French for mommies: Pimsleur versus Michel Thomas II

In a continuation from what I mentioned yesterday (or the day before--Blogger doesn't let you fudge your posting times, and I forgot to publish before midnight), I would like to suggest Michel Thomas over Pimsleur for the following reasons:

1. It is better for the absolute beginner. With Pimsleur, I think a large part of my success was having some previous background in French. Much of what I learned at the beginning I already knew, making me feel an immediate sense of confidence. However, if I'd little or no exposure, I think it would have felt much more intimidating. Michel Thomas, however, starts by showing similarities between French and English, and words one may already know in French from phrases that are familiar in English, such as C'est la vie, building the absolute beginner's sense of confidence in the language.
   
   
2. Michel Thomas focuses on finding patterns in the language, making the language "make sense" early on. For example, in French (unlike English), all syllables have equal weight, but the last syllable always carries the accent.
   
   
3. Michel Thomas doesn't start with the "Hello, how are you?" kinds of phrases in typical language programs. Instead, the focus is on the most commonly used words in French, and encourages guessing--a skill necessary for effective second-language learning. By the beginning of the second CD, you are able to say, "What impression do you have of the political and economic situation in France at the present time?" Impressive, non? Eventually, you get to the ability to greet, but after you've already mastered a lot of other, more sophisticated language.

More tomorrow.

French for mommies: Pimsleur versus Michel Thomas

I have harboured a lifelong desire to learn French. I loved French at first contact, but had an unfortunate series of bad teachers in high school and felt forced to quit.

Since then, life, it seems, has gotten in the way of any meaningful pursuit of French. I've considered classes numerous times, but was kept away, probably in part due to my bad experience in a classroom, partly because I'm picky--I taught English as a second language and figured I knew the "right" methodologies--partly because of expense, and partly because of convenience. I'm a mother of three children. When would I get out?

But when it was apparent to me that the right method for teaching my children wasn't going to creep up and hit me over the head, I decided to take matters into my own hands whatever way I could find. I started digging around at the library and fell in love with Pimsleur. Having said that, I think Pimsleur was working for me because I had some French background already--half the stuff in the first eight or so lessons, I already knew or knew parts of, so I had a good framework to assume the new stuff into.

However, more recently, I've come across Michel Thomas, and for me--so far at least--I'm only partway through both methods--it far exceeds what Pimsleur does.

This is adding up to a fairly lengthy post, and I have a lot more to say about both methods, so I'll continue this tomorrow.

Less active

We haven't been doing as much French this week, which is related to the reason my posts this week are fewer. It's not because the desire is not there. But daddy's away for three weeks, and we're staying at grandma and grandpa's house. Since my mom isn't so thrilled about us speaking French here, it's made it a bit more difficult to speak it as much as we normally would. It could be, too, that we're preoccupied with other things, and off our normal routine, so we're less inclined to think about it. I've noticed, for example, that I've been saying "Good night" and "I love you" at bedtime instead of "Bonne nuit" and "Je t'aime/Je vous aimez."
Another reason, likely, since I'm not preparing food in my own kitchen, I've not been inclined to listen to my own French lessons. We've been doing other things--sprinkling French throughout our day, but not as much, and I think it shows.

Speaking more French: little reminders

At church on Sunday, I saw a woman who is originally from Switzerland, and French is her native language. We have an understanding that she will speak French to me when she sees me, provided I can keep up. She often gives up on me, though. My comprehension far exceeds my production.

But I can speak, if given a little time to work out what it is I want to say. Sometimes I can't say the exact thing I intend, but I can think of an alternate way to get the same message across. On Sunday, I initiated conversation by saying (en Francais) "The sun is beautiful today, isn't it?" and she said "Yes, the spring is coming soon." In response, I chickened out and said in English, "We can hope." A moment later I realized I know exactly how to make that same response in French. I kicked myself, a bit, went back to her, and said, "Non, nous pouvons esperer." She looked a little startled, then smiled.

