@@EasyFinnish Hi Jarno. Thanks so much for letting me know! My hosting is having some problems. They're looking into it right now. I'll reply when it's fixed!
Ah, a man after my own heart. Andy speaks of reading what you're passionate about. True, one if my early breakthroughs in French fluency came from following the Tour De France & never missing an issue of L'Equipe during those 3 weeks in July. But the vocabulary, while beneficial, was limited & repetitive. My real breakthrough came when I finally decided to take the deep dive & do in French what I'd done in English my entire adult life: that is, to read novels, but in French. My first attempt was a James Michener book of 900 plus pages, on Alaska. I was already familiar with his approach, having read a half a dozen of his quasi historical, 1,000 page tomes focusing on various geographical areas. It went slowly, & I took copious vocabulary notes. I went on to read many novels, of English or American origin, but also (later) of French authors. Gradually I came to need fewer dictionary references & vocabulary notes. And the whole time, I was hanging with some of the greatest minds of our time. Now my practice is to read every other book in French, still taking notes when I come across new vocabulary. These last few years here in the souuth of France, old telephone booths or bus stops converted to free mini-libraries have sprung up everywhere. One can find anything from classic literature to contemporary fiction, crime novels & everything in between, & it's all for free. At the present moment I have enough paperbacks & hardbacks in French to last me a good couple of years...so that between talking to my French colleagues & friends, & other opportunities that pop up on a daily basis, I have a vast quantity of rich resources containing ideas, philosophy & adventure enough to satisfy my curiosity for years to come, on every imaginable subject. Reading books, obviously, is not for everyone. But if you're one of those expats who does read books & wants to improve your French, it's an approach I highly recommend. Voila.
My husband often corrects me, while saying, "I know you want your French to be perfect." No, I want to be understood. Perfection may come in time, but right now, I just want to be able to hold a conversation. I want to be understood--and to understand. Trying to get an ear for the language (particularly with slang) is really hard for me.
Great attitude to have. Is there not some grain of truth to what your husband says when he makes that remark? Often there is that in us that betrays us when we're clearly thinking of each word individually. It's completely normal that slang is hard for you. It's really hard for me! Make sure you're speaking to the right people for your current level and be realistic about what is ok to not know and what you should be working on.
A French friend of mine went to college in the UK and when he speaks English--which is better than my American English--everyone thinks he's from the UK! No one will EVER think my French is native.
@@TheCMLion Maybe not. You have to decide for yourself whether you're ok with that, or not. His success is down to the same factors as yours, but we all live the process differently, and all have different natural abilities. Make sure you know what's important for you, and what's important to let go of.
I know this was posted a while ago now but I only just saw it. I really liked this. I live in France and am trying and trying to get better in French. It’s really comforting to hear this advice and the fact that you guys too experience that frustration and insecurity sometimes but that it’s mostly in our heads and we need to push through! Thank you!
I certainly agree with your points. If I can single out one, about "caring". I really think some of us are "language" people. When Andy says he was interested, or fascinated before took on French seriously for 12 years. This shows he is open to it from an early age, the way we might be very open to music, or another skill. I do think anyone can become better at learning a new language, but some of us are just born to excel at it because he never see it as a chore or, as you say, "homework". I applaud your advice to imitate when you hear French: by all means, this is an essential tool. If you don't know a native speaker, you can do it when watching a French film, or TH-cam videos--repeat what you're hearing and listen to yourself as you do it. I lived with a French family for a while. They knew very little English so I had to speak and listen (plus, I wanted to learn it). I know we can't all immerse ourselves that way, but to me it was a major influence in my learning. If you're not a natural 'language person' don't despair, you can still pick up quite a lot.
Thanks for your thoughts! Andy is a mine of information waiting to be tapped. If I try to get into the head of someone struggling with their French speaking at the moment I would say to remember that it's the sum of many small habits, imitating being just one. That will make pronunciation better, which will make being brave and speaking to people easier because you'll have more confidence in your pronunciation.
This was so helpful to hear - Andy and Alex you both gave me such enthusiasm and confidence, I've wanted to learn French for 20 years and next year I am moving to France and am learning French intensively now... I have always loved French and am so excited, therefore I do care and do have passion about the language and the people. How amazing that is~!
