If you’re looking for easy to learn French, in bite-size pieces, you’ll probably enjoy those online French classes that use the themed approach.

If it’s new to you, the themed or thematic approach to learning French has been around in printed French books for a while now. Rather than try to learn a set of French words – for example, 50 French words beginning with the letter A – the thematic approach goes for a particular subject and then teaches you what appear to be a random selection of French phrases associated with it.

Actually, although they might appear random, the selection is usually well thought out. The idea being to give you a basic grounding in that particular subject.

The idea has now spread to French lessons on the internet. So for example, a set of free French lessons online, based on themes, would perhaps look at visiting a French restaurant or cafe. It would teach you the words you needed to get a drink, to ask for something to eat, etc. Other subjects might be driving in France or the French weather. Anything can be covered.

In the French language, simple things like saying hello and goodbye can actually have a remarkable number of alternatives. Themed French learning sites turn this kind of thing into a snap shot of French life. This is effective because it’s entertaining and simple. The information is delivered with a friendly, fun attitude. You are learning French almost without realizing it.

The internet can go far beyond printed information, of course, and offers us a terrific bonus that a French book could never give – and that’s the ability to answer back or ask questions. Blogs that offer you the opportunity of learning French for free can also provide you with the chance to get more than is already there. If you have a query you can follow it up by posting a question for the blog owners – and anyone else who visits.

These can then become truly interactive free French lessons. Anyone could pitch in and help you. It’s easy to learn French this way because it’s involving and it’s fun.

Can I recommend a site that uses a theme approach for learning French free? Try this one: Learning French Free. There are tips and ideas for speaking “real” French, plus pro lessons that you can get for nothing.

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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.

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To start learning French, you should realize that what is French and why you want to learn this foreign language? Then you would come to know that French is a beautiful language. It is usually called a Romance language and spoken all around the world.

There are lots of reasons to learn French. For instance, you may want to learn it because it is your study requirement, or you may have to travel to a French speaking country or you want to earn money through your French language skills or you may want to learn French just because of your personal interest. For all above mentioned purposes, you have a large number of tips and ways that really lead you towards a successful French learning in less time.

The most frequent and cheapest way to learn French is learning French online.

First of all, you have to spend plenty time to learn French online because it is not too simple and easy to learn an unknown or a foreign language.

Search out for online French tutorials. You will find thousands of these types of tutorials that could really provide you valuable help and assist.

Start learning French by reading articles, blog posts, websites that are basically developed for the purpose of learning French online.

You have to develop interest in your learning, for this purpose you can watch online French movies, documentaries. You may also listen to online French music. You may use to read online French novels that are fairly straightforward and simple to read and understand.

Online Dictionary can be so helpful for you. From dictionary, you can easily find the meaning of unknown French words and enhance your French vocabulary.

You can also join online French speaking community.

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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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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.

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It seems that in many English speaking countries knowing the French language or indeed any foreign language is regarded as unimportant and too much effort whereas on the continent many people speak at least one extra language. During the next few paragraphs I intend to persuade you that training yourself to speak French is desirable, important and with modern learning techniques it is not especially difficult to achieve

French is one of the great languages of the world. About 300 million globally speak French as a first or second language. French is spoken in a large number of countries. There are 35 countries in which French is spoken at least to some extent. These countries include many parts of Africa, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, parts of Canada, Haiti, and the Seychelles, in addition of course to France itself! As you can see from the above statistics, by knowing French, you will have acquired a language skill, which will make you, feel comfortable and confident whenever you visit many of the countries of the world.

When you holiday in a French speaking country you will have no problem chatting to locals, asking for directions, ordering food and dealing with any number of unexpected problems which may arise, once you know how to speak French. How would you explain to a French car mechanic, who can speak no English, about the problem you have with your car? This would be easy if you can speak French.

Business people, who can speak French will find it easier to deal with buyers, sellers and other contacts in French speaking countries, this could open up whole new areas of income for them.

When one decides to learn a foreign language, there is some degree of difficulty involved. Learning a new language is in some respects quite a difficult undertaking. Although French is in many respects one of the easier languages to learn, there is still quite a steep learning curve, a fair investment in time and effort is required when learning the language. Pronunciation of French words is different to the way in which the English speaker would be inclined to pronounce them, and then there are the different tenses, usage of verbs and other grammatical structures to learn.

All this in additional to the time and effort required to master the reasonably large vocabulary necessary for good communication. If you think that I am trying to put you off – then I am not – definitely not! The advantages of knowing a foreign language far outweigh the investment in time and effort required. The secret is in the method you choose to learn. Rather than use a traditional book, in this technological age an interactive method such as CD’s, DVD’s or a course via the internet is the best and quickest way of getting to grips with the French language.

In conclusion, knowing how to speak French has many advantages. You will be able to travel to French speaking countries and converse with the locals easily and confidently. However learning the French language is fairly difficult and the best way for most people to achieve this is with a modern multimedia course. Provided the course is of the highest standard, the task of learning the French Language become much easier, it also becomes interesting and enjoyable.

When learning French it is important to use the easiest and best methods. There is excellent review of what I feel is the best course for learning the French language. The course is a full multimedia course and is of the highest quality. Please click below to visit the review site.

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Whatever the reason, whether you’re planning a vacation in Paris or on a quest to Quebec, don’t panic. Here are 10 ways to tune up your French and get back on top.

1. Remember — what you learned previously is still there, tucked away — somewhere — in your brain. So you have a head start to improve your French, if you choose to use it.

2. Reassure yourself — French is a Latin language, and you are officially allowed to wave your hands around while speaking ! Not only does this help get the words out, but it’s amazing how helpful and complementary this non-verbal language becomes for your spoken French.

3. Find someone who has a similar or better level of spoken French than yourself. Compare what you know with what they know, help each other to fill in the gaps. And marvel at the fact that you are not actually as bad as you thought you were…

4. Start with the basics, by which I mean literally what you need to survive. The French phrase for “Excuse me, where are the toilets” is probably going to be a lot more useful in the short term, than “I adore the architectural splendor of your town hall.”

5. Dig out any French audio tapes you might have, perhaps even a French course from way back. Flick through the book, or put the tapes on when you’re in the car. A French word recognized is a point scored. How many points can you score today ?

6. Watch a simple French movie — in French ! No dubbed versions please, and turn the subtitles OFF until you feel that you are near to your pain threshold. Then have a break and do some more.

7. Imitate Inspector Clouseau / Peter Sellers’ French accent (what, you don’t have your DVD of the “Pink Panther” ?), when you’re speaking those fun French words again. It helps to get you back into the swing of it.

8. Learn by heart a couple of words or a short phrase in French every day. Remember, stick to the basics first of all, the words and phrases that will be of immediate use. If you can retain three or four essential words a day, that’s good.

9. Visualize the situations that are likely to occur when you will need to speak some French. An old trick, but a good one. Try to say a few words in French corresponding to the situation, and if you can’t remember any, now is a good time to look’em up in your dictionary !

10. Don’t worry too much about being word-perfect. It will come with practice. Hand movements and your natural charm will help you through. Better to have half a French loaf (yes, that’s right, a “baguette” — excellent, you’re really getting back into it !) than no bread.

These 10 suggestions may be light-hearted, yet at the same time they are practical and have proved their worth. The more fun and usefulness for you, the quicker you’ll see noticeable improvements in your spoken French.

About the author. Marc Dubois is an active instructor working in both English and French. He knows what makes learning French successful for you, the mistakes you need to avoid, and how you can have fun and make progress. Find out more on how this approach to speaking French can help you by visiting [http://www.speak-french-now.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dubois

If you are a native speaker of English, or even if you have learned English to a high degree of competency, you already have a natural skill to your advantage, that you can capitalize upon to learn French fast. Many English words are derived from Latin based words, due to invasion of Britain by the Romans and the Normans, who spoke French. This means that thousands of French words are already known to us, in some form or other, even before we start to learn French.

Although, as an English speaker, you do will enjoy certain advantages in learning French words, your knowledge of other languages related to French will also play an important role in whether you can learn French fast. If you happen to have a background in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese or even Romanian, you will have a further advantage in your efforts to learn French fast.

This is because the grammatical structures of these languages is similar to that of French, which means the general concepts underlying the patterns of verbs, tenses and sentence structure will not require the same amount of elucidation they would if you were coming from a background of English only.

Have you studied any other languages successfully in the past? It doesn’t matter whether these languages are related to French, the mere process of having learned a foreign language before, sets the scene for any language learning that follows, and makes it that bit easier.

Looking at what we’ve discussed so far, what immediate advantages do you have to offer yourself to begin to learn French fast? Those represent just the first step.

To learn French fast, you need to get hold of a comprehensive language course to work from, that stimulates as many learning channels as possible at the same time, that is to say, visual, auditory and kinesthetic. A computer-based course is the most effective way to do this, because the entire course is accessible, literally, at the touch of a button. This helps you to learn French fast, because you won’t have to fumble your way through the pages of a text book, or constantly have to find your place on an audio tape or CD, that distracts you from the learning task at hand.

In addition to the positive factors you already possess, you can also speed up your learning of French using certain techniques and strategies that you can acquire. Learning how to concentrate for longer periods of time than the average modern mind is used to will help you focus on learning the French language better.

Also, learn how to use mnemonic techniques, such as association, to aid you in learning French vocabulary, because words are the building blocks of language. The faster you learn them, the faster you learn French! For example, the French for bear is ‘ours’, which sounds a lot like ‘horse’ but with the ‘h; dropped. You only need to imagine bears doing a horse race and you’ve immediately got that word under your belt. Now that’s fast learning!

Finally, to learn French fast, you will have to put in several weeks of intensive study, learning for at least an hour each day, and practicing in your free moments by reviewing the material studied in your active learning sessions.

If you put your mind to it, and you’re willing to study hard, you should be able to learn French fast, relatively speaking.

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French is not only the language of love, it’s also a very useful and universal language that has found its way into many lands, whether through conquest or substantial settling by French immigrants and emigres to the New World as is the case with speakers in North America representing French Canadians, Acadians, and Cajuns.

The American state of Louisiana was originally named for Louis XIV, the Sun King himself, after all.

When speaking with Liz de Nesnera about the role of French in the voice over marketplace, it was amazing to discover how many countries have adopted the French language as a primary or secondary national language.

Liz revealed that besides being spoke in France and Canada, French is also spoken in Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Monaco, as well as many African countries including Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal with many others to numerous to name here. She concluded that given the number of French speakers worldwide, the opportunities for Voice-Over are growing abundantly.

Liz, although a native French speaker, was born and raised in New York City to European parents. At the de Nesnera home, European French was spoken to preserve their heritage and she was not allowed to speak English in her home. The linguistic life of Liz was nurtured further academically through her attendance at a French high school in New York City, Fordham University in the Bronx and the Institut d’Etude Politiques de Paris in Paris, France.

French is becoming the “third language” after English and Spanish and that she has seen a definite increase in the amount of jobs requesting French as the language of choice, including more complex options for corporate telephony (IVR or Message on Hold) or narrations geared toward French speakers.

French has always been a major market as far as voice over goes with Canada being an officially bilingual country, speaking both English and French. Liz has personally witnessed an increase in the number of bilingual jobs, asking for both English and French for any given project.

Bearing that in mind, Canada has proved to be a boon for Liz’s particular language skill sets. As a speaker of a “neutral” form of French, that is to say that she has no discernible accent in either English of French, Canadian companies have hired Liz to record bi-lingual English/French jobs for them. It gives the companies more continuity in their “sound” to have the same voice in both English and French without having to compromise and not have native speakers in one of those recordings.

Recently for an American client, Liz voiced an English job for a French company that had French words peppered throughout, and the client was really pleased that she could pronounce the French words correctly while voicing the English narration without an accent. The result? The client was particularly pleased with how smoothly everything flowed.

Liz relates that the same goes for French. “The accent in Paris is not the same as the accent in Marseilles or Quebec or Brussels, Geneva or Algiers. However, having an almost “generic” accent that can allow the client’s message to be understood by everyone is, in essence, what we in Voice-Over are here to provide.”

When quoting for projects Liz quotes in US Dollars and usually asks for payment via PayPal. As a courtesy, Liz will usually provide an estimate as to what the cost will be in the currency of the country her client resides in.

A handy tool Liz uses is the online Universal Currency Converter which gives them a good idea of the cost. Of course, currencies fluctuate with the markets, so if you are using this as a gauge, be sure to check in daily.

When I asked Liz about her marketing efforts online and off, she has found both methods to bring her success. When marketing offline, the majority of her work comes through referrals via word of mouth. Personal recommendations come from studios, engineers, and even other voice over talent with whom she has worked.

While the “personal touch” works for Liz, she admits to being an Internet Junkie as well, always looking for more voice over opportunities.

The difference between online and offline marketing?

Liz says that you can spot differences in the way that prospective customers are approached. Making a personal connection in important to Liz which bodes well for either form of marketing, stating that both methods can work but you need to find what works best for your personality.

“Marketing is an aspect to this business that many newer voice talents are afraid of… get over it! You need to look at marketing as making connections. Talking to anyone and telling them that you’re a voice talent? THAT’S marketing!” Liz commented.

Her bilingual world, while useful professionally as a voice over talent, is also fulfilling and applicable regarding other aspects of Liz’s personal life, providing her with another outlook on the world and a wider lens to see through. Consumption of the French news via satellite gives Liz an additional perspective on global affairs and communicating with relatives who live in France is first nature to her. Liz is “eternally grateful” that her parents passed on their native language to her.

Stephanie Ciccarelli is the VP of Marketing with Voices.com, the voice over marketplace hosting more than 15,000 professional voice talents. Stephanie is also the author of The Definitive Guide To Voice-Over Success.

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