MSE way to learn French?

vaio

Penny_Watcher wrote: »

I used to use Babelfish when I first started working at the English end of a German company. My faxes caused so much hilarity in Germany that they sent me lovely box of German goodies at Christmas as a thank you.

I used it to translate something like “Apologises for my poor German” and the German it came back with actually meant “I’m sorry for the destitute Germans”

After that I gave up being independent and went back to asking my OH

Glad

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]

ScoobieGirl

Hi,

Also worth checking out even with a very basic level of french. Are french TV and radio stations. If you are lucky enough to have a reasonable Sky package you should be able to pick up TV5 on ch 799. There are lots of French internet radio stations or those on the south coast cab pick it direct.

One of my fav ways is putting on one of my favorite DVD's with the french soundtrack and / or subtitles on.

Don't be put off if it seems over your head a first. You'll soon start to catch words / phrases you know and it'll be a BIG help when trying to understand someone speaking at full speed, rather than what we are used to from cd's etc.

Don't forget podcasts too!

ScoobieGirl

vaio wrote: »

I used it to translate something like “Apologises for my poor German” and the German it came back with actually meant “I’m sorry for the destitute Germans”

I love stories like like these. My favourite one ever was a french politician who was crediting "la sagesse des Normands" (the wisdom of the Norman people) as the inpiration for something The English translation thanked Norman Wisdom. Technically correct maybe, but something was lost in translation;)

Paparika

littleredhen wrote: »

this is another good translation site
http://babelfish.yahoo.com/

It's ok but try using that to write to letter in French, i did that and send it to my friend in Paris and she couldn't understand it lool

CleoTheCat_2

Hi,

Try this article for ideas:-
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tipnote/learn-language-free

~CtC~