I'm in France for 6 weeks and want to improve my French - what do you recommend??

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really ...

We've six weeks in a gorgeous house in Provence, part holiday part work and at the same time we'd like to improve our French just a bit every day. I've been ill so we aren't going to be very sociable - otherwise we'd go to cafes and chat to people!

We're at French GCSE + level but very rusty!

We're thinking:

• go to the local cinema and watch things in French on Netflix
• speak as much French as we can when we go to shops, etc
• read a novel or the newspaper in French
• and ideally do a DuoLingo type language course a few minutes each day - which do you find best?

All other ideas very welcome - but especially a recommendation for a spoken language course online, ideally free or not too expensive

Thanks!

I’d look for French radio stations online, especially those with news bulletins. Anything to help you attune your ear to the language. Also French TV if you have one - or again, if you can watch online.

I would focus on little and often throughout the day - a novel might feel daunting, so you may prefer newspapers (or gossip magazines, I always treat myself to something like Paris Match or Gala when I’m in France!). Or even short stories?

Do you need more than pain au chocolat?

I don't think you can beat just getting out and talking to people, sorry! A shame you've been unwell :( It's just so rewarding to have that two-way back and forth instantly confirming that the message is getting across. Even just a quick chat about teh weather with someone walking thier dog, or whatever...

I do also recommend reading the news/local news on your phone (so you can instantly highlight and translate new words) - try to find a tabloidy site with short items, tnhey will be more simply written on the whole. Maybe read them out to each other and work out the meaning between you?

I have tried watching films on Netflix that I already knew the plot to, but with French dubbing - and French subtitles. Again you do need to keep stopping to translate, and confusinngly the dubbing and subtitles are often a bit differently wroded. But it does help 'get your ear in'

There are plenty of French language podcasts to listen to, and apps like “Yabla” which show short videos with transcripts and practice vocabulary.

To help me learn German, I watch everything I can with German subtitles. Netflix is particularly good for this.

I'm currently watching Love is Blind Japan with German subtitles to translate. I also watch German language films with German subtitles on.

It really helps!

I also use Duolingo but not regularly.

Audio-wise: News in easy French or
Inner French intermediate podcast

Apps: I find Babbel or Busuu more helpful/structured than Duolingo.

Speaking: You could try apps like Tandem or HelloTalk to find a partner who wants to learn English in exchange for French, or there's organisations like ShareAmi where you speak to an elderly French person online.

I found it helpful to watch English language film/TV with French subtitles. French cinemas used to advertise showings like that as VO (version originale, iiirc), I don’t know if that’s still a thing. Reading adverts/magazines helps me improve my vocabulary, but as others have said, there’s nothing quite like putting it into practice.

I'd recommend trying to speak to someone every day.
You are saying "we" so are you with someone, can you at least speak a bit of French to each other?
I'd also recommend as people have said above, watching things in English with French subtitles and watching things in French with English subtitles.
The problem with people speaking to you is the pace and the way words run into each other, so even if you think you are doing well in your lovely villa, it can be a shocker out in the wild.
Depending on where you are in Provence, the dialect can be tricky too.
Good luck!

You can sometimes get familiar novels eg Agatha Christie or something shortish in other languages so maybe your favourite familiar read in French?

I have just started Duolingo and finding it addictive.

I hope you have a lovely time. I know you're not going to be sitting in cafés but all the same, I'd be eavesdropping as hard but unobtrustively as I could when out and about and get the "Real French people! Speaking French! To each other!" buzz that you can't get here.

Definitely watch some French TV. I watched the olympics on French TV this summer and it really helps.

Also shopping in local markets and small specialist shops. I had a longish chat with a lady in a wine merchants this summer and I’m not close to fluent. She didn’t even try and correct my French 😅

Try a French comic because it will use short sentences that you have a better chance of understanding.

DuoLingo for 15 minutes a day improved my French a lot, especially my written French.

Get out and talk to people is really the only way to improve your command of the spoken language. It’s really difficult when your French is quite basic as many French in tourist locations will switch straight to English. You really have to persevere. Netflix is good with French subtitles if you can (may be a bit beyond your level but try!).
Bienvenue chez les Chtis is a pretty silly funny movie and also Dix Pour Cent is great (call my agent).
you can do some online courses with the institut français if you are prepared to pay.

When I worked in France I listened to the morning news on a repeating cycle. Clearly spoken and by the third time through the headlines I'd usually got the gist.

Ah, yes that may be partly why I enjoyed my recent holiday in France so much - not a touristy area (well a few French tourists mainly visiting for the wine I think, but basically just the middle of the countryside) and hardly anyone tried to speak to me in English. It leaves you feeling very smug 😅

BFM TV is good for rolling news. They also have a ticker tape on the bottom so you can read news.

Agree though that talking is important. See if on meetup there are any conversation groups. I think there are some where you speak English for 30 minutes and french for 30 minutes so you both get to practice a foreign language.

Je crois que tu as un cerveau vide...

Read the French papers, I love reading the local paper. Where we go the regional one is daily.

Be fully prepared for most people to speak back at you in English if you are trying to talk in French.

😄 🤣 😂

Take a course locally in anything you can find. The teacher or coach will have to speak to you in French .

These are all SUCH great ideas - thank you!!

I'm going to investigate all of them - and yes, I agree getting out and talking to people as much as we can does feel important. hopefully Ill start feeling a bit better in 2-3 weeks and be able to do more.

And yes, there are two of us here - Sounds silly but I hadn't even thought about the two of us talking in French to each other. I think that's a really good idea

hello - how did your holiday and learning of French go? Were you staying in a holiday home? I’m trying to find Provence recommendations.

Hi @MrsMalaga It went well thanks and we're trying to keep it up (a bit) now back in UK... before we go out again later in the year.

We love the bit of Provence we are in - near Lorgues, surrounded by small medieval villages and outrageously beautiful... We have a holiday home there, which we do rent out when not there.

When are you thinking of going? And what are you most looking for? If you're keen on city life, Aix is absolutely gorgeous.

Thank u for your response 😀

I’m also on a life long mission to improve my French. It’s a work in progress - it feels like there is a big gulf between French as it is taught and the actual French spoken on a day to day basis which is so fast and so blended/ contracted. Anyway, i enjoy the learning but i think in time I will need to spend an extended period in the country.

This year I’m hoping to take my family of 5 away on holiday together - all being well, 2 should be graduating. Planning on a June holiday, keen to explore option of Provence, a week to ten days. I love places that are remote but that’s no good for my young adults. They r not party kids but they like a bit of life …cafes, buskers, boat trips, etc. we’re happy to hire a car.

Thank you for the Aix recommendation. I do love the sound of your holiday home ❤️
Any other recommendations wd b v much appreciated. If u r letting out your holiday home please let me know - we’re a v tidy bunch 😀