Recommendations for Audio Book to Learn Basic French Phrases

Berlitz makes a series of simple language programs in CD format called "_______ For Your Trip" including French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, etc. Check your library. I've found them to be quite helpful.

For apps, Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel all have their qualities. Babbel does require a paid subscription but then feels more like a course.

To learn correct pronunciations for places, Forvo.com is a great resource. You can just search the name of the place, and you will frequently get several speakers who have recorded themselves saying the place name. Sometimes you can also find brief videos on YouTube by searching the place name and something like "pronunciation" or "how to pronounce ____." If you want a challenge, make sure you go to Rouen so you can learn to pronounce it!

Oh gosh I thought no one would ever ask.
Michel Thomas and French. I can hardly speak English and foreign languages have been impossible for me. But this guy...hey, the first CD, there are 6 I think, is worth what you have to pay. Ebay for 10 to 62 dollars. The first disc helped me immensely. I never got to disc #2. My wife did. But disc #1 was enough and all I could handle.

Understand that once you start your horrible French you so hurt a Frenchman's ear that they start speaking English. Not that everyone resident of France can speak French, but a surprising number do. And they really do appreciate you trying. Always say hello IN FRENCH when entering a small store and say good bye IN FRENCH when you leave. Their shop is their home.

Interlibrary loan will probably get it to you in a day or two. Give it a free try.

wayne iNWI

another fan here of Michel Thomas.

Since you have 4-5 months you can do more than 1 course. I suggest the Pimsleur French audio course as a starting point (the first 30 lessons only). They are expensive but have been around in various editions for years so your local library probably has a copy. Pimsleur emphasizes pronounciation and goes slowly; that's why I only recommend the 1st 30, as a complete beginner the pace is ok but by the time you've done 30 tapes you aren't learning that much for the additional time invested. The instructions say to do each tape once but I found it useful to do them twice (once in the morning and then at nite). Pimsleur is based on science into learning; there is a concept called a forgetting curve which is how long before you forget, say, 50% of what you have learned. What they do is come back to words and phrases just before that time has elapsed. Each time you work to recall a phrase it will be longer before you forget it again.

Once you've done the 30 Pimsleur tapes then go to Michel Thomas. They go faster than Pimsleur but by then you'll be able to keep up. Thomas will cover more of the language than the equivalent time with Pimsleur.

As for pronunciation the Foreign Service Institute (which trains diplomats) had a number of courses from the 50s-60s that have gone into the public domain. Search for "FSI French Phonology" and you can find them. Doing the course from the tapes isn't exactly like doing it with an instructor that knows what the correct sounds are, but it is helpful (especially with reading words and saying them in a way the French will recognize)

I like this workbook, French in 10 Minutes a Day. It comes with a disc you can use on your computer to do matching exercises, I found it fun and very helpful.

https://www.amazon.com/FRENCH-minutes-day-beginning-Bilingual/dp/1931873291

There’s an app called Speakeasy that I just love. It’s perfect for learning basic phrases and handy words. It’s elevated my food/drink ordering game. Easy to navigate and pound into your brain. It’s also cheap.

I use the Pimsleur CDs - the Conversational French (or whatever language) are only about $50 per set. I either got them from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Sam's Club. I've used the Italian, French and German series. I listened to them while commuting to work for months. Its hard to commit to any other time to spend on the online or computer-based apps. Listening was enough for me to get the basics.

I think it’s great that you want to learn some more French before your trip. French is difficult to pronounce, but if you work at it, you’ll get better.

A couple of obvious points to consider when you’re figuring out how you’ll do this:
1. Choose a format that works for you.
2. You have to put in the time to make meaningful progress.
3. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

I have used Pimsleur for a couple of languages and its format works for me. The two things I don’t like about Pimsleur is that it doesn’t have a written transcript and it isn’t systematic about grammar. I have bought a language course textbook to supplement. (I’m learning a different language so I can’t recommend this for French.)

I used Pimsleur for Polish for about 3 months (I finished about 30 lessons — I have to repeat several times to get it to stick) and was able to conduct simple transactions such as paying entrance fees in Polish.

You have to be disciplined to make progress. I like the flexibility of being self taught (with Pimsleur), but a French class might work better for you, if the social aspect is what keeps you motivated.

Good luck!

I preferred Michel Thomas to Pimsleur for being able to put together useful sentences, but really like the Coffee Break podcasts. I mostly listen to their Italian but they also do French, Spanish, etc. It’s free so easy to check out a couple lessons to see what you think.

Well, bonne chance with that !

French is not easy to learn = Le français n'est pas une langue facile à apprendre.

Go on Craigslist and look under tutors. We had a young lady come out every Sunday evening for an hour or so. You could always meet at a coffee house. She went over what we would need as tourists to get around. It was a fun way to learn and of course she could answer questions you have. I think we did it for 4 lessons. We enjoyed it!

My heartfelt thanks to all for the wonderful suggestions. Travelers are the best!

I have Pimsleur, something like a 12 CD set, to use in my car.

I'd highly recommend visiting your library and checking out their language offerings - then buy the one you like best.

Facebook is your friend. Search for French phrases and practice them. Another source is travlang.com, foreign languages for travelers. Click on the flag of the country to get the phrases. You can wow your friends by uttering some basic phrases in Zulu if you want. We actually used Zulu on outings to Africa. We avoided some apps because they taught useful phrases like , "The pencil is red". I haven't had occasion to use that one yet..... Other posters have some good choices as well. You'll do fine if you greet EVERYONE you come in contact with Bon jour and a smile.