How to Speak French

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Expose yourself to French media

   Satellite radio in the US now offers stations from Quebec.
   
   Some cable TV companies offer TV5 or other French stations. , You can also find a pen pal or an online community that will let you ask questions and talk to others who are learning French. , Online meeting are available which may help you with this. , Some high schools offer adult education classes in languages. , Bayard Presse Jeunesse and Express Milan have websites which will show you quite a few offerings.
   
   Kids magazines are helpful because they have pictures, from which you can sometimes glean the meaning of words you don't yet know.
   
   They offer short and very short articles, which is helpful when you are very new to a language. , Museums in all three regions have bilingual exhibits and creative technologies which will offer you some good practice.
   
   While you are there, you can buy some books or other materials, and you will find yourself surrounded by French speakers, particularly outside of Montreal.
   
   Keep in mind though that you the farther you go from the Montreal you travel, you will find more people using French which is not as easily recognizable as international French.
   
   For example, in Québec's Gaspesie region, many heritages have influenced the development of language over the centuries, as many of the original settlers came from the Guernsey and the Jersey Islands, and not from France.
   
   The French dialects spoken in New Brunswick and Louisiana fall under the umbrella "Acadian French"
   
   and have local colour and unique differences of their own.
   
   Learn the written form of common French words for daily use.
   
   You can try watching a DVD, but change the language to French.
   
   If you are just starting out, you may want to add English subtitles.
   
   As you get better, change to French subtitles, and eventually no subtitles.
   
   Remember that the point of this exercise is to practice listening, so try not to just read the subtitles.
   
   Practice using these words in a day-to-day situation.
   
   Buy or borrow a computer game which can be listened to in French as well as English.
   
   Caillou has such a game, but this is offered only as an example.
   
   Others are probably occasionally available.
   
   Read the boxes and see what you can find. , It should sound like an abrupt 'No' in a French Accent.
   
   Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?) Comment ça va? (How are you?) Au Revoir (Goodbye) Chaud (Hot) Froid (Cold) Comment t'appelles-tu? / Comment vous appelez-vous?(What's your name?) Bonne Chance! (good luck!) C'est La Loi (it's the law) , Deux (two) Trois (three) Quatre (four) Cinq (five) Six (six) Sept (seven) Huit (eight) Neuf (nine) Dix (ten) , Also, tu is singular, and vous is plural.
   
   If you are addressing more than one person, use vous. ,, Je suis chaud is quite rude in French.
   
   Use "J'ai" instead
   - I have.
   
   J'ai froid
   -> I'm cold; and J'ai chaud
   -> I'm hot. ,, Just get a recording and repeat the words on the tape, and memorize what they mean.
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   Step 2: such as movies

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   Step 3: news and songs

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   Step 4: so that you can listen to native speakers.

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   Step 5: Find or make a friend who speaks French well

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   Step 6: and make an effort to practice your French with this friend.

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   Step 7: Try to find out if a French conversation group is already meeting in your area.

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   Step 8: Consider signing up for a language course at a local college or community college.

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   Step 9: Subscribe to a kid's magazine written in French.

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    Step 10: Consider a trip to Québec

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    Step 11: New Brunswick

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    Step 12: or Louisiana

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    Step 13: if you live in North America.

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    Step 14: Words to use (more can be found in this article): Bonjour Oui Non (Non) Say 'No' as if it were English

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    Step 15: but for the last 'n'

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    Step 16: pronounce it but don't touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth again.

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    Step 17: Learn the numbers (more can be found in this article): Un (one) N is silent

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    Step 18: accent will be broad but understood!

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    Step 19: Remember: Tu is informal

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    Step 20: vous is formal.

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    Step 21: Address strangers and authority figures with formal expressions (using vous)

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    Step 22: and use informal expressions only when speaking with your friends and family.

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    Step 23: Even though "Je Suis" means " I am"

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    Step 24: do not use it in front of "chaud" or "froid" if you are hot or cold as this means something entirely different and is guaranteed to earn you a lot of glares in polite company and could possibly lead to very sticky situations.

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    Step 25: Use also the verb "avoir" to indicate your age: I am twenty years old -> J'ai vingt ans.

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    Step 26: This is much harder than it sounds.

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