We’ll assume the fact that you’re reading this article means you have some interest in speaking French and we’ll further assume that you’re prepared to put some effort into it because learning French requires some work. It can be fun, it can be easier and faster than you probably thought, but if you want to learn to speak French fluently you’re going to have to give it some time.

How much time? Well that really depends on you. The popular approach now – which is successful for good reason – is the immersion technique. Get a French book, go to French classes, get some kind of French learning CD or MP3 so you can study on the move. Some even suggest osmosis – learning while you sleep – by playing French language audio programs through an earpiece.

All of these are valid methods for learning French although I can’t speak personally for the osmosis system (I do think you learn well by playing a French MP3 just before going to bed though). The point here is to immerse yourself in the learning and the French language. To learn French intensively, even to listen to French radio stations or watch French films. I find listening to French news very helpful – you get a good mix of different stories and the subjects are constantly changing. If you have the facility to record them you can play them back with a French to English dictionary at hand. Even if you don’t get all of it, you’ll be surprised how much sinks in if you do it regularly.

This is the essence of the immersion technique and it works very well, but clearly it’s not practical for everyone. The expense involved is a stretch for some, the time commitment is another drawback and the availability of suitable courses can prevent some from taking French classes – though I would urge you to do so if at all possible.

So if we have to make a choice of one style of French learning, which should it be? Not long ago we would have been restricted to either trying to learn from a book, a tape or a class. Now we have the additional resource of the pc and the internet and it’s a revolution in teaching.

For the first time we can buy a single program which will allow us to listen to MP3s in the car, on the train or just walking around. The same program can challenge us with games and puzzles on the PC and give us written exercises as well. It lacks just a physical teacher to be the complete educational resource.

So if you were looking for a single method to learn to speak French fluently I would recommend one of the downloadable systems available online. If you’ve been looking into French CDs you’ll probably have seen price tags in the $300 range but there are much more affordable and more extensive programs available for a third of the price or less.

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