always take into account the various flavors of French language that is commonly used. For example, the standard French, which is generally known as ‘Parisian’ French is spoken by local communities whereas the French-Canadian format is popularly used for business operations in Canada. Therefore, the French language service provider that you select for your language conversion should be well versed with all variations of the language. They must deliver culturally appropriate content, which can be collectively understood by the entire French population or French business delegates.

Moving on, if you want to attract more customers towards your business you should make sure that the professional translation service provider has an ethical code of conduct. This is important because at times translator come across confidential documents or information, which they should never use against the client. Having said this, a professional French translator needs to be always well versed with the latest communication tools in order to stay ahead in this fast-moving technical world. While translating technical documents, it is very important for a translator to understand the specific target market or audience and then use French language accordingly.

Finally, professional French translators must always be ready to adapt to changes. If a translator stops learning, he/she might not be able to coupe with the progress made in the industry and thus will not be able to service clients efficiently. So, hire those professionals who have a good blend of business knowledge along with French language proficiency.

You can recognize a good French translation when you see it, but before you can see the translation, it is important that you choose the proper French translator or French translation service and finally make the most of it.

BlueGlobe International, offers professional french translation services in more than 200 languages. Translate any documents, web pages, magazines, legal documents, medical journals, technical manuals or any other types of documents in french language by highly skilled french translator. Visit on the site to know more about our language translation services.

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French language appeal

If you learn French, you will not only have knowledge of this language, but also have an understanding of its culture. Almost everyone in America (or anywhere else for that matter) has seen pictures of the Eiffel Tower; most of us find the French language irresistibly romantically sounding; we all enjoyed Rush Hour 3 mostly because of the sophisticated Paris settings or tasted French fries. Learning French helps you really have an in depth understanding of the French way of life. You will not just watch a Monica Bellucci movie for fun; you will actually comprehend all the complexities of its plot! You will understand French cinema, history and its rich literature.

French language is worldwide

French is an official language in many countries on the five continents. It is an official language in several African countries, especially in the west coast. Zaire, Mali, Madagascar, Senegal have French as an official language. In the Caribbean, Haiti and the smaller islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe are haven for the this language. In Asia, it is mostly Vietnam and Cambodia that comes to mind. In Europe, it is mainly France, off course, and Belgium. Arab francophone countries are Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon and Syria.

French in English

It is a known fact that numerous French words are used every day when discussing in the English tongue. Words like: savoir faire (knowing how to do), touché (you got me), agent provocateur (provocative agent), c’est la vie (that’s life), au contraire (to the contrary), faux pas (false step), fiancée (engaged), je ne sais quoi (I don’t know what), and voilà (there it is).

Learning French increases your opportunities

I have satisfaction in knowing that I can communicate in English, but also in French. The French language is a beautiful and delicious language. It is the language of culture, art and elegance. This language is at the heart of European culture. Learn it and you automatically stand out and feel a bit unique.

So, learning French is a good idea if you want to be equipped for the 21st century. French students have the opportunity to find employment in the sectors of education, translation and interpretation, tourism, journalism, politics, culinary arts, and much more. Especially in these hard economic times, French is an acquired qualification that might make you an indispensable asset for present or future employers.

French is a major language of commerce worldwide. This language is an open window on a civilization that has enriched the world of literature, arts and sciences. So learn French and offer yourself excellent prospects.

On top of it all, learning French will help ease the learning curve of other “Latin” languages close to French, like Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.

If you want to learn to speak in french go to http://www.speakinfrench.net to get more info about the best french learning software available online.

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French is classified as a Romance language, in that it derived from Latin. It evolved from various dialects spoken in northern France. In terms of a detailed history, there is not enough space in this article, so I will focus on modern French history, from about 1700 onwards.

French was once one of the most universal languages in the world, although it has been replaced by English in areas like science, business, and pop culture. But it wasn’t until 1539 that French became the official language of France in terms of government administration and legal proceedings. Previously these had been conducted exclusively through Latin.

