
The Best Way to Learn French
Article by Rita Borges
The best way to learn French is to live in France. Although it is not likely that you will be able to relocate to France, there is a way to live there long enough to learn French. You simply can rent a Paris luxury vacation rental and sign up for French language classes.
If you are retired or work for yourself, the longer you can stay in Paris and take classes and practice your French the more easily you will absorb the language. A month or two would be ideal. If you have a nine to five job and only have a week or two of vacation to spare, you can opt for a total immersion class and use your off time to practice with the locals or to meet your fellow students for coffee and conversation. Either way, renting a Paris apartment will make the experience an affordable one and one where you can best immerse yourself in the culture and day to day life.
There are many language schools in Paris as well as private tutors.
An interesting option is to get a head start before you arrive in Paris by buying the Rosetta Stone Learn French CD. Then book your lessons in Paris to more fully immerse yourself and learn the French accent and street idioms while you live in your Paris luxury vacation rental during the course.
The Alliance Francaise is a quality language school located on the beautiful Isle St. Louis in the heart of Paris. It is an absolute treat, located in an exquisite building with a library, cafe, student lounge, movie nights and arranged activities as well as classes during the day or evening. The wonderful benefit of taking language courses at Alliance Francaise is that they have outposts in 136 countries around the world, so you have a built in network of like-minded students to engage with as you travel to those countries to keep your French language skills sharp.
Most schools offer French language courses that last from 2 weeks to 9 months as well as cultural activities around the city to enhance your learning.
The Institute Parisien offers intensive courses for beginners to ensure everyone learns basic skills like ordering food, paying bills, meeting people, asking questions about how to get around, as well as a phonetics class, a written class, and conversation workshops.
While you are in your French language classes you will be living as if you would if you lived in France full time in your Paris apartment. You will have to learn how to talk to the local shops, practice your French on the local cafe waiters, when you buy your food at the local market, and for all the little things you do throughout the day. This is a superb way to learn the language by actively using it and connecting your actions with words. It is also the fastest way to learn. By living the life of a Parisian, you will automatically accumulate words and phrases by osmosis. In this way, you won’t have to memorize words. You will be learning them by using them and they will subconsciously become part of your vocabulary that will surprisingly start flowing off your tongue.
One of the fastest ways of locating a private tutor is to scan the Paris page on Craigslist. To test them out, try getting them to begin tutoring you by Skype before you commit to hiring them for when you are in your Paris apartment. If you hit it off and are really learning from them, you now have a dedicated person to teach you what you need or want to be able to speak about.
Renting a luxury apartment in Paris for a short time period will prove to be the best investment you could make in allowing you the opportunity of time and learning the culture as you learn to speak the French language.
Paris Luxe is a New York City based boutique rental service specializing in upscale and luxury short term Parisian apartments. We are the ideal solution for those not yet ready to purchase a second home or join a luxury vacation club. http://www.parisluxeapt.com
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