@@losingmychic Un bon choix de ville ! Ah cool. Best place to be for announcements of that and other courses is my mailing list frenchinplainsight.com/newsletter in case you're not on it already :)
I work as a storeman at a local hardware store. I often look at the products, because instructions for what they're about and how to use them are often in several languages, and I like to read the French translation of the English instructions.
Les astuces dont vous parliez sont formidables. Lire au sujets qui t’intéresse est vraiment important. Cela enrichit ton vocabulaire. Trouver un francophone natif qui est patient m’aide beaucoup aussi. J’aurais aimé entendre parler ton ami. C’est dommage que ce soit entièrement en français.
Personally this was a key point you covered here when learning French. French friends have patience we are trying to speak in your language, don't get annoyed or impatient or speak back in English. I learnt Spanish and Italian as well, and found this is a particularly French habit and extremely off putting. Even now this happens and my level is good but ppl assume I am English so will talk back in English.
Ah merci beaucoup ! Sorry for the late reply. TH-cam caught it as spam for some reason. Hope to see you in the comments again. Where are you at with French?
Oups, je suis en retard ici ... :( Je voulais juste te dire que j'ai apprécié ta vidéo et qu'Andy est un gars très sympa et qu'être sympa l'a vraiment aidé à progresser…
Sorry....what was this video about again? I got too distracted by how handsome Andy is. :) Please have Andy on more so you both can converse in French and he can give us more of his lips....I mean lips...sorry..TIPS....TIPS. Uh yeah, I definitely meant tips. Andy's big, beautiful, smiling, kissable French speaking tips that you just wanna..... Wait, what was I talking about? Is it hot in here or is it just me?
Lot's of good advice from, Andy and yourself. From my experience of learning Welsh, advice given to me to concentrate on my pronunciation and imitating others was of great help; along with reading and using materials that interested me personally. For my French leisure study I love watching and listening to, Sud Radio, who broadcast live on TH-cam. This gives me access to lots of French news stories but also to watch peoples facial expressions and gestures. Good chance to hear loads of different voices too. Happy that - after a year I can follow about 50% and continually increasing my voculbary Also, I actually enjoy making mistakes which have given me and others loads of laughs....Merci á tous les deux!
You've got the jackpot Kim: enjoying making mistakes, and being consistent. You're setting yourself up for great things. Lovely to hear. Learning the sounds and mastering the pronunciation first seems so logical but I only became aware of this approach when I was a few years into French. C'est sympa de te revoir ici. Je me dis que ça fait un moment que tu n'as pas commenté. Mais c'est aussi vrai que récemment, je ne publie pas beaucoup de vidéos !
Good habits you have there! But as a frenchman, I have to formally ( ;) ) warn you about this specific radio: they tend more and more to have VERY problematic far-right opinions broadcasted in their news. Pay attention, or you might turn fascist as soon as you switch to french haha!
The difference between the meat eater and the vegan is mind blowing... the vegan looks really chronically exhausted and can't stop yawning whereas the meat eater looks strong and healthy... as always!
Don't forget to get my free guide on becoming a confident French speaker bit.ly/fips-guide-2
This link isn't working some reason?
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@@EasyFinnish Hi Jarno. Thanks so much for letting me know! My hosting is having some problems. They're looking into it right now. I'll reply when it's fixed!
@@EasyFinnish Fixed!
Ah, a man after my own heart. Andy speaks of reading what you're passionate about. True, one if my early breakthroughs in French fluency came from following the Tour De France & never missing an issue of L'Equipe during those 3 weeks in July. But the vocabulary, while beneficial, was limited & repetitive.
My real breakthrough came when I finally decided to take the deep dive & do in French what I'd done in English my entire adult life: that is, to read novels, but in French. My first attempt was a James Michener book of 900 plus pages, on Alaska. I was already familiar with his approach, having read a half a dozen of his quasi historical, 1,000 page tomes focusing on various geographical areas.
It went slowly, & I took copious vocabulary notes.
I went on to read many novels, of English or American origin, but also (later) of French authors. Gradually I came to need fewer dictionary references & vocabulary notes. And the whole time, I was hanging with some of the greatest minds of our time.
