Archive for June 2009
Studying from home courses for a 16 year old?
I’ve been at sixth form since september and I hated it from the start but decided to wait till around half term before I made any definite decisions about leaving. I still hate it even now, I have friends there but I’m not close to any of them and I find all the subjects I’m doing dull, even though I’ve changed three of them. I want to work longer hours where I currently have a part time job and possibly study a course from home in the meantime so does anyone have any ideas? I’m interested in psychology, english, and sociology. Please don’t tell me to stick it out in sixth form because I’ve tried, failed and my mind is made up. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated 
.
Speak to your guidance counselor./
Difficult Facets Of Learning The French Language
Lovers of culture across the world strive to learn French fast with the hopes of making the most of their trip to France. It is hard to pin down how many people try their hand at the language of love but it certainly has its benefits. France’s history and its people’s particular outlook on the world make this linguistic ability even more attractive.
If you look back through the past, you might be amazed at the importance of French in terms of literature, law, fashion and many other areas. In many ways, this still holds true. Increasingly though, English is the language of international exchange. Despite this, French speakers are still proud of their contributions to the world. This rubs some visitors the wrong way but a few key expressions can turn this clash of cultures into a meaningful exchange.
One striking thing to some visitors is that the French place particular importance on the formalities of social interactions. For example, a tourist walking into a shop without saying anything may be looked up negatively by locals. Just learning how to say “hello”, “thank you” and “goodbye” can give the locals a positive view of you. Even if you never learn anything else, you will find these basic expressions extremely valuable during your trip.
Even with the basics under your belt, pronunciation can throw a wrench in the works. There are, no doubt, easier languages to pronounce than French. Getting things right will require some work. The good news is that you don’t have to be perfect to get by. Over the years, French speakers from across the world have added new variations in accents. In short, people are used to hearing different pronunciations. The key is to have a foundation in this aspect, but not to sweat the small stuff while you are speaking. Also, languages courses may help in this area.
Another big obstacle to becoming proficient at French is the sheer number of conjugations. Even just in the present tense, these can be intimidating. If you can break them up into distinct groups, you will find memorization a little easier. As for the irregulars, only practice can really drill them into your mind. A lot of good books, CDs and software provide ways to practice on your own.
Another consideration for speakers of some languages is how to deal with the different levels of formality. French has two distinct verb conjugations to address people in the second person. Choosing which one to focus on really depends on your purpose for learning the language. Students will usually find that they rarely employ the “vous” form, except with professors. People traveling on business, though, might benefit from getting comfortable with the “vous” and then learning to speak more informally later. Of course, to really master the language, you will have to fully understand both.
A slightly trickier problem which can lead to some awkward situations is that of “faux amis” or “false friends”. So many French words have been borrowed by English speakers over the years. This makes it hard to fight the tendency to assume that any word that sounds like English has the same meaning in French. Again, plenty of resources exist to steer you away from these traps.
Studying any language is difficult. However, those who make the effort to learn French software will reap rewards in many areas. Travel will become easier, new literary insights will open up and learners will gain a greater understanding of European cultural, historical and political history. At the very least, you will access another part of your mind and become a more knowledgeable person.