Learning French

[mosfet]

I've been learning French for the last year or so both on my own and with lessons from the free languages program at Uni. I'm at the point where I'd like to starting reading some French literature, but most of it seems above my level - I tried Harry Potter but the past historic and ridiculous noun translations threw me.

Any suggestions from francophones here?

 

[Kroegen]

I suggest you learn Spanish first. Then you would be able to learn French so easily, and at the end of it, you have 2 latin languages under your belt .

 

[Hxc]

After doing a french GCSE 2 years early, and now starting spanish, I would agree with the above.

 

[mosfet]

I've already got 5 years of secondary school French under my belt and have never even touched Spanish. That's really not an option right now, although it's next on the list.

 

[G-MAN2004]

At my school we got the choice to either do French or German and then Spanish after wards because it's harder

 

[Kroegen]

I also forgot to mention that Spanish is very easy to grasp, and will help you tremendously when learning other latin languages.

 

[Cybermyk]

My daughter passed her GCSE French aged 13. She's doing Spanish this year. I think she prefers Spanish to French.

 

[Killerkebab]

If you think French literature is too advanced for you, consider listening to French radio or reading French websites... something a little more mainstream than complicated literature

 

[Jonny69]

French films are usually fantastic. If they're not really mucky (which the wife will love as it's French) they are hilarious. Win win situation

Here's a few to get your teeth into:

Amelie (fun)
Betty Blue (absolutely filthy)
Taxi (hilarious)
Taxi 2 (hilarious)
Les Visiteurs (hilarious, ridiculous etc)
Delicatessan (hilarious)
Le Marre de Coiffeuse (absolutely filthy)

 

[mosfet]

Too filthy to watch with the girlfriend?

 

[daz]

Add to the list of films ^

Etre et Avoir
36 (36 Quai des Orfèvres)

 

["andy"]

a list of french films without

irreversible

makes baby jesus cry , its one of the best films ive ever seen

haute tension is worth a watch too ,frenc lesbians and horrible murders, what more could you want , actually a good film , called switchblade romance here but im not sure if the english version is dubbed only

could easily watch both with the GF ,

 

[daz]

Oh yeah, and "La Haine"

 

[Jonny69]

Too filthy to watch with the girlfriend?

On the contrary, essential viewing. She'll be putty in your hands

 

[JollyGreen]

a list of french films without

irreversible

makes baby jesus cry , its one of the best films ive ever seen

haute tension is worth a watch too ,frenc lesbians and horrible murders, what more could you want , actually a good film , called switchblade romance here but im not sure if the english version is dubbed only

could easily watch both with the GF ,

Wasn't Irreversible made famous at the 2004 french film festival by a large number of people passing out while watching it?

 

["andy"]

yep

doesnt stop it been a great film

 

[JollyGreen]

yep

doesnt stop it been a great film

It was more the statement "both can easily be watched with the GF" I was disputing

 

["andy"]

pffft aslong as she doesnt have a weak stomach itl be fine ,


will probably stop her walking the streets of paris alone

but yeah its not exactly a comedy