But it pointed out to me something I already know to be true about myself. I know more French than I make myself speak. But how to get it out? Honestly, it's a whole lot easier to speak in English. And the pace of homeschooling and keeping up with three kids under six is enough for any given day without adding something extra!

But I have begun to discover a few tricks. First, if we start the day in French, it's more natural to keep it going in French. To my shame, it's often my daughter (4) who initiates the switch. She's taken to calling me "Maman" instead of Mommy or Mama. That's often enough reminder for me to respond in kind. And although I despise TV in general, watching TV in French doesn't seem to have the same mind-numbing effect on my children, and starting the day with a French video can be just the thing to spur us to more Francais in the day.

We've also purchased French CDs--both the nursery rhyme/fingerplay variety and contemporary music. That helps set the tone, too.

I've noticed, too, that we speak more French after they've done their lessons, or during and after I'm doing mine. Mine are on MP3, and I'll listen to them while I'm in the kitchen, cleaning or preparing meals--with numerous interruptions, of course.

The other thing that's helped tremendously is learning the French that corresponds with a time of day--breakfast for example. Learning to set the table in French or have a bath using French words, for example, can mean that that ritual is done in French each time.

Naturally, we still slip and speak English when we could be speaking French, and I sometimes wonder if we'll ever really be bilingual, but we're working on it. The key is definitely a little French--somehow, someway--every day.

Pierre is a hit!

Wow! I've already been gratified to hear the words, "French is fun," from my children, but yesterday French became the best part of the day. They LOVED it, and they couldn't wait for more. Pierre went back to his "home" in the closet because he ran out of things to say in French, but my kids begged for more, so I pulled out a game, and Pierre helped teach the game, and became a player.

It was so funny to hear them say, "It's Pierre's turn now," but even funnier to hear my son say, "He needs to learn some English!" Of course, they wanted to play with him and make him talk themselves, but I'm going to reserve him for French class so he maintains his popularity.

I've got some other ideas for puppetry they can do themselves. More to come...

Staying a step ahead

I've been giving serious effort to teaching my children French for about a year now, although it's only been since about September that I've been giving serious attention to learning French myself. But I've been on a hunt for good resources for teaching French to young children ever since my son was born, almost six years ago.

I knew the kinds of materials I was looking for--things that immersed children in the language and were interactive, since those were the types I used when I was teaching English as a second language. The only problem was, those kinds of materials didn't work for me, since my own language skills weren't strong enough. So I dug around instead for materials that were accompanied by tapes or CDs, offered a degree of interactivity and helped me learn along with my children.

Among other things, this blog will offer some advice on the types of materials I've found effective for myself and my children, as a parent with limited or developing language skills. I'll also offer some suggestions for games with controlled language anyone can do, with limited French, and a regular feature with themed vocabulary and phrases for speaking French with babies or young children.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with...un mot

I am a homeschooling mother of three. I've been a lurker on the blogs of others who are raising their children bilingual or multilingual, and I've been jealous. I'm not bilingual myself. Although I live in a country that professes bilingualism, I've found resources for teaching my preschool children French to be very hard to come by.

I lacked confidence in speaking French myself, and for many months left it up to videos and books on tape or CD.

I continued to lurk, and I began to wonder. Maybe the easiest way to offer my kids French was to learn it myself, and pass it on.

When my son approached kindergarten age, I began to waver on the homeschooling issue, even though I'd been committed to it since before he was born. Was a bilingual education better than what I could offer him? My commitment to homeschooling won, but I still felt I was shortchanging him. I wanted him to have French.

And so, I began my own journey to learn the French language. I'm using Michel Thomas and Pimsleur, and anything I can get my hands on to teach myself French, staying one step ahead (une étape en avant) of my kids.

It's working. Step by step, we're learning--all of us. The other night we had about 50% of our dinner conversation in French. At one point, my daughter turned to me and said something that proved to me it was all worthwhile:

"You're speaking a lot of French tonight."

"C'est vrai."

"You're doing very well."

"Merci beaucoup."

"De rein...You're learning, and we're learning too."

I couldn't have been prouder. Is there a better example to give my kids than that life is about always learning?

Je ne pense pas ainsi.