French is the second most taught language in the world only after English. French as well as English is the official working language of the International Red Cross, NATO, the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee and many other International Organizations. And France was the United States first ally.
There is no secret to learning a new foreign language. It requires a commitment to daily practice, energy and patience. French is a difficult language to learn because many sounds are very different from English. French pronunciation is very tricky because there are a lot of silent letters and it uses nasal sounds which we do not use in English.
The Best Ways To Learn French
The best way to learn to learn French is to travel to France and study at a language school. That is the total immersion method and the most effective to quickly learn French. When you are in France then you must speak French throughout the course of your day.
Thee next best option to learn French would be to take a class at your local community college. It should be taught by a native speaker and you will make new friends and you will learn to correctly pronounce the new sounds that go along with learning French. Another great option is on line French lessons if you can commit to be tied to your computer for an hour each day. The most flexible way to learn French is an audio course. By having the lessons on CD or in MP3 files you can take them along in your personal CD or MP3 player and practice while driving, working out or walking. The down side to this method is that you still need to find a French speaker to practice with. Some courses mainly focus on vocabulary and grammar. If you want to learn French you really need to start speaking it right away.
Quick Tips On Practicing French
Check if your local community college has a French club then you could have other French speakers to practice with on a weekly basis. You could also see if any members of your church speak French and ask them out for lunch or coffee and practice with them.
Buy or rent French films. By hearing the language you quickly become familiar with the different sounds that you will need to be learning anyway. Listen to French audio lessons daily.