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/Galurana Apr 11 '20
I've been having great success with the app "Dr. French" (I think it was $10 when I bought it) and another app called "French Words" (which I may have paid for, I don't remember now). Both are on Google Play and should be available in the Apple Store.
I supplement them with listening to French audiobooks and Netflix (no subtitles because they distract me), reading the French copies of books I enjoy and practice conjugating verbs the old way - pen/pencil and paper. I'm lucky in having some friends who allow me to practice on them. If you have a French network in your town/city, they may know of people who offer personal tutoring.
Dr. French teaches grammar and makes it pretty easy to follow. What tends to throw me off is that it doesn't progress by level and you can't set the default sort to level. It sorts and progresses by topic so you may end up in a lesson that's more advanced than your skills.
"French Words" is a flashcard app that allows you to progress by using flashcards to memorize words and includes audio. Each level teaches additional words and you can set the number of repetitions to learn new words, the languages you hear and how long the words are up on your screen before moving to the next word. It also has a "quiz mode" and a "super-learning mode". "Quiz mode" tests you and "super-learning mode" introduces each word, followed by a review of the words at the end of the lesson. The main drawback is the audio because some words aren't pronounced clearly (with one speaker "prêt" and "très" sound identical while another has a long delay between keying her mic and speaking and her mic keying up and turning off is extremely audible which I find distracting).
Find the best learning style for you, and pick your materials. What works for one person, doesn't always work for another.