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Post by luckyluc on Jun 22, 2007 14:42:21 GMT -5
No need, Sister, my hubby treat me like a prince all the time!
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 22, 2007 14:50:17 GMT -5
mine too luc...as they should (well, in my case that would be a princess...but it's all royalty!) Actually even *I* knew that it wasn't really polite to say "je veux" in a restaurant, etc. But I also thought that you should only say "Je voudrais" (I didn't know that you could use "J'aimerai"s in that context. My friend also told me that "Je prends" works too...which do you think is more common and/or better??!
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Post by luckyluc on Jun 22, 2007 15:08:33 GMT -5
J'aimerais, je voudrais, je prendrais is all "bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet", as Anne mentionned.
To keep is simple when ordering at a bistro you could just say " Pour moi, (name of the dish) et ensuite (name of the dish) s'il vous plait.
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Post by GitteK on Jul 29, 2007 3:28:30 GMT -5
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 10:57:33 GMT -5
Hmmm...I'll have my daughter download it later and check it out for us!
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 17:11:49 GMT -5
Gitte, did you notice the links waaay at the bottom of the page you just referred us to? I visited one of these sites that I hadn't previously known about (some are repeats from previous postings, but I didn't recognize this one) and found it to be a really nice source for basic "travelers French" (and you could carry on some pretty heart-pounding flirtations with the phrases in the "romance" section at the end!): www.bonjour.com/
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Post by GitteK on Jul 29, 2007 22:46:05 GMT -5
Annette Thanks for the first big laugh of the day. ;D ;D I simply LOVE those american transscripts. I have owned both the Frommer's and the R.St. guidebooks once (they are long since burnt on the fire) - and sometimes I played this game of covering the French text and then tried to guess what the transscript meant. If you do not speak French with an anglo-american accent it is hilarious !! Most of the time the words make absolutely no sense - so, not knowing what it is supposed to mean, you may very well think that it is some ancient Pakistani mountainherd dialect - regardez: Suh nay pah grahvuh Ahvehk plehzeer Duh ryeh(n) seh koh(m)byeh(n)? sa(n)k uhr mwah(n) luh kahr eel eh sa(n)k uhr ah kehl uhr ehskuh sehlah kohmah(n)s? zhuh koh(m)prah(n) uh(n) puh zhuh swee dayzohlay may zhe nuh koh(m)prah(n) pah ;D ;D ;D
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 29, 2007 22:49:11 GMT -5
LOL--I can see what you mean!
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 30, 2007 16:14:03 GMT -5
OK everyone...I received my Pimsleur French CD's in the mail today!! AND I faithfully studied some French everyday while I was in Mexico (and yes, it was a bit confusing with my husband studying Spanish at the same time !) I am just DETERMINED to learn enough French to get by all by my little unfluent self and impress my ma on our trip in December... Wish me luck!
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Post by annettecinca on Jul 30, 2007 22:59:55 GMT -5
Studying French in Mexico?! Now there's a contrast! Good luck with your studies--I bet a lot of your high school stuff comes back
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 14, 2008 15:21:20 GMT -5
Has anyone used the SmartFrench CD's? If so, any feedback?
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 15, 2008 10:24:16 GMT -5
Hi Annette,
I tried the Smart French CD's. I can't say that they taught me anything about learning the language, but I guess that they helped with pronunciation and listening skills. I still like the Pimsleur best (not to say that any of it helps when I'm actually there, frozen on the spot, tongue-tied!!! ;D
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Post by mez on Jun 15, 2008 12:50:58 GMT -5
...not to say that any of it helps when I'm actually there, frozen on the spot, tongue-tied!!! ;D ;D Unfortunately no French course can cure this. I wish it did!
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 15, 2008 12:52:10 GMT -5
Sis, which ones did you use? I see they have several different sets--Intro. to French 1 & 2, then Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced, and then Learn French from Real French People. All but the the intro CD's seem to be geared at perfecting your listening skills rather than basic learning. Boy, I hear you about the tongue tied thing!
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 16, 2008 7:19:22 GMT -5
Annette, I have the Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced. I do think that they helped some with listening comprehension and pronunciation, so I guess I could recommend them as an aid to another, more language learning focused series. Are you going to continue to take classes? I'm bummed out because I REALLY liked the non-credit course I took at our local community college - the teacher is excellent But they only offer 3 levels of classes and I've taken them all!
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 16, 2008 8:57:35 GMT -5
The class I was taking last fall was going nowhere fast, so I'm not attending any longer. Until I'm ready to commit to a longer commute, I'll have to settle for CD's and the computer It's making a lot more sense to me and things are really clicking, so I want to keep up my momentum!
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Post by Laidback on Jun 16, 2008 13:02:02 GMT -5
Has anyone used the SmartFrench CD's? If so, any feedback? Annette, Through the years, I have tried practically every mode under the sun to learn French, including Pimsleur, Smart French(Learn French from real French People), Alliance Française, adult ed. at local colleges, private tutor, immersion courses in Sancerre(3 times), learn French by Podcast and I still realize that I am far from fluent, just barely able to get by in conversation. My experience is that every mode was helpful to some extent, probably the adult classes at Alliance and the local college the least and the private tutor and immersion courses the most. Currently, I probably use my Ipod with the downloaded LFBP the most as it is so convenient and I can use it anywhere, anytime to help pick up phrases from actual conversations. I have suggested that perhaps Ourparis could try a few simple chat sessions with Luc, Anne226 and other Francophones; they have been very kind in helping me occasionally even though the oral part is missing. As you well know, comprehension of the written word is quite different from trying to understand the spoken word. Still the practice in spontaneity and corrections in grammar and vocab. is invaluable to me. Thanks again to Luc and Anne for their kindness and patience.
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 16, 2008 14:41:34 GMT -5
I have suggested that perhaps Ourparis could try a few simple chat sessions with Luc, Anne226 and other Francophones; Oh yes--a live French chat could be interesting and really helpful! I know I wouldn't be able to keep up with most of you, but participating however I could would surely make me stretch (which hurts, but pain is a good thing when you're trying to learn something new!). My spelling sure would provide the group with a lot of amusement (or frustration!) I'm currently listening to my Pimsleur course again (4-5 times thru?). I feel like I've gotten quite a bit out of that series, at least comprehension-wise. It's hard spitting it out at the drop of a hat, tho! I've listened to the Michel Thomas Beginner course a few times, and have worked on some of the online sites, and feel like you do LB, that all have been helpful to some extent--I've had some nice "ah-ha" moments with each one. But I have a looooong way to go. Since I've ruled out a traditional class for the time being, I will take a bit of comfort from the fact that you feel your adult ed. classes here in the states were the least helpful to you! As far as classes go, maybe I'll hold out for an immersion course in France somewhere! Until then...I'll be buying more CD's. What is the "LFBP" you referenced above?
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Post by Laidback on Jun 16, 2008 17:20:03 GMT -5
I have suggested that perhaps Ourparis could try a few simple chat sessions with Luc, Anne226 and other Francophones; What is the "LFBP" you referenced above? I abbreviated Learn French By Podcast from which you can download over a hundred sessions for free on your I-Pod. There are many other free pod casts to help one learn French and this one may not even be the best but it is the one I am familiar with. Try a few different ones and critique them for me.
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Post by annettecinca on Jun 16, 2008 19:14:58 GMT -5
Good to know--thanks so much!
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