Now my practice is to read every other book in French, still taking notes when I come across new vocabulary. These last few years here in the souuth of France, old telephone booths or bus stops converted to free mini-libraries have sprung up everywhere.
One can find anything from classic literature to contemporary fiction, crime novels & everything in between, & it's all for free. At the present moment I have enough paperbacks & hardbacks in French to last me a good couple of years...so that between talking to my French colleagues & friends, & other opportunities that pop up on a daily basis, I have a vast quantity of rich resources containing ideas, philosophy & adventure enough to satisfy my curiosity for years to come, on every imaginable subject.
Reading books, obviously, is not for everyone. But if you're one of those expats who does read books & wants to improve your French, it's an approach I highly recommend. Voila.
My husband often corrects me, while saying, "I know you want your French to be perfect." No, I want to be understood. Perfection may come in time, but right now, I just want to be able to hold a conversation. I want to be understood--and to understand. Trying to get an ear for the language (particularly with slang) is really hard for me.
Great attitude to have. Is there not some grain of truth to what your husband says when he makes that remark? Often there is that in us that betrays us when we're clearly thinking of each word individually.
It's completely normal that slang is hard for you. It's really hard for me! Make sure you're speaking to the right people for your current level and be realistic about what is ok to not know and what you should be working on.
That is a duo I'd love to French.
As a french, I can say : yeah, he really sounds french.
Even when he speak english, he sounds french... =D
Haha. Je lui montre ça
A French friend of mine went to college in the UK and when he speaks English--which is better than my American English--everyone thinks he's from the UK! No one will EVER think my French is native.
@@TheCMLion Maybe not. You have to decide for yourself whether you're ok with that, or not. His success is down to the same factors as yours, but we all live the process differently, and all have different natural abilities. Make sure you know what's important for you, and what's important to let go of.
Gats always sound like this. Always.
Il aime à parler
I know this was posted a while ago now but I only just saw it. I really liked this. I live in France and am trying and trying to get better in French. It’s really comforting to hear this advice and the fact that you guys too experience that frustration and insecurity sometimes but that it’s mostly in our heads and we need to push through! Thank you!
I certainly agree with your points. If I can single out one, about "caring". I really think some of us are "language" people. When Andy says he was interested, or fascinated before took on French seriously for 12 years. This shows he is open to it from an early age, the way we might be very open to music, or another skill. I do think anyone can become better at learning a new language, but some of us are just born to excel at it because he never see it as a chore or, as you say, "homework". I applaud your advice to imitate when you hear French: by all means, this is an essential tool. If you don't know a native speaker, you can do it when watching a French film, or TH-cam videos--repeat what you're hearing and listen to yourself as you do it. I lived with a French family for a while. They knew very little English so I had to speak and listen (plus, I wanted to learn it). I know we can't all immerse ourselves that way, but to me it was a major influence in my learning. If you're not a natural 'language person' don't despair, you can still pick up quite a lot.
Thanks for your thoughts! Andy is a mine of information waiting to be tapped.
If I try to get into the head of someone struggling with their French speaking at the moment I would say to remember that it's the sum of many small habits, imitating being just one. That will make pronunciation better, which will make being brave and speaking to people easier because you'll have more confidence in your pronunciation.
12 ans, increable! Merci pour cette video Alex!
This was so helpful to hear - Andy and Alex you both gave me such enthusiasm and confidence, I've wanted to learn French for 20 years and next year I am moving to France and am learning French intensively now... I have always loved French and am so excited, therefore I do care and do have passion about the language and the people. How amazing that is~!
Wonderful! Whereabouts are you moving to?
@@FrenchinPlainSight Montpellier! Yes I will be taking your course, probably later 2021 or in 2022!!
@@losingmychic Un bon choix de ville ! Ah cool. Best place to be for announcements of that and other courses is my mailing list frenchinplainsight.com/newsletter in case you're not on it already :)
@@FrenchinPlainSight I"m already on it! Fantastique!
Merci Alex !
I work as a storeman at a local hardware store. I often look at the products, because instructions for what they're about and how to use them are often in several languages, and I like to read the French translation of the English instructions.
That curiosity will take you far!
oh my god the BLOOPERS at the end!!!!! That was so funny seeing you both cracking up... LOVE it!!!