French is one of the most controlled languages in the world. The French Academy, a body of 40 members established in 1634, is an official organization charged with preserving French and maintaining its purity (controlling the introduction of new words for example).

From the 17th to 20th centuries, many European monarchs could speak and write French, and it could be described as the language of the educated and influential people of Europe.

Through the French Academy, a unified version of French has been crafted. However, before that effort was successful, there were many dialects spoken in different parts of France, and among those French colonists who established themselves in various parts of the world, including the Americas.

French lost much of its international importance to English in the 20th century and in particular after the second world war. Indeed, many multi-national organization with offices in Paris, conduct business there through English, a fact not always well-appreciated by the French. It remains the second most studied language in the world (after English)

French still thrives in eastern Canada, helped in Quebec by some education regulations designed to keep the language alive.

In France, there are many regulations which attempt to preserve French. Individuals are permitted to choose any language in publications, but French is required in many areas of commerce, and in workforce regulations. There have been many examples of fines for employers where their communications, manuals, or instructions were distributed in another language (usually English).

There are also French government efforts to promote French as a language of the European Union. The French really do perceive the popularity of English over French in European Union dealings as a threat to French in their own country.

France has tried to position itself as a large country seeking cultural diversity. This is their argument against the use of English as the predominant international language. They also position France as having one well-controlled language.

However, they have been forced by their own citizens to recognize regional dialects and even different languages in certain regions, and it is not unusual when traveling through certain parts of France, particularly Brittany) to see road signs in two languages (French and a local language or dialect).

And finally media controls are being relaxed, with some Breton speaking radio stations being permitted. It is hard for the rest of the world to understand and comprehend that these relaxed rules only came about in 1982.

The author operates a language website, Language-Fast.com. He recommends programs for those who want to Learn French Language.

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While standard French is the dialect that is spoken officially in the country of France, a variety of other dialects are spoken in various parts of France as well as in other French-speaking countries across the globe. If you are planning to take a French course for business purposes, you should do some research to discover the dialect that is spoken in the area that you are planning to do business with. If you wish to study French for your personal enjoyment, standard French is probably the best dialect to learn.

Once you have decided the dialect that you wish to study, there are several types of French course studies. There is the college French course, which are expensive and may not fit into your busy schedule. If you want to study a specific dialect, these institutions may also not offer courses in the dialect that you want.

Online French course studies are another option that is available to enable you to study the language. While these courses allow you to study at home whenever you like, their audio guides may be difficult to understand, leading you to mispronounce French words which can change their meaning entirely. If you have difficulties, these online classes may also not have an instructor available when you need them.

Another option in which to take a French course are language software programs that you can purchase and download directly onto your computer. These learning courses are designed to teach a foreign language in the shortest amount of time possible. They feature clear, concise instructions and pronunciation guides that make learning French easy. These programs also offer a wide variety of French dialects which will enable you to study the dialect that best suits your needs.

Whichever type of French course that you decide to participate in, once you begin to study the language you may be pleasantly surprised. Much of the English language is based on what is known as Old French, so many of the words that you will encounter will already be familiar to you. French nouns show this common history. For example, the French word for “chair” is “chaise,” which will be familiar due to “chaise lounges” that are popular in English -speaking countries. The French noun “le bugle” literally means “bugle.”

You will also discover when you are taking a French course that French verbs are similar to English as well. For example, the French word “inviter” means “to invite” and “domineer” means “to dominate.” Due to these similarities between the French language and our own, you may already have the ability to follow the gist of a French conversation without even being aware of it.

Our worldwide community is growing smaller with new advancements in travel and communications. Learning French by taking a French course is a good way to start to close the gap between yourself and the many different peoples of the world.

Are you looking for an affordable French learning course that will teach you to speak French fast? Francis Belcher is a native French professor and has been teaching French at several universities for over 17 years. His website offers free tips on how to speak French fast and fluently: http://www.frenchlingo.net

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1. Immerse Yourself in French – Nothing can accelerate your French learning like being totally immersed the language. Can’t afford a trip to Paris? Don’t worry! One hour a day, listen to French music, read a French newspaper, or watch a French movie. Consuming French media will help you get comfortable with the language – both how it is written and spoken.

