Studying French...

[fajrdrako]

This question is basically for Ottawa people, though others might have good advice, too.

I need to upgrade my French as much as possible, and quickly. I've been looking into the possibilities. Ideally, I want something intense and immersion-like, in afternoons or evenings so that I can work to 12:30 and get to French class on time. I'd prefer French-Canadian teachers. It must be accessible by bus.

I've heard good things about the programme at Algonquin College, but that is somewhat difficult for me to get to. I didn't see anything quite what I had in mind at Carleton or Ottawa U. Alliance Française is well located and fits my schedule, but I've heard comments that make me think that might not be the best place to go.

So do any of you have advice? Places you've studied with that had good teachers and good results? Where do people go when they're studying for bilingual classification with the government?

Comments

Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

If you want immersion, go look at your DVD collection. French is among the most common language tracks and almost every DVD these days has one or more extras. You probably own weeks' worth of conversational French already. Just put it on in the background and run it all the time. Run it while you sleep. Run movies that you already know the dialog to, without English subtitles. Run movies you know less well, with French voices and English subtitles, and try to match up the meanings.

By all means, get a class if you can, but there's a lot you can do at home while you're focused on other stuff. Get the language into your subconscious where it belongs.

Re: Well...

[fajrdrako]

Good idea. Now, I don't really like to have sound around most of the time - I like silence, and having things on bothers me. But listening to French as much as possible is a very good idea, so I'm pursuing it. Currently listening to "X-Files" in French. And, I might add, loving it.

Sadly, a lot of my DVDs only have French subtitles, not dubbing.

I do have a few movies in French.

Re: Well...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Now, I don't really like to have sound around most of the time - I like silence, and having things on bothers me. But listening to French as much as possible is a very good idea, so I'm pursuing it.<<

You might try turning the sound down low, and playing it at night. It doesn't need to be loud, just enough to make out some of the words and the general sound of the language.

Re: Well...

[fajrdrako]

I'll experiment and see what I can handle.