Les conseils pour mieux parler français sont excellent mais on aurait bien voulu entendre comment Andy se débrouille dans la langue.
For sure he used the right amount of mimic and gesture lilke a true french ( at least most of us)
laccent est tres tres bon
Love the pins and love the advice! Great to hear about Andy's language learning journey... thanks for the inspiration :)
Cheers Kezza 💪
Les astuces dont vous parliez sont formidables. Lire au sujets qui t’intéresse est vraiment important. Cela enrichit ton vocabulaire. Trouver un francophone natif qui est patient m’aide beaucoup aussi. J’aurais aimé entendre parler ton ami. C’est dommage que ce soit entièrement en français.
This comment is for the algorithm. Enjoying the channel.
Hahaha. Merci beaucoup !
Some very good suggestions there. Thank you Alex and Andy.
Thanks John. I hope you're well!
Thank you very good tips!! They really helped me!! Merci
You are so welcome!
Always find your content valuable! Oh I wish the video was longer!! Lol
Mdr. It's shorter so you can act sooner Nikki ;). What stage are you at with your French? I'd love to hear your story.
Personally this was a key point you covered here when learning French. French friends have patience we are trying to speak in your language, don't get annoyed or impatient or speak back in English. I learnt Spanish and Italian as well, and found this is a particularly French habit and extremely off putting. Even now this happens and my level is good but ppl assume I am English so will talk back in English.
Really good video and very inspiring. Thanks for the lesson
Ah merci beaucoup ! Sorry for the late reply. TH-cam caught it as spam for some reason. Hope to see you in the comments again.
Where are you at with French?
Oups, je suis en retard ici ... :(
Je voulais juste te dire que j'ai apprécié ta vidéo et qu'Andy est un gars très sympa et qu'être sympa l'a vraiment aidé à progresser…
What was his language level when he move to France?
Sorry....what was this video about again? I got too distracted by how handsome Andy is. :) Please have Andy on more so you both can converse in French and he can give us more of his lips....I mean lips...sorry..TIPS....TIPS. Uh yeah, I definitely meant tips. Andy's big, beautiful, smiling, kissable French speaking tips that you just wanna..... Wait, what was I talking about? Is it hot in here or is it just me?
He laughed at this comment
my thoughts too.. hehe
Hahahah. So true!!
Lot's of good advice from, Andy and yourself. From my experience of learning Welsh, advice given to me to concentrate on my pronunciation and imitating others was of great help; along with reading and using materials that interested me personally.
For my French leisure study I love watching and listening to, Sud Radio, who broadcast live on TH-cam. This gives me access to lots of French news stories but also to watch peoples facial expressions and gestures. Good chance to hear loads of different voices too. Happy that - after a year I can follow about 50% and continually increasing my voculbary
Also, I actually enjoy making mistakes which have given me and others loads of laughs....Merci á tous les deux!
You've got the jackpot Kim: enjoying making mistakes, and being consistent. You're setting yourself up for great things. Lovely to hear.
Learning the sounds and mastering the pronunciation first seems so logical but I only became aware of this approach when I was a few years into French.
C'est sympa de te revoir ici. Je me dis que ça fait un moment que tu n'as pas commenté. Mais c'est aussi vrai que récemment, je ne publie pas beaucoup de vidéos !
Da iawn
Good habits you have there! But as a frenchman, I have to formally ( ;) ) warn you about this specific radio: they tend more and more to have VERY problematic far-right opinions broadcasted in their news. Pay attention, or you might turn fascist as soon as you switch to french haha!
very soon
Bonjour ! Je voulais juste vous dire que Andy ressemble à l'acteur Tom Hardy ! C'est un compliment bien sûr ! 😉
Il était flatté :D
Appreciate the content very much but found the background music irritating. Would be much better (for me!) to just hear you speaking.
Don't worry. I don't use it any more :)
i wish he talked more in french though! 😒
Read by all means ,but in French don't read Margaret Durras You have been warned
The difference between the meat eater and the vegan is mind blowing... the vegan looks really chronically exhausted and can't stop yawning whereas the meat eater looks strong and healthy... as always!
Truly insightful!
@@FrenchinPlainSight I am not a vegan but I have colleagues who are and they are the healthiest people I know. And the most ethical.