2. Online Tool – Tools like Rocket French and Tell Me More French are specifically designed to help people trying to learn French quickly. Although there are a lot of tools available, my favourites are Rocket French, Tell Me More, and Fluenz.

3. Take a French Class – Many community colleges, public libraries, and adult education centers offer French classes are affordable prices. The hassle here of course is that you have to build your schedule around the class – instead of studying when you have the free time (my preferred method).

4. Watch Your favorite DVD’s in French – Most DVD’s come with multiple language translations available, including French. Watching your favourite movie in French instead of English can be a great way to pick up on the language. You may also consider leaving the English on but adding French subtitles which is a little easier.

5. Chat with French People – The internet can help you bridge language barriers, and talking with actual French speakers can really help you learn French fast It’s easy to find a chat partner who is as eager to learn English as you are to learn French. Email, message boards, instant messaging, and webcams are all great ways to communicate with the French.

6. Know the Difference Between French and English – When I first went to France, I kept comparing it to everything at home. Just like traveling, learning a new language will have to marveling in the differences. Being aware of the differences between French and English can help you 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 Pace – Nothing hinders my learning like stress. This is why I always tell people to take their time when they are learning French – find your own pace and stick to it. If you have the time to study French 8 hours a day, great. But most people don’t, so don’t feel bad if things feel like they are going slowly.

Instant French is dedicated to helping you learn French fast

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To your astonishment, you quickly find out during a tour of Old Quebec that not everybody speaks English. As you venture into the province of Quebec, it is becoming more and more obvious that some remote places are totally French and at this point the language barrier is no longer a word but indeed a reality.

Now that you are really into a situation where you have to use all the French that you have learned, you should jump at the occasion and make the best of it. Using the French that you took in school to have access to the most basic needs for your survival during your vacations is priceless.

You are lost in a City that you don’t know, the first person you see can possibly be a savior. At this point you are quickly reviewing in your mind all that you have learned in your French class. The most common greeting words come to mind. After you have greeted that first person you met and told him in French where you are from, you’ll need to know where would be the closest hotel or motel around. After all, there is nothing better than a good shower and a good night sleep to bring back all the French lessons.

The most common question most people trying to learn French ask is how long is it going to take before they can fully understand a normal French conversation. Most people learning French, think that French people speak way too fast! It is all a matter of perception.

One thing for sure when learning French or any other languages is that you cannot force the ear to hear! The ear has to listen naturally in order to become cultivated and to get use to the French accent, intonation and rhythm of the the French language.

The next morning you are well rested and ready for another day in a totally French environment. That is exactly what the doctor ordered or was it the French teacher who said that in order to learn French, there is nothing better than total French immersion.

Ordering breakfast and asking for the toilet, en francais, at this point is quite easy. After all you covered these lessons in your French 101 class. What a great feeling of satisfaction to know that you can make it somewhat in a totally French environment.

Going through a full day in French can be a challenge for any non French-speaking person. But once you have mastered the basic French words such as “bonjour – comment allez-vous? Mon nom est, pouvez-vous me dire, où est-ce que je suis? Où est l’hotel? Où est la station d’essence? Où est l’autoroute? Où est le restaurant? Quel heure est-il? J’ai faim! J’ai soif! Merci beaucoup!” You are sure of not dying of thirst or hunger.

There are other important words such as “how much is it? Do you take credit cards? Do you like hockey?” And more that you must also know in order to have a most memorable vacation in a French city. If you don’t know them, you can visit my web site and sign up for your free French lessons.

Discover how you can totally immerse into the French culture with day to day lessons that will take you from greeting someone in French to ordering your first cup of coffee! Visit learning French review today and get your 6 free lessons!

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But with so many choices, how do we know which software to learn French is best?

1. Can you try it first?

With a lot of software you can get a free sample to try. At least a couple of the French language programs offer the same. If you can get some free French lessons it will help you decide whether the package is for you. Even if you don’t particularly like it, you got a few French lessons for nothing!

