Good Self-Teaching French Language Book for a Total Beginner?
Hello everyone. I've been on italki learning Japanese for a while, but some recent complications with my University has me needing to learn French, to at least a high-beginner level, by next September.

So for those of you who are self-teaching, what book(s) do you use to learn? How about listening programs? I'm a big fan of reading children's books in a foreign language and using my studies to help me uncover the sentences and build my vocabulary; any websites you know of that sell French-Language children's books (and will ship to the United States)?

I am a complete beginner.

Thank you!

Question

Good Self-Teaching French Language Book for a Total Beginner?
Hello everyone. I've been on italki learning Japanese for a while, but some recent complications with my University has me needing to learn French, to at least a high-beginner level, by next September.

So for those of you who are self-teaching, what book(s) do you use to learn? How about listening programs? I'm a big fan of reading children's books in a foreign language and using my studies to help me uncover the sentences and build my vocabulary; any websites you know of that sell French-Language children's books (and will ship to the United States)?

I am a complete beginner.

Thank you!

Answer

I like using "Interactive French Grammar made easy" (McGraw Hill) - Rosi McNab, which is adapted to English learners.
I also like "Complete French" (Teach Yourself) - Gaëlle Graham, which goes progressively by level of French as defined in the Common European Framework for Languages.
One of my student praised the "Essential French Grammar" (Dover) - Seymour Resnick, but I don't really know this one.

For podcasts, I have heard a lot of good of "Le français authentique" et "Coffee Break French".
A listening method that is often mentionned is the Michel Thomas method.

As for books, Amazon.com has some children books, Half-Price Books too, there is this library http://www.powells.com/section/childrens-foreign-language/french/ and this page http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/childrenpages/French.html has some pdf for free.

Bon courage ! I hope I helped.

Answer

Children's books is such a good idea! I have recently decided to learn French so I don't have any books yet. Before, when I studied Spanish I would watch a movie in Spanish with Spanish subtitles, and read aloud while the movie was going. Netflix has some movies in French. I feel like this helps because you can see facial expression and body language too.

Answers · 2

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