What's the fastest way to learn French - other than living there?

Question

Due to business problems I need to be able to speak fluent French, but cannot spare the time to visit France. I don't need to read or write it - just discuss matters of law and health issues, and find my way around.

Answer 1

1) I have heard of the Michael Thomas Series - it's supposed to be very good.

2) You can't beat speaking French to someone (easier in France), but search for fluent or native French speakers in your area. They can teach and provide you with conversational skills, even better if you have something in common

3) French lessons at a local college.

4) There are various CD and DVD learning kits available

5) Try to think in French and listen to it as much as possible

6) The main thing is to have a lesson plan and be determined to apply yourself, practising and revising for abour 1/2 an hour per day.

Good luck

Answer 2

It is necessary -but not enough- to learn French via a class, cds, etc. One must practice!  IMO a French boy/girlfriend is the single best way to get alot of conversation practice, but if this isn't practical for you, find French speakers in your area who are interested in an English/French conversation exchange. Surf the web for groups in your area or webgroups who are interested in doing this, whether in person or via webchat. If none of this works, hire someone to speak with you. Do a little French every day - whether it's studying, reading the French news online, listening to a French podcast. Diversifying your French activities will keep it fun and you interested!

Answer 3

French is a hard language to learn, I have lived here in France for 3 years and still struggle with it!

Answer 4

they have some courses

Answer 5

go school or take lessons

Answer 6

I am French and i can tell you that if you only need to speak and no so much to read or write it there is NO other way than to go there or to meet french pple and learn with them.

There is no good traditional way IE. books videos or cassettes that will correctly teach you the every day language.

Do you think i learnt cheers, mate or all the F words in books ? LOL LOL

Answer 7

Are you kidding me?  You will not be able to speak fluent French if you cannot read or write the language.  French is the hardest language to learn out of the 7 Romance Languages.  

Get Rosetta Stone and see if the Alliance Francaise has classes in your area.

http://www.alliancefr.org

http://www.rosettastone.com/en/?a=b

Answer 8

Sign up for a class at the Alliance Francaise. They are located in most major cities and offer all levels of French classes, with very good instructors, most of them French. Their classes are usually about 2-4 hours per week in the evenings.

Hope this helps!

Answer 9

try to go to classes and buy some videos

Answer 10

find a cd or something related to what u are looking, and hear it all the time :)

Answer 11

the fastest way to become french is to eat loads of garlic, horse, snails and frogs, paint yourself a yellow streak down your back........

Vive la france.........

Answer 12

Buy the Michel Thomas course, it worked well for me.

Answer 13

Pimsleur CD's  - you can listen in your car while driving to/from work

Answer 14

I'm agree, the best way to learn a good french, is to learn with a french teacher (Alliance Française, Berlitz, EF school languages ...) and try to get some french Internet's friends for sending some emails in French !

I'm a Parisian woman. Good luck, bonne chance.

Answer 15

get a french girlfriend or bf . plus take lessons and get some cable tv in french with caption, , it helped me having an english boyfriend to speak english even with an accent. read asterix in french is fun. watch films in french,,,, if yo are more musical like myself , listen to music in french, maybe not la chainson francaise as it might be boring but you could try listening to excuse my french on totallyradio. com and see what cool music there is.. and of couse use yahoo france and get in the chatrooms and of couse yahoo réponse

Answer 16

eat garlic

Answer 17

Take the class called french immersion in Cananda.

Answer 18

Try one of those teach yourself french CDs.

Answer 19

Roseta Stone.