Comments on: Alliance Française or Rosetta Stone

By: Owen

Owen — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:53:49 +0000

I’m reading very carefully, We too lived in CA for many years, Berkeley and Oakland mostly but Jean-Jacques also lived in San Francisco a bit too.

I’m actually thinking of applying to be a Rosetta Stone affiliate and maybe make a little money selling it online. Work is sure hard to come by here, well decent paying satisfying work that is. I don’t want to work for dollars as the exchange rate is so bad right now but what can you do?

Persepolis was splendid. It was the first movie entirely in French that I understood more of less effortlessly. It was funny and sad and ironic all at once. I had a few Persian friends growing up that reminded me of the little girl.

Anyway, glad you stopped by for some comments.

By: Milena

Milena — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:42:57 +0000

Owen, no offense taken. My husband is from Iran (even though he was born in Cambridge, England and has lived most of his life in California) and I am, as you gathered, from Panama. Our house which the Rosetta CEO rents is on 30th and Dumbarton. I will let them know that I read a guy whose blog has highly recommended his program. Also, I’m not a spy but I can see why you’d think wanting to learn Farsi would be a handy skill to one. Nowadays, especially here in DC, Farsi speakers are in high demand. My accent is atrocious. Farsi sounds nothing like Arabic for example but all the throat generated g, gh, and ghs sounds are completely beyond my ability to recreate. Thanks for the recommendation on Marjane Satrapi. I had read both her books already and can’t wait to see the movie. As she herself was partly responsible for the animation, I can’t imagine it won’t be as superb as her books were. Milena. P.S. That restaurant in Dordogne looks divine. It looked like a caravanserai. How wonderful to discover that there was a restaurant beyond the stone facade.

By: Owen

Owen — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:45:43 +0000

That is what I think I am going to start doing, exchanging English for French lessons. I don’t want to go to school everyday anymore, I don’t need it as much. I want more tailored lessons to where I actually am.

Still I think Rosetta Stone is great, a little pricey but worth it if you can afford it.

By: Christina

Christina — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:47:17 +0000

For extra practice it’s also fun to exchange french lessons for english lessons. In my opinion it works well with a friend or aquaintance rather than someone you find over the internet. I started exchaging french for english a few weeks ago with one of our roommates and it’s going really well.

@BobSpencer- I understand how you feel! I was the same way for a long time and still have problems understanding. Many many hours ‘a table’ and not understanding the playwords. Hang in there! It gets better!!

By: blueVicar

blueVicar — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:56:34 +0000

Congratulations on your persistence! No matter what the mode, “practice, practice, practice,” right? And, “have fun!”

And with those nuggets of unsolicited advice, I say…

Meilleurs voeux!!

By: Owen

Owen — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:46:32 +0000

The retired teacher thing was a joke, special ed teachers have the reputation of being like their students . . .

The reason Rosetta Stone is better than that program is that there is a listening segment, a reading segment, a speaking segment, and a writing segment, and segments that blend them together. You can make it harder or easier, test yourself, give yourself time limits, there is no end to how you ca modify it to meet your needs. I have never used a system that was so complete.

In Toulouse 10 might be early to eat, 10 would be a big party. Either way it would have worked.

By: Bob Spencer

Bob Spencer — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:48:40 +0000

No, not a retired teacher. A retired library worker (well, that was my last job, anyway). I bought a thing called Fluent French which consists of 6 CDs of actual French conversations in both normal and slow speeds. Included is a little booklet with the conversation in French and the English translation. I’m sure a lot of people would find that extremely useful, but it hasn’t been of much help to me. The one thing I have going for me is my persistence. I won’t give up trying. Who knows, one day I may understand something after “Ça va?”
Oh an amusing anecdote: Once in Paris, we went into a restaurant to make a dinner reservation. I did the talking. Unfortunately, the guy asked me a question. I thought he had asked what time, but he had asked, “How many in your party?” I replied, “Ten.” Luckily, Robb was there to clean up my mess.

By: Owen

Owen — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:13:24 +0000

So working on your blog and commenting here is not helping? I know there are plateaus and points where you are not motivated to use it but seriously just sit down and do it.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:04:25 +0000

I have rosetta stone, but i have to stop procrastinating for it to be of any use. *groan*

By: Owen

Owen — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:08:42 +0000

@Towards Paris
What level and lesson are you on? As you get further along the dictation part is tricky because many words sound the same but are spelled differently and have totally different meanings. Some word might sound similar but with a different accent mark they sound a little different as well so it helps hear the minute differences in sounds. I am finishing unit 6 in level one. I haven’t used it much since my classes started but since they are over I’m going to get back at it.

@Bob
Are you a retired special ed teacher? You could also subscribe to different podcasts in French. Many of which come with transcriptions and mini lessons to accompany them. That might help with understanding French better.