[LazyAzian]

OK! So I have French in school for the rest of my high school life,
and it sucks real bad (TT_TT'""). (because I am STRUGGLING)
As stated before, because I have it the rest of my school life I might
as well spend a lot of time off-school to study it, but
the only problem is that I don't know who can teach me
and what websites I can go to to improve (^-^)?!

I have talked a about a tutor with my mom, but she said I don't need one
and it's quite costly (-_-";;-). SO, because of this I have one question and I
really hope someone can help me or give me advice:

Can anyone teach me here?
Good ways to start learning better?
Websites I can go to?

[prismatic_star]

OK! So I have French in school for the rest of my high school life,
and it sucks real bad (TT_TT'""). (because I am STRUGGLING)
As stated before, because I have it the rest of my school life I might
as well spend a lot of time off-school to study it, but
the only problem is that I don't know who can teach me
and what websites I can go to to improve (^-^)?!

I have talked a about a tutor with my mom, but she said I don't need one
and it's quite costly (";;-). SO, because of this I have one question and I
really hope someone can help me or give me advice:

Can anyone teach me here?
Good ways to start learning better?
Websites I can go to?

WATCH FRENCH SHOWS. It really helps. Try immersing yourself where French is spoken constantly.
Examples of some wonderful films are: La Grande Séduction, La Fabuleux Destin D'Amélie Poulain (Amelie), etc...
And one thing: this book, the Besherelle: Conjugation edition, should be your bible. French may be a difficult language (damn those masculins and feminins!) but it's an easier language than classical chinese. Or so they say.

I would help you but I don't know if your French is France French or Quebecois French...

[LazyAzian]

I am learning Quebecois French.
I don't think there's much difference except
pronouncing some words, but overall it's still French.

Yes, those masculine and feminine words.
The passe compose thingy is annoying also,
but what I hate most is memorizing how to pronounce
certain words (";;;). How do you say "souhaits"?

[clemie186]

I am learning Quebecois French.
I don't think there's much difference except
pronouncing some words, but overall it's still French.

Yes, those masculine and feminine words.
The passe compose thingy is annoying also,
but what I hate most is memorizing how to pronounce
certain words (";;;). How do you say "souhaits"?

you pronouce souhait, sue-hae,
Sue as in the name Sue and hae as in saranghae but don't drag the ae
Something like that XD

------------------

I recommend befriending someone who can speak french and then converse in french on MSN to improve you're grammar, sentence structure etc
But pronouciation wise... read the french newspaper, or start off with a children's book, out loud so you can hear the sounds.. or talk to that friend in french

[YoochunsGirl]

yeah i need help with my french too! i dont know how to say "they starred in" or something close to that. we are learning france french

[prismatic_star]

Well, if there's difficulty in passe compose, I could teach you some verbs. I don't know if this helps.
One thing though, when one verbe is in "l'infinitif" (a.k.a root word), it usually ends in ER. Like "Manger, danser, chuchoter". You must remove the ER. (There's other root words that don't end in ER but those are a tad difficult than this verb... Let's go with basics?)
NOTE; you use passe compose for quick actions.
Ex. I have danced.
Fr. J'ai dansé(*e).

*You add an extra "e" if you or your subject is well, a girl.

Just memorize these two verbs that applies to almost all known verbs.

Avoir (Have)
Single person

J' ai
Tu as
il/elle a

Plural People:
Nous avons
Vous avez
Ils/elles ont

Etre (Is)
Single Person:
Je suis
Tu es
Il/Elle est

Plural People:
Nous sommes
Vous êtes
Ils sont

Or you can check this out for some explanation if that didn't help you.

[res0nate]

Honestly, French is so much easier than English. And do not rely on internet translators if you're planning to do more than a couple of words; whole sentences will come out mangled.

[the kite]

^ I agree. I find French pretty easy.
Until I had a new teacher this year.
She's really mean ToT

But I'm just a French n00b (studying French 2 )

And you should watch Ponette, I LOVE that movie!

[Sky's Crying]

I can give you some tips : ) I'm in AP French 5-IB right now and I'm a senior.

If you're struggling with the basics, start there before getting ahead of yourself.

Helpful tip: Try to enjoy the language and the culture. If you take an active interest in say, french movies or music, you'll enjoy the class a lot more. I personally have french stuff all over my room...from pictures of Paris to old Renoir and Matisse exhibition posters and what not. I love watching french movies too! : )

Some movies you might like: Amelie, Jeux d'Enfants (American Title: Love Me If You Dare), Les Choristes, A Very Long Engagement, Le Gloire de Mon Pere.
Some musicians: Vanessa Paradis, M, Brazilian Girls (They throw in french into some of their songs), Kyo, Celine Dion.
A book that you might be able to take a stab at: Le Petit Prince. The "Passe Simple" will show up often, so I would suggest looking over that first before so that you can at least recognize the tense.

1. Make sure you know how to conjugate your verb tenses properly. If you don't...
a. Go buy a verb book! I use my own personal verb book rather than depending on the one behind our class book because it has a pretty clear explanation of how to conjugate each tense, when to use it, and what it means. It cleared up the subjunctive form for me A LOT.
b. practice writing out 2 verbs per week.

2. Depending upon what level you're in...
a. Try to memorize vocabulary in your own time.
b. Study ahead of time for inclass exams and quizzes.
c. Memorize IDIOMATIC PHRASES! I call idiomatic phrases the secret arsenal for kicking butt on the AP Exam. My teacher calls it "fancy french." Your teacher and standardized exam graders will be impressed if you know how to use some idiomatic phrases, PROPERLY.

3. Keep a notebook for little mistakes that you frequently make, and take special efforts in trying to correct them. This could be for errors in agreements, spellings (I see BEAUCOUP spelled incorrectly often for example), grammar, verbs, etc.

Lastly, don't be afraid to ask your teacher questions. If you don't understand something, or don't catch something he/she says, then ask him/her to clarify or repeat unless it is genuinely your fault (i.e. you're talking to you friends while the teacher is speaking).

If you really are desperate for some help, I'll drop by this thread once in a while to try and answer your questions. What level are you in anyhow?

[LazyAzian]

Ohh cool, thanky!
Hmm yes, I have taken SOME interest in the
French culture. I only read "Le Petit Prince" once,
wasn't the author Saint Antoine Exupery? After I read that
book and his name, decided to name my future child after him hahahahhaa.

ANYWAYZ, I am in Grade 9 Academic French.
I am taking French (Québec French that is) for the
rest of the high school years. I REALLY want to speak
it, atleast to the point I can communicate properly with French ppl.

[Sky's Crying]

Ohh cool, thanky!
Hmm yes, I have taken SOME interest in the
French culture. I only read "Le Petit Prince" once,
wasn't the author Saint Antoine Exupery? After I read that
book and his name, decided to name my future child after him hahahahhaa.

ANYWAYZ, I am in Grade 9 Academic French.
I am taking French (Québec French that is) for the
rest of the high school years. I REALLY want to speak
it, atleast to the point I can communicate properly with French ppl.

That would be Antoine de Saint-Exupery lol. If you understood all of Le Petit Prince grammatically, I'd say you're in pretty good shape.