Best way to learn another language...

I want to master the ability to speak and comprehend French. I've considered going with Rosetta Stone, but have read that the system they use doesn't actually work well for adults. I've also read of supposedly better ways of learning a new language, like Pimsleur.

Were any of you in this situation at one point? If so, what'd you do? Or perhaps some of you have a program to recommend.

The only program that's worked for me so far is MOO7RE'S HOW TO GET LAID IN PARIS: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE.

Because the first 19 of 20 SE don't have a optional Dutch subtitle for the special features i watch them with English subtitles. Watch documentry's on your Bond dvd's with French Subtitles insteed of the English or none option. Because the audio is English in your first language.you can learn it on that way with the French subtitles. A litle bit of the other way around what i can do when i watch a English movie with Dutch subtitles. If you whant get that feeling you should watch a French movie with English subtitles.

Movies and special features be my first steps. On the internet i yusing first a translate machiene or bored words from others. Since i discover wiki, i don't yuse translate machienes less then yeas a go. There be not be so good or to dificult. I started with the easyer words and don't botherr that i created Stop words (That be words you yuse a litle bit to much. )

Mr. Brown wrote:

I want to master the ability to speak and comprehend French. I've considered going with Rosetta Stone, but have read that the system they use doesn't actually work well for adults.

Don't go by what you've read about it, try it yourself if you have the opportunity to. I have a friend who has done well with the Spanish Rosetta Stone and he's in his 40s.

I'm studying English Language at the moment, and while this may seem obvious, you can learn to speak fluently in a second language, but you will never completely master it. It's also suggested that if you haven't learned a second language by the age of 7, then you won't be able to learn it as well as you could have.

But don't let that discourage you. After I complete my secondary schooling, I'm most likely going to enrol in Italian and French classes. Speaking fluently is better than nothing. Maybe try visiting France for a while to try pick up the language. Gives you a good excuse to holiday, too :)

Mr. Brown wrote:

I want to master the ability to speak and comprehend French. I've considered going with Rosetta Stone, but have read that the system they use doesn't actually work well for adults. I've also read of supposedly better ways of learning a new language, like Pimsleur.

Were any of you in this situation at one point? If so, what'd you do? Or perhaps some of you have a program to recommend.

The only program that's worked for me so far is MOO7RE'S HOW TO GET LAID IN PARIS: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE.

A good internet resource I've found is Frenchpod:

http://frenchpod.com/

It's from the people behind the excellent and highly-acclaimed Chinesepod, based in Shanghai. I don't have any financial interest in this company, but as a student of Mandarin I've used their Chinese lessons and would say that they're by far the best Mandarin-learning (all levels, from complete beginner to pretty advanced) site I've ever seen. If their French lessons are as good as their Chinese lessons, you're probably onto a winner.

Don't just rely on internet learning, though. I'd quote OHMSS and suggest you attend night school, perhaps - see if you can get some evening classes or something, or even a trip to some kind of language school in France. It'll give you more motivation if you're also going to be interacting with people in the language, ideally in the country where it's spoken as well.

Whatever you do, though, don't give up. Learning a language is hard work, especially as an adult, but it's hugely rewarding. And it's for life, not just for Christmas. The key thing is to keep going (and enjoy it).

The best way is to be there. You have to use the language and hear it being used on a daily basis to really get a grip. In the meantime, young adult fiction in the language you are aiming for and films in that language with English subtitles should help you along.
I have to be honest, I don´t really approve of Rosetta Stone or similar systems for language learning. I don´t believe they teach you to understand the language, they teach you to memorise it.

Santa wrote:

The best way is to be there.

Yep. Needs to be somewhere where the English language is despised, though. France is good like that.

I found it did my German, French and English a lot of good when I dated a lady speaking the language. Love can be very motivating when it comes to communication.

saint mark wrote:

Love can be very motivating when it comes to communication.

Money more so.

Avarice wrote:

saint mark wrote:

Love can be very motivating when it comes to communication.

Money more so.

I found love more motivating than money. Really wanting to be able to speak with somebody is better than having to speak it in order to gain some financial gain.

saint mark wrote:

I found love more motivating than money. Really wanting to be able to speak with somebody is better than having to speak it in order to gain some financial gain.

This man has never been to Baker St.

And we're all out of gift certificates.

I heard Baker St. burned down a few years ago, when some wax caught the whole place on fire.

I too am interested in learning another language and have also considered Rosetta Stone. People I know who have used it, say it very good and easy to use.