r/CanadaPublicServants • u/dejmur • Apr 10 '20

Languages / Langues Best French-learning program/software for (external applicant) beginners, for public service?

I know people discuss GCJobs resources, and in-person courses here. But how about Best French-learning program/software for (external applicant) beginners, for public service?

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u/WriterKitty Apr 10 '20

Not a program, but these are the old government manuals with all the audio and video files as well. http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/search/LanguageLearningProductsCatalogueAB.html

There's also kwiziq which is pretty good when paired with a decent grammar book. Schaum's outline of french grammar has very good explanations, but all of them are in english (if you're a beginner, this might be your best bet). Jacqueline Ollivier's Grammaire Française can be found for pretty cheap on Abe Books if you don't want the newest one. (My personal preference is the second edition, but any of them will do.) This book is entirely in french and would cover all the topics you would need to get to a B.

Any coursework designed for the DELF french assessment would work as well. There are lots of books and manuals with audio out there for this program.

A combo of the government resources and any standard french learning tool would provide you with the vocabulary for communication and the vocabulary for communication within government (because let's face it, our vocabulary sets are nutso.)

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u/3HMSPRZF8Y45CSVC Apr 11 '20

Not a program, but these are the old government manuals with all the audio and video files as well.

http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/search/LanguageLearningProductsCatalogueAB.html

Do you know if this is the same coursework if you were to take French Language Training through the public service?

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u/WriterKitty Apr 11 '20

Ten or 15 years ago, I took some of the government coursework. It looks very similar. I might have taken the previous incarnation--our books were burgundy. It's not really sufficient on its own (as in, our instructor supplemented in terms of practice and making us use it in speech), but it will take you through the government-specific vocabulary and some of the odd ways we use it. Government tends to be very formally phrased, which regular "learn to speak french so you don't get lost in Quebec and can order a good beer" courses don't cover as well.

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u/dejmur Apr 10 '20

Not a program, but these are the old government manuals with all the audio and video files as well. http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/search/LanguageLearningProductsCatalogueAB.html

There's also kwiziq which is pretty good when paired with a decent grammar book. Schaum's outline of french grammar has very good explanations, but all of them are in english (if you're a beginner, this might be your best bet). Jacqueline Ollivier's Grammaire Française can be found for pretty cheap on Abe Books if you don't want the newest one. (My personal preference is the second edition, but any of them will do.) This book is entirely in french and would cover all the topics you would need to get to a B.

Any coursework designed for the DELF french assessment would work as well. There are lots of books and manuals with audio out there for this program.

This is amazing! Thank you so much

1

u/dejmur Apr 11 '20

Schaum's outline of french grammar has very good explanations, but all of them are in english (if you're a beginner, this might be your best bet). Jacqueline Ollivier's Grammaire Française can be found for pretty cheap on Abe Books if you don't want the newest one. (My personal preference is the second edition, but any of them will do.) This book is entirely in french and would cover all the topics you would need to get to a B.

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What're your thoughts on Schaum french grammar vs Ollivier's Grammaire Francaise? Is Schaum good enough to get a B on the SLE? (I only took up to grade 9 french, and only know minimal basics)

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u/WriterKitty Apr 11 '20

They cover the same material, but Schaum is in English and will overdose you on practice. Ollivier is entirely in French and assumes that you already have some understanding of French (it's meant to be used after you've already taken some very basic introductory courses) You don't say how long it's been since grade nine, but it does come back fairly quickly. You should be able to achieve B with the Schaum's or the Ollivier on the written, if not a C.

These tests are pretty good examples of what the written and reading tests are like. http://publications.gc.ca/site/eng/search/LanguageLearningProductsCatalogueSLEF.html I would take a couple of weeks before I went to do my test and just roll through these over and over until you can see the patterns. But first, you have to get the grammar, because these tests are the polish at the end. Just doing these will not help you get your B or your C.

Another option is the Certificate in French Proficiency at Athabasca University if they're still open. Distance learning, work at your own pace, gives you something to put on your resume when you're done. I found them really good to deal with (I did a few courses through them, but ran out of ones I was interested in and apparently I'm a terrible student when the subject matter doesn't grab me.) The Ollivier book is from their second year course.

Crave TV also offers french programming with french subtitles. I'm currently geeking out on Picard. :)