Comments on: Rosetta Stone: Learn French Fast http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/ Connecting expats, wit, and advice direct from Toulouse, France, we play well with others. Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:11:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Owen http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-1867 Owen Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:47:02 +0000 http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/#comment-1867 @Ken Well I know that in theory but my ears don't know it quite yet. It was a big deal for me to be able to know where accent marks were just because I could hear the sounds rather than relying on memorizing which words had accent marks. Now I've got to tackle this. I notice I don't get headaches anymore from trying to concentrate too hard and I can effortlessly follow along in conversations. I've also mastered the 2 French facial expressions, disappointment and well extreme disappointment. Body language counts too. @Colleen You really should. Once you get into a groove I think it is addictive. @Bob It sounds like you just just the excuse for another trip to France, unfortunately the dollar is still in the toilet. @Ken
Well I know that in theory but my ears don’t know it quite yet. It was a big deal for me to be able to know where accent marks were just because I could hear the sounds rather than relying on memorizing which words had accent marks. Now I’ve got to tackle this. I notice I don’t get headaches anymore from trying to concentrate too hard and I can effortlessly follow along in conversations. I’ve also mastered the 2 French facial expressions, disappointment and well extreme disappointment. Body language counts too.

@Colleen
You really should. Once you get into a groove I think it is addictive.

@Bob
It sounds like you just just the excuse for another trip to France, unfortunately the dollar is still in the toilet.

]]> By: Colleen http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-1862 Colleen Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:36:47 +0000 http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/#comment-1862 I have rosetta stone but I'm not motivated to use it. I should...really I should. I have rosetta stone but I’m not motivated to use it. I should…really I should.

]]> By: Ken http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-1856 Ken Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:21:43 +0000 http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/#comment-1856 Owen, the vowels in the three words you mention -- gens, jeune, and jaune -- are distinct in spoken French, so the words don't sound alike at all once your ear is attuned to the French vowels. One of the most important distinctions is nasal vowels (as in gens) vs. non-nasal or oral vowels (as in jeune and jaune). In these last two words, the final sound is the consonant -n. In gens, the final sound is the (nasal) vowel, and there is no pronounced -n. Bon courage and keep working with Rosetta Stone. It's pretty satisfying to feel your French getting better and better. Owen, the vowels in the three words you mention — gens, jeune, and jaune — are distinct in spoken French, so the words don’t sound alike at all once your ear is attuned to the French vowels. One of the most important distinctions is nasal vowels (as in gens) vs. non-nasal or oral vowels (as in jeune and jaune). In these last two words, the final sound is the consonant -n. In gens, the final sound is the (nasal) vowel, and there is no pronounced -n.

Bon courage and keep working with Rosetta Stone. It’s pretty satisfying to feel your French getting better and better.

]]> By: Bob Spencer http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/comment-page-1/#comment-1855 Bob Spencer Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:24:42 +0000 http://francetales.com/2008/04/02/rosetta-stone-learn-french-fast/#comment-1855 The typing and dictation part of Rosetta Stone is what makes it more valuable than other "learn French" courses, because, at least for me, hearing and understanding is the most difficult part. Though I do have to admit it seems that my French comprehension improves after a month or so in France. The typing and dictation part of Rosetta Stone is what makes it more valuable than other “learn French” courses, because, at least for me, hearing and understanding is the most difficult part. Though I do have to admit it seems that my French comprehension improves after a month or so in France.

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