Traveling to rural France, need to learn the language: HELP?!?

[Melensdad]

We are heading to France in the spring to visit some of the more rural areas where some ancient Roman ruins still exist. As some of these are off the more beaten paths and away from tourist areas the ability to find English speaking residents may be problematic so I am looking for some software or programs of some sort that help teach foreign languages. My wife speaks some French but I speak none.

Has anyone tried ROSETTA STONE software?

Has anyone tried INSTANT IMMERSION software?

Or how about BERLITZ software?

Seems to me Berlitz is the oldest name in the industry, Rosetta Stone has the most advertising, and Instant Immersion is the cheapest but claims to be similar to Rosetta Stone in the technique used. The price difference between Rosetta Stone and Instant Immersion is a whopping $500 with Rosetta Stone costing $549 and Instant Immersion costing $49.95.

I'm thinking that I'll save $500 and buy Instant Immersion but am hoping that someone here has some experience with learning a foreign language as an adult and can offer some advice.

 

[RoadKing]

Bob, If your going to learn you might as well learn from the expert

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix8K9YiEPsk"]The Alphabet[/ame]​

 

[REDDOGTWO]

Just make sure that you pronunciation is correct or you will have to keep repeating yourself three or four times before they understand you.

 

[loboloco]

Rosetta is used by the military, not real impressed with Berlitz for computers. Never tried the Instant Immersion.

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

Don't bother - they speak English - they just don't want to admit it. Just be extra polite and very humble. Throw the money you were going to spend learning the language at the locals and they will appreciate it more.

At least that is how I would roll - but then again I can almost read French.

 

[JEV]

Was not impressed with Berlitz when I needed to learn German back in teh early '90's. I did manage to learn to count, order brats & beer (always order 2, so the head has a chance to settle on fresh beer) and ask where the toilet is. I tried to learn a lot about food so I wouldn't go hungry or thirsty. The most important thing I learned was that the Germans speak English very well, but with a British accent, and I needlessly agonized over learning the language. That being said, the French are notorious for hating Americans, so even if they know English (they ARE just across the channel via the chunnel), they may act stupid just to spite you.

Come to think of it, the French hate EVERYONE, not just Americans!

 

[Erik]

my brother (the professional translator) uses rosetta stone to learn new languages.

check your local library and see if they can get a copy through interlibrary loan?

also call around to used book stores and see if they have a copy -- or put up a notice at the local college on the "used textbooks wanted/for sale" board.

 

[BigAl]

Was not impressed with Berlitz when I needed to learn German back in teh early '90's. I did manage to learn to count, order brats & beer (always order 2, so the head has a chance to settle on fresh beer) and ask where the toilet is. I tried to learn a lot about food so I wouldn't go hungry or thirsty. The most important thing I learned was that the Germans speak English very well, but with a British accent, and I needlessly agonized over learning the language. That being said, the French are notorious for hating Americans, so even if they know English (they ARE just across the channel via the chunnel), they may act stupid just to spite you.

Come to think of it, the French hate EVERYONE, not just Americans!

So you think they are acting ???? Damn they are good . Fooled me

 

[EastTexFrank]

Bob, I've spent a lot of time in France and this is what I have learned.

Buy, use the cheapest language course that you can find. A few simple fundamentals will get you by. When you start mangling the French language, it's surprising how many of the Frogs speak understandable English. If you are willing to make the attempt, they are willing to work with you.

If you go off the beaten tourist track, you may have difficulties with the older generation but even with minimal French you will get by. The younger generation are almost all bilingual to some extent. Don't sweat it. Learn the basics and you will have a great time. You guys are going to enjoy your trip. I can't wait for the pictures and the report.

 

[Melensdad]

Well this will be my daughter's first trip to France so we are going to spend a day and a half in Paris, but the rest of the trip will be visiting historic sites, etc. Many of these will be well off the normal tourist paths, hence the desire to pick up a bit of the French language to help me get by better. As its going to be over her 'spring break' we only have a week. Actually SHE only has a week, the lovely Mrs_Bob and I may stay an extra week and head down to Morocco? Or go north to the UK to visit my sister in London and IceQueen in Wales. We will have a couple other girls (from my daughter's Fencing team) with us.

 

[Ice Queen]

Don't worry too much about not speaking French, I have just returned from six weeks in Spain and I didn't know more than two words in Spanish when I went. I was also in rural areas where they don't speak English, but I learned a couple more words of Spanish and somehow we managed to communicate! As I was doing spinning demonstrations, I learnt that the Spanish for wool is lana!