Earlier this year I started watching all the french language movies I could,bought some CD's too. I'm enrolling in first semester French @ a university here this fall. I want to get as fluent as I can, just for my own enjoyment for when I someday travel to Europe. What are my best bets in Montreal to immerse myself as much as possible in French? It seemed to me the further West in town I went the more English. What hotel would be good to stay in if I wanted to be in a neighborhood where no English was heard? I know some will say go to Quebec City also, so I'll take all suggestions.
Je ne comprends pas
- Thread starter Jaxon
- Start date
Thanks for the input so far. I know there is a difference between the French in Quebec and that in France. There is no reason I can't try to pick up on both. A French speaking girlfriend would be great. The teevee idea is a good one. There is an "international" channel on the cable teevee @ my parents, it has a half an hour of French news in the evening. I'm looking into gettng satellite at my own house anyway, i'll consider the availabiltiy of channels in French when I'm looking around. Also I've found that I can pick up several French radio stations on the internet,. like Europe 1 and RFI from Paris and the Rock Detente station from Montreal. I've been thinking of going to Quebec City next time I visit. Maybe I'll split the vacation between both cities .
Sub-titles
A useful option which is more available now with DVDs is to watch and listen to Quebec movie or TV productions which also have an English soundtrack and French sub-titles. That way, you can rewind and absorb whatever is said at your own pace. Something like the hockey mini-series "Lance et Compte" would be an example, but I'm not sure if the DVDs have a dual track & subtitles, since the original series was filmed bilingually, if I recall correctly. One also shouldn't be obsessed with understanding every word, but it would probably be useful to have a Quebecois slang dictionary in hand, the titles of some of which elude me right now. I'm sure they could be tracked down in an online bookstore if you don't have access to Montreal bookstores (that's librairie, right SL?
)
A useful option which is more available now with DVDs is to watch and listen to Quebec movie or TV productions which also have an English soundtrack and French sub-titles. That way, you can rewind and absorb whatever is said at your own pace. Something like the hockey mini-series "Lance et Compte" would be an example, but I'm not sure if the DVDs have a dual track & subtitles, since the original series was filmed bilingually, if I recall correctly. One also shouldn't be obsessed with understanding every word, but it would probably be useful to have a Quebecois slang dictionary in hand, the titles of some of which elude me right now. I'm sure they could be tracked down in an online bookstore if you don't have access to Montreal bookstores (that's librairie, right SL?
)
Last edited:
C
CoolAmadeus
Eager,
You may want to check the news at Radio-Canada as opposed to TVA or TQS. In general they are using a better French, speak slowlier, articulate more. Just my impression.
CA
You may want to check the news at Radio-Canada as opposed to TVA or TQS. In general they are using a better French, speak slowlier, articulate more. Just my impression.
CA
Jaxon,
I took english, german and spanish lessons over the last 15 years. The only way to learn to speak is to converse, preferably with an experienced teacher. Trust me, it's the most efficient way. Also, read newspapers, magazines and books in french, using at first an english/french dictionary, then after a while, move to a stickly french dictionary. If there's no avalaible in your area, do a search for online newspapers, like "www.cyberpresse.ca". Like in german, there is ''masculin" and "feminin" words in french that require a different way to build a sentence. This is called the "genre". Therefore, learn the "genre" at the same time you learn a word. Ex: Une étoile (a star), un arbre (a tree). You'll avoid to do the most common mistake english people do in french by using the wrong "genre".
Wakeman
I took english, german and spanish lessons over the last 15 years. The only way to learn to speak is to converse, preferably with an experienced teacher. Trust me, it's the most efficient way. Also, read newspapers, magazines and books in french, using at first an english/french dictionary, then after a while, move to a stickly french dictionary. If there's no avalaible in your area, do a search for online newspapers, like "www.cyberpresse.ca". Like in german, there is ''masculin" and "feminin" words in french that require a different way to build a sentence. This is called the "genre". Therefore, learn the "genre" at the same time you learn a word. Ex: Une étoile (a star), un arbre (a tree). You'll avoid to do the most common mistake english people do in french by using the wrong "genre".
Wakeman
Thank you everyone. I also found Radio France International broadcasts some news on the internet in "special" French.(slower simpler etc.). I did not mention that I am very fluent in Spanish (thanks to California being my native country) and I find it actually helps with my picking up some French and helps with the masculine/feminine thing. Also I do have access to Le Monde and Le Figaro and Paris Match every week.
The big thing is I will be starting 1st semester French class in about a month so I will have access to grammar instruction and I just learned today my instructor is a native speaker, who has been teaching for several years.
As far as finding a French speaking girl to make love to all the time, Im sure it is as practical as it is pleasurable. It will be tough from the Western US but with a little travel, I'll work on it.
The big thing is I will be starting 1st semester French class in about a month so I will have access to grammar instruction and I just learned today my instructor is a native speaker, who has been teaching for several years.
As far as finding a French speaking girl to make love to all the time, Im sure it is as practical as it is pleasurable. It will be tough from the Western US but with a little travel, I'll work on it.
Last edited:
The language of LUV
Hi all,
I’m new here, having visited the Montreal Scene several times during the last year from Upstate New York. And while I originally thought language would be no problem—LUV being the universal language--I now find myself wishing I knew more French beyond my college courses. So I’ve been playing CD language courses in my car on the way to and from. It isn’t enough. And yes, a grammar book is in order and I also love the idea of French films with English subtitles, or vice versa.
And yes, my first interest is in “pillow talk” I also want to branch out from there.
So, does anyone have a good sexual interaction phrase book? Even the best French courses aren’t going to give me the juicy dialog I would like to embellish the scene with.
Thanks,
Dennis
Hi all,
I’m new here, having visited the Montreal Scene several times during the last year from Upstate New York. And while I originally thought language would be no problem—LUV being the universal language--I now find myself wishing I knew more French beyond my college courses. So I’ve been playing CD language courses in my car on the way to and from. It isn’t enough. And yes, a grammar book is in order and I also love the idea of French films with English subtitles, or vice versa.
And yes, my first interest is in “pillow talk” I also want to branch out from there.
So, does anyone have a good sexual interaction phrase book? Even the best French courses aren’t going to give me the juicy dialog I would like to embellish the scene with.
Thanks,
Dennis
Re: français - anglais
Here I am Maylee's cheerleader again, but this is how I learned and continue to improve my verbal Mandarin. And of course if that person is a lover you are especially motivated.
Here I am Maylee's cheerleader again, but this is how I learned and continue to improve my verbal Mandarin. And of course if that person is a lover you are especially motivated.
I'd be surprised if French wasn't loaded with juicy phrases the get right to the point without offense or the use of pantomime. A French/English Sex Dictionary would be great.
Even better, for the bilingual with good tech skills would be to record phrases as an MP3 file that could be downloaded. That way we Anglos with minimum language skills could avoid miscommunication altogether.
Even better, for the bilingual with good tech skills would be to record phrases as an MP3 file that could be downloaded. That way we Anglos with minimum language skills could avoid miscommunication altogether.
Similar threads
