I would like to learn to read french, primarily for classic literature. I am currently fluent in Danish and English, and perhaps B2 level in German. I would like to study 1 hour every day, and I do not have any budget limit. Currently I am thinking of buying a handful of self-study books and completing them in succession. Perhaps these:
Assimil French Without Toil
70's Assimil French With Ease
Berlitz Self-Teacher
Cortina Method
Does this sound like a sound first step? Do you think I would then be able to moving on to bilingual texts after completing these courses? I have had a lot of success with english/german bilingial texts, but that was on the basis of seven years of german in school.
Thanks for the advice in advance (:
French learning materials for a complete beginner
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2022 10:17 am
- Languages: Danish (N), English (fluent), German (A2/B1)
- lavengro
- Blue Belt
- Posts: 729
- Joined: Wed May 24, 2017 1:39 am
- Location: Hiding in Vancouver. Tell no one.
- Languages: Taking a siesta from this site for the rest of 2024.
- x 2008
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
I do not have any advice about any of that material as I used other materials, but just to let you know, Cortina French material (text and audio) is available for free legally at https://fsi-languages.yojik.eu/languages/cortina.html
4 x
This signature space now dedicated to Vancouver's best - but least known - two person female power rock band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnbymC_M1AY, ,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Av4S6u83a0, , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ARPYVYE6Vc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnbymC_M1AY, ,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Av4S6u83a0, , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ARPYVYE6Vc
- tastyonions
- Black Belt - 1st Dan
- Posts: 1620
- Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 5:39 pm
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Languages: EN (N), FR, ES, DE, IT, PT, NL, EL
- x 4034
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
I'm not familiar with Cortina but apart from that it looks like a solid list.
0 x
-
- Black Belt - 1st Dan
- Posts: 1998
- Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:26 am
- Languages: English (native), French & German (learning).
- Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... &start=200
- x 4120
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
Is there audio available for French without toil? Whatever courses you choose, I think your first course at least should have audio. I did like the Assimil course though, they currently seem to sell the physical books with CDs or MP3 USBs.Alfred200303 wrote:I would like to learn to read french, primarily for classic literature. I am currently fluent in Danish and English, and perhaps B2 level in German. I would like to study 1 hour every day, and I do not have any budget limit. Currently I am thinking of buying a handful of self-study books and completing them in succession. Perhaps these:
Assimil French Without Toil
70's Assimil French With Ease
Berlitz Self-Teacher
Cortina Method
Does this sound like a sound first step? Do you think I would then be able to moving on to bilingual texts after completing these courses? I have had a lot of success with english/german bilingial texts, but that was on the basis of seven years of german in school.
Thanks for the advice in advance (:
I agree that bilingual texts are a good tool.
If money is not limited, perhaps you could look at attending a class too?
EDIT
As you have German as an option, you might want to consider PONs courses too. One of our forum members, Sonja, was very impressed by them.
5 x
-
- Blue Belt
- Posts: 984
- Joined: Sat Jul 18, 2015 11:57 am
- Location: Paris, France
- Languages: Native: French
Intermediate: English, Russian, Italian
Tourist : Breton, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, Latin - Language Log: viewtopic.php?t=1524
- x 2172
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
French without toil is the first generation: Chapt 1: Bon voyage ! (audio is available)
French with ease is the second generation: Chapt 1 : Où est le métro ? (audio is available)
French (with ease series), is the current generation: Chapt1 : Comment allez-vous ? The audio is available in CDs, usb stick and MP3s to download on the Assimil site.
There is "french by the nature method" on YouTube: it's not read by a native (I can hear a slight accent) but it's sufficient if your aim is only to read (the pdf is on archive.org)
5 x
-
- Yellow Belt
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:28 pm
- Languages: English (N), Italian (beginner)
- Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=17198
- x 174
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
You may want to consider the Great Courses french course. If you live in the US many library systems have a subscription to Kanopy which lets you watch the video for free, and you can order the workbook for $10 from them. It is supposed to be the equivalent of the 1st year of college french. A review is in the thread https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =19&t=6059
0 x
-
- Orange Belt
- Posts: 172
- Joined: Sat Apr 27, 2019 5:22 pm
- Location: USA
- Languages: Speaks: English (N), Spanish
Studies: German, French - x 622
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
Your proposed program is similar to the one recommended by deka glossai. (The video below if for German but the same program and same materials could be used for French.)
