FRENCH STUDY GUIDE 2020


stories. And because this is real life, Kristin doesn’t shy away from anecdotes, personal reflections and current events, making her writing as poignant as it is educational. Simply subscribe to the free newsletter and wait for a new word (and petite histoire) to fall into your inbox every day! For further reading, don’t miss Kristin’s book, Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France, available on Amazon. www.french-word-a-day.com


The Newdeal Institut de Français is located in Bordeaux, a bustling city with a thriving student population Coffee Break French


Coffee Break French does exactly what it promises: it teaches you French in short bursts, so you can fit your studying into your busy life. Delivered in video and audio format, lessons typically last around 15 minutes and are constructed around the observations of Anna as she navigates the French language through conversations with her teacher, Mark. This fly-on-the- wall role-play method isn’t something you see a lot. Although it’s more passive than other techniques, it does allow you to follow a narrative and learn from Anna’s mistakes. Of course, if you’re not able or willing to fork over the £96/$125 for Season One, why not tune into the free podcast instead? Episodes cover a whole gamut of topics, from regional food to local traditions – so you’re learning much more than just vocabulary. www.radiolingua.com/ coffeebreakfrench


Duolingo


Language-learning platform Duolingo seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongues at the moment – whatever language they’re speaking. Whether you opt to use the website or download the free app to your smartphone, this is a savvy way to cram five minutes of studying into your day. And it’s fun too! In


134 ❘ FRANCE TODAY Dec/Jan 2020


this era of frenzied mobile gaming, Duolingo’s success would seem to be largely down to its presentation – lessons masquerading as games, with a nifty points system, unlockable levels and ‘lives’ (you lose one with every wrong answer). It’s not the quickest way to learn


Françoise and her fellow tutors are only ever an internet connection away. As well as group classes via Skype (and a free 30-minute trial lesson to test the waters), private sessions can be arranged if you’re an existing student. There’s also a new interactive course for beginners, a podcast, a blog and a test to help you gauge your current ability level. In other words, the whole kit! www.fasttrackfrench.com


Duolingo is a name you may have come across already on your internet travels


French, but it’s an enjoyable slow-burner. If you’d rather do away with the rewards system, just use the web version for a no-frills learning experience. www.duolingo.com


Fast Track French There’s nothing better than conversing with someone native to really brush up on those speaking and listening skills, but what if you don’t know anybody French? Fear not, that’s exactly what the dedicated team at Fast Track French are for. No matter whether you’re stuck at square one or ready to make the jump from intermediate to fluent,


French Word-a-Day We just love the teachings of Kristin Espinasse. A blend of vocabulary lessons and a diary penned in La Ciotat, Bouches- du-Rhône, her french-word-a- day.com blog helps readers memorise a breadth of expressions, from the everyday to more colloquial turns of phrase, through whimsical true


Michel Thomas You may already have heard about the Michel Thomas method – after all, it’s been kicking around for decades and receives sparkling testimonials from celebs. But what makes it different from other approaches to learning? For a start, it has a phenomenal backstory. The eponymous founder was a Polish-Jewish refugee who fled to France from Austria during the Second World War. In his years of imprisonment he mastered numerous tongues, enabling him to adopt several identities and ultimately infiltrate underground Nazi groups. Once the war was over, the heroic polyglot turned to education, helping others tap into the “great hidden depths of the brain”. Used by millions, the Michel Thomas method is geared towards beginners and teaches through gentle repetition, stripping away stressful extras like homework. www.michelthomas.com


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Françoise and her fellow tutors are always there to help you at Fast Track French


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