2. Is it interactive?

Now that may seem like a silly question. Surely all French language software is interactive. Sadly not. Some are just re-formatted versions of the old “listen-and-repeat” tapes that have been around for years. Beware cheap French language software, it’s probably of little value.

3. How does it handle French audio?

Again you might expect any French software to take advantage of the abilities of your PC and provide you with audio files. Surprisingly some don’t. When you’re looking for software to learn French it is a definite advantage if the audio is in MP3 format so you can download it to a player or CD. That way you get the extra benefit of lessons on the move, away from your computer.

4. How does it handle actually speaking French?

Assuming your software has proper audio components, are they voiced by an English person speaking French or a native French speaker? I’d say it was of far greater benefit to listen to and learn from a French person if that’s the language I was learning.

5. How are French grammar, verbs and vocabulary handled?

One of the major benefits of learning French from software on your computer has to be the degree of interactivity. Good French software will involve you and challenge you. Does the program you’re looking at offer video clips or illustrated lessons? Does it use game play to make learning French fun?

6. How far can it take you?

When looking for software to learn French consider how far you can go with the package. Is it just a beginner’s course? Will you have to pay more for intermediate lessons? Or is it a package that will take you right from no knowledge through intermediate success to advanced French learning?

7. What guarantees do you have?

OK, your French software program might claim to teach you perfect French in a week (unrealistic) or capable French within a couple of months (achievable) but do they actually offer any guarantees? There are some that offer your money back if not satisfied. A guarantee like that would certainly make me more confident in their ability to deliver. I learn or it costs me nothing – can’t beat that.

Language learning has come a long way since I was a kid and software to learn French can be stimulating and engaging which is bound to help you learn faster and more thoroughly. Like all software there are a vast range of products and prices and it’s difficult to choose. I hope the above will be of assistance.

Get top tips and advice on learning French, six free professional French lessons and a personal view of living and working in France at FrenchLife4Real!

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If you intend to learn the French language, you have several options from which to choose. You can attend a college or University and earn your degree in French. Earning a college degree in French will provide you with a sound expertise of formal French, both written and conversationally. With a college degree in French, you will most likely be fluent in the language. If you are already established professionally, and feel that learning French would be an advantage to you career, you can also enroll in accelerated courses in the French language online, which will offer you the opportunity to gain knowledge of a very basic foundation in the language. Learning the language in this manner will be a relatively quick and highly convenient way to learn a second language. There are many online colleges and learning centers that provide accelerated programs in French, as well as many other languages.

Of course, if you have the time and the means, another option is to learn the French language through an immersion program. In this manner, you will not only learn the French language, but you will also experience French culture. Learning French in France, where the language has its origins, you will plunge yourself into the life and culture, and you will learn the language quickly and with surprising ease. You will learn the conversational and idiomatic styles of the language. You will interact on a daily basis with people who are native speakers of French, and who won’t necessarily be willing or able to communicate in English. Therefore, you will be compelled to try to communicate with them in their own tongue. You will be absorbed into the everyday life of France. You will grow to understand and appreciate the French culture: the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. You will attend courses in which you will learn how to read and write in French as well. Learning the French language through immersion is an ideal way to go.

Being fluent in more than one language has many advantages professionally. If you are fluent in the French language, you can be certified as a foreign language translator for example. This is a challenging career opportunity that offers you many options. You can work full-time for a foreign language translation firm, translating important business documents or web pages for global corporations. Or you can do freelance translation work, making your own workload, and setting your own schedule. Another career opportunity is to teach English to students in French speaking countries. By knowing English and French, you will be able to live and work in one of many countries whose native tongue is the French language.

Learning to speak, read, and write the French language gives you the potential to further develop you career by working abroad, or to embark on a new career as a translator. Learning French will enhance your travels as well. Learning the French language is an intellectually and personally enriching achievement that will open your eyes to a new culture.

John is a director of numerous Internet companies and is a published author. Many articles have been produced on a variety of subjects with excellent content and depth. All his articles may be reproduced provided that an active link is included to http://www.foreign-languages-school.com

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