Cavesa wrote:
Don't rush through important stuff unnecessarily, but don't wait for too long in a comfort zone.
Well said.
I'll be careful with FSI, I am aware of its limits but I need this sort of practice. I got some books on progressive grammar and vocabulary with exercises (more excercises...) in order to cover this as well. I'll take a look into the DALF preparation you mention, to see what's there. As for translation and writing texts, I'll post here some things but I will not join another onine community. We'll see how that one goes. Becherelle I use as a point of reference, consulting it constantly (mostly the verbs).
So, after I have gathered some good resources here is a rough plan of action:
I've got untill November to be ready. From now till the end of August I want to have finished FSI for the conversation. I will have covered as much grammar and vocabulary as possible along with exercises. After that I have two more months (late October) to do the practice tests, and keep studying grammar/vocabulary. And start writing every text possible in French, translating etc. That's it, I'll try to keep it simple. And if all goes wrong there are always the May exams.
Yesterday I finished the first FSI chapter. It was fine, it didn't take that long and it works ok. I wasn't even bored, which is a good sign. I read some grammar about articles etc. Every day I study more.
Je vais essayer d'être laconique avec mon écriture française, car trop de mots ne feront que du mal. Je me souviens du conseil de Michel Thomas, qui proposait d'apprendre et d'utiliser principalement les verbes auxiliaires, pour n'utiliser que l'infinitif des verbes plus difficiles quand c'était possible. Déjà trop de mots.