Repetez Apres Moi
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday March 2, 2002
Let your computer teach you French, writes Rose Vines.
You can't keep a good language down. Despite the rampant cultural imperialism of the English language, boosted in the latter half of the 20th century by the rise of Hollywood, television and the Internet, French remains an important global language.
It may not be the most commonly spoken language, of course. In fact, more than twice as many people are native Bengali speakers. About four times the number come from Spanish-speaking backgrounds. And there are a dozen Mandarin speakers for each person who claims French as their mother tongue.
But, like English, French has carved out a special place in the worldwide language landscape. Together with English, French is the official working language of the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, the International Red Cross, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the Olympics and the list goes on.
You can't talk cuisine without talking French. The same goes for dance and fashion. In fact, you can't speak English without doffing your hat to the French, given that a sizable percentage of modern-day English has grown from French roots.
So even if you aren't headed for a holiday in Vila or Versailles, there are dozens of good reasons to learn French. And you can use French language software to take you all the way from halting novice to fluency.
Learning French while staring at your computer screen may lack the sociability of signing up for classes at the Alliance Francaise, but it has its advantages, too.
First of all, French language software provides a 24/7 service. Set aside a regular time each day or each week. Or, if you prefer, settle down in front of the screen whenever the urge hits you, whether it's midday or midnight. You can even set yourself a crash course in preparation for a business trip and use your lessons in every spare moment.
As well as being "on tap", French language software brings the ultimate in privacy. Some people have no inhibitions when it comes to learning a language. They chatter away, unhindered by worries about their execrable accent or atrocious grammar, often achieving a remarkable amount of success in the process. The classroom is a wonderful environment for such folk.
Not so for those of us who hesitate over every sentence and can't bear to utter un mot without getting the pronunciation down pat. For the tongue-tied or the perfectionist, learning in private can save agonies of embarrassment.
And nothing is more patient than a digital tutor. Whether it takes a dozen repetitions or a thousand for you to perfect your Comment allez-vous?, language software furnishes beautifully spoken examples to help you along.
Patience, privacy, availability. Three qualities you'll find in almost all French language software.
Choosing the software that's right for you, though, entails looking at a lot of other factors.
Most of the best language software uses the immersion, or sink-or-swim, method. It plunges you into a world devoid of anything but French, from the onscreen instructions to every word spoken. It takes a little getting used to, but is the quickest route to thinking and talking in French.
The important thing when using immersive language software is to make sure you get a program that matches your level of knowledge. Beginners' programs usually provide some sort of English-based assistance, in the form of written materials or online help, which is handy if you are entirely bemused by your new French environment. Software aimed at intermediate or advanced users often does away with these English lifelines.
The other thing to remember is that language software builds your skills from the ground up, working on your pronunciation, vocabulary
and comprehension. If what you need is a phrase book, that's exactly what you should buy, not a software program. Most language programs provide neither a dictionary nor a phrase book and so they can prove frustrating if you're trying to learn particular phrases.
On the other hand, many French programs provide a really broad range of French-speaking experiences. From vocabulary drills to games to interactive dialogues to dictation and comprehension exercises, the best programs provide enough stimulation and diversion to keep you plugging away at your language skills. For children, in particular, it's important to keep the entertainment value high.
Perhaps one of the most enjoyable and important features to look for in French language software is the ability to listen, repeat, record and compare. The best programs let you hear French spoken by native speakers, repeat what you've heard and record it, then compare your version to the original. It's not only fun, it's highly effective.
Web resources
Yahoo! France
http://fr.yahoo.com
Do you Yahoo? How about in French? For your guide to the French Web, or the Web in French, try Yahoo's French version.
Alliance Francaise de Sydney
www.alliancefrancaisesydney.com.au
Supplement your French-language software by going one-on-one with French-speakers at the Alliance.
French Dictionary Online
www.online-dictionary.net/french
Need a dictionary? This site lists numerous French-English and English-French resources, including a dictionary of slang and a high-tech phrase book.
Fodor's
www.fodors.com
From articles on subjects such as Culinary Paris in 10 Easy Steps to maps of regional towns, Fodor's is a must-visit site before your next French visit.
Best buys
Tell Me More: French
Price: $99.95 (beginner); $125.95
(intermediate and advanced)
Rating: * * * * *
Web site: www.ibsinfotech.com
The next best thing to a full-time private tutor, this is a complete language course. Everything about the program is classy, from the inclusion of a quality microphone to the superb speech recognition and the broad range of skills taught to the animated phonetic lessons. Available in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced versions, this is the one program that can turn you into a fluent speaker from scratch.
Asterix & Son
Price: $84.95
Rating: * * *
Web site: www.ibsinfotech.com
Fans of Rene Goscinny's Asterix books can read about the adventures of their favourite characters while improving their French with Asterix & Son. This program is no substitute for a course in French, but it's an enchanting way to broaden your vocabulary and improve your fluency. Read or listen to the story, record your own captions and test your accomplishments by trying Vitalstatistix's quizzes.
Claudine Teaches French
Price: $49
Rating: * * * * *
Web site: www.languagesforkids.com
Aimed squarely at children five years and up, this Australian-made program immerses youngsters in an entirely French environment, guided by the native French-speaking Claudine. With three different skill levels and a raft of multimedia activities, Claudine makes learning written and spoken French fun.
Instant Immersion French
Price: $79.95
Rating: * * *
Web site: www.ibsinfotech.com
Ready for the plunge? Instant Immersion French uses the immersion method to bring you up to speed in spoken French. This multi-CD package consists of two language instruction disks, a cultural tour of France and a multilingual dictionary. There's no clear progression from the first instruction disk to the next, but between the two they provide a decent assortment of activities, including an excellent game for learning traffic directions.
Verdict
If you're serious about learning French, don't hesitate to spend the extra needed to purchase Tell Me More: French. The investment is well worth it and you get a couple of weeks of online coaching from a real human thrown in for good measure. If your budget won't stretch that far, consider Auralog's other French program, Talk to Me: French, for about half the price. For youngsters, Claudine Teachers French is an excellent place to start.
French heckling
Language software may help you become fluent in polite French, but how do you become au fait with not-so-polite French? Try How to be Obnoxious in French (http://yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au/~mongoose/french/). This Australian site will let you utter greetings such as "You've put on weight" and ask important questions like "Are you drunk?"
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald