Category: Learn French

HERE is a handy new feature for users of Google Talk that will help you with translating words on the fly.

The big G has incorporated translation tools into its service so if you want to translate a word from English to French, you invite en2fr@bot.talk.google.com to chat, then simply chat the line you want to see translated.

Of course any translation tool is only as good as the software driving it, so I wouldn’t rely upon it for important work, but if you use GMail and have chat enabled you could translate phrases received in an email.

IF you have ever struggled to write a French cheque, and I don’t mean through lack of funds, here is a handy site that may help you out.

The French Euro Cheque Writer allows you to tap in the amount you want to pay and then displays the actual words on an example cheque, so you can write them out directly.

No more fumbling for a dictionary, or having to tear up cheques if you make an error, and it is sure to help you pick up the numbers themselves for everyday use.

HERE is a another handy resource for those people keen to improve their French, this time care of the BBC.

They are promoting a 12 week course, delivered via email, which will offer tips and advice over a three month period before finishing with an ‘end of course’ assessment.

All you do is sign up with your email address, confirm your registration and then each week a lesson lands in your inbox – great for those keen to improve their language skills.

ALTHOUGH you may know the word troubadour is drawn from the Occitan language, did you know cauliflower is as well?

Caulet flòri is the Occitan original and the linguistic territory that makes up the langue d’oc stretches from the Atlantic coast to the Alps; the Pyrennes to Auvergne.

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HERE is a fun feature to help you improve your French language skills, courtesy of international television channel TV5.

The Merci Professeur videos offer you quick sound bites on French words and language, delivered in a snappy manner that can become quite addictive.

Each clip takes a couple of minutes and covers everything from whether après-midi is masculine or feminine to the use of the word tennis – even the introductory music will make you tap your toes.

A POPULAR route into France, especially for those who have recently graduated from college or university, is as an English Language Assistant.

The role involves supporting the English teacher, sometimes in an individual school other times in a number of schools, but it provides an opportunity to get a real insight into French schooling.

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IF you need to cancel a service contract or are unhappy with a product you’ve bought, if you’ve not written down your displeasure few organisations will recognise your concerns.

But getting your complaint written down can be a bit of a challenge if your French language skills are not up to scratch.

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IF you are keen to boost your French language skills then there are a number of websites that can help you out.

With the spread of broadband you can both listen to lessons, as well as in some cases watch them, which is likely to prove more effective than reading a reference book.

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I AM a big fan of listening to and watching the news to improve your French, as well as to keep you in touch with what is going on in the country and further a field.

It is also useful for when you want to learn how to compose questions and answer others, although quiz shows are good for this as well, and ten minutes or so every day will really help.

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FRENCH bureaucracy has a reputation for being a tangle of red-tape and procedures, that can drive any sane person over the edge.

One of the things you soon realise is that a utility bill opens more doors than a passport and that it is vital to photocopy any official piece of paperwork – usually three times.

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