Berlitz Self-Teacher is an old series with question-and-answer drills. But there's no audio for it and not a lot of explanation so I wouldn't start with it. Once you've got a good handle on the pronunciation it would work as a follow-up if you want more exercises (one of Assimil's weak points). If you like drills, you might like the FSI French Basic course.
Assimil and Cortina are similar in style: dialogues with a parallel translation and notes. You've listed three courses (two Assimils + Cortina) that all follow this format. I assume you have a strong preference for this style? If not or if you are not sure, you might want to explore other materials.
If you want something with more grammar, you might consider the old generation Teach Yourself. I think it would be pretty effective if your primary interest is reading. If your German is up to it you might look at the Langenscheidt courses (I have not tried them but they seem to have a pretty good reputation).
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 19&t=17253
Berlitz Self-Teacher is an old series with question-and-answer drills. But there's no audio for it and not a lot of explanation so I wouldn't start with it. Once you've got a good handle on the pronunciation it would work as a follow-up if you want more exercises (one of Assimil's weak points). If you like drills, you might like the FSI French Basic course.
Assimil and Cortina are similar in style: dialogues with a parallel translation and notes. You've listed three courses (two Assimils + Cortina) that all follow this format. I assume you have a strong preference for this style? If not or if you are not sure, you might want to explore other materials.
If you want something with more grammar, you might consider the old generation Teach Yourself. I think it would be pretty effective if your primary interest is reading. If your German is up to it you might look at the Langenscheidt courses (I have not tried them but they seem to have a pretty good reputation).
https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 19&t=17253
1 x
- Carmody
- Black Belt - 1st Dan
- Posts: 1749
- Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2016 4:00 am
- Location: NYC, NY
- Languages: English (N)
French (B1) - Language Log: http://tinyurl.com/zot7wrs
- x 3408
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
This might be of interest to people.
The Nature Method for Learning Foreign Languages - What is it & Why isn't it Better Known?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dETMksMseqc
The Nature Method for Learning Foreign Languages - What is it & Why isn't it Better Known?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dETMksMseqc
1 x
-
- White Belt
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2022 11:37 pm
- Languages: English (N), Esperanto (B2), French (B1). Not learning: Sanskrit (A1), Attic Greek (A1), Russian (A1).
- x 126
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
I would just note that the FSI French phonology course is pretty excellent, it's two weeks of work but it'll get you started on the right foot for listening and speaking.
2 x
-
- Blue Belt
- Posts: 870
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:12 pm
- Location: UK
- Languages: Speaks: English (N), Hindi (A2-B1)
Learning: The above, plus French (A2-B1), German (A1), Ancient Greek (?), Sanskrit (beginner) - Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=19785
- x 2873
- Contact:
Re: French learning materials for a complete beginner
Alfred200303 wrote:I would like to learn to read french, primarily for classic literature. I am currently fluent in Danish and English, and perhaps B2 level in German. I would like to study 1 hour every day, and I do not have any budget limit. Currently I am thinking of buying a handful of self-study books and completing them in succession. Perhaps these:
Assimil French Without Toil
70's Assimil French With Ease
Berlitz Self-Teacher
Cortina Method
Does this sound like a sound first step? Do you think I would then be able to moving on to bilingual texts after completing these courses? I have had a lot of success with english/german bilingial texts, but that was on the basis of seven years of german in school.
Thanks for the advice in advance (:
Depending on your approach/philosopy, you might want to add something a bit more grammar heavy. Hugo French in 3 Months is an excellent little book which does a good job of covering the basics of grammar more explicitly and in more detail than the Assimil courses.
EDIT: you can still get the full version with 3 CDs, but it is a lot more expensive than the new edition, which is just the textbook, and you use the Hugo audio app to listen to the sound files for free.
4 x
Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien (roughly, the perfect is the enemy of the good)
French SC Books: (0/5000 pp)
French SC Films: (0/9000 mins)
French SC Books: (0/5000 pp)
French SC Films: (0/9000 mins)
Return to “Practical Questions and Advice”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests