Learning Some French; Another Way

[BobW]

Another way to learn some French BEFORE showing up at the French Riveria.

From the free advise from having some limited experience squad;

Had read some good posts scattered around here on learning French. I once had to learn some French but only spoke a little and today I only remember the emergency expressions. The method I will mention here is to be an addition - and not a substitute- for the other methods.

I've got a thin booklet (petite; only 60 pages of photos) titled "French Sign Language". My booklet is old and probably out of print so I'm not giving particulars. Regardless, there are other similiar pamplets on the market.

Page 13 shows an actual photograph of a busy downtown street scene with cars and people walking. Three signs are shown attached to the stores:
montres - bijoux - diamants. I wrote next to each picture of the sign, its meaning in English; Display - jewelry - diamonds. After looking at the booklet twice a day during coffee breaks, I learned by heart what one of the words means. Mlle likes 'em.

Another page shows a picture of a door on a bus with the words:
sortie - montee - interdict : exit - to get in - prohibit.

Another picture shows a shelf in a grocery store with the sign =Lessives=.
The book's question is "You are shopping and come across this display. What are you looking at?
a. paint b. soap powder c. coffee d. dog food e. solid fuel

I disregarded the picture of a washing machine on one of the brand name boxes because I guessed this could be a trick question.

For the time dedicated and the cost of this pamplet, it was a great return on investment. Just an idea....

The only French expressions I still remember are the emergency phrases:
-Un verre de Cognac Martell, s'il vous plait,
-Enchante Madam (couldn't learn the longer phrase because of my limited attention span).

Before departing, get a steel reinforced La moustiquaire. To save space, put it in the issued taie d'oreiller. In another place on the globe, used a sandbag.

Amities,
BobW

[BobW]

Here's another method to learn some French-especially if not oriented to the desk and lamp study routine.

Get some masking tape and a wide point nylon tip pen.
Label things around the house. For example, in the refrigerator, make sure 1 can of beer is labeled with the French word. If you have a telephone at home that's stationary, label it with the French word. Label a light switch, a radio, your bottle of foot lotion...stuff in the bathroom.

To continue with this method;

Probably using a better quality of tape - file folder stick-on labels are excellent - label things on your person. Eg, label your pocket knife, place a label somewhere attached to the keys you carry. Somewhere appropriately, place a label on your wallet - or purse - I am nondiscriminatory.

After you look at these French words frequently because every time you go to get a beer, you'll see the labeled can, it will soak in....the French word; not the beer!

I learned some basic words with this method. Still can't figure out what =du savon=is.

Warm regards,

BobW
Post Script; I do not know the French word for beer. After getting introduced to cognac, there is no need to know anything else.