Learning French in a business context

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MrsStarez
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Languages: I can read and write French, but my spoken capabilities are limited. I'm looking to develop further, especially in a business sense, as I'm getting increasingly asked if I would be able to use French at work.
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Learning French in a business context

Postby MrsStarez » Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:29 pm

Hi there,

This is my first post, so I hope I’m doing it right :-)

I did a joint honours degree more years ago than I’d care to think about, incorporating French, but have gone extremely rusty. I’m keen to get back to where I was - and improve - as I’ve really enjoyed using French on a couple of recent holidays. I’ve done various tests online and have ascertained I could be a B2, but I think this is optimistic!

The additional challenge is that I’m hoping to use French in a business context - something my boss is keen on - but I have no idea where to start. I have French colleagues but invariably if we’re discussing something work-related we slip back into English as it’s often easier for both parties!

So, my question is... where’s a good place to start?

Thanks,

Helen
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby StringerBell » Sat Sep 01, 2018 9:51 pm

Probably what I'd do in your position is try to read and listen to as much in French as possible that relates specifically to that particular business.

For example, if you work for an IT company, then that would mean watching IT-related videos on youtube, maybe getting a magazine or newspaper that's about computers and technology and reading through it, looking up unknown words.

I'd also find a French-speaking tutor online (through iTalki or some other site) and practice with them the kinds of things you envision yourself needing to say or write. So instead of focusing on "how is your day" chit chat, it would be focused on IT topics, or practicing how to phrase something when speaking to a client, or how to write a business email in French.
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DaveAgain
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby DaveAgain » Sat Sep 01, 2018 10:07 pm

1. There are some business themed french as a foreign language qualifications, with associated text books etc..

https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/fr ... nch-exams/

http://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/tes ... onnel-dfp/

2. You could also look at business orientated media, e.g. Les Echos, and others specific to your industry.

EDIT
Welcome to the forum! :-)

EDIT 2
MrsStarez wrote:I have French colleagues but invariably if we’re discussing something work-related we slip back into English as it’s often easier for both parties!

So, my question is... where’s a good place to start?

That is a good place to start. You have french speaking colleagues, try to work more french-language interaction into your day.
If you get on especially well with one or two of them, perhaps have a french speaking lunch routine?

You could also try to work more french into your life outside of work. Your TV package may include TV5Monde watch some TV in french on that or perhaps listen to some french language radio etc.
Last edited by DaveAgain on Sun Sep 02, 2018 8:12 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby Speakeasy » Sat Sep 01, 2018 10:16 pm

MrsStarez, welcome to the forum! I look forward to following your participation in any of the fascinating discussions that spark your interest.

As to your revived interest in French and, more particularly, in French in a business setting, a quick search of the major online booksellers’ websites yields a fairly large number of short courses designed to introduce the user to the general business terminology. Nevertheless, as I remarked in one of my posts in the discussion thread below, my personal experience suggests to me that “business communications” tend to use terminology which is very specific to an industry; I would go further by saying that it can be specific to a company within an industry.

Business Conversations in French – LLORG – July, 2018
https://forum.language-learners.org/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=8774

Enjoy your studies!
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby Lawyer&Mom » Sun Sep 02, 2018 3:47 am

My experience with a Business German course in 2003 is that I gained the vocabulary to work in an import/export firm that wrote an extraordinary amount of formal letters. Which would probably be perfect for someone...

Given the resources we have in 2018, I’d focus on French websites, podcasts, blogs, social media, MOOCs etc. focused on *your* industry. You’ll pick up the vocabulary in a much more natural context.
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MrsStarez
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Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... php?t=8933
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby MrsStarez » Sun Sep 02, 2018 6:13 am

Wow, lots of really helpful suggestions overnight - thanks everyone!
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby arthaey » Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:56 am

What coincidental timing, I was just today offered a work project in Spain (that VERY SADLY I have to pass up for Reasons), which made me realize I should up my professional-vocab game.

Searching YouTube for the word "conference" in your target language + a word for your work industry should turn up some content to practice listening to and shadowing. At least that's my plan. ;)
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby Deinonysus » Wed Sep 26, 2018 12:57 pm

I use Salesforce at work and they offer probably thousands of hours worth of free training online in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Japanese at trailhead.salesforce.com. I've only done a few lessons in French, but I think I picked up a good amount of business jargon from it.

A good place to start would be "CRM for Salesforce Classic", which translates into the much more wordy "Apprentissage des concepts de base de la relation client (CRM) pour Salesforce Classic".
https://trailhead.salesforce.com/fr/tra ... crm_basics

This should be useful from a business vocabulary standpoint even if you have no intention of ever using Salesforce. It's all text based, so no listening practice unfortunately.
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Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby arthaey » Wed Sep 26, 2018 2:08 pm

You might also search for business/manager/career podcasts in French.
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MrsStarez
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Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2018 11:31 am
Location: Warwickshire
Languages: I can read and write French, but my spoken capabilities are limited. I'm looking to develop further, especially in a business sense, as I'm getting increasingly asked if I would be able to use French at work.
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... php?t=8933
x 174

Re: Learning French in a business context

Postby MrsStarez » Sun Sep 30, 2018 4:44 pm

...even if you have no intention of ever using Salesforce...

We use Salesforce! I’ll look into it tomorrow :-)
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