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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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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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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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.

For more well again, natural and simple online French learning, you have an extensive variety of efficient and time saving products. For this intention, visit

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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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For a start you’ve got the internet. It’s a huge resource for learning the French language with many sites where you can start to learn absolutely free. A lot of them provide French on MP3 clips so you can actually hear the language. That’s the way you want to learn. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely anti-book, but a book can’t speak. How are you going to learn French properly without knowing how it’s spoken?

Here’s an example. If I try to write down how to pronounce the French alphabet you’d get something like this: aah, bay, cay, day, euh, efah – well you can’t do much with that can you? But if I actually speak it to you, if you could actually hear my voice… I think you can see what I mean.

So learning French on your computer is definitely the way forward. The internet can not only give you French MP3s but also on a few sites, like the BBC, video clips as well. These walk you through situations like getting a cab, asking directions, ordering food. Again you’ve got the benefit of hearing spoken French and these videos bring the whole thing to life. They’re entertaining, and if you’re being entertained you learn faster because it all seems so much easier.

You will soon find that you run out of free places online to learn French. After all, most free services are just trying to get you to sign up to some kind of paid service. I don’t think there’s a problem with that, that’s business. If they didn’t get paid we probably wouldn’t have these services at all. Just take advantage of the free French lessons you can find and move on.

The thing is, if you want to continue to learn French fast you’re probably going to have to eventually put your hand in your pocket.

Learning French on your computer is still the way to go though because now we’re moving into software to learn French – and great stuff it is too!

Whether you’re five or ninety-five there’s French software that can help. There’s just as broad a rage of prices too. At the bottom end you tend to get what you pay for, and to be honest although it’s not practical for me to check them all, those I have seen don’t offer a great deal. For $20.00 I’m afraid you don’t get a great deal more that the free stuff.

However, for not a lot more (and certainly way less than a course of private French lessons) there are some amazing programs like Rocket French. This is what learning French on your computer should be like, utilizing all the abilities of your PC. It’s fun, it’s interactive, it’s got games which will provide you with a bit of a challenge and you’ve got French MP3 sound files so you can copy them to a player or a CD and continue to learn while you’re out walking around or in the car maybe.

So much as I like a good book, if you want to learn French fast, with the minimum difficulty, learn French on